Man, a terrific Day at Manatee Springs

I've delayed making this post for a few different reasons... mostly because I've been so busy with school that I haven't had much time to do anything else. But part of the reason is that I don't want to let go of summer just yet. But alas, labor day is here and it is time for me to finally let go.

I had planned on visiting Manatee Springs since the beginning of the summer. Marsha, a co-worker, suggested it to me, telling me stories of a beautiful swimming hole and world-class bar-b-que. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a sucker for bbq. And that is how one morning, I packed up the car, grabbed my friends Margaret and Daniel, and headed south (or was it west?) for Chiefland, FL.

We arrived to a sparse parking lot of two other cars, and a spring that had two small children and their family wading inside. If you've ever been to one of Florida's springs, you know that this is a rarity. Even on a slow day (read: middle of the week), there are still at least a few various groups. Not here, however. We joyously set off on a short walk down the boardwalk, down towards the Suwanee river.

What I love about trips with friends is that everyone brings something different to the table. Daniel, for example, took an entomology class last semester, and was able to identify various types of bugs (and plants!) that we saw. Hello, adorable water bugs. Goodbye, terrifying snakes. Margaret entertained us with various puns (my title pun) and personal renditions of Just Around the River Bend from Pocohontas.

Once we reached the Suwanee, we were greeted with open water and beautifully clear skies. I don't think we could have picked a more perfect day for a Springs visit. After a plate of bbq, wildlife spottings, and a dip in the chilly spring, I don't think I could have ended my summer in a better way.

Unless of course you consider the giant banana spiders we found on the nature trail.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Springs)

Best thing about living in Gainesville during the summer: it's surrounded by several natural springs and nature preserves.

Worst thing about living in Gainesville during the summer: all of my friends are either in class or working.

And it was these two things that brought me, alone, to Rainbow Springs in Dunnellon, FL. At the beginning of the summer, I wrote myself a list of goals that I want to accomplish. Most of them are pretty basic - read some books, run a 5k, practice my french. One is unique to Gainesville: visit every surrounding spring.

The Fine Print printed an article during spring called "Spring Fever," which listed nine different springs in the area and gave a brief description of each. I read the article at the beginning of May and thought to myself "Hey, I can visit all of those no problem. In fact, I'll probably be able to visit them twice." Little did I know that scheduling a day trip like that with friends is extremely difficult - especially when my days off are during the week, and everyone else's are the weekends.

I've been in a weird mood recently that I can't quite explain. Normally, I'm a social butterfly and I crave constant conversation (just ask my coworkers or roommates - I'm sure they're sick of me). I love being around people, laughing and joking and exploring. But over the past month, something in me changed. I dread getting out of bed in the morning because it means that I have to interact with others, and while I still want to be around people, the commitment of making plans feels like almost too much.

Because of this, I've been trying to make more time for myself. A cup of hot tea in the morning, an hour of yoga before work... being alone with my thoughts puts me simultaneously in the best and worst mood. That is why I went to Rainbow Springs by myself. I knew that if I really wanted, I could find someone to go with me. Who wouldn't want to take a day trip to a beautiful spring that costs only $2 to get in? But part of me needed this.

I spent the day looking at waterfalls and abandoned zoo enclosures; Observing as children shrieked when they jumped into the ice-cold water. It didn't matter to me that the weather was less than ideal (of course on my day off it had to be the only rainy day of the week). I swam solo in the icy water, and when it started to storm, I hung my hammock under a pavilion and read. I bought myself a coke and thought about how different the trip would have been had other people accompanied me, and how one day, I would like to return with my friends. But for that day, my own company was perfect.

I can now proudly cross two springs off of the list (I visited Ginnie Springs earlier this summer), and I can look back on this trip with fond memories: driving with the windows down and the cool wind on my face, jumping into crystal clear water, hanging out as the rain droplets gave me goosebumps. I just hope I can visit the other seven springs before the summer is over.