WE'RE BAACK!

 We arrived back in Iowa last Tuesday.  All the way back from Florida, the only snow we saw on the ground was in Iowa!  Welcome back!

While it was cooler and more rainy in the panhandle this year we were still able to get some golf and much more importantly some trike riding in.  While there were several destinations I had planned to take on this time, the weather did not cooperate and I'll have to wait until next year.

Our last two trips on the trike were interesting.  Our first visit last week was to Ponce de Leon Springs State Park.  The park was named after the Spanish explorer who led an expedition to Florida in 1513 looking for the "fountain of youth".  Whether his expedition ever made it to this area is debatable, but the name of the park and the name of the nearby town stuck.  In the park there is a pool for swimming that stays at a constant 68 degrees.  Might be good on a hoy day, but there were some swimmers using it when we were there.

WE PREFER THE HEATED POOL AT THE CONDO

The main spring that feeds the pool produces 14 million gallons of water per day!

Our second trip last week started with a gathering of the Panama City Gold Wingers at Culver's in Panama City Beach with eleven of us for lunch.  

A MOTLEY LOOKING CREW

WAITING IN THE SHADE

This would be our last get-together with our friends here for this year.  After lunch we took a bike trip out to a lavender farm.  As of this time it's the only one in Florida.

THE LAVENDER PLANTS NOT YET IN BLOOM

THE LAVENDER FIELD

OUR HOST EXPLAINS THE STILL USED FOR PROCESSING
LAVENDER, NOT MOONSHINE!

YOU COULD PLAY A GIANT GAME OF CHESS WHILE YOU'RE HERE

HE GUARDS THE PLACE!

We left for Iowa on the following Monday.  Hopefully the Covid thing will be over, so we can spend more time with our Florida and Alabama friends next year.