Thursday March 13, 2014 Crystal River, Fla to Arcadia, Fla

63022   190 miles  (over 4000 since home)  Sunshine and clear blue skies    50-65*  Gas $3.45

I had hoped we could find a place to see the manatees so we went to the Crystal River Archaeological Park. The park had an interpretive center where we learned about the Native population who lived there in the past and  created ceremonial mounds. The live oaks drip with Spanish moss and are home to resurrection ferns. Further down the road, we found Crystal River State Park and were in time to hop on a canal boat tour but the wind was brisk and cold so we watched a video of area highlights at the club house while visiting with another tourist who opted out of the boat tour with his friends. No manatee to be seen.

We drove South along US 18 to to Port Richey and turned East for I-75, I-4 and South on US 17.  We planned to stay in Fort Meyers but as I began to look for a hotel, all in our price range were booked. We stopped at one hotel and could have had the last room for $200 which seemed excessive for a bed and bathroom  in a motel chain.  That's where we heard there was a Indy Formula Car Race in Sebring so all rooms in a 50-75 mile radius were booked. We pushed on to the town of Arcadia and as a last resort, booked into the Economy Inn.  Cheap, no pool, sheets were clean, tile floor (no bug filled carpet) but on a 4 lane highway.  I suggested to Sonny that we take our chairs to the back and sit in the sun away from the traffic noise but Sonny said there were shady characters lurking about so we sat in front with our drinks trying to numb the realization of actually sleeping in that room.  During the evening, the highway traffic actually quieted so the sleep was restful. Early in the morning, we zipped on our way to Boca Raton to the Fairfield Inn that had a lovely room, pool and hot tub.  We stayed two nights.

We passed the "High Octane Saloon" near Homosassa.  Sonny recognized the place from a spot on TV where bikers (and general public) can get entertainment, food and a tattoo-one stop shopping!  The highway turned East and became more country though still with 3 lanes each way.  I saw a sand hill heron on the roadside.  In Dover, Fla, we passed an Airstream RV dealer who had nose dived 5 of his trailer models into a line along the road.  Pretty catchy advertisement. In Plant City, we found Starbucks for break time.  Dollar stores continue to be on every corner and truckloads of oranges begin to be on the highway.  Built in bike lanes but have yet to actually see a bike using one. The high wire power lines include places for the raptors to build giant nests.

Crystal River Archaeological Park Temple Mound stairs.  There was a view of
the river from the top of the mound.

Ornate Diamond Back Terrapin playing in their tank at Crystal River
State Park.  They are about 6" in length.

Tree lined streets 

Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins

"This site was once part of a thriving sugar plantation owned by David Levy Yulee. Yulee was a member of the Territorial Legislative Council, and served in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate after Florida statehood. The park contains the remnants of the once-thriving 5,100-acre sugar plantation: a forty-foot limestone masonry chimney, iron gears, and a cane press. The steam-driven mill operated from 1851 to 1864 and served as a supplier of sugar products for southern troops during the Civil War."

Pretty green palms contrasted with the clear blue sky

We passed 3 antique cars and got a picture of this one

Fire detector at the Economy Inn.  Guess this protected from
smokers tampering?

View into the room.

  Notice the decorating with bare florescent tube lighting.  The hair
dryer did work.

Pendleton whisky helped to ease being in the icky
environment or at least it deadened our senses

View from our doorway across the street to the
automotive repair shop.

We are ready to bolt.  Interestingly, there were
expensive cars in the parking lot so maybe we
weren't the only ones caught without a reservation
in another hotel