On to Collier-Seminole SP

On February 25th, we checked into Collier-Seminole State Park. This SP was not well laid out or maintained.  We did ride our bikes a few different times because they had a bike path ~3 miles long so out and back was ~6 miles.  We think one of the keys to enjoying our time is exercise and eating well.  After all aren't peanut M&M's part of everyone's food pyramid?  There was something quite interesting at CSSP.  It was a walking dredge used to build the Tamiami Trail.  This engineering marvel piece of machinery was built in Bay City, Michigan and could 'walk' through the swamps covering 10' per stride.  It had wide 'feet' and a cable system that would pull one side forward then the other.  So they used it to dredge the swamp and pile up the material to create a road bed that is U.S. 41 today.

After leaving Collier-Seminole SP, we lumbered along up to Lake Manatee SP near Bradenton, FL. where we are staying for four nights.  While here, we went to the DeSoto National Monument and were quite surprised at what a wonderful and historical place this is.  When Bonnie was teaching 4th grade, she taught about DeSoto and was describing the details to me as we were walking through the monument.  DeSoto was a vile, ruthless explorer, using dogs to attack the Indians.  There were life size pictures of DeSoto's group as well as the Indians he captured and forced into labor.

 

 DeSoto's camp pictured above

Every Alabama 4th grade teacher would know this story.  (Right Rachael?)

The walking trails on the monument grounds was really nice and shaded.

We did get to see some unusual animals during our visit.

We then took our bikes to another place close by that had some beautiful trails to bike.

We had a real nice campsite in Lake Manatee SP.  Site 44 was very large, level, and surrounded by fan palms.

 
There were several places to ride our bikes inside the park, so as we were exploring, we came upon another one of these guys.  Granted, they are not as much fun as alligators.

We leave Lake Manatee SP tomorrow, March 5th, to go to Manatee Springs SP, hoping to stop and ride our bikes on a rails-to-trails trail.