"OPA!!!" or Our Big Fat Greek Tour
We couldn’t believe how lucky we were to start out with 68 degree temperature and overcast skies, but no rain yet & not the wind that was predicted. Hope our luck holds today! . M and D decided that the incumbent sheriff up on the Big Bend definitely wins the most billboards and signs award. Crazy number of signs everywhere!!! It’s amazing so many of them survived Hurricane Sally. We also saw the funniest RV sign. The Ho Hum RV Park is right on the Gulf of Mexico. Couldn’t see if they had any amenities? We wouldn’t have wanted to weather Hurricane Sally there since all the campers were sideways to the water. Yikes!!
There are such a vast amount of slash pine forests up this way you quickly understand why lumber and turpentine industries developed along with seafood. As you drive along 98 you will see a lineup of mailboxes, but no sign of houses except a long winding driveway into the woods. We are assuming some of them are on the water or have water views?
As we ventured further down the coast, we saw a number of commercial oyster beds. We wondered about how you get a permit to use that water? Dad had already discovered that oysters are among the easiest item to reproduce and grow. The only manual labor involved is populating them and then raking them up when grown. Not sure of the proper terminology for this industry???
Panacea’s town sign was the prettiest thing about the town and mom didn’t get a photo of it. Shucks. But there was Mikes Marina Supply and the Weedy Lady Emporium. Occasionally we would see some fancy gates in front of a long driveway; but otherwise, signs were about the only items of interest among all the woods, wetlands and water views.
Around the Wakulla River we started to see this very long paved bike/walking path paralleling 98.
It went from one side of the road to the other and seemed to continue for miles...
St Mark’s Wildlife Refuge wasn’t far from 98. Maybe that’s where the paved path started? we missed a beautiful lighthouse at St Mark's.
So far, Perry, FL on 19/98 was the biggest town we went through. Definitely hunting and fishing country up here in this part of the Big Bend.
As the morning progressed, it stayed cool, overcast but the winds increased enough to keep dad on his toes. The only town that appeared larger than Perry was Cross City, but even it looked sad with all the closed businesses and abandoned buildings. Old Town, FL actually had a stoplight with a bustling corner of gas stations and fast food stops. The Christian churches along here seem to be having descent attendance during this pandemic.
Mom loves all the mom and pop style old fashioned motels. Some busy and respectable looking, but many appear pretty rundown.
Fanning Springs booked itself as The Gateway to the Suwannee River. While Chiefland was the Gem of the Suwannee River. It was right by Manatee Springs State Park and has a number of food franchises and a variety of other businesses. Decidedly, it was more prosperous than we have seen...
Crystal River was Home of the Manatees and much larger than dad remembered when he and his buddies dove here in the late 1980’s or early 1990’s. They dove here and at Ginnie Springs. Crystal Springs and Homosassa just blended into one another along this road. Both of the two state parks were right off Route 19/98.
Here’s some of the research mom found:
“Crystal River is a coastal city in western Florida. Kings Bay, which is fed by springs, is home to the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, sheltering manatees year-round. Boardwalks at Three Sisters Springs Wildlife Refuge offer views of the marine mammal and the natural springs. Northwest is Crystal River Archaeological State Park, with remains of an early Native American settlement, including ceremonial mounds.”
“Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
Discover the wild-side of Florida with endangered Florida panther, red wolves, manatees and whooping cranes, plus black bears, bobcats and of course, alligators.” They even have an underwater observatory that isn’t currently opened. Their captive wildlife have been hurt, orphaned or injured which is why they are in captivity. The Springs management are known for their work particularly in rehabbing injured manatees and enabling them to be released to the wild.
Dad remembered going to Weeki Wachee State Park when he was on a family vacation. Thanks to Covid it’s another place that’s currently closed.
Not that I could have gone in anyways. Shucks, mermaids would have amused me!!!
After we left Homosassa, one little town blended into another with car dealerships, tiny & bigger shopping malls, restaurants and businesses all the way into New Port and New Port Richey. Mom missed the photo op of the Crocodile Mini Golf with live gators. Oh My! That’s taking mini golf way too serious me!!!
Another state park on this road Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park . It’s a great park for kayaking through the salt marsh and observing the varied wildlife.
Finally, we made our way to the outskirts of Tarpon Springs, FL and to our last RV park for this trip. By the time we get home, we will have traveled approximately 9,000+ miles in 11 weeks. Our Ford truck even keeps track of the hours on the road. Crazy!!!
This RV park maybe my most favorite yet!!! The dog park is long and filled with the best grass and other green stuff!!!
There's a horse farm across the street that I can smell and see. And, a short walk away is the waterfront with a boat ramp that I can walk into the water...I'm in Heaven!!!
Tarpon Springs calls itself the “Sponge Capital of the World
Some of the wonderful things there are to do here according to mom's research is one to visit the Sponge Docks.
"The Sponge Industry helped build a Greek Community that is now famous not only for the world's finest sponges, but for some of the finest Greek Restaurants, Markets, and Bakeries in the Country.
What else will you find in Tarpon Springs?
Natural Sponges, Sponge Diving, Tours, Sightseeing Cruises, Unique Greek and Florida Souvenirs, lots of Shopping, Sightseeing and Live Entertainment"... "Bouzoukia” (Greek nightclubs that feature laïkó music that usually includes a lute.)
It turns out we weren't here over a weekend when the shows usually happen...Oh Well! I'm probably not old enough to get in???
Mom played ball with me while dad took a power nap before we headed to Mama's Greek Cuisine in the Sponge Dock Shopping Village. (Mom found out it was dog friendly.) They were very nice to me getting me ice water.
M and D seemed to enjoy their Greek Sangria, Flaming Cheese, Greek Lamb Shanks (dad shared...Yummy!) a Greek Variety Platter...there was enough food for four people, so mom and dad brought home leftovers and an incredibly, delicious cream sponge cake that had a baklava crust and a candy orange top...The licks I got were amazing!!! We didn't enjoy it until the next day, they were so full!
Our first morning there mom took me to play ball in the dog park. She then took me down to the boat ramp to play in the water...So Much Fun!
I also got to run with a darling 6 year old girl, Avery while mom chatted with her dad. It was the Best Time!
The only sucky part was getting a bath afterwards...
Another place to visit that mom found was Saint Michael's Shrine "located at 113 Hope St., Saint Michael's Shrine is a place where many have reported miracles taking place since it's construction in 1940. It was built to fulfill the promise made to Archangel Michael by Goldie Parr if her 11-year-old brother was healed.
Many people visit the Shrine to pray and light candles. You can find the history of the shrine here THE SHRINE OF SAINT MICHAEL TAXIARCHIS" What was so incredible about this shrine was it sat in the middle of a group of homes in a working class neighborhood behind the Sponge Docks. Mom went first to take photos and check it out. She came back to us and told dad that he had to go see it. It was such a charming tiny gem. While dad was checking out the shrine and lighting some candles. She got me out of the car to walk around the open field behind the shrine. While we were walking, mom started talking to this handsome Greek/Italian man probably M & D's age or a bit younger working around the site.
She asked him what was all the significance of the darling houses surrounding the shrine. It turns out he was the grandson of Goldie who had the shrine built. He was the latest keeper of the Shrine, after his mom passed away this summer. All the cute homes belonged to one family member or other. He had grown up in the one closest to the shrine, but now lived in the newest one. He waved at his cousin, who was the son of Goldie's brother. (The one that had almost died of huge, inoperable tumor)... Miracles do happen!!!
Mom introduced dad to him and the next thing you know, they got talking about the integrity of Ford's trucks...His 2003 diesel had 450,000. Wow!!! From the outside, it still looked new. I won over another fan too!!!
Around the corner from the shrine, mom spotted this wonderful old truck, speaking of trucks...
From there we went on to the historic area and it's darling downtown. Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church anchored one corner
Mom was so disappointed that this beautiful church was closed, inside it was fashioned after the Hagia Sophia ...the only interior photo she was able to take was through a side door window
We waited while dad got a haircut from Sweet Pete, a former boxer. Dad said his barber shop was decorated in his former career awards and such. Mom says dad looks like he is back in the Navy. He won't have to get another cut for awhile...
...while the classic federal style City Hall turned Tarpon Springs Cultural Center anchored another block.
We drove through the historic downtown into the historic residential area.
In the meantime we spotted this cute trailer pulled by an SUV.
Mom loved the beautiful waterfronts, parks and the wide variety of architectural style homes.
This town is all about boating...
Once we finished that drive, M & D decided to return to one of the downtown taverns for lunch. Tarpon Tavern had a wonderful outside patio with fans. I was a big hit there with the wait staff. Mom and dad shared some bites of their lunch so I was a happy puppy! Afterwards, the day just got better as M and D walked around the corner to the Orange Creamery. The owner gave me a free frozen pumpkin treat with a dog cookie in the center. Seriously, it was so good!!! I licked up mom and dad's ice cream cups and they were beyond good too!!! We hadn't had any ice cream since San Diego.
It was late afternoon by the time we got back to SA, and a nap seemed in order. Later, M & D fed me and then we all walked down to the waterfront to watch the sunset. Sublime...we haven't got to see out sunsets much on this trip...
The dock and tiny man made beach here at our RV park
When the sun went down we finally walked back so M & D could have a very light dinner...
The next day after shopping a bit we enjoyed another wonderful lunch in the Sponge District at Dimitri's on the Waterfront, M & D even tried their peach sangria which they both loved. We decided to drive down the road to see what Dunedin looked like. Some of our looper friends had stopped here too. Both Dunedin and Tarpon Springs have several areas where you can enjoy beaches we just didn't bother.
Mom wants to come back to Dunedin for their Highlander Games and to see the Blue Jays, whenever either sports are are played here again. We loved that the stadium was like Sarasota's tucked into a blue collar looking community.
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