Home from Manatee Springs

[MommaMia]

Just going for a quick 2 night trip!  We are taking 2 neighbors, mom and daughter, with us.  They have never been camping!  Can you believe there are people out there that have never camped?!?!  A travesty, I tell ya!


Never been to Manatee Springs before but it looks like it should be a neat trip.  Can't wait to see the manatees.  Packed up my snorkel stuff... they say the springs are 72 deg year round.  I'll give a review when I get back!

[birol]

Sounds good ! And very nice of you taking the mom and daughter with you ! Enjoy it and have  the greatest time !

Just going for a quick 2 night trip!  We are taking 2 neighbors, mom and daughter, with us.  They have never been camping!  Can you believe there are people out there that have never camped?!?!  A travesty, I tell ya!


Never been to Manatee Springs before but it looks like it should be a neat trip.  Can't wait to see the manatees.  Packed up my snorkel stuff... they say the springs are 72 deg year round.  I'll give a review when I get back!

[Miss-Teri]

We went in late May and really enjoyed it (though the water was EXTREMELY cold!!!)  No manatees that late in the year, though.  
Looking forward to details in how your trip went, and bless you for converting those poor non-campers!  

[2manytoyz]

Nice park!  You may have already seen my recent webpage posted: http://2manytoyz.com/mssp.html

Enjoy!

[tlhdoc]

Have a great trip.

[MommaMia]

Camping was nice!  Perfect weather... great for campfires.  Good state park with nice sites.  The spring was beautiful!  It was the first time I ever fresh water snorkeled.  Loved it!  We saw quite a few manatees.  The night brought many visitors to our site.  The armadillos are a riot!  They come crashing through the woods... if you didn't know better you'd think it was a bear or something.  All of a sudden this little wiggling, nosey, big eared tank would come trudging through the underbrush.  They poked around right at our feet by the fire.  They even let you touch them!  We also had a very bold raccoon come into the site and drink sprite from the can with Erik standing right there!  Deer were also frequent visitors and an oppossum as well.  Fun weekend!

The neighbor friend and her daughter had a great time as well!  The little girl was so excited to sleep in the camper.  She kept asking if it was time for bed yet!  

Ahhh... even though I love camping it always feels good to get home.  I soaked for an hour in the tub last night.  One thing about Florida camping so far... no matter where we camp it's always sandy!  I think I like it better than grubby muddy dirt camping.   The sand shakes out easier.

My parent's arrive for a week long visit tomorrow and I still have tons to do, even this late at night!

[Camperroo]

Camping was nice!  Perfect weather... great for campfires.  Good state park with nice sites.  The spring was beautiful!  It was the first time I ever fresh water snorkeled.  Loved it!  We saw quite a few manatees.  The night brought many visitors to our site.  The armadillos are a riot!  They come crashing through the woods... if you didn't know better you'd think it was a bear or something.  All of a sudden this little wiggling, nosey, big eared tank would come trudging through the underbrush.  

I've never seen an armadillo!! I'd probably fall out of my chair.  You're so lucky to be able to camp right now.  We are having a Northeaster right now!!  You remember those!!!  It's snowing pretty good and we're suppose to get close to a foot of snow here in our area of MA !!  Rotten trick of mother nature after giving us some really nice spring days last week.

[2manytoyz]

See an armadillo?  Go camping with us and we'll let you pet one!  My coworker taught me the method of catching them.  Okay girls, this is the part where you all scream.  :eek:      No real teeth, but wicked claws.  http://2manytoyz.com/temp/dillo.jpg

If you camp near the woods of central FL, you are likely to see squirrels, amardillos, and racoons.  The armadillos are clueless.  They don't know you're there until you make a noise, or they get a wiff of you.  They are almost blind.

The racoons are sneaky pests.  Very bold, and will grab your food or garbage right in front of you, and make a beeline for the underside of your camper, or woods.  Chase them off, and they'll soon be back.  Got to get rid of the source of their interest.

I also catch snakes.  Non poisonous only though.  I have a 6' corn snake as a pet, along with 2 cats.  I'm no Steve Irwin, but I've spent my time in the FL woods the past 25 years.

Oh, if you go swimming here, don't worry.  We don't have crocs here, just little gators: http://2manytoyz.com/temp/gator.jpg  Ya'll come on down for a trip, we'll give you a wildlife show you won't soon forget.  

That storm that thumped much of the N.E. brought rain to FL today.  Should be clear and cooler tomorrow.  Still good camping weather.

[2manytoyz]

Oh, forgot to say if you leave your shoes outside, give 'em a good shake before slipping them on:

http://2manytoyz.com/camp/hbrsp/spider2.jpg

http://2manytoyz.com/camp/hbrsp/spider3.jpg

Size 12 water shoe, it was easily as big as my heel.  I let him go.  Might be someone's mother.  Besides, someone else may enjoy seeing her.   :eek:    :W