I hiked in to Stephen Foster State Park in White Springs, Florida.  White Springs holds the distinction of being the first of the Florida National Scenic Trail’s “Gateway Communities.” You can read more about this special designation on floridatrail.org.

The centerpiece of the park is the carillon, a graceful bell tower which plays the best of Stephen Foster’s work, including “Old Folks at Home,” the official state song of Florida. 

Well, I stopped to take some pictures of the tower (I posted one on the gallery, my friends) and then continued on my merry way stopping twice more; once at the park’s riverside pavilion and once at its scenic overlook.  That’s when I discovered that my watch was no longer on my wrist. 

I went to the Ranger station and reported it missing, even leaving a map with my route through the park.  I retraced my steps and came up empty.  I should mention that this watch has extraordinary sentimental value to me. 

I stopped at the headquarters of the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail, which lies just outside of the boundaries of the park, right there in downtown historical White Springs.  The head shed over there is a top-notch gentleman named Ben Harris.

Ben offered to drive me over to park in his truck and look the route over with me.  We walked it twice and still, “no dice.” We stopped in at the museum and the gift shop and informed them of my loss.  They promised sweetly to keep an eye peeled.  We checked in with Jeff, the maintenance tech, and he said he’d do what he could do.

I’d done all I could think of to do so I resolved to accept the loss.  It wouldn’t help to dwell on it anyway.  Such is life, from time to time. Right, hikers?

Well guess what happened after that?…The next day I get a call from Ranger Ashley Pass informing me that my watch had been found.  How about that????  Found, baby!

You see, the mowing crew was due to cut the grass the next day, and Maintenance Technician Jeff Niehaus took it upon himself to give the grounds along my route one last look for my timepiece.  Ranger Pass volunteered to join the effort, and it was she who found my watch in the shadows of the pavilion. 

With all the talk you hear about the death of customer service, these State Parks Department personnel set that assertion on it’s ear.  Thank you, Ben, Jeff and Ashely.  Thank you very much!

Lucky dog Cheers from the Florida Trail!  Mike