The traveling manatees by Nancy French: Wekiwa Springs, Lake Monroe, Tomoka, Lake Louisa, Lake Kissimmee State Parks, and Bok Towers

Wekiwa/Wekiva?? Driving just a bit north of Orlando, we returned to visit Wekiwa Springs State Park. Having last visited over 9 years ago, one of the first questions on my mind was the confusing use of the name found on waterways, streets, housing developments, and businesses throughout central Florida. Linguists and a Seminole county historian seemed to have resolved the issue back in the 1980s but the name discrepancy persist. It turns out the correct word is wekiwa, a Creek/Seminole word meaning a spring of water.

Offering miles of hiking and biking trails spread across 7000 acres, visitors can spend hours exploring the park. Grounds surrounding the springs were crowded with families picnicking during our visit but the 72-degree water was not enticing many swimmers on this mild spring day.

Along Rock River Run

Wanting to reenact one of our prior experiences, we drove midmorning to Kings Landing bordering on the Rock River Run. Launching our kayaks, we headed down the river for the 8.5 mile trip to Wekiva Island. Unlike our previous paddle, a few more kayakers were on the waterway, but for the majority of the trip, we didn’t see another soul. At the halfway point, we stopped for a lunch break at the first spot where we could disembark, Big Buck Camp. A young couple had stopped as well and they were questioning if they were on the correct waterway. With frequent gator sightings and the bellowing of the male gators trying to lure a mate, they thought they had made a wrong turn into a gator preserve. As they departed ahead of us, we once again had the river to ourselves and the gators, of course. The orange/tannin water, generally one to two feet deep, was surprisingly clear considering the preceding day’s torrential downpour. As we approached Wekiva Island, novice kayakers and canoeists paddling upstream from the Island were ramming into each other and bouncing from one shoreline to the other.

Black-necked stilt

Unable to secure reservations at any of the nearby State Parks for the weekend, we traveled to Lake Monroe, a Volusia county park near Sanford. Located near a trailhead for a portion of the coast-to-coast (C2C) trail, we took a 5-mile round trip ride to Gemini Springs. The C2C trail is currently about 80% completed. Upon completion, the almost 250-mile trail will enable bikers/hikers the ability to travel from Titusville to St. Petersburg. The asphalt trail provided shade most of the distance for our ride and there were benches or a picnic table every few hundred yards. The following morning, we returned with our kayaks to the Gemini Springs Park and put in at DeBary Creek. Relatively high winds kept us within the creek and not venturing into the nearby lakes. Fishing attempts were in vain, but great white and blue herons, tricolored herons, osprey, Florida gallinule, and dozens of snowy egrets graced the water’s edge.

Chief Tomokie

Visiting nearby Sanford, we were impressed by the city’s extensive renovations to the downtown and waterfront area. Brick pavers line the main thoroughfare in the historic downtown area which is flanked by restaurants, shops, and a gallery. A multi-million dollar Riverwalk expansion running along the south shore of Lake Monroe is almost completed and provides a beautiful and peaceful place for walking or biking.

Traveling to the coast, we moved to Tomoka State Park. Providing extensive opportunities for hiking and biking, there are also plentiful options for boating and fishing. After setting up camp, we traveled to the park’s concession to purchase necessities for fishing in the area's brackish waters and paid a visit to the nearby Chief Tomokie statue. Erected in 1957, the chief and the accompanying legend have no basis in history. Chief Tomokie never existed. Nocoroco, the Timucuan village site on these lands, was occupied as early as 5000 B.C. by the early ancestors to the Timucuans. Discovered in 1605 by Spanish explorers, the tribe was wiped out by the end of the 1700s by a combination of wars and exposure to European diseases. The 1800 acres became a state park in 1945.

Located at the junction of the Tomoka and Halifax rivers, there are numerous kayaking options available but we selected a backwater area that protected us from the 15 mph winds and choppy waters of the open waters. Fishing once again was unsuccessful. Brown pelicans and kingfishers soaring by us were far more successful with their fishing. Nearby Ormond Beach provided an afternoon outing and allowed me to reminisce of childhood days playing on the broad waterfront. Cars are still allowed to drive on the beach but there is now a $20 a day fee for the privilege.

The Green Swamp, the vast wetlands of central Florida, lies within the easternmost boundary of the 4500-acre Lake Louisa State Park. Lake Louisa is the largest of a chain of 13 lakes connected by the Palatakaha River. The hills of the park were formed eons ago when the sand dunes were actually along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The hilly roadways and 23 miles of trails provided plentiful opportunities for biking and hiking. Hammond Lake, one of the park’s most accessible lakes, was the launching point for our kayaks. The fishing curse followed us again despite our most valiant efforts. Kayaking along the Crooked River Preserve, located at the northern boundary of the park, we were carried beneath the shady canopy of cypress, oak, and hickory trees. After losing two lures, I put my fishing rod away and enjoyed the slow current pushing us down to Lake Louisa.

Architect Milton B. Medary designed the Tower

We were drawn to Lake Kissimmee State Park to experience their Cow Camp. Unfortunately, the Camp, depicting 1876 era cattle ranching,
had been discontinued over a year ago due to Covid concerns. With water access more challenging at this park, we decided instead to visit the nearby Bok Towers in Lake Wales.

Edward Bok, the powerhouse and money behind the project had come to the USA with his family as a poor Dutch immigrant when he was six years old. His life was the classic rags to riches story. As a successful editor and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, he amassed a fortune and later became a noted philanthropist. One of his favorite sayings is posted at various intervals in the park. “Wherever your lives may be cast, make the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it.” The tower is obviously the main focal point in the park but the 50 acres of gardens surrounding the tower were designed by Fredrick Olmsted Jr. As the son of one of the world’s most renowned landscape architects, he became noted for his work on prominent landmarks. His job was to convert the sandy hill surrounding the tower into a lush garden sanctuary. Bok commissioned the country’s top architect, sculptor, tile maker, and ironworker to create the Tower with wildlife and religous themes throughout the design. The highlight of the visit was the Singing Tower carillon concerts. Short pieces are played on the hour and half-hour and a carillon concert is held daily at 1 and 3 PM. The carillon in this tower consists of 60 tuned bells cast from bronze. The carillon is played using a keyboard similar to a piano and is played using both lightly closed fist and feet. The keyboard is connected through a series of wires and levers to each clapper which strikes inside of the bell, causing it to ring out. Visitors are able to watch the carillonneur play via a video feed to a screen in the gardens. The current musician, Geert D'hollander, descended the tower to answer questions. He is only the fourth primary carillonneur at the Towers since its opening in 1929.