Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area, Ocala National Forest

After another nice morning swim in the salt springs we went to Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area for a short hike and swim. The Yearling Trail across the road is free but a much longer loop. The short one way trail at Silver Glen is only 2.4 miles total. It does cost $5 per person to use the area for the day but the hike, picnic area and spring are all very nice.

George Lake Trail, Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area

  The highlight for me was a green anole that was nice enough to pose for a while on a tree trunk. 

Cuban Green Anole

 Lake George isn't good for swimming at Silver Glen Spring and the shoreline is swampy. Probably would be great for seeing alligators but unfortunately we didn't see any. There were a lot of grebes and herons along the shoreline that you could see from some of the viewpoints.

The spring is also something you'd imagine out of a movie. Crystal clear waters that make the sand look like its one foot under but you can't touch the bottom. The current here was stronger than at Salt Spring and although it was sandy around the crevice (instead of rocky), you could feel the current pushing against you. That being said it is still very easy to swim. Unlike the Salt Spring Silver Glen Spring had a natural shoreline that was blocked off from the public to prevent erosion. It made the area that much nicer and natural.

Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area

Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area

Salt Springs Campground, Ocala National Forest

Ocala National Forest at Salt Springs Campground was empty compared to the booked up campground in Anastasia State Park. They don't allow reservations and it is strictly a first come first serve basis. The park staff is really friendly and helpful and if they know you will be getting there a bit late they are willing to stay open for you.

Bear Swamp Trail, Salt Spring Campground in Ocala National Forest

The bear swamp trail is a nice short loop through some swamp and sandy forest. It is a beautiful area and looks like great habitat for all kinda of wildlife but we didn't see anything other than birds. There are a lot of black vultures in the sky with crows, woodpeckers and bluebirds in the trees. The recent high winds had blown town a few trees and cracked some parts of the boardwalk. Luckily none of the massive cypress trees had fallen or the boardwalk would have been very smushed and impassible.

Orange trees grow really well here and Beka and I went foraging for oranges in a big tree that was very... fruitful. The oranges were the best oranges I have ever had.

Fresh picked Florida oranges

The spring wasn't what I expected since the shoreline is built up. I understand that this is probably because large numbers of visitors were having a negative effect and eroding the shorelines. The water is crystal clear and you can walk out to where the water is coming out of cracks in the rocks. Massive fish are swimming around and some are even leaping out of the water.

Salt Springs in Ocala National Forest

In the winter manatees come up the rivers to the various springs in central Florida to get into warmer waters. Blue Springs State Park is one of the better known areas where you can see 100s of manatees at once in the river and spring. Unfortunately this is again a very busy area and required booking in advance. Luckily we did encounter some manatees at Salt Spring Campground. A few of them even came right up to us while we were swimming!

Manatee, Ocala National Forest in Florida

The experience with the manatees was surreal and definitely worth visiting this park. I wish I had brought my snorkeling equipment because I would love to be able to see them better and just opening my eyes underwater (yes you can do this because the water is fresh) isn't really the best view.

During our time in the water we did see a manatee that had been hit by a boat and was dead on the shoreline. The river is supposed to be idle boating only so that the boats go very slowly and the manatees have time to get out of the way and there are signs telling people to watch out for them. They also have specific ways to avoid stressing out the manatees, ie. don't chase them, don't try to ride them, let them come to you and don't surround them. Make sure they always have a way to get away if they want to and if they want to then let them get away. Luckily they are quite friendly and curious creatures so if you are patient and quiet they will likely come right up to you!

Costa Rica 2011 Part 4: Adrenal volcano area

Today we drove to our next hotel: Hotel San Bosco.  After dinner we went to the Baldi Hot Springs. They are very gorgeous and had multiple pools of different temperatures. I do wish I could have seen it when it was natural and untouched but the man made ponds and waterfalls did have a certain appeal after a few days of hiking and snorkeling. Since we went at night it wasn't to warm or busy.

Our hotel had a very fragrant tree nearby with yellowish flowers. It was called Ylan Ylan and I would say is one of my favorite smells.

On our travels in the adrenal area we see adrenal lake which is 84km2 and  has a dam that provides the majority of Costa Rica's electricity.

We hike through the park on a hanging bridges trail. Strangle figs were seen choking out trees. Tarantulas were hidden in holes on the cliffs. We saw a broad billed mot mot and crested guans. Mot mots are one of my favorite birds I saw on this trip. They have long tails and are brightly coloured.  

Mot mot

 The bridge sways as you walk on it but it provided a fantastic view of the many bromeliads and orchids hanging on the trees.White collared swifts were seen nesting near a waterfall.  Belle billied woodpecker, orioles, keel billed toucans and peckeries were also sighted.

Duchmans pipe was a plant we frequently saw along the walk. The guide mentioned to us that the root of this plant was previously used by indigenous as a form of birth control.

My favorite find on this walk would have to be blue jean frogs. These small red and blue poison dart frog were calling on the moist forest floor at the base of some trees. I was the first person to see them.

The view of the volcano was really clear on some days and driving around we saw many great landscapes.

All volcanoes in C.R. are made into national parks

Adrenal volcano

 We go out for drinks at a local bar that night and enjoy a bit of the town. The locals are watching soccer on the TV in the bars.

Liz and Tarra