Off to see the Manatee

Off to see the Manatee

Monday February 15, 2021

We had another early start this morning, just after 9. We went to Lake Panasoffkee. Brigitte has a relative there she didn't see for a long time. We had a nice visit, she lives on the lake. 

By this time it was almost noon, I wanted to eat before our next adventure, so we ended up stopping at Ruby Tuesday's, had a great lunch Jim had a huge Burger, she had a little steak, I just had salad bar. The waiter wasn't as attentive as Brigitte would have liked.

Then we headed to Crystal River at Kings Bay to see the manatees. It was $40 a person soon as we arrived we went into the office to pay. Immediately upon arrival we were greeted with a guy that was so helpful found us a captain and a boat. They were so helpful getting Brigitte on board the boat. Our captain told great stories about the water and surrounding area.

He showed us a really small island there that had a Shack on it that a family raised 10 kids on, back in the day until  a no name storm flooded out. And they had move to a houseboat. The ride was supposed to be an hour and a half. I asked him what scary stories happened while he spent all his years on the water. 

He told us a few and then Bridget told him a story of her childhood. And he listened attentively as he kept idling the boat to stay just back from where he was going to dock. We tipped both those guys cuz they were so helpful and did a great job on our private tour.

He really worked hard to find us some manatees to see.

There was different groups with swimmers in the water. He circled back a few places a couple times to see one for us. They come inside these Waters to keep warm when it's cold. He said they're all muscle no body fat to keep warm, even though they're huge.

After our tour of the manatees we stopped at The Villages Square in Brownwood to use the bathroom. Music was playing, it was so festive we really wanted to stay but we were a good hour away. By this time it was almost 6. We headed back to TTO.

We dropped Brigitte off at her cabin and put our stuff in the golf cart went back to our RV. Had leftovers I took a shower, washed to loads of towels. Took an allergy pill, pollen still really bothering me. Watched little TV before bed.