A Mixed Bag

There was frost on the windshield and the temperature was 20 degrees when we woke up this morning at Manatee Springs State Park. This is Florida? Oh, well, we were very comfy in our heated motorhome, although Bill was worried the outside water lines would freeze...they didn't, though. We took a short walk in the cold temperatures this morning to see the springs, which are the winter home to West Indian manatees since the spring waters are 72 degrees year round. We were lucky enough to spot two manatees, a mother and a cub, swimming nearby. Not a photo op, though, since they swim right below the surface and stick their noses up periodically for air. We were quite excited to see them!

After a quick stop to a quilt shop, and yes, I bought more fabric...we traveled to Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring, Florida. It was then a beautiful 64 degrees and we briskly walked about five miles of trails, amongst huge palms and other tropical habitat. Along the path, we found an orange that had fallen from a lone, scraggly orange tree, and of course I pocketed it, to use in my nightly Blue Moon.

Unfortunately, we are now in our first...and hopefully, last, crisis of the trip. My "school bag" got stuck in the slide out of the motorhome, thus we need to have someone come to the campsite and unlodge it before we can continue to travel. Bill is taking this much better than I am; hopefully tomorrow morning will bring a competent repairman and a happy ending!