A distance of 74 miles took us from the shores of Flagler Beach to Silver Springs in Ocala National Forest in central Florida. The two places couldn’t be more different. The RV spent 3 weeks at Lake Waldena while we travelled to and fro. Francie had a sibling reunion in Washington DC and went to Ohio for Thanksgiving. Mike spent time with his son in Orlando and Thanksgiving with family in Fort Pierce.
Ocala, Florida, the largest town near Silver Springs has a horse training, racing and breeding history which we were able to experience on a horse farm tour. We visited a thoroughbred training facility where we watched horses running on a track, a farm where Arabian horses were breed and sold, and a stud farm where we received a horse shoe worn by the stud Khozan.
Here are just a few facts that we learned on our tour: Calcium from the limestone in Ocala’s soil helps build strong horse bones. In addition to Ocala - Lexington, Kentucky and Chantilly, France are the world’s top racehorse breeding regions. Of the 70,000 acres viable for racehorses in Marion County 60,000 are in production today.
Here are just a few facts that we learned on our tour: Calcium from the limestone in Ocala’s soil helps build strong horse bones. In addition to Ocala - Lexington, Kentucky and Chantilly, France are the world’s top racehorse breeding regions. Of the 70,000 acres viable for racehorses in Marion County 60,000 are in production today.
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Months ago we make reservations to go to Steven Foster State Park. We were there last year and watched the rangers and volunteers putting up hundreds of lights preparing for the Festival of Light on the first Friday of December. We couldn’t think of better way to begin the Christmas season than to attend the Festival of Lights, and we were not disappointed.
Christmas lights in Florida
After arriving in St. Petersburg, we have been extremely busy catching up with friends whom we last saw in the spring. Also Mike, our friend and new owner of Anam Cara was here from Chicago. We have been helping him get the boat put back together after being stored for the summer. It has been fun helping and going sailing. Mike signed up to sail in the St. Petersburg to Cuba Race at the end of February and asked us if we wanted to crew. Traveling to Cuba was something we always wanted to do when we owned Anam Cara, now we get to do it!
Another year traveling is once again coming to an end. It has been a pleasure for us to share our experiences with you. Thank you for writing and keeping us informed about the things happening in your lives.
Another year traveling is once again coming to an end. It has been a pleasure for us to share our experiences with you. Thank you for writing and keeping us informed about the things happening in your lives.
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas, joyful Holidays and may the coming year bring you happiness and good health.