First Day At Ginnie Springs, Florida
Last night was a restless one for me, as a perfect storm of factors conspired against a good night's sleep. The relentless thumping of music from the nearby partygoers proved to be a constant distraction, while the raucous snoring of my neighbors in the campsite next to mine only added to the noise. To top it all off, the chilly weather had crept its way into my tent, leaving me restless. It was a night filled with a symphony of sounds and discomfort, making it difficult for me to find any restful moments.
I added Ginnie Springs to my travels after meeting a couple in Pennsylvania that said this was a must see in Northern Florida. The area is a popular outdoor recreational area located in High Springs, Florida. The park is known for its crystal-clear warm springs, which are fed by the Santa Fe River. Ginnie Springs seems to be popular for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. It also seems to be a large party area on the weekend.
For me, the campground was central for several things I wanted to do in the area. There are several different camping options available, including RV sites, tent sites, and cabin rentals. The bathrooms were not well maintained or even cleaned. The showers did have hot water, but the regulators didn’t function well. From moment to moment, the water would change from very hot to lukewarm.
After breakfast, I took a bike ride around the park to see where the music was coming from and take in what the park had to offer. I was surprised how large the park was. As I rode along the river there were people, drinking beer, and breaking down their campsites to the sound of blaring music. I rode all the roads in the park and eventually came out near the camp store. I saw a few scuba divers swimming near the cave but no one on the river. There were certainly no tubing which I presumed was more popular during warmer weather.
In the afternoon, I grabbed a book and relaxed in the tent for a few of hours. I walked over to the store with the computer and was able to use the wi-fi. When there are a lot of people in the park, there seems to be no bandwidth. I worked online until the sunset and headed back to the campground.
Great Outdoors Restaurant
It was dark and pretty cold and I didn’t feel like cooking. I searched for restaurants nearby and found the Great Outdoors Restaurant. They closed at 9:30 pm and arrived at 9:15 pm. There were seats at the bar. The bartender, Jodi, asked what I would like to drink. I asked if they had a stout and to my surprise they did. I asked her what she would recommend to eat and she told me she doesn’t like salmon but she liked their salmon. I ordered the salmon.
As I struck up a conversation with Jodi, I inquired about the local music scene. To my delight, she proceeded to tell me stories of the talented musicians that call this area home, many of whom have made a name for themselves in the industry. I was thoroughly impressed by her extensive knowledge and passion for the local music scene. Not only was she a wealth of information, but she was also a delight to talk to, showing genuine interest in my own journey and asking about my trip. As we chatted, she even asked how to get to the blog and if she could send a message. The food and service were both excellent, but it was the engaging conversation with Jodi that truly made the evening enjoyable.