First stop was Juniper Springs. Located in the Ocala National Forest it was one of the first recreation areas completed east of the Mississippi River by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1932

A millhouse was built at the point where the water from the spring basin flows into Juniper Springs Run.

Its undershot waterwheel powered a small generator that provided electricity for the park.

The millhouse now houses an exhibit about the development of the recreation area and the history of the CCC.

The spring water is crystal clear and you can easily see the bottom 10 feet below.

There is a swimming area where the water temperature is a constant 72 degrees.

The CCC constructed a stone bridge which is still in good conditions but the approaches to the bridge need to be rebuilt.

Our campsite was level and in a heavily treed area. Note the big green metal box to the right of Bobbi. That is for storing food items out of reach of the bears.

There were no facilities at our site (water, electricity or sewer) and the temperature dropped to 28 degrees overnight. Glad we had a propane furnace and sufficient battery capacity for Bobbi's electric blanket.

Suwannee River Bend RV Park is located on a finger just off the river.

We were right on the water but the temperatures were still chilly.

There is a nice bike path that goes over the river to a park dedicated to the song.

Near Gainesville is Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' Cross Creek homestead.

This cracker-style home and farm is where she lived for 25 years and wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Yearling

On here bookshelf are works of the various authors who visited her at Cross Creek.