Hillsborough River State Park

According to Florida's Division of Recreation and Parks, there are 175 state parks, trails and historic sites which encompass nearly 800,000 acres and 100 miles of sandy beaches in the Sunshine State, providing recreational opportunities for both residents and tourists.  Tim and I are two tourists who have grown to love these places.  (Click here for an interactive map of parks in the Florida State Parks system.)

When we first took to the road as full-time RVers back in January 2016, we thought our RV, the Dawntreader, was too long to fit in any state park.

However, we've since learned from friends like Doug and Chris that while our 45-foot length is on the long side, there are usually campsites that can accommodate us.  You just have to look carefully at the state park listings on ReserveAmerica.com when making a reservation.

This winter we've discovered that if you want to experience "the real Florida" as the park service's logo claims, there are no better places than these parks.  Off the beaten track, these protected areas are full of natural scenery with unbeatable beauty.

Hillsborough River State Park is a case in point.  The river that flows through it tumbles over rapids, then quiets to a calm where its current is hardly discernible.

It's perfect for kayakers and canoeists.

If a hike is more to your taste than a paddling adventure, pretty as a picture natural trails run parallel to the river's banks.

Bicycles may be rented at the park's cafe.

And for history buffs, Fort Foster, a reconstructed log stockade that during the Second Seminole War guarded a pivotal bridge over the river, sits in the northeast corner of the park.

Campsites have plenty of elbow room set apart as they are from one's neighbors.  Like most state park campgrounds, Hillsborough River State Park has water and electric hook-ups but no sewer connections.  However, there is a dump station where you can jettison waste on your way out of the park.

This morning Tim and I leave Florida to head north to our next Habitat for Humanity build in Macon, Georgia.  We'll miss its scenic parks, but hopefully we'll return next winter to sample a few more.  Until then, the Florida state parks of Hillsborough River, Rainbow Springs, Highlands Hammock, Mike Roess Gold Head Branch will brighten our memories.  Four down, 171 more to go!

Rainbow Springs State Park

The campground at Rainbow Springs State Park has been our home for the past two weeks.  It lies along the banks of the Rainbow River, a jewel that lives up to its name.  When sunlight hits the water, a light show ensues as the rays are diffused into a multi-colored spectrum that reaches well below the surface.  The river, fed by the release of 400 to 600 gallons of fresh water each day from the springs at its headwaters, flows 5.7 miles before it empties into the Withlacoochee River at Dunnellon, FL.

Determined to explore the river in greater depth (pun not intended and certainly not to be undertaken in a physical sense), I left my listening devices locked up in the Dawntreader and in total silence, bravely embarked upon a canoe trip with Tim.

Synchronizing our paddle strokes is a little difficult when you can't hear verbal commands, but after a few misguided attempts, I got the hang of it and pointed our bow in the right direction.

Prior to our departure, we'd plotted our strategy.  Paddling upstream to the headwaters would allow us to enjoy a lazy float back down to the dock.

There was plenty of wildlife to keep us entertained.  Birds, turtles, kayakers and other canoeists were all enjoying a sunny day on the river with us.

Do you suppose these three birds reading the No Fishing Permitted sign are disappointed?  "Well, guys!  It looks like we won't be having fish for supper tonight!"

The turquoise water is so clear, you can see all the way to the bottom, a depth that averages 10 feet but in places could descend to 25.

An even better way, if you want to immerse yourself in the undulating mermaid's hair, the so-called sea grass, and see the glimmering fish and the boil pots of the springs for yourself is to take a scuba diving tour of the waters.  Tim was tempted, but ultimately he decided to forego that adventure.

As for me, that seemed like too much work.  I'd rather just put my feet up!

Highlands Hammock State Park

In our quest to visit as many Florida's state parks as possible, Tim and I, along with our friends Doug and Chris, spent a Saturday in Highlands Hammock State Park.

Created in part by a sizable donation from Margaret Shippen Roebling, the park opened in 1931 four years before the Florida state park system was founded.  Just as an aside, Margaret was the wife of John Augustus Roebling II whose grandfather John Augustus Roebling and father Washington Augustus Roebling built the Brooklyn Bridge, the iconic bridge that links New York City to Brooklyn.

In the park, we found another bridge not quite so tall but with an interesting history told by the park's small museum devoted to the Civilian Conservation Corps.  The CCC, as it was known, took over the park's works in 1933, constructing bridges as well as dams to control the water levels.

Exhibits told the story of the hundreds of young men who answered President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's call to work for the good of the country.  "Through you the nation will graduate a fine group of strong young men...willing and proud to work for the joy of working."

Walter Matthau (left) and Robert Mitchum (right)

Interestingly enough, among the men who joined the Corp in their youth later became famous celebrities Walter Matthau, Robert Mitchum and Raymond Burr.

Alvin C. York (left upper corner) and Raymond Burr (right)

The World War I hero, Alvin C. York whose feat of singlehandedly capturing 132 German prisoners vividly portrayed by Gary Cooper in the movie Sargent York, served as a CCC superintendant in Crossville, Tennessee.

But nature beckoned so we quit the museum and headed to the park's hiking trails for an up close and personal view of the hammock, a term unfamiliar to me in this context.

A hammock is defined as a forest whose large trees filter out much of the sunlight, making the inside of the forest dark, shady and cool.

We investigated the bark of the slash pine trees

and sat on knobby trunk of a bald cypress tree.

Reaching high I tried to compare my height with the span of the roots of a toppled tree.

Then I bent low to view these tiny purple blossoms nestled among the abundant ferns.

We stayed a respectful distance away from this alligator who was basking in the sun.  He brought to mind this anonymous poem as he made me want to run.

Alligators Are Unfriendly
Alligators are unfriendly,
they are easily upset.
I suspect that I would never
care to have one for a pet.
Oh, I know they do not bellow,
and I think they do not shed,
but I'd probably be nervous
if I had one in my bed. 

Alligators are not clever,
they are something of a bore.
they can't heel or catch a Frisbee,
they don't greet you at the door,
for their courtesy is lacking,
and their tempers are not sweet,
they won't even fetch your slippers
...though they just might eat your feet.

See you later, alligator!

Helping Hurricane Irma's Victims

Sebring, FL was particularly hard hit by the effects of Hurricane Irma last September.  Gathering strength as the storm swirled across the Caribbean, its winds clocked near 185 mph, the storm's heavy rains and high winds blew debris, toppled trees and wrecked havoc with power lines leaving 98 percent of the Highlands County without electricity for a week or more.  Governor Rick Scott declared Sebring the second hardest hit in the state.  Five months later blue tarps still cover roofs where the storm ripped shingles off.

That was the situation when Tim and I arrived on Feb. 11, 2018 to join a Habitat for Humanity disaster recovery team.

Tim

Although we weren't directly involved in contacting affected residents and assessing their needs, Tim and I worked to finish a pair of homes by the end of February for two families displaced by the storm.

The Powells

The Powells with their baby and toddler have been living in a motel since their house was destroyed.  The other family of six is also eagerly awaiting their move-in date.

Mike and Cory

To meet that deadline, our zany site manager Mike and his cool assistant Cory ordered our tasks.

Rick

We set up ladders,

Linda

painted,

Doug

laid flooring

Tim and I

which even Tim and I learned to do,

Fran

painted,

Sandy

set tile,

Tom

painted,

Dave

installed baseboard

Leon

and frames around the doors,

Nanci

painted,

Paula

caulked seams,

Chris

painted,

Bucky

hung doors inside, outside and

over the garage entrance,

Diane

painted,

and poured concrete driveways and sidewalks in the final stages of construction.

Oh, and did I mention?  We painted.

Ed

We also took well-deserved breaks as needed.

Along the way to our deadline, we forged friendships with members of our team and did our best to ensure that this cute little guy has a safe and secure home.