January Fun

Time to start off the new year with new adventures. January we are home in Ocala enjoying the wonderful weather of Florida. Hmmmm, have you seen the temps in the south recently? We’ve gone from 29 degrees to 80 degrees in a 24 hour period. Crazy!

Riding in Tarpon Springs (Earle’s stomping grounds in high school) is always fun for us. Laura’s brother Mike, friends Mark and Tanya joined us on a cycle trip in and around Tarpon Springs. Topped off the day with Greek food!

Next was a gravel bike ride in the Etoniah Forest near Palatka, Florida. It was a combo of some sand, crushed limestone and hard pack dirt. No single track was found. Unplanned, was a meet up with tandem friends Vicki and Tim Page from Georgia who were also at the same ride. Had a great ride and visit with them. We started early to beat the rain that came in that day, but had to play in cooler temps. We were treated with a delicious barbeque dinner at the end!

The end of January found us celebrating Laura’s birthday with her sister Jacqueline from Chillicothe, Ohio. We explored several hidden gems in and around Ocala.

The World Equestrian Center (WEC) is a must see when in Ocala. Laura’s brother Mike and his wife Bev also joined us to kick off Laura’s birthday celebration. This time of year WEC has jumper shows taking place. It’s amazing to see the horses and riders in action.

Jacqueline and Laura visited Silver Springs State Park located in Ocala. Silver Springs State Park, formerly known as Silver River State Park, is Florida’s first tourist attraction. Glass bottom boat tours were invented here at Silver Springs in the late 1870s. In the 1930’s Hollywood discovered Silver Springs and over 20 movies were filmed here, including Rebel Without a Cause, Distant Drums, the James Bond movie Moonraker, Creature from the Black Lagoon, six Tarzan flicks, and the TV show Sea Hunt. Also located in the state park is a Florida cracker pioneer settlement. The restored 19th-century village has farm buildings, houses, meeting house/school, sheds, and a blacksmith.

Next we visited Cross Creek, Florida the home of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park. Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings was an American writer who wrote novels with rural themes and settings. Her best known work is The Yearling. In 1928 she and her husband purchased a 72 acre orange grove in Cross Creek. She was fascinated with the remote wilderness and the lives of Cross Creek residents, her “Florida cracker” neighbors, and felt a profound and transforming connection to the region and the land. The Rawlings’ cracker farmhouse has original furnishings and is the way it was when Marjorie lived there.

Last to be explored Cedar Key, Florida. Cedar Key is a quiet island community nestled among many tiny keys on the Gulf Coast of Florida. The heart of Cedar Key is still a busy aquaculture industry featuring farm raised clams and oysters. Restaurants in town offer a chance to enjoy the freshest seafood specializing in oysters, clams, and clam chowder. Of course we had the famous Tony’s Clam Chowder, delicious and wonderful!