Homosassa Springs, Florida

Not sure if many of you know about this location. It's about 60 miles north of Clearwater.

About 20 years ago, the Carter brothers, Gary and Jeff, and their wives, Marion and Claire, left the Ottawa area to seek out new adventures and moved to this location. They left their families and higher taxes behind and what they found was a great local business known as the world famous Manatee Campground, Marina and Pub, the best educational system in Fla for their kids and super weather. Their campground sits on the Crystal River and the water is fresh until you get out near the Gulf. Boating and fishing is ever-present - mostly pontoon boats and smaller walk-around fish 20 footers. The manatees are a special treat - an incredibly-sized and gentle mammal that chooses this area because the fresh water springs are continually 72 degrees in temp. The outboard motor props are very dangerous and scar the manatees often so idling around is as fast as anyone is permitted on the river.



So how are the Grants and Carters connected? Well... 35 years ago, the Carter brothers had a business in Ottawa next door to where John and his brother Stuart had their HVAC business - similar ageas and interests in river life - hence, a long-time relationship. After the Carters moved to Homosassa, Stuart and John started to stop in for a visit on their trips to Fla and they would hang out at the campground and the pub for a week or weeks at a time. This pattern continued for many years. Cheryl joined Stuart on occasion as I did with John a few years ago. Most of the visits though, were Stuart and John together in one of Stuart's two RVs.

So this time, the visit was about getting together, remembering Stuart, and moving forward on a different path. I believe we accomplished this. We thank Gary in particular for sharing a full, beautiful day with us on the river - doing the 6-bar tour! Sunday's fish fry (fresh grouper) was yummy and laid-back so thanx again for convincing us to stay over another day. It was great and we look forward to the next opportunity!

Homosassa is also the birthplace of every Pro Line boat built - including our very own 21' "Justa Whalen". The tour was very informative and, in fact, a VERY small facility employing about 200 and producing about 1500 boats a year. It was great meeting the people there and quite by chance that we happened upon the only place in the US that produces these boats - called the 'cadillac' of boats by those in the area. It made us excited to get back to the St. Lawrence and get our Pro Line back in the water!