After our week in Gulf Breeze, catching up with Family and spending a week with Evan we headed out to our next destination. This leg would be a 2 day trip because of the drive time required. The first leg was to Tallahassee, FL the state capitol and the second leg would be Crystal River, FL.
The drive to Tallahassee which was mostly interstate since we took the direct route was actually pleasant. The sides of the road are lined in tall oak and pine trees covered in spanish moss. Not what you would expect. We didn't make any stops along this route, we just went straight from A to B. Honestly I was just so excited to get to Crystal River that I couldn't be bothered to stop off along some of the other sites like Ponce De Leon State Park, where visitors can swim in a natural spring that some believe to be the fountain of youth.
Tallahassee is a nice city. Its full of trees and old houses adding to the charm. Along with being the state capitol it is also home to Florida State University Seminoles. The Seminoles were a population of indigenous people in the Florida area. Prior to this trip I didn't know anything about them. So Krystal pulled up the history and now we all know. To draw you a parallel, the Florida Seminoles is like saying the Roseburg Indians. However, the Seminoles Chief has officially stated that the tribe sees it as an Honor to have FSU associated with them as a people. There is no plan to change the name of the FSU Seminoles.
The Seminole People are a branch but totally separate group of Native Americans from the Creek Indians that became increasingly more independent in the mid 1700s when they began to trade with the Europeans. Their tribe grew in numbers during the following decades in part due to taking in what are referred to as the "Black Seminoles" who were freed black or escaped slaves that integrated with the tribe. After the United States gained its independence in 1776 the new settlers began putting a lot of pressure on the Seminoles eventually leading to conflict and a treaty moving the Seminoles to a reservation in Florida around 1823 which they were forcefully removed from approx 10 years later in 1832 and relocated West of the Mississippi River. All said and done there were 3 different named conflicts with the Seminoles and most all of the Seminoles were "relocated". An estimated 500 ended up holding out in the Everglades. In recent years they did get the government to make some reparations including a 5,000 acre reservation and a total settlement worth approx 40 million dollars which was put into trust to fund tribal services. The tribe formally resides in Oklahoma today, but does operate the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa Bay.
After checking out of our hotel we checked out the state capitol building which was much different than what we have seen in AR, OR, CA, NM, or OK. This building almost looks like a large plantation home without the porches. Its perched up on a hill and has an amazing view of the surrounding area. From there we headed towards Crystal River, which was a 3 hour drive. This was also a very green and lush roadside. Trees growing up like tunnel on each side. It really is a beautiful part of Florida. Thankfully the scenery was the most dramatic part of this drive as well. We pulled into Crystal River "Home of the Manatee" and quickly right back out of it because we came to find out our Airbnb was actually in a suburb I guess you could say. It was a place known as the Ozello Keys, a small community built out in the salt marshes. Its was a very tight nit community where people gathered at a restaurant called the Island Outpost. It seemed to be an old convenience store. Couldn't have been more than 1000 sq ft, and it still has the coolers lining the wall. It now had a grill, a tiki bar, and an assortment of tables with chairs. The chairs around the tiki bar have local community members names on them (or in memory of). Oh and then there's the $1 beers on draft that are $1 no matter which day or time. The people were so kind and welcoming. We stayed at the gecko house which was a mobile home that had been added onto to create a large master bedroom and living room. As crazy as it sounds it was hillbrilliant and quite comfortable. The house sits right on a canal that was about the width of a road. Boats would come and go to their docks, mullet fish would swim by, and we would occasionally see massive cranes fishing. I attempted to catch a mullet fish, I covered a cheeto with budweiser and played some country music, but these fish were to smart for that. I should have tried a pork rind and a white claw combo maybe. Have you ever heard the saying, "Does the Pope wear a funny hat" or "does a frog hit his butt every time he hops" or maybe "does a one legged duck swim in circles"? Well I got a new one, "do lizards hump on the back deck overlooking the canal while Im trying to have a serious conference call".... I went from Voice Engineer to voyeur in the blink of an eye. There are so many lizards in Florida. FSU should have named themselves the Brown Anoles (Anole is the type of lizard seen most commonly in Florida), but that might make it way to easy for the opposing team. Maybe Green Anoles would be the better route. Probably need to relocate all these indigenous Anoles to Oklahoma before that idea will catch any traction. The ones they cant catch will just have to live in the Everglades.
We did get to swim with Manatees while we were staying there. We chartered a tour boat and went out into THE "Crystal River" which is where water comes up from springs underneath and heads out to the salt marshes and then into the Gulf of Mexico. Because of the springs the water temperature stays around 72 degrees year round which is why the Manatees stay here. Scientists estimate it is the home for 15 - 20 percent of the population of West Indian Manatee. They are now considered threatened, no longer critically endangered. We ended up in a group of 5-6 manatees, which had Ava walking on water to get away and the rest of us in awe. These animals are the size a smart car, and the way they swim stirs up sediment so what you end up with is murky water and a massive animal at arms length before you can even process what it is. If I was in the ocean and not expecting it I would without a doubt need to rinse out my trunks. In this scenario we were expecting to see manatees, but it was still shocking when they appears from the abyss. They are very gentle curious creatures and it was a pleasant experience that I would gladly do again and again.
During our mornings before work or late evenings after work we would go kayaking and Krystal would paddle board. The first trip out resulted in my phone going for a swim along with me, my hat, shoes, paddle, and sunglasses. Though we were in the salt marsh on the edge of the bay the part we were in was surprisingly shallow but very murky. For those of you who don't know I am adverse to swimming in water that I cannot see the bottom. My imagination gets the best of me and I'm over it rather immediately. So dumping the kayak into water that turned out to be 4 ft deep including 6 inches of mud on the bottom was forced therapy for me. As the kayak went over I was expecting to be eaten by an alligator that I wouldn't see until I was being digested. Fortunately while there is a possibility of alligators the locals say they've never seen one in there. So I just had to gather my stuff off the bottom and then dump all the water out of the Kayak, and climb back in. I survived but my phone sadly did not.... RIP. I went back out a few more times after that, sans phone and stayed dry. It was fun. Krystal was a sight to see on the paddle board with Ava on the front. One of the trips she went out on with Lance and Ava they saw a trio of River Otters. I didn't get to see these little critters with my own eyes but it made a real impression on the kids.
Our week was over way too soon and we were sad to leave. It would be a nice place to retire someday, but for now we are still exploring and raising kids. I'm sure we will be back someday and all I can hope is that some of the faces have changed because no one lives forever but the town stays the same. Ozello Keys are a very special place. Our next destination was Key Largo, FL, we are meeting up with Grandma Diane from California and I am going to meet some extended family on my Step Moms side.
Your writing is AWESOME!!