Jacaranda Hotel

We had cereal for breakfast then took the dogs of a short predawn walk, in order to leave for Avon Park shortly after 8 am. The temperature was warmer than the cooler mornings have had over the past few days.

The three-hour drive southeast on route 98 was uneventful as we watched the temperature increase to the low 80s. Mark had a good gospel bluegrass station on the Sirius radio, which was good listening for the drive. We made a stop in Lakeland for Krispy Kreme doughnuts then continued to Avon Park. We arrived at the historic Jacaranda Hotel at 11:30, happy that we had reservations since there was a long wait for a table. Steve came out for us and got us seated as soon as we arrived.

The buffet at the hotel was very good. I especially enjoyed the chicken and beef tips. There was a large selection of desserts, but their signature dessert is the strawberry shortcake. We all ate too much but enjoyed visiting with Steve and Marcia while we ate. It was interesting to hear about Steve’s work as a substitute teacher for third through fifth graders at an elementary school in Highlands County.

Our group at Highlands Hammock State Park

After lunch we drove to Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring and walked the short boardwalk Cypress Swamp Trail through the wet hammock. After the big meal, it felt good to walk around some.

Steve and Steve at Highland Hammocks SP

We drove back to Homosassa nearly the same way on route 98, arriving at the house around 5:30. We checked the pin fish trap in the canal but had no fish. We took the dogs on a longer evening walk since their morning walk was so short.

We had a snack for dinner then relaxed in the evening. Mary and Cindy read, while Mark watched the Bengals and Chiefs in the playoff game. We planned to leave around 7 am to drive east to The Villages to see Mark’s sister, Jodie.

Highlands Hammock State Park

Marcia had to take the “hippy bus” into town to get the crank window apparatus repaired so Mary ran into town with her.  Steve and I went to Walmart to get groceries for the pulled pork dinner than Marcia was planning.  We also went to Lowe’s to get a replacement dryer vent hose and a 90 degree fitting since the hose that we reconnected last week failed the first time that a load was run in the dryer.

After we returned to Steve’s house, we packed a lunch of sandwiches and fruit to head to Highlands Hammock State Park.  This 9,000 acre park is best known for trails through old sour orange groves and ancient forests of giant live oak trees. 

We started our visit at the small CCC Museum, where exhibits describe the role of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1920s to build this and many other parks across the country.  There were displays of the tools and techniques used by the young men working in the CCC during the Great Depression.  One of the things that we enjoyed most was a loose leaf binder with information on CCC projects organized by state. 

We drove around the road, stopping to view areas that were likely to hold alligators, snakes or birds.  Because the weather had been unusually cool and dry, there were fewer alligators than when Steve had visited before.  We saw a red-shouldered hawk on the side of the county road.  The bird flew up into the trees when we neared but didn’t move far then returned to his spot after we passed.  We could not see what the hawk was after there, but it was interested in something at that spot.

There was a boardwalk through one of the areas of the hammock that is a wetland.  The boardwalk was secure but had a rail only on one side which made Mary a bit uneasy.  We saw several people along the walk but not many.

We moved on to the Ancient Hammock Trail where we saw several huge trees that had probably been there for many hundreds of years.  We talked with a couple visiting the area from Louisville and pointed out many spots where wild pigs had caused significant damage to the forest.  We picked one of the sour oranges and found it to have a good orange flavor but was very sour. 

When we got back to Steve’s house, we chatted with Marcia who had been working out in her small office out back while we were out.  She had made pulled pork in her instant pot while we were out.  We had an early dinner of pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, potato salad and chips.  Everything was very good.

After dinner, Steve took Marcia to pick up her van while Mary washed dishes and I connected the new dryer vent.  We visited for a while then Marcia went back out to her office to work while Steve and I watched the movie, The Missing, on Netflix.  I enjoy any movie with Tommy Lee Jones and this was an interesting western.  By the time the movie was over around 10:30 Marcia came from her office and everyone was ready to turn in for the night.