Devil’s Mill Hopper Sink Hole
Gainesville wasn’t part of my original plan. Given my discussions with various people, I drove more through the center of the state just to see a different part. Gainsville was also close enough to the springs I was going to visit next. It was a convenient stop over place. It was chilly but the clouds were clearing as I got out of my sleeping bag. I had breakfast at Cracker Barrel and planned my day.
Devil’s Millhopper State Park
Devil's Millhopper State Park is a unique geological wonder located in Gainesville, Florida. The park is named after its main feature, a 120-foot deep sinkhole that resembles a large funnel. The sinkhole was created during the last Ice Age. Rainwater combined with decaying plants and animals collected in the sinkhole and over time eroded the limestone rock, creating the large bowl-shaped depression. The rock that makes up the sinkhole is limestone, formed from the accumulation of shells, coral, and other marine debris.
The sinkhole was discovered in the 1800s and was used as a quarry for a short period of time. The park was created in 1971 to protect the sinkhole and the surrounding ecosystem. It offers visitors a chance to explore the sinkhole and learn about the unique geology and ecology of the area. The park also has limited hiking trails, picnic areas, and a visitor center with exhibits on the sinkhole and the surrounding ecosystem. The visitor center was closed as were many of the trails when I visited.
Water drains from the sinkhole through a series of underground channels and into a nearby stream. The water that enters the sinkhole is filtered through the limestone rock, which helps to purify it before it enters the stream. The sinkhole also acts as a natural filter for the water that flows into it, trapping sediment and pollutants. This helps to protect the surrounding ecosystem and the water quality of the stream.
There were many people in the park in the morning. I had to wait for a parking spot. This wasn’t high season, and I assume at certain times the park is very crowded. A bridge that allowed visitors to hike a short loop around the sink hole was in disrepair and closed, forcing hikers to turn around and trace their steps. The longer hiking paths seemed to be closed to protect the area.
It was fascinating seeing such a large sinkhole.
University of Florida
I drove to the University of Florida (UF) campus in Gainsville. I thought I would go to a library, but the libraries were closed until 2:00 pm. There were several large outdoor party venues near the campus and they were packed with a waiting line to get in. As I got close to the library, I wasn’t finding anywhere to park. I saw a campus police car nearby and stopped to ask where I could park. The officer told me I could park in any public parking lot and parking was free all day because it was the weekend. He pointed to a lot a block away and said there should be parking there. He was right.
I had over two hours until the library opened, so I made a sandwich and pulled the bike off the car. This is Florida’s oldest public university. The campus covers over 2,000 acres and is home to more than 50,000 students. The university is known for its beautiful and well-maintained grounds, which include a mix of historic and modern buildings. Bicycle was the perfect way to tour the campus.
The heart of the UF campus is the historic Plaza of the Americas, a large, tree-lined open space that is surrounded by some of the university's most iconic buildings. These include century-old brick buildings like Language Hall and Peabody Hall, which are on the National Register of Historic Places. The plaza is also home to the Century Tower, a 157-foot tall carillon tower that is a landmark of the campus. I had driven through this on my way to parking.
Across from the street from Century Tower is the African American Studies buildings was have an outdoor event while I was there. I stopped to read the plaques located near the building and learned alot.
The program dates back to the late 1960s and early 1970s, during a time of increased activism and political consciousness among African American students and communities. During this time, students and faculty members at UF organized and advocated for the creation of a Black Studies program on campus. In 1968, the UF Student Senate passed a resolution calling for the creation of a Black Studies program, and in 1969 the university established the Afro-American Studies Program. The program was initially housed in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and offered courses on the history, culture, and politics of African Americans. In the 1980s, it was renamed as the African American Studies Program and in the 1990s it became a full-fledged department. The program also played a role in promoting cultural and intellectual diversity on campus and in the wider community. It has provided students with an opportunity to learn about the African American experience and has helped to promote a more inclusive and equitable society.
After an hour, I had found my way to the Brain Institute and needed to find a restroom. I found a student and he explained that there was one building that didn’t require a code that I could get to. His instructions were perfect and I found my way deep in side a lecture hall building up several floors.
The campus has many green spaces and gardens, including the Bat House and Lake Alice. The Bat House, closed when I was there, is home to hundreds of bats that roost inside it, while Lake Alice is a picturesque body of water.
I tried to visit some of the sports facilities including the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, which is the home of the Florida Gators football team. This is a massive stadium in the center of campus. At the entrance, on top of the stadium is a sign indicating the three years the Gators football team won the national championship.
Around 2:30 pm, I made my way back to the car and put the bicycle back on the rack. I proceeded to the library. The first library I went was closed for the MLK holiday. I asked a student if there was a library open on campus, and he pointed to a library and said “that one is alway open, I’m on my way there.” When we got there it was closed. Many students were walking in that direction.
Ginnie Springs
I thought I’d go to a Starbucks for an hour or so. I arrived at a nearby Starbucks and went to park. The bike on top of the car fell to the side. I got out to look at what had happened. Someone, while I was looking for a library had loosened the straps. and placed a milk carton upside down on the seat. A little bizarre!!
I drove to Ginnie Springs north of Gainesville. I planned to be in the Ginnie Springs area for a few days. As I got to the camp site, I could hear loud music coming from near the water. It was pretty chilly, but I saw people walking in swimming suites. I understood the springs must be warm but they must have been cold after walking back from the springs.
I made dinner and tried to get an Internet connection. The connection worked, but there was no bandwidth. Cell coverage came and went. I gave up trying to get online. I pulled out a book and read for two hours.
The music seemed to get louder as the evening went on. I woke around 1:30 am and the music was starting to subside.