Graduation Journey... Day 2-3

Early morning start to beat the heat of the afternoon as we travel 156 miles to Sunlake RV Resort in Ruskin, FL. Irv, the sun worshipper goes to the pool and Wanda enjoys the cool A/C while making dinner. Now, it's cool so Wanda and Irv head back to the pool for a refreshing swim after which we set up the VCR for a classic movie on tape. The Marathon Library was kind enough to allow us to check out 10 tapes for 6 weeks since our satellite dish didn't work so no TV.

Next day we head north 205 miles to our next stop in White Springs, FL. As Wanda searches the net for the Stephen Foster Museum... again, God's blessings... it's Stephen Foster Folk Center State Park!!! Another blessing... rv parking availability. It took 10 minutes to cancel our campground reservation and book the park.

Wow, on the banks of the legendary Suwanee River "Way down upon the Suwanee River", the song that made the river famous. The center honors the memory of American composer Stephen Foster, who wrote "Old Folks at Home," the state song of Florida. The museum features exhibits about Foster's most famous songs and his music can be heard emanating from the park's 97-bell carillon throughout the day, every 30 minutes. By the way, Stephen Foster was born in Pittsburgh and never stepped foot in Florida. He was just looking for a river name that fit the lyrics of his song.

White Spings in the 19th century became Florida's first tourist destination. Crowds of health seekers arrived, first by steamboat (Riverboat era... 1870-1910) and then railroad, and hotels were built near the springs to accommodate them. Today, many of the original Victorian buildings survive, particularly within the White Springs Historic District.

On the park grounds is the concrete remains of the medicinal sulfur springs bathhouse. In the 1800's the springs were considered a sacred healling ground by native Americans... even allowing warring tribes access in peace. In 1835 Bryant and Elizabeth Sheffield built a 3 story log hotel and bathhouse around the spring and the first Florida tourist destination was born. Droves of people came looking for a cure for everything from Rheumatism and insomnia to indegestion and dandruff. By the late 1800's White Springs had 14 hotels and boarding houses galore.



The Suwanee River, a federally designated wild river, flows from the Okefenokee Swamp to the Gulf of Mexico. Mirror smooth black water has carved a twisting channel along high bluffs of moss covered oaks and lime rock cliffs. It is not actually black. The water comes out of the swamp where it has become saturated with the tannins from billions of leaves, roots and bark and is actually more the color of a weak cup of coffee. Visitors enjoy unique, spectacular views of primitive beauty.

The park was pristine and rivaled any momument in DC. In a portico underneath the bathhouse roof was the laundry area with washers/dryers and two large laundry tubs built into a "marble" countertop... top of the line. As usual, the campground hosts and volunteers were the best and soooooooo helpful.

On to the next touring stop... Albany, GA!!!