Tarpon Springs, FL

We hopped on Hwy 19 out of St Petersburg/Tampa and headed north. First stop was Tarpon Springs known as the 'Sponge Capital of the World'. It was settled by the Greeks in the late 1800's. It has the highest Greek population of any city in the U.S.

The shops along Dodecanese Avenue in the Sponge Docks District of Tarpon Springs are still thriving as both a historic and a current tourist destination. The street winds its way from the bayou towards the Tarpon Springs Aquarium at the far end. Along the way it passes the marina and Sponge Boats docked along the north side of the street and the Historic Sponge Exchange on the south. Authentic Greek food can be found at the restaurants along the Avenue.

Some of the smaller sponge boats.

A daily haul.

Some of the larger sponge boats will go out for weeks at a time.

Once the sponges are harvested from the bottom of the gulf they have to be continually cleaned to make them useable.

Continuing north on Hwy 19 to Perry, FL. Overnight at Rocky's Campground in Perry.