30 Minute Tour - Glass Bottom Boats /  by Dave Hileman

The last time Cindy was at Silver Springs she took a Glass Bottom Boat tour with Aunt B, Pearl and Wilma (Aunt B’s Cousins). She almost had the same captain. The captain for our trip was in his 54th year, not quite 1960 but close!

I had pretty low expectations for this event - both photos and the tour but both were better than I imagined. The photos less so, the trip was pretty neat with nice views of several springs or vents, lots of fish and grasses and a few cool artifacts including three statues left from a James Bond movie. The only fish I remember the name of is Tilapia. The sea grass was beautiful and swayed with the currant. The colors of the rocks and vents were bright, vivid and almost glowing in places. Just for the history of the short boat ride it was worthwhile. They have been doing this since a glass viewing panel was first installed in a dugout canoe in 1878. That’s right, 1878. Wow.

Silver Springs is a stunning place with the centerpiece of the Silver River flowing a few miles across pristine landscape. Well worth the trip and a great campground.

Statues from an early James Bond movie, what name? Anyone?

Self-portrait

Camping Catch-Up /  by Dave Hileman

Harvest Host, Gamble Rogers State Park, Silver Springs State Park

Tonight we are at our fourth unique place to spend the night. On our way from Raleigh, we stayed one night at Coach’s Corner, a Harvest Host just east of downtown Savannah, then to Gamble Rogers State Park for 5 nights where we met the Harmans for a portion of the stay. We were on the ocean dunes in site 33; it is a lovely place with clean restrooms and water and electric at each site. There is a second camping area by the Intercostal Waterway with some hiking trails on the inland side and a long ocean beach to enjoy on our side.

We then moved to Silver Springs State Park along with Rusty and Janet. We stayed seven days, two on site 8 and five on site 2. Silver Springs has the most spacious sites of any campground we have experienced. They are level and well cared for. A few have sewer along with the standard water and electric found in most Florida State Parks. Silver Springs was beautiful. We hiked several long trails, kayaked on the Silver River, walked on the grounds of the old tourist attraction and visited their excellent history museum. This is a park we would like to come back to next year.

We are 40 miles north at another Harvest Host, Sweet Roots Organic Farm, near Gainesville. We attended church and enjoyed brunch with Carin and Evan Gunter, two special people. Carin is the daughter of Jill, our friend from Knoxville. Her husband, Evan, is working toward a Masters in performance music at the University of Florida..

Site Number 8 at Silver Spring State Park.

PhotoAngels /  by Dave Hileman

They have long been rumored, written about and written off, featured in podcasts, described as flights of fancy and provided explanation for some of the finest photos ever presented but never duplicated. Now speculation can be laid to rest - we actually encountered the no longer mythological PhotoAngels.

Cindy and I were on the Silver River in a kayak looking for manatee. After an hour with no success, in the middle of the river, three beautiful women appeared on flat sailing devices standing on the water and beckoned us to follow them. They directed us to some manatee, herded them so we could get better views, and then took our picture with the gentle water beasts. Before we could barely thank them, they drifted off into the mist of the stream, and we never saw them again.

I ran the very tiny photos they gave us through GigaPixel to four times the initial size. Then imported into ON 1, I edited them and used the No Noise and Sharpening tab to bring out some detail.

We are grateful to the PhotoAngels for the memory we have - now they need to upgrade the camera:)

Drifting Away into Folk Lore

Cool Dogs! /  by Dave Hileman

We made new friends on the elevated boardwalk at Silver Springs SP. These two were immaculately groomed and behaved. So easy going, unflustered and just posed when asked, better than some people. They are German origin, and the one of the right is actually from Germany. They are called Leonberger named after the town in Germany where they were first bred. Beautiful coats, gentle disposition and easy to train are some of the characteristics. More? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonberger

King Trio - two photos /  by Dave Hileman

We have toured the Safari Ride at Animal Kingdom many times and usually have seen a lion, but we have never seen all three together. The trip is a bumpy, jerky and bouncy photo challenge but on this trip our driver was excellent and often stopped for just a few seconds several times so the photos were easier to capture.

String Hands (five photos) /  by Dave Hileman

Gamble Rogers State Park is named for an esteemed folk singer who died here rescuing someone from the ocean. Because of his musical heritage the park holds a jam session twice a month and we were able to listen for about an hour to country, rock, folk and Bach! There were locals who come frequently, some from the campground and one young man attended for the first time. Fun afternoon.

The base was made in 1943 but the owner didn’t buy it until 1952!

A1A Burrito Works, Flagler Beach, FL /  by Dave Hileman

by Cadillac Moose, PhD, LA

I am back again, I know you missed my erudite commentary but the PhotoMan can’t seem to keep things in order. Sheesh, one simple job. He’s kind of like Paul Hollywood, just not competent.

Now this place is pretty neat. First, you eat outside which is what the Great MooseMaker intended from the beginning. Unless it is too hot. Second, they sell tacos. Third, I liked them. Oh, wait, tell more about the place. Well it is tiny, I could barely squeeze my massive antlers in the door but the taste is twice the size of the building. (ED NOTE: that makes no sense, please revise) Right, no sense to the non-culinary PhD’s among us. Where was I… taste… these were not your ordinary tacos but tacos like you would have if you dreamed in TACOS - flavorful, distinctive, hot, high quality and inexpensive tacos. They sell other food but, why? This stand is pretty close to taco exquisite. That sounded Spanish.

Overall 4.25 Antlers

Can I have spotted Rusty Harman here?

Eye-to-Eye /  by Dave Hileman

On a kayak you can get up close to birds that scatter when you approach from land. This Little Green Heron was perched for a fishing opportunity yet we were less than ten feet before he twitched at which point I backed off about three and he relaxed again. So cool. The Silver Springs State Park is a stunning place.

SwillerBee Doughnuts, Flagler Beach, FL /  by Dave Hileman

by Cadillac Moose, PhD, DA

What a great place! (Oops, gave away the review I gotta watch that.) So, just off the main street in Flagler Beach is a tiny nondescript building that houses a selection of simply amazing doughnuts. Note, they almost got extra credit for the classic (and correct) spelling of DOUGHNUT on some signs, not the Duncan inspired insipid Donut. But there were inconsistencies in spelling, a sad deduction. The selection is nice but not extensive, actually on the moderate side but with a number of thoughtful and balanced choices. My favorite was the always supurb, Cinnamon-Sugar yeast doughnut. Light, airy and not in the least bit greasy, so I tried three to be certain they were consistent.

I also ate them all. Not the stab at it with a fork and taste a crumb that Paul Hollywood does - how does he keep his job? You cannot judge a doughnut by a micro-bite.

Additionally they serve breakfast and lunch items, coffee in all the usual configurations and a few pastries. Open every day with indoor and outdoor seating & parking off street; it is a clean, happy, delicious experience.

Overall, 4.75 Antlers

Sugar Mill /  by Dave Hileman

We went to a near by park that had ruins of an old sugar mill. The park had more than we expected to see with water views and lots of cool scenery. A second stop at Washington Oaks State Park was a bit disappointing - not with the place but much of the park was either not open or under maintenance. So no reflecting ponds, sad. Then we drove on to St. Augustine. The old fort was great. We had not been there in a long time, so another NP we did not plan on visiting this trip but we were able to enjoy. Photos will be on Monday. Excellent talk by a NP Volunteer about some Plains Indians that were prisoners here from 1845 to 1848. Mostly positive story out of tragic circumstances.

One of the few flowers still blooming or just blooming at Washington Oaks.

Surfside Shakes, Flagler Beach, Florida /  by Dave Hileman

by Cadillac Moose, PhD, RA

The Surf Side Shakes shop opened in 2020 but has recently changed ice cream vendors. As you know I am focused on quality, quantity and quaffness so I prefer shops that make their own ice cream. This is an exception cause it is LEOPOLD’S from Savannah. One of my absolute favorite ice creams. Oh, wait, I need to be more professional if the GBBS so going to call.

This ice cream had a “clean flavor” with no disgusting aromas or colors, not too much air in the mix and an excellent tongue complexity. You may have noticed I minored in ice cream at MBOCCCA.

The shop was cute, but no indoor seating is a deduction, cost was on the high side but good selection and nice manager, who of course, came out specifically to wait on me. Four flavors were enjoyed but the best was the Peppermint cause that is one of my favorites.

I will award the shop 3.5 antlers.

The manager heard an almost famous Moose/ food critic / Ice Cream specialist, and possible judge on the Great British Baking Show was here - so she came to wait on me personally.

Flagler Beach /  by Dave Hileman

We are at Gamble-Rogers State Recreation Area on the Atlantic Coast. Lovely park, beautiful beach and the town of Flagler Beach is both charming and nearlly recovered from the two hurricanes of 2022. We are in site 33 on the beach side with power and water. Well kept like most every state park we have camped at in Florida. Some trails and nice area on the Intracoastal waterway as well.

Old “Big Boy” sign in front of a burger place. Used to be the place to go when I was in HS. Or at least that is what I think I remember.

Brice at Made in Florida - his store and second job. Nice Guy.

Coach’s Corner, Savannah, Georgia /  by Dave Hileman

by Cadillac Moose, PhD, FA,

I knew this was going to be a great place as soon as I walked in the door. The delightful aromas? The eclectic menu? No, Televisions! Dozens of TV’s maybe hundreds. TV’s behind the bar, hanging from the ceiling, AT EVERY BOOTH! This is exactly the kind of detail Paul Hollywood would miss. How he keeps his job?

Plus the barkeep had a great, bushy beard and all the waitstaff loved me. But you also want to know about the food. It was abundant and the meals were excellent with the exception of the french fires, they were not crispy, they were a crunchy mess. C. Moose does not sugar coat the truth. However the homemade potato salad made up for what I am sure was a minor blip on the restaurant’s effort. The atmosphere was like a dark forest, which I love. They sold stuff to drink I am not allowed to have because of my parole, I mean my financial situation. The burgers were available on a variety of bread, which is a big plus but they did not offer ice cream or swamp lilies, so slight deduction for that mistake.

Overall, Four Antlers (Five for the TV’s)

Hamburger Melt on marbled rye bread