We are getting better - up an hour earlier this morning (10 am). Talk about being lazy. Hey - we're retired!
Clear skies and heading close to record highs.
Mid-afternoon we headed for The Old Spanish Sugar Mill Restaurant in De Leon Springs, FL for a late lunch.
It is actually situated in the De Leon Springs State Park requiring admission ($6 for car +2).
The Old Spanish Sugar Mill is a unique restaurant Each of the tables are equipped with a griddle. It's "All You Can Eat Pancakes". They bring you pitchers of homemade pancake batters (both a stone ground mixture of five different flours and an unbleached white). You are responsible for cooking the pancakes.
They have sausage, bacon, ham, eggs, homemade breads and an assortment of other treats to accompany your pancakes. They cook the eggs, bacon, sausage, etc., if ordered, in the kitchen.
First you spray the griddle with cooking oil - then pour the batter on the griddle. (Tasting optional - grin).
Add toppings and then flip as required. You may order blueberries, bananas, peanut butter, pecans, chocolate chips, apples or apple sauce to create whatever type of pancakes you choose. We choose pecans and blueberries.
Toppings included are Molasses, Maples Syrup and Honey - all in easy-pour dispensers. All were really tasty. Much appreciated was the generous supply of "Real" Butter. Nothing fake here!
The service was great, fast and friendly. Grown-Ups have as much fun as the youngsters. Well, I can't really speak for the youngsters; but, we had a great time.
We can't wait to bring "The Kids" here when they visit next year.
I used a "Penny Press" on the way out to add a pair of pennies to our collection. One represented Manatees in De Leon Springs State Park, the other, The Old Spanish Sugar Mill Restaurant. We now a few hundred "Flat Pennies" from all over Canada and the USA.
Bonus: De Leon Springs State Park is a hidden gem!
In Florida, before the era of the Interstate Highway, US-1, US-21 and US-41 accounted for over half of the highway tourist (traps?) attractions. Using the new name, Ponce de Leon Springs (alluding to "The Fountain of Youth"), tried to attract the tourist dollar (OK - pennies, it was post-depression) by placing several large billboards south of Jacksonvlle, FL that described the area as "Nature's Cameraland". Today it is just De Leon Springs; however, it is still quite photogenic.
FYI: The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (commonly known as the Interstate Highway System, Interstate Freeway System, Interstate System, or simply the Interstate) is a network of freeways in the USA. "Ike", surely influenced by Hitler's "Autobahn", and for whom the system is named, championed its formation. Construction was authorized in 1956, and the original portion was completed 35 years later. The network has since been extended and now totals nearly 48,000 miles making it the world's second longest after China .It account for almost one-quarter of all vehicle miles driven in the USA.
The first contract signed was for upgrading a section of U.S. 66 to what is now designated I-44.
FYI #2: In reality, the first section of what would later become the legendary German autobahn network was constructed and built before Hitler came to power. Construction on the Koln-Bonn Autobahn began in 1929. Hilter, of course, knowing the power of propaganda, usurped credit and, in preparation for war, began it's expansion.
Ike knew first hand the impact of "Hilter's Blitzkrieg" during World War II. Blitzkrieg, German for "Lightning War", was first used by the Germans in World War II. It was a tactic based on speed and surprise. Light tank units supported by planes and infantry, successfully pushed the British and French armies back to the beaches of Dunkirk in just a few weeks and devastated the Russian Army in June of 1941.
Ike, foreseeing the military need in the cold war era, to bring military ground forces to all corners of the country quickly, proposed the "Interstate System", and the rest, as they say, is history. But, I digress (grin).
At the park you can rent paddle boats, canoes or kayaks. Even an "Eco" cruise is offered (minimum number required). The water is clear enough for Scuba diving or snorkeling. Fishing (16-65 - License Required) is available and there are nature trails.
The large swimming pool has a "deep end" in the lifeguard tower area allowing (they do) swimmers to jump in . There are plenty of picnic tables and park benches with shade.Nice changing facilities area also available.
The Visitor Center (open daily) features the park's 6,000 year history starting with the Native American mound builders through the 1960s attractions era (including a water skiing elephant). A touch table with bones and shells, park photo albums, printed information, and a children's area ensure there is something for everyone.
Remains of the original Sugar Mill are preserved (Behind restaurant).
There are also a number of interesting and informative historic displays throughout the park.
We took a slower route back to the RV Park. The option of having plenty of good side roads is one of the reasons that many "Snowbird Bikers" (AKA "Old Farts w/Harleys" - big grin) enjoy wintering in this area of Florida.
Still clear and hot on the return trip. I left the top off on the Del Sol to keep it cooler. It became overcast late afternoon, helping to reduce the feeling of "Hot". I put the top back on around 8 p.m. Stuff in the trunk was still warm.
Charlotte made ham & cheese sandwiches for a late supper - yummy.
Our travels are now guided by my "Knew (as in , I used to know) Math Hot Weather" formula (which has no scientific validity). (real big grin).
(t2) = Travel Time
(r3) = Rest Required to Recuperate
F = Temperature in F(ahrenheit) or C = Temperature in C(elsius)
H = Humidity Index
k = constant
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(t2) = k/(FxH)
- i.e. As the Temperature and Humidity increases the amount of
time we can be out in the heat decreases.
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r3 ∝ t2 Note: Don't confuse ∝ (directly proportional)
with the symbol for infinityr ∞ or you will
have to work on this forever (another grin).
(r3) Recovery (i.e. Rest Required to Recuperate) is directly proportional to the (t2) Travel Time
- i.e. As the Travel Time increases the Recovery Time increases.
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TV as usual for the evening.
...and to quote Porky Pig - "Th-th-th-th-that's all, folks!"
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