Falling Waters State Park (Pic Heavy)

[santaman2000]

Well I went camping with the family from 28 June til 5 July in Falling Waters State Park here in NW Florida. The Park is named for it's waterfall (the highest in Florida at 73 feet) The Karst topography of the area is what caused the waterfall. The stream falls into a sinkhole and disappears underground. The entire area is made up of many such sinkholes.

There were originally supposed to be six of us going: myself, James (my oldest grandson) Carson (his baby brother) Nikole (my daughter and the mother of the two boys) Stephen (Nikole's fiance) and finally Barbara (Nikole's mom) but it wasn't to be.

Barbara, James and I went ahead to set up the camp before the rain and Nikole. Stephen and Carson were supposed to follow when Stephen got off work. Nikole had had a flair-up of her crohn's disease but was hoping it would subside. Unfortunately it didn't so the second wave never made it and left me, James, and Barbara to ourselves.

We got the camp set up before the rain but to our dismay, the tent leaked every time it rained which was most of the trip.

Now to the pictures of the trip and area:

The introductory sign at the trailhead to the falls and other interesting points in the park

The reverse side of the same sign

James standing next to the fiftieth year anniversary totem

The next two photos are of James and me respectively at the swimming area of the pond. I kept hoping for a gator sighting while we were there but never got one despite their presence.

Barbara making s'mores

Barbara and James posing at the waterfall the first day. Notice how it's only a trickle?

More photos of the falls that first day

Looking down into the sinkhole

James looking down at it

And now a couple of shots of the same waterfall after two days rainfall!

One of the magnolia trees in the park

Another magnolia with it's branches starting to grow around it's neighbor, a longleaf southern pine

A stand of small longleaf southern pines

Just outside the park we found a blueberry bush while geocaching. Barbara found several caches in the park and this one outside

Another shot of the blueberry bush and then one of James picking them

And now a shot of the cache itself (a pretty easy one)

On the rainiest days we took side trips to nearby Panama City Beach to catch a movie. As the next pic shows, the rain took it's toll there too

Despite the rainy weather and leaky tent, we got in some good short hikes and nature watching; James got in a few swimming sessions and we had some good meals and good company. Can't wait to do it again!

 

[crosslandkelly]

Very nice report, and some good pics.

 

[Niels]

Nice trip report. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Goatboy]

Looks like you had fun, nice looking countryside and although supposedly a hardened ex harvesting forester I do love magnolia trees. (And the JJ Cale song Magnolia is one of my faves).

You just have to keep going on these trips to keep us entertained here in the UK you know.

 

[santaman2000]

.....You just have to keep going on these trips to keep us entertained here in the UK you know.

It's a dirty job but somebody's gotta do it

 

[Mesquite]

It's a dirty job but somebody's gotta do it

And we're so glad you step up to the mark

Looked like a great trip out despite the adversities, thanks for sharing it with us

 

[GordonM]

Thanks for sharing, Dan.

 

[santaman2000]

Thanks to all for looking. And yes I did manage a good time despite the adversities. I place all credit for that on the company. Barbara, like most of our "softer" comrades can be difficult with some things; she's often late and overpacks. But she almost never complains and takes it all I stride.