SANDHILL CRANE BABIES

On Easter, April9th, we saw these little Sandhill Crane babies at the back of our house. I think they were recently hatched.
 

They have been crossing the street to the pond in front of our house, but on Sunday they crossed back to the back pond. Only one week and their necks are getting longer. April 16th

April 24, three weeks old.

Back across the street.

We haven't seen the sandhill crane family since the 24th. 

There is a family of them at Thousand Trails, I think they are a few weeks older then the family by us. They sure grow fast. April 27

O'LENO STATE PARK

We took a little get away for a long weekend  and Larry's birthday to O'Leno State Park in High Springs, FL.  It is about an hour north west of Gainesville.
 

There is a group camping area built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

There are lots of trails to hike and bike.

Notice that the suspension bridge was closed from a tree falling on it.

Usually the River Trail is a 1.5 mile loop, but with the bridge closed you had to turn around and walk back.

Thus we did the 3 mile River walk.

The clear water is the Santa Fe River and the green area is where the river goes underground, the River Sink.

It was a little bit cloudy and the trees gave lots of shade so it was a good day for a hike.

We tried biking one of the trails but trail riding was too challenging for me. We did bike for 6 miles on the road from the park entrance to the campground.

On Friday was Larry's 75th birthday. I did have a small surprise gathering for him with neighbors and friends one evening before we left.  For his birthday he chose to eat at the Knights of Columbus' Fish and Shrimp Fry in High Springs  It was a good meal. We then visited John Lehmann, a friend we hadn't seen for many years. He lives in Fort White, 10 miles from where we were staying.

After we parked at the campground I noticed the driver's side front tire was flat. We called Coach Net and ordered two new tires for the front. When they arrived the next day, in a pick up truck, Larry looked at the tires and said they were not the make we had ordered. He had the gentleman just check the valve and put air in the tire. Larry had thought it may be the valve stem from the beginning. The air held, but we knew it was time to get new tires, for they were 6 years old. We called this shop in Gainesville and on the way home stopped and had new tires put on the front. We will replace all the tires before we head north the end of July.