Two reasons…
First when I checked out the refer on propane that I had just got fixed…it wouldn’t come on! So, back to the rv shop where they hmmm’d and hawed and puzzled and thought and fiddled and jiggled around the back of the refer where they replaced the igniter thingy last week….nothing. It would start once and not the next time. Finally they pulled the refer out from under the counter, and what did they find? A mouse nest! And a chewed igniter wire that was shorting out. Of course the part had to be ordered…so have an appt. to go back Monday to get the refer fixed again.
Second, I found out there’s a brush fire burning out of control near where I was going to camp…cgs being evacuated, so wouldn’t have worked out anyway.
Couldn’t dry camp as planned, so decided to try my old favorite standby, Silver River State Park. It’s hard to get a space there on short notice, but they had a site for one night (Thursday).
Plan B:
Roe and I hiked the River Trail Thursday evening.
The weather was beautiful.
I was delighted to discover that they now rent canoes and kayaks at the State Park…plan to come back soon without Roe and do that. Roe would love it, but lots of gators in that river. I’m sure he wouldn’t be allowed in the rental boats anyway.
Watched this little blue heron fishing for his dinner for awhile. Tried to catch a picture when he caught one….came close.
Can you see the fish he caught?
This female cardinal was eyeing us as she bathed.
The male was modest…
Looking upriver, listening to the gators grunt, but couldn’t see them.
No fishing allowed, but big ones were jumping.
Couldn’t get a good enough look to identify this fisherman.
Anhinga, also called water turkey, oops, no, that's a Cormorant
Osprey…can you tell why this is part of the FL Birding Trail?
Roe spooked and wanted to chase this armadillo, and he started to make his getaway as I was taking his picture.
I call this simply, “squirrel with nut.” You can draw your own conclusions.
Friday morning we took the swamp trail, which takes another route to the river. (Or you can call this, ‘dog without nut’.
View upriver from the landing. Two in a canoe out early.
More birds…
Anhinga drying it’s wings…after diving for fish, he must do this before he can fly far.
Why it’s called Silver Springs…the water is crystal clear, and the sediment at the bottom sparkles like silver in the sunlight. If you’ve never ridden the glass-bottom boats at Silver Springs Attraction…put it on your list.
At least you hope huh? 
