Places Visited: Clermont & Lake Louisa State Park campground, Tavares

We camped in Lake Louisa State Park on US-27 south of Clermont. The campground is fairly new and includes 50-amps, water with central dump station, paved interior roads and several lakes, $23.31 per-night: N28° 24.194 W81° 33.386'

We spotted this buck and several does in Lake Louisa State Park not far from Disney World.

For Florida this is a nice buck.

Swamp maple trees were budding out and looked so spectacular against the gray Spanish moss. This is the 21st of February and a bit early for the bald cypress trees to bud out.

This is one of the lakes in Lake Louisa State Park. It is a serene place especially at sunset. The cypress trees and lilly pads make an interesting addition to the setting sun.

Sunset through the pines in Lake Louisa State Park.

Another sunset at Lake Louisa State Park. It is tough but someone has to make sure the sun sets in the west. We are happy to report that it did.

Joyce took this picture of a shell wreath she made from shells she collected on our visits to the beach this winter.

Joyce caught this osprey as it flew over while she was waiting for the sunset.

Cypress trees line the edges of central Florida lakes like cypress trees line banks of rivers in Texas.

Central Florida is a bit tropical as can be seen in these bananna plants. While these bananna trees have been ravaged by one or more of the "Florida" hurricanes the plants were still able to produce fruit.

This is a closeup of a bannana bud. It was taken late in the day after the yellow flowers had fallen off. Each night another red flapper comes up revealing a row of bright yellow blossoms.

While this sign may say Marina Del Rey -- rest assured it is NOT Marina Del Rey California.

This Marina Del Rey is on Lake Harris in Central Florida.

These are typical scenes when driving along the myriad lakes in Central Florida. Beautiful lakefront homes and yards line these lakes. Canals and private ponds provide safe homes for small alligators like this one.

Spanish moss adds to the ambience of this lake side scene.

Until next week just remember how good life is.

Mike & Joyce Hendrix