Tue - Feb 20/18

Today we decided to redo our plan for pancake lunch at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill inside De Leon Springs State Park. We passed on our previous visit because of the 2 hour wait. We had plans "Up the Road" and this would have made us late.

Our first stop on the way was at the Quilt Shop of Deland.

It was packed with a group on a "Quilt Shop Run". I don't know if they were just coming here or visiting a number of other shops (probably) in the area. They all had "Name Tags" which suggests a bus tour from an RV park.

Then we were off to De Leon Springs State Park and the Old Spanish Sugar Mill Grill and Griddle House. Today we had only this in mind and we came prepared with a plan of attack for the usual wait:

      - 1. Get tickets for the Boat Cruise. (Come early - often sell out - last cruise today was at 1 p.m.)
      - 2. Give your name at the Sugar Mill for a table and tell them you are taking the boat cruise @ (give the time)
      - 3. Take the cruise.
      - 4. Return to the Sugar Mill and tell them you are back. You will have a table quickly.

This beats trying to kill an hour or two just waiting for a table.

De Leon Springs State Park, in the early 1800s,  was developed by settlers as the Spring Garden Plantation and a sugar mill. Later in the century, the plantation was destroyed twice, during the Second Seminole War and the Civil War. In the 1880s, the railroad arrived and the springs became a winter resort with a hotel and a wall enclosing the spring bowl. The name was changed from Spring Garden to Ponce De Leon Springs to attract tourists who were promised “a fountain of youth impregnated with a deliciously healthy combination of soda and sulphur.” In the 1920s, the sugar mill and paddlewheel were reconstructed and still stand today.

The spring itself is in a large, shallow, conical pool, 189 feet by 168 feet, and 28 feet deep to the single central vent with an everyday temp of 72 F. Water flows at an average 14 - 19 million gallons per day over a 3-foot drop to the spring run, and on to Spring Garden Lake, then to the 18,000-acre Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge, Lakes Woodruff and Dexter, and eventually to the St. Johns River. The St. Johns River is only one of 3 rivers in the USA that flow South to North (exiting into the Atlantic Ocean at Jacksonville, FL.)

Today activities include: Swimming (in the pool only), snorkeling, kayaking/canoeing, paddleboat rentals, boat tour, fishing, hiking, boat ramp, wildlife viewing, picnic area, playground and restaurant dining in the historic sugar mill. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg-gMg5yez0

Only instructional scuba sessions are allowed. There is no recreational diving; however a scuba diver did discover a 6,000 year old Indian Canoe that had sunk in the spring. These first inhabitants of the area also left burial grounds and shell mounds (aka garbage dump) around the spring.

Charlotte scored the best seat (according to the Captain) on the tour boat. The 50 minute cruise was leisurely and informative. We got to view a large variety of birds as they perched in trees, swam nearby or flew past the boat.

There were also "Gators" of all sizes from babies to 12 feet in length. Can you spot the baby in this shot? (Center @ 3 o'clock)

Back at the Sugar Mill it was still packed; but we were seated in just a few minutes. Fortunately, we were seated near the door which afforded us a welcomed breeze. All the tables have their own griddles which makes it a warm environment. You receive 2 types of batter for the "all you can eat" pancakes. The Early American pancake mix is made from either their own unique mixture of 5 fresh stone ground wheat varieties or unbleached white.

They also provide the utensils, cooking spray, butter and 3 types of syrup (Raw Honey, Regular Syrup or Unsulphured Molasses). We both decided on the Molasses for a change as we usually have Maple Syrup at home. We added Chopped Pecans and Chocolate Chips to sprinkle into our batter and Bacon as a side. Yummy!

We returned by way of Barberville and Alexander Springs to avoid the rush hour traffic through Deland, FL. This route also had less traffic and was a more relaxed drive.

OMS Office sent a note thanking the park residents for helping to raise $7,500.00 for the UFD!

I went to the MPR to use the Wi-Fi to publish the blog. I returned to the RV in time for the start of our usual Jeopardy TV evening.