Day 14 Visited the Appleton Museum of Art in Ocala

I'm going to post some photos I took of some of my favorite paintings and sculptures in the Appleton Museum.  Haven't been to an art museum in a while.  Some was very beautiful!  The modern pieces didn't interest us much.  Under the pictures, I posted information about the work of art.

                                                                                 

                                                                                  

 

                                                                                

                      

    

                                                            

                                                                                     

                                                                                    

                                                                                  

                                                                                    

                                                                                    

                                                                                    

                                         

                                                                                     

    

                                                                        

                                                                                 

The poem behind this black Wonder Woman says:  "You are terrifying and and strange and beautiful . . . not something everyone knows how to love"  That is very interesting.

 I have mixed feelings about some of the messaging of this painting though.

                                                                                 

A map of the Americas from 1740.  The western regions of what is now our United States was not settled with cities except for the coast of California.

                                                                                        

A horse statue with mosaic patterns all over it in the lobby of the museum  There are statues of horses in front of many businesses in Ocala -- the horse capital of the world!

Day 13 Stayed around the campground (in Silver Springs, FL still) -- planning our next stops

Before we sit down to lunch today:

Me:  "Hey -- just let me run a baggie of cookies over to Laura and John" (Earlier I had walked across the lane to their mobile home to borrow a teaspoon of baking soda for the oatmeal cookies Vernon was making.)

Vernon:  "No."  (meaning I'll get to talking and take too long) "There's John -- I'll do it."

So of course at least 10 minutes later while our food is getting cold on the dinette table, I snap this picture from inside the camper. . . . . . . hahaha!

                                                                                     

on a walk through the campground -- a couple of pictures:                                                                

                            A reindeer fern?

I love 3 wheeled bicycles and a screened in porch!  Not sure why I can't change the type size back to normal.  ??

This trailer was in pretty rough shape but the flowers and plants!!!

There is something to be said for planning your stops and sightseeing before you leave on your trip.  I was on the phone and internet for hours today trying to reserve sites in campgrounds around Savannah and Charleston and reserving seats for tours.

                                        

Day 12 Horse Farms around Ocala and World Equestrian Center

Ocala is known as the Horse Capital of the World.  It has more than 400 thoroughbred horse farms and training centers.  After attending the Palm Sunday service at the campground, we drove over to the World Equestrian Center outside of Ocala and then drove around looking at the horse farms.                    The World Equestrian Center is huge: 378 acres with 300 more acres under construction for hotels, retail!                          

This massive, luxury hotel is called "The Equestrian" and the main outdoor horse event arena is right in front of it so the people staying there can watch it from their rooms or when having lunch on the front patio:             

There are ceiling fans going for the guests eating outside.

The view of the arena from the outdoor eating area.

The 2 side spectator areas have protection from the Florida sun.

Inside the hotel:

This tall glass vase with a single orchid stem was gorgeous!

It's 90 degrees out today, but a fire in the fireplace still looked cozy.

Horse competition event:

Indoor arena #4 had an event going:  The Arabian Hunter Pleasure class competition:

Judging how the horses take the commands:  walk, back 4 steps, trot, canter, gallop, reverse

                                                                   And the winner is . . . . 

                                                                                

                                                                  This is not a horse.

Driving around the horse farms:     

                                                                                

                                                                    This is not a horse either.     

Tonite, Vernon helped our "next door neighbor" with the mechanics of the jacks supporting his 32 ft. 5th wheel camper.

Tomorrow:  ??  

Planning our brief Savannah and Charleston stops (any suggestions?) before arriving for sibling weekend in Lewes, DE

Day 11 Silver Springs State Park and a glass bottom boat ride

The Silver Springs State Park was the main attraction in Florida before Disney World.  Lots of  tall Cypress trees and Live Oaks with Spanish moss draping off the branches and lovely springs that formed a lake.                  

                                                                                

Vernon looking toward the dock where you board the glass bottomed boats.    

                                                                                

Lots of newbie kayakers with paddles flying.

                                                                                                              

Silver Springs for "colored people" a mile down river from the white only Silver Springs Park -- 1949 - 1969.  It was the segregated south. Today we saw people of all skin colors enjoying one park.

    

                                                                                    

On the boat we went by anhingas in their nests!  Also Wood Ducks:

      Wood Duck pair

A cormorant drying its wings with a caution:  alligators sign beside it.  Then you have some intrepid paddleboarders:

                                                                                            

From where we were sitting in the glass bottomed boat, here's a shot of above the water and the sun shining under the water too.

                                                                                    

This is the dock from the show "Sea Hunt".  Remember that TV show with Lloyd Bridges.  Just looked it up and Jeff Bridges and Leonard Nimoy also starred in it.  Lots of movies were shot under water here like "The Creature from the Black Lagoon" and some "Tarzan" scenes -- remember the scene where he was under water wrestling with an alligator (the alligator looked real and alive to me!)

                                                                                    

                                                                                    

Some fish swimming under the boat.   Most of the photos I took through the glass didn't turn out great.

                                                                                    

                                                                                    

90 per cent of all the drinking water in Florida is from these springs through the system of Florida aquifers. 

Tomorrow:  ??