A Beautiful Day For Some Caching 2/19/2008

Well after yesterday morning and the storms we had the sun came up bright and beautiful some decided to do some more caching. So we were off after breakfast were off to St teres, Medart, Panacea, Sopchoppy and then back to Carrabelle for 3 caches that were just replaced. Our first cache was in Bald Point State Park along a paved walking trail. On the way there we came across a lovely little church "Mission by the Sea" which is located in Alligator Point, FL. As you can see by the pictures it had a 3 lovely stained glass windows in front depicting seaside scenes.
Then it was on to a cache under the Ochlocknee Bridge in a tree, then on to a cache by a restaurant that was just about completely destroyed by Hurricane Dennis in 2005 but since has been rebuilt, next was a cache at the end of a bike trail, then it was a cache in a small area where they hold a crab festival every year. In this park they had a tidal surge pole showing the depth of the water when Hurricane Dennis hit in 2005. As you can see by the pole with the bay in the background the surge was over 3" up the pole which was unbelievable.
Next was a cache located at the site of the Panacea Mineral Springs. The cache was a neat hide as it was in a basket hanging from a tree by a string. In 1889 Wakulla residents decided to to transform the county's natural mineral springs into a tourist attraction. That's how Smith Springs became "Panacea"---Greek for "healing all". Advertisements boasted that each of the town's 13 bubbling ponds cured a different ailment. Tourists flocked to Panacea to bask in the restorative springs. It brought prosperity to Panacea until the Depression and then most of it was destroyed in a hurricane in 1928 and the springs fell into neglect. It has since been cleaned up by a local high school.
Next was a cache at a local Sopchoppy park where they had a campground along with picnic tables and a playground for the kids. We found the cache quickly and on the way out we spotted an old school house. It was the Curtis Mill School established in 1907 and served the Curtis Mill area until 1934. After the one room school closed it was used as a church until 1996 and then moved to its present location for restoration.
Then on to a cache in the Ochlockonee River State Park and then back to Carrabelle for 2 caches that were just replaced after being muggled, one along the river front walk and another overlooking the Gulf. The last cache of the day was a new one just put out and we got there just as another cacher found it and was replacing it. Then we stopped and got some fresh shrimp and scallops and we ordered a cheesecake from a shop in Carrabelle. Then back to the RV and did our logs and ate a seafood dinner and I am doing the blog now. Well time to say we'll see you all tomorrow and we love you all.


Picture List: 1-3 Mission by the Sea Church, 4-6 Curtis Mill School, 7-8 Panacea Mineral Springs, 9 Sopchoppy Railroad Station, 10-11 Hurricane Dennis (2005) Storm Surge Marker