Hot day at Wekiwa Springs

We started the day by biking down to the springs area for a lecture on wildlife photography. The presenter was personable and had some amazing photographs, many taken right here at Wekiwa Springs, but his talk was rambling and disorganized.  At the start of the talk, this guy (a skink) visited, and this is the photo I got of him. (The one taken with the fancy equipment belonging to the presenter was probably a better photo!)

At the end of the talk, he brought out Jolly the Alligator for people to see and touch.

After the uphill bike trip back to the campground and a cold drink, we explored the other end of the park road by bicycle, stopping along the way to see a summer tanager and a turkey, and also to see some flowers along the way.

The road ended at Sand Lake, though that took us only a short way into the 13,000 acres of parkland, much of it accessible only by foot.  

By the time we returned to the RV (where Ranger had stayed in air-conditioned comfort), the temperature had climbed into the 90's, too hot for much more activity.  We relaxed and read.  In late afternoon, I biked back to the springs to take a swim; the water was surprisingly cold.  No alligators in there with us, but there were some turtles.  That area of the park was still full of day visitors, enjoying family gatherings and a dip on a very hot day.