Hontoon State Park, Deland, Florida

We are docked at the greatest place, a state park with good docks, electricity, good protected spot along the St Johns River. And they only charge $20 per day to dock here. We left Georgetown this morning after one of the rougher nights we have spent on the trip. Georgetown marina is on the north end of Lake George, and the breeze was out of the south, but it was only a breeze and the waves were not big. However, the waves came straight in on our stern at the dock and slapped up under our swim platform, making a noise and rocking the boat. First time we have had that happen, so word to the wise, at Georgetown marina, back into the dock,
Beautiful day to travel today, warm and sunny, crab pots on the north end of Lake George, but then we got past them and there were only a few along the sides of the river the rest of the day. After we left Lake George, we wound our way along a beautiful river, wider than we had expected, houses and docks here and there, but long areas of what looked like wilderness. All we saw were trees, lots of spanish moss, alligators and turtles sunning themselves on branches, lots of birds. We met some fishing boats and pontoon boats, the rest of the time felt like we were early explorers on the waterway.
Once we got here, we got the dinghy down and went exploring. Saw more alligators and turtles, tended to startle the alligators as Wayne would go into shore so that I could get  a picture, then the alligator would slither into the water and we wouldn't know which direction he/she was going, we hoped away from us.
One of the problems down here is water hyacinths. They are taking over the water, and the waterway guide says home and cottage owners have devised many interesting ways to try to keep them away from their docks. We saw them taking over docks, creeks, several small waterways off the river. We wanted to xplore one canal that connects two areas of the waterway, but it was totally overgrown with the hyacinths. We didn't want to get them caught up in the dinghy prop, so came back out.


Avian architecture sometimes makes it hard to read the markers

 The weather predictions are for thunderstorms overnight and tomorrow, although right now it is calm and stars are out. We plan to stay here tomorrow, move on to Sanford on Wednesday.

Water hyacinths are quite pretty with a big green leaf and pretty yellow flower

Water Hyacinths trying to take over

This alligator was in the process of slithering into the water.