Tuesday, April 21, 2015

A to Z Blogging Challenge - Rock Springs

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/


Rock Springs was my first favorite spring because it was the one I swam in most before the age of ten. I had birthday parties there, entered a cave (the spring source) for the first time, a small one at first glance, and we kids had the freedom to “swim the run” as many times as our young bodies wanted. And yes, we all slept well after a day at the spring. It was a safe place for us to be kids back in the 1960s and 70s  and our parents were happy to have some time to just veg out beside the beautiful body of water. Back then the water was deep and fish were abundant and we just didn’t care about sharing with them. It was a wild place, full of secret byways and overhung jungle-looking foliage. It was full of magic.
Part of the "run" from underwater
Going back to it as an adult a lot has, of course, changed. But not the crystal clear water, not the “run,” and not the magic of the jungle. One can’t enter the cave anymore, but the boulders we climbed are still there and the water is still chilly and exciting and still spills out into the large swimming basin before it ambles on its way to I don’t know where. I could find out, but like the mystery of it. The coolest thing though, is that I’ve gotten to see my kids do the “run” and have the same fun I had when I was a kid.
The "head" of the spring cave

Fishes galore!

The basin

Another part of the run, the jungle-magic part...

Whenever you visit a spring, take an underwater camera, even if it’s a one-time use camera. You’ll be happy you did!



Images from:

30 comments:

  1. Wow. The water looks super inviting!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. It does look very tempting!

    ReplyDelete
  3. A sweet memory, Lisa. A simpler time. Glad to see that some of the beauty and mystery remain.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Those are great photos and it's an amazingly beautiful place. Those fish look very uninterested to have their piccie taken ;)
    Tasha
    Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Lisa - that's fantastic that you've seen your kids enjoy the same area you did as a kid. Lovely stories and I can feel being there with you - those memorable days of childhood ... everyone happy and being outdoors ... it looks stunning - cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  6. Such a pretty place, the underwater pics are amazing.
    Suzy at Someday Somewhere

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sounds beautiful! We own a cottage on an island on the Georgian Bay in Canada. The water, in some spots, is still crystal clear.

    Precious Monsters

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sounds and looks like a magical place!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I did a little research on caves, sinkholes, and diving in Florida for a short story last summer. These places look magical.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Pretty pictures, though am not a good swimmer and no way would I enter an underwater cave...also claustrophobic. Too bad it's changed. As I was reading was afraid I was going to read it had become toxic and you could no longer get in the water. Sadly, that happens in too many locations.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I can imagine how much fun you had there as kids! Made me smile just to read it. Beautiful place.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow, that does look wonderful! What a privilege to be able to share the water like that. I've never swum in a river... we live in a village between two, but I think they run rather fast to swim in. ~Liz http://www.lizbrownleepoet.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Looks like an amazing place. Cannot imagine swimming with the fishes like that.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow! These are so breathtakingly beautiful pics! And I'd love to 'swim the run' too :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. That place is gorgeous! And how cool that you can now share your childhood memories with your kids. :)

    Commenting from www.kaitlinthrogmorton.com via the A-Z Challenge

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm not a water person, but these photos are description make me want to go some time.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh this does look just so magical. You are lucky to have experienced this and same with your kids

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow, that's better than any water park!

    ReplyDelete
  19. This sounds and looks absolutely magical.
    www.petramonaco.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous6:00 PM

    This is gorgeous and so far from what we expect about Florida. This is difficult for me to comment on your blog with my Wordpress id but I want to tell you that I appreciate this virtual discovery of Northern Florida, so unlike the south. See you soon for more.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous6:00 PM

    This is gorgeous and so far from what we expect about Florida. This is difficult for me to comment on your blog with my Wordpress id but I want to tell you that I appreciate this virtual discovery of Northern Florida, so unlike the south. See you soon for more.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous6:01 PM

    This is gorgeous and so far from what we expect about Florida. This is difficult for me to comment on your blog with my Wordpress id but I want to tell you that I appreciate this virtual discovery of Northern Florida, so unlike the south. See you soon for more.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous6:01 PM

    This is gorgeous and so far from what we expect about Florida. This is difficult for me to comment on your blog with my Wordpress id but I want to tell you that I appreciate this virtual discovery of Northern Florida, so unlike the south. See you soon for more.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous6:01 PM

    This is gorgeous and so far from what we expect about Florida. This is difficult for me to comment on your blog with my Wordpress id but I want to tell you that I appreciate this virtual discovery of Northern Florida, so unlike the south. See you soon for more.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous6:04 PM

    This is gorgeous and so far from what we expect about Florida. This is difficult for me to comment on your blog with my Wordpress id but I want to tell you that I appreciate this virtual discovery of Northern Florida, so unlike the south. See you soon for more.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous6:04 PM

    This is gorgeous and so far from what we expect about Florida. This is difficult for me to comment on your blog with my Wordpress id but I want to tell you that I appreciate this virtual discovery of Northern Florida, so unlike the south. See you soon for more.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous6:05 PM

    This is gorgeous and so far from what we expect about Florida. This is difficult for me to comment on your blog with my Wordpress id but I want to tell you that I appreciate this virtual discovery of Northern Florida, so unlike the south. See you soon for more.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oh wow. Your description of the place makes me want to go and check it out. Glad your kids could experience the same joy that you did. :)
    *Shantala @ ShanayaTales*

    ReplyDelete
  29. How stunning! I would have loved this place as a kid- and would still love it as an adult! The run sounds fun and it all seems magical. Thanks for sharing it with us.
    Jess

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for commenting on my blog. I may not always be able to respond to the comments you leave, however, I appreciate you dropping by and will do my best to visit your blog as well, if you have one!