Cabin Camping

Home after 4 nights in cabins (#2, 3, 4) at Silver Springs State Park. The usual crew of Zumsteins, Barkley, Lade/Schwatz, our newer members Giblin-Davis, and first timers, the Gonzalez.

I was especially pleased that Tuesday I threw sense away and signed up for the 5.2 mile kayak paddle. Of course, all downstream, but I was able to get in and out of the boat and keep up with the group. Alligators and turtles on the banks, manatees in the river, including 1 swimming directly under me. What a lovely trip. I recorded 16 bird species, including 5 pairs wood ducks who remained calmly paddling at the waters edge as we drifted past. Never have seen that before. Only 1 pair did their usual explosive flight, and that was after we’d gone by. Did help my saying that they were usually very shy.

Sally drove down Wednesday for old home’s sake. We walked the board walk from the north entrance and discovered the new bridge across the spring run. Now there is a safe and pleasant way to get from the campground side up to the glass-bottomed boats and vice versa. No one wanted to walk the 5 miles back to camp so we returned via car and had lunch at the cabins.

Thursday, most of the group had boat reservations (much discussion about whether they were at 11:00 or 1:00*). Since I waited too long to make out, we chose to go to the Appleton Museum for a quilt show I’d read about and planned to drive up for. Coincidentally, this was its last week. And coincidentally, Sue and Darrel were driving down from Gainesville, also planning to see the show and also waiting to the last minute. 

These quilts are a unique style of overlapping squares attached in concentric circles to a backing without any other layers, so you can see the stitching on the reverse side. The style is called pinecone or burr. Heavy, heavy with all that fabric. Like all quilts, the original ones were made from recycled fabric, hence soft and muted. The Florida artist, Betty Ford-Smith uses new fabrics, so hers are bright and dynamic. Just amazing. I immediately wondered if I could make one using all that silk I still have. Absolutely must put that thought on the back burner, since I have many projects already started. But still…

*While we were touring the quilts and the rest of the Appleton, our friends got a quick look at the museum in the state park. Turns out their boat reservations were for next week. They did get their money back.

Despite my best intentions while at home, I did not do my exercises or any nature journaling on the trip. Another skill I needed and want to strengthen. 

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