Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Last day in Florida

While I always try to squeeze as much in the day as possible this blog actually has a couple days combined.  Duane's family and I took a Sunday trip to Tarpon Springs. There on the sponge dock we were filled with information about the Greek sponge divers.



Our tour guide claims to be the last diver on the famous "Tarpon Springs" sponge boat. The cajun host gave us the history of the sponge industry. Tarpon Springs was the sponge capital of the world until a blight in the '50's decimated the sponge beds. 25 years later they were back in business pulling the animal skeletons off the ocean floor. 


Frank, our demonstrator, is of greek and Italian heritage and wore the old style divers suit. The suit and helmet, with a mandatory shoulder weight set, added 172 pounds extra to whatever Frank weighed.



It was explained to us that there are more than 3600 types of sponges in the world but out of all those only 5 sponges are harvested. Frank said that he can cut the skeleton off correctly and go back two years later to harvest another one just like it.


 Frank goes down to the depths of the ocean looking for sponges. Well, actually we only went out 1/2 mile and Frank was probably in 10 or 15 foot of water...but it looked good anyway.


Early the next morning, my last, I drove by the old Yulee Sugar Mill ruins. Sugar was milled here with the use of slaves until 1864.


This part of Florida was perfect for growing the sugar cane. The cane was cut and run through the steam powered rollers above to extract the cane juices. The other process of heating and drying were also done on the property.



I got all excited when I saw this signage because they also described it as 
birding trail. 



Apparently I am the only person in Florida who gets excited about either
 birding or trails?


Nothing instills confidence, like a garage built in the stomach of a 
Apatosaurus. 


The clouds or fog come in an out of the beach area very rapidly.


Go down the coast a mile or two and it clears up...for a while anyhow.


Sitting here at an airport tavern thinking to myself that there should be a glass of white wine right next to this red...my wife drinks white.:-)








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