Crystal River! What a beauty place.

Crystal River has much to see, many warm springs that attract the Manatees and more.

Crystal Isles RV was an excellent place for us to stay while in this area. Quiet during the week as we arrived on Wednesday, and leave today Saturday for Fort Meyers Beach area, will stay at Gulf Air RV for 2 days before we make our way through to the Keys.
We booked to swim with the Manatees before we got here for Thursday, nothing planned for Friday till I heard of the Mermaid show at Weeki Wachee State Park.
All planned up now, we spend the first day after setting up in the pool, meeting 3 other couples who just come for a visit as live close by. Was fun talking with them, and finding out there stories, and telling ours. The Pool was warmest since south Texas, was nice way to spend the afternoon, after a nice easy drive from Panacea.

The water way close to our trailer, leads to the gulf

Signs say it all by the trailers

View from our camp spot

Next day we want to look for a mask for Polly so she could enjoy the swim today without choking a bunch of water down. We went to the local dive shop and they had what we wanted, a full face mask as Polly had tried in Jamaica. Great, fit good bought it and away we went. The place we booked on line was further down the road about 40 mins, and we had enough time to make it there with some to spare. Got checked in, got a pocket plastic waterproof shield for the phone, so could get some video, and a few pics. Then about 20 of us watched a short film on how to behave around the manatees, and do's and don'ts as there are rules, and fines if you are caught disturbing them. Then fitted for suits, and off we go to the marina. Only 6 persons per boat we are told, so should be intimate swim I thought.
Hmm, well when we made our way up river we were told not many Manatees here right now as water was warmer in the gulf right now, and more food for them. Manatee Feeding

This is when the Captain asks me "Do you have Red Necks where you live?" LOL

People, Locals, just out for fun

How the head of the spring looked as we rounded the corner

No problem, we will find some our captain says. As we round the bend ahead we see many boats, and only a few Manatees were present, should be interesting I think. All others from our boat get in, as we fit Polly's mask, and zip up the light wet suit, and in the water Polly goes, the captain hands her a pool noodle to help hold her up. I Follow and I ask right away OK? Polly says good, and we start looking around as we are directed to where the Manatees are. Not to swim, not to splash, just float around and they will come is what we have been educated to do. Well with what seems like a drove of people we make our way away from the boat a bit, using our hands and arms, not to kick and surprisingly we get a good look at the manatees. There are 2 in our area, a Mom and baby, and they were sleeping at first, as we saw them just laying on the bottom, just going up for air then back again, was cool to see. Then they started to feed, and we got a good look at what they did 1/2 of the time, the other is sleeping. Here is a link to some interesting info on them

Fish that follow the Manatees around and feed on what they bring up from the bottom

Polly and I were wow-ed at the amount of people, and I was surprised at just how often we did see them as they moved among us eating and breathing. The baby went up for air about every minute, and the mother about every 4-5 mins it seemed like, they went about their business as no one was there, till they had had enough of people then they swam away. I didn't hear them crunching, or peeping till later in the video, sure sounds cool. All in all, Polly and I were happy with the experience. Polly's mask was a success, and she felt very comfortable. I got some usable video, and a few pictures. Success I say, even with at least 30 people in the water, we managed to stay out of the fray, as the Manatees kept on the move, and we stayed relatively still.

I can't get video here so please go to my Facebook to take a look at what I posted.

As most of what we are doing, there is no List, no Bucket, we are wandering to where we we would like to see, and as we go people say "You should see this" or " Make sure you go here, and do this"
So far this is working well, as we keep doing, and seeing things we never heard of before.

We were told about the Mermaid Swim, at Weeki Wachee State park by a guy at the pool Polly called Santa Clause... the first day we came here. Polly says to friends on the phone that night, Santa does winter in Florida, we saw him! Well we decided to fill in our Friday with a trip there to see this show, and we were surprised at how good a show it was. We got to the park as the show was about to start, and was standing room only in the 400 seat room, as school had a field day and along with many other visitors there was 3 busses of children here today. All good, had a good view, and saw the mermaids, and a few others make a show of the Little Mermaid, and the kids made it even more exciting as they Oooed and Ahhed. Was interesting as I did wonder how they would perform and get there air. Another off the list we don't have... LOL We went on a short boat ride down the springs river and had an explanation of the springs, and how the animals lived here, and that in the winter Manatees would come up tp the head of the springs, was a good informative little ride. Was a nice way to spend the day, but still much to see in this area.

Late in the afternoon we make our way past our campsite toward the gulf, as I had seen a beach at the end of the road, and wanted to check it out. Was a nice sandy beach at the very end of the road, and end of the land. Across from the beach we get a look at the Nuclear Plant that Santa told us of that he said was shut down, didn't look shut down, as was still pumping out steam. Will have to check into this.

After we check out the beach we go into town for one more item we needed, and take a look at the mall. Only one big store there, all others closed, was a sign as Santa said since plant closed, the town is not doing too good, much closed, as we saw.

Been a good time here in Crystal River, will pass by again I'm sure, and next time stay a little longer.

Off to Fort Meyers, and will take a walk on a beach a friend told us about.
Love life here in Florida...