Bugg Spring, Branhams, and Buffets

 The past two days have been full! We have gotten to spend time with Ben's extended family on their spring in Okahumpka. Only the 2 oldest kids have been to their home before when they were 2 and 3. We walked them through the guest house where we had stayed then and, of course, they remember nothing about it. So it is really awesome for them, and us all, to spend some time there making memories that will actually last this time.

Needless to say their place is beautiful.

Aunt Margaret Ann, Uncle Joe, and Cousin Russ were so hospitable and we thoroughly enjoyed the time we got to catch up with them!

Their property boasts the deepest natural spring in Florida..... I think. And despite being 160' deep and home to alligators most of us went for a pleasant, totally nonterrifying, completely enjoyable paddle in kayaks.

Okay, Ben and Israel did the pleasant, enjoyable, nonterrifying kayak trip. Emma and I hesitantly paddled out, made a circle, and came back before we got eaten alive. Ruth graciously volunteered to stay with Theodore on dry, alligator free land.

Emma and I shored our kayak after a titillating 3.4 minute venture. And once we did, an alligator there was! 

I can not tell you the amount of freak out that would have occurred had that creature popped up while we would have been eye level with it. 

Mucho freak out. 

However, as you can see by the previous pictures, Ben and Israel were of the opposite mindset and traipsing around looking for a few alligator encounters. 

They are out of their minds. 

When they finally decided to paddle to shore, Israel had the pleasant experience of the  alligator swimming directly beneath his kayak. 

No thank you. 

All in all, it was a wonderful two days! 

Uncle Joe, who kayaks in that spring daily, did his best to assure me that we absolutely would not be hurt by any alligators. He promised! And seeing as how I can't deny his experience of a lifetime living in alligator - ridden Florida and having 'never' had a bad encounter himself I was almost swayed. 

And then he proceeds to tell me about several alligator accidents that have occurred, including one where a woman was snorkeling in a spring (not their spring). 

So. Anyway, today we go snorkeling! 

I'm not terrified.