Falling Waters

It started raining just before we arrived at our 1st day’s campground. Not exactly the kind of falling waters I was expecting at Falling Waters State Park. But, the rain was short lived and the hot & humid Florida sun shone through.

Here is our campsite....nice and level. Joselyn is getting ready to take her cat, Tattoo for a walk around the campground loop in her stroller. The two cats and one dog did well together on today’s drive.

Bandit in his hidey-hole.

We decided to hike to see the park’s namesake right away in case it decided to rain again. My neighbor friend, Wes, assured us it was just a short walk. Perhaps you can see the black square parking lot on the map where he must have walked from. We, however, were in the campground way at the top of the green loop on the map....I’ll get you later, Wes.

We passed this little lake and swimming hole....Roe was making a beeline for the water until I read him the sign. More about the importance of this man-made lake later.

Next we passed the site of the first oil-well attempt in Florida.

And perhaps the first recipe for Carolyn’s Cooler?

As we approached the waterfall I wondered whether there would be any actual water falling? There was a sign at the entrance that it was seasonal, and my helpful neighbor Wes let us know there was none last year when he was here. So naturally I was ecstatic when I got my first glimpse:

"Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again; but whosever drinks of the water I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." John 3: 13-14

A sight not to be missed; it is the highest waterfall in all of Florida! Of course, Florida being mostly coastal lowlands, there aren’t too many competitors for that title.

Remember that lake we passed?

We walked down the steps for a closer look.

Looking down into the abyss. It was cool down there, like being in a cave.

Joselyn and me in front of the “falling waters.”

Next the trail follows a boardwalk past several other deep sinkholes.

We read about the Southern Maiden Fern

And the useful Sparkleberry Tree.

Back at the RV, we are all resting comfortably.