After the Florida Folk Festival last weekend, Emma and I poked around a little as we left the quaint town of White Springs. This part of Florida is rounder and hillier than my territory to the southwest. The town has the feel of a mountain village, only without the mountains.
Em and I had hoped to see the class 3 rapids at Big Shoals, but the day was late by now and the trailhead sign said the roundtrip hike took about 2 hours, which we did not have. So we tabled that walk for another day.
A boat ramp just outside White Springs.
The river here in almost Georgia extreme North Florida is very different from the Suwannee I know. Near White Springs the river is curvy and skinny. She's faster, friskier ... downright bouncy sometimes and you'd better hold tight in places. (Not that it shows in these pics)
By the time the Suwannee slides down to the Gulf to see me, she's more mature, wider in places, but still with all her curves intact. She's no longer in a hurry and the ride is smoother, slower, but still much appreciated.
WIFI at the hardware store in White Springs and I'm still on dialup here?
This neat old building ruled a corner of downtown White Springs. Wouldn't you love to poke around inside it's cavernous interior?
I would.
I suppose this old guy qualifies as a historic building ... see the 1865 over the porch?
(snicker)
Sorry, I didn't mean to snicker, it's just that ...
(snicker, snicker)
... okay, I did it again, sorry about the smug snickering. I just can't help thinking that in 1865, my home town of St. Augustine was celebrating it's 300th anniversary.
So 1865 seems downright modern.
(snicker)
Okay, I'll stop now.
Unrelated FYI stuff:
No Friday Florida Food Fest post because it's been a week of leftovers ... boring. I need to cook.
The temperature here this morning is 34 degrees ... yes, the JEEP is still open.
13 comments:
The picture you took at that boat ramp on the Suwannee is just downstream of Little Shoals. Did you see (or hear) them while you were there? They're some fun little rapids to play on with a kayak.
*snicker*
St. Auggie vs. White Springs. Older? St Auggie. Nicer? White Springs, unfortunately.
I haven't been out that way in a good 10 or 15 years. That have Wi-Fi now is amazing! Maybe you'd better lead the charge to get Wi-Fi out to your homestead, too. ;)
34 degrees, eh? Who knew florida and michigan had so much in common?
New state slogan:
"Michigan - Florida without the gators"
Dear FC, I'm not an expert on this, but I do know you can use a cell phone as a modem, anywhere you can get reception you can use a computer, speed is roughly 4 to 10 times faster (it varies) than dialup, unlimited data is about $80 a month (but shop around), and you can use your cell phone "normally" when you're not using it for your computer. It might not cost you all that much more.
You'd also be able to use a laptop "on the road."
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As usual, we thoroughly enjoy your blog. Thanks for taking time and effort do do it!
I'm just surprised to see wi-fi at a hardware store. Do they have a cafe too? Love that "old" building. And, yes, I'd like to poke around in there.
That just cracks me up to picture wifi in the local hardware store. I'm picturing a bunch of men in overalls standing at a counter with their laptops. Cows.com, maybe?? :P
I've snapped that building, but you got a better shot. Must be the lighting. ;-}
Love the river up there. OK, I love the Suwannee anywhere. Trying to decide which direction to head tomorrow... may include crossing the river at some point.
I love White Springs!
Many memories of the Spring House
in the early 60's, when I was a kid! You could cannonball off the third floor terrace!
Back then, we had an elderly aunt who lived there, and made, um...
'shine called,Old Suwannee.
that top picture i thought was the peace river! well, what do i know of florida, i spent just 12 days there in march of this year... my husband is a born and raised native of the Bartow area. In fact, i only came visitn gbecause your name intrigued me from Hoss's list.
i look forward to seeing more of Florida on our next visit... included on our tenative itenerary this time: St. Augustine. i wanted to go this time but we ran out of time... so far the closest i have been to seeing you town is on Ghost Hunter's!
HT,
Not as long as there's no ocean in WS.
Laura,
I hadn't been there since I was a little kid with my parents.
Wren,
LOL!
New Florida slogan:
"Michigan without the lake effect snow"
Lesle,
Thanks for that input and the kind words. I actually investigated that wireless angle and may go that way.
Just my luck I'm outside the fastest cell phone modem zones and would be looking at 128 kbps here on the frontier.
Faster, but not enough for me to bite yet.
Robin,
I didn't go inside, but I wondered the same, was there a cozy nook in the hardware store for laptop junkies?
Sharon,
Me too. Trading cattle futures over a potbelly stove and an old hounddog on the floor beneath their laptops.
Sophie,
I shot it while driving and told Emma, "Do as I say, not as I do."
Mockinbird,
I LOVE stories like that. Thanks for sharing!
Dak,
Welcome to Pure Florida!
The Peace is another beautiful FL river too.
I hope your next Florida visit is a good one.
When we were there, there was virtually no traffic, so I was at least able to stop. I have, though, been known to snap and drive.
The temp here this AM was 25-30, depending on which thermometer you believe.
Have a great weekend!
We tried to go to Big Shoals this summer but the park was closed due to the fires. Have you ever been there? Are there really "rapids"?
Sophie,
It's 30 right now at the Cross City airport according to Weatherbug. I went out barefoot to grab some more wood for the fireplace and my toes agreed with that temperature.
Cathy S,
I've never been to the rapid stretch of the river, but hope to remedy that soon.
The pictures look rapidy and the rating is class 3.
HT said the low water currently made the rapids not so impressive at the moment.
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