Saturday, Sept. 28

Up at 7 a.m., and after a breakfast of bagels and cream cheese with jelly, orange juice, fruit, and coffee, we dressed and headed out to tour Blue Spring Heritage Center.

At the center, we began our tour by watching two short films. One described the founding of the center, and the other featured divers, who explored the depths of the spring, sometimes squeezing through narrow spaces. It was creepy just watching them do this. They are certainly braver and more adventurous than I am!

The spring is generally a cobalt blue. Thirty-eight million gallons of cold water (a constant 55 degrees) flows into a trout-stocked lagoon each day. A wide path encircles the lagoon, where visitors can stroll and enjoy the many flowering plants. Today, hundreds of yellow butterflies flitted among the flowers.

There's an overlook from which visitors can feed the trout. From this vantage point, we could see the green vegetation, like huge broccoli plants, growing beneath the water of the lagoon.

The area also features a large bluff, where Native Americans once sheltered, and where they carved hieroglyphics into the stone, though we were not able to see the markings.

To access the lagoon area, visitors must descend a steep stairway, then return to the top via a long, long ramp. Folks need to be in pretty good shape to do this, though there are benches at a couple of levels for catching one's breath. We didn't dally, though, and just climbed the ramp without stopping.

At the top, there is a lovely red barn, and a pasture with appaloosa horses grazing. Down the road from the facility, there is a viewing area for looking down into the valley and out over the hills. From here, visitors can see the river and a bridge, as well as farms and homes.

From here, we decided to see if we could find the city park, which was supposed to be near a lake. We found the turnoff and followed a "paved" road that was nothing but potholes. At the beginning of the road, a prominent sign declared that the road was scheduled to be repaired "this month." There were only a few days of the month left, so we wondered which month the sign referred to...and how many months the sign had already been there?

At the end of the road, there was a marina and some camping areas, but nothing that looked like a city park.

So we decided to go back to camp and have lunch before continuing our tour. This afternoon, we went to a place that features a huge rock that is balance on a sort of rock leg. It looks like it could tumble at any minute, but it has actually been there for thousands of years.

Also at this area is a "natural bridge," which is a large hollowed out rock that creates a bridge-like span. Both the bridge and the balanced rock are natural wonders that amazed Daughter. Of course, to access them, folks had to go down a steep paved path (an iron handrail keeps people from slipping and falling), and the up, up, up, a path to the balanced rock.

By the time we had toured Blue Spring, and this bridge/rock area, we felt we'd had plenty of exercise for the day.

From here, we went to an unusual home, where the owner (now deceased) spent about fifty years covering everything inside and outside the house in rocks, shells, marbles, and anything else she could lay her hand on.

Inside the house plants grow from ground level to the second level of the house. They grow in the earth in an area between the large windows and the floors of the home. Picture frames, tables, walls, and other things are decorated with rocks and shells. Outside, there are gardens of rock art, as well as bottle trees (this woman's husband collected bottles, particularly blue ones).

It's a very unusual place, but not very comfortable looking. However, Daughter was completely enchanted with it, particularly the framed butterflies and moths.

Just as we finished our tour, it began raining, so we headed back to camp. Supper tonight was baked potatoes topped with chili and sour cream, and a side of coleslaw. Daughter loved this meal, especially the chili.

Later, we enjoyed wine with cheese and crackers, while we listened to an audio book. By 9:30 p.m., we were ready for bed.