I Can Canoe, Can You ?

The morning started early with an 8:00 a.m., 3 mile canoe trip in still waters of a mangrove forest.  I you’ve ever been in a mangrove forest you know that that can take some maneuvering.  It just reminded me on using a switch back road to get anywhere but you couldn’t see what was around the next bend.  The waters being still meant that you were constantly paddling to get anywhere.  It’s like riding a bike I like it when you can coast every now and then and now have to constantly be working.  No such break on this trip.  The wild life was scarce.  No birds to speak of.  What we did see were alligators and crocodile.  Apparently this is the only place in the world where those two co-exist.  Now seeing a 8 foot crocodile on shore and only being about 10 foot away from him – sure, that my idea of fun.  Then being in a canoe with Jerry who knows no ear just adds to the fun.

I’ll admit I was tired after the 3 hours.   We had lunch then rode to another part of the park to do a little hiking and see some more wild life.  Back at camp we started to back up for tomorrow we head to the Keys.  Jerry just pointed out the moon and Jupiter to me.  Appears that they might cross paths tonight in a few hours.  I know Jerry will be a witness to it can’t say what I’ll be doing.

Oh, I forgot to tell you what I really like about canoeing in still, croc infested waters……  

It Is Sunday Morning...

…so we attended services at Our Lady of the Skies.  The interpreter was a Ranger.  It began with a role call, a litany of sorts– white ibis, terns, great crested fly catcher, mocking bird, tri colored heron, roseate spoonbills, wood storks, cormorant, little blue heron, laughing gulls, crows, willet, red bellied woodpecker, pileated woodpecker, red shoulder hawk, gnatcatcher, warbler, other various sorts  and of course the Cardinal was there.  We heard that they have a Jesus bird, one who walks on water, but he didn’t make it this morning.

White Pelican added to the ritual, dressed in their finest white vestments, flying in formation.  There were about 40 of them at one time.

The choir consisted of all of the above.

At home we’d have Jack in the Pulpit but here they have Jack in the Bush.  He directs the liturgical dance of the butterflies.

The black vultures kept everyone in line.

The osprey shared the meal, having caught, cleaned and prepared the fish for his mate and little ones.

The whole service was presided over by the Barn Owl, very wise and serious but with a hint of love showing through his heart shape face.

I'm not an expert on Pooh but...

                                                             

I would bet Winnie would have described yesterday as  ‘Windsday’.  The wind started about 6:00 pm. and died down about 6:00 this evening.  During the night the sides of our little A frame were bellowing in over us and our beds.  I felt like a sail on a boat.

This morning we got an early start and headed up to the north end of the park, Shark Valley.  We got waylaid a little on the way there with housekeeping errands.  The wind brought with it a ‘cold front’ (yes, I know it is all in your perspective).    Anyway it was a very chilly day for FL.  Everyone said so.  We took a tram ride through a section of the park.  We saw many birds – wish I could remember the names of them all (or at least one or two).  We saw a lot of alligators.  Our guide said that normally they see more but it was just too cold of day for them and given that the sun was not out the water would be warmer than the air.

As we drove past the fields today there were many people working, harvesting the produce.  So many fields.  So many people.  Its how the food gets to the grocery shelves, I know that.  But when you see it in action...it takes on new meaning. Guess that is something else that I need to give more thought to.  How does it all work?  What does it all mean?  For the land owner, the planter, the harvester, the people doing the backbreaking work?  Just wage? Grow and eat local?    No Farms, No Food.  Buy local….and what part we as individuals play in all of that…..?

We’re attending another ranger talk tonight something like ‘Romance in the Wild’, mating practices of some of the resident animals ---woohoo.

FYI - There is no wifi connection here in the park so posting may not happen on a regular basis.

1/18

….

Ode to the Wall

Whether it be cinder block, flat board or mortar and brick                                                                                    it is really best if it is really thick                                                                                                                                 to keep the sound out is the real trick.

Well, last evening the wind blew in a flock of middle age, tremendously loud women and of course they camped right next to us.  Not much else to say except that I laid there getting ticked off at myself for getting ticked off at them.   But I you want to know what they talked about late in to the night– I could tell you.  (I know the problem might be that I am an early to bed person.)

But today started out great - I opened the zipper on the tent as noisily as I could – but didn’t disturb the flock.  It was getting light but decided I’d try a shower before the sun broke.  And the shower was warm.  What more could I ask for.  How about things I didn’t ask for but that happened.

A short spin on the bike to Eco Pond to see so many birds (we’ll know the names by the time we get home) - a quick pop tart for breakfast (sorry Clair) – an early morning 2 hour boat ride in the backwaters – brunch of bacon and eggs about 11:00 –followed by a short nap – followed by a bike ride to the marina to see a nature display – saw a while pelican – split an ice cream bar – sat for about 45 minutes and watch manatees bobb  up and down – now we are sitting grilling hamburgers preparing for dark, hoping to take in the ranger talk again tonight.

For these and all the many gifts, we give thanks !

1/19

So many...

... languages, so many colors, so many shapes, so many sizes, so many different ways expressing one’s uniqueness.  And then there are the people…

As a wildlife report we’ve seen Ospreys, a Bald Eagle, a Great Horned Owl, Shore Birds of all shapes and sizes, tiny lizards, and raccoons.  Did I tell you about the campground raccoons?  I don’t know what they do at night but they sure are noisy.  It sounds like they are taking down trees.  I just happy they are not beaver.  Oh, and a couple o days ago we saw a Florida Red Fox.  Unfortunately it was dead in the road.  Jerry wanted to get a better look at it so…You know you’re from KY when…A couple of U turns later Jerry was moving it onto the side of the road.

Yesterday, Monday I think, was spent with a morning bike ride around and through the park.  It is really a wonderful place, clean, scenic, and a lot of water.  The afternoon we took a drive through the surrounding cities.  It was like most beach towns I have seen.  Condo after condo, gift shop after gift shop, restaurants, all kinds of places to spend money.  It was an activity that we could have done without.

Today, Tuesday, I think, started out with a sunrise at East Beach, followed by a breakfast of eggs and sausage at North beach, followed by some reading time on the beach, followed by a bike ride for Jerry and laundry time for me.  It’s all good.

We took a few minutes to plan our next night as we will probably be leaving F t. DeSoto tomorrow, Wednesday I think (1/15).

1/16

Pulled out of DeSoto after another sunrise on the beach.  Went in to St. Petersburg to the Salvador Dali Museum.  It was  strange, wonderful, unique, scary, profound.  What a strange guy he must have been and such an artist!  He is one topic I want to pursue when I get home.

We left St. Pete and headed south.  It is always a little tense when you don’t know where you’re going to stay that night.  There is that freedom involved but the sense of security is lost.  I can’t begin to imagine what it is like to be homeless.  We were headed for Collier-Seminal State Park.  We had stayed at the museum longer that we had expected.  We arrived at the park about 20 minutes before the ranger was leaving.  The tent camping part of the park was full.  There were only a few sites open amid all the giant RVs.  Park Ranger explained that they filled up early because of the holiday.  Jerry and I just looked at each other – holiday?  We’re lucky we know what month it is.  But now we know Monday is MLK Day.  We found a teeny-tiny site just big enough for our little tent – don’t know of any size RV that would have it in there.  Got through the night – up early and back on the road headed for the Everglades.

 

1/17

After a long day of driving and road construction we made our way to Flamingo, FL.-  the very most southern point of the Everglades.  During the next couple of days we’ll explore the area.  We reserved the site for 4 nights because of the holiday.  The area seems to be highly agricultural.  Fruit, vegetable and plant stands everywhere.  Made me a little home sick or Genesis Farm.  There are a couple o wineries down the road.  Perhaps tomorrow….   

We’ve been gone for a week now.  Anyone who might be reading this now has the obligation to remind me when I get old(er) and crabby (ier) of the many wonderful opportunities I have had and the fact that I have so much to be thankful for.

I’m typing this in the car because the wind is blowing so very hard at the moment.  Here’s hoping our A frame makes it through the night.  Taking in a ranger talk in a few minutes on the migration of birds in this area. 

May I should have kissed him...

…it would have been interesting to see if anything would have happened.  Last night when I crawled/fell into bed I reached up to adjust my pillow and there he was.  Cold and wet.  A little frog about the size of a dime decided he wanted a tenting experience but we had other ideas.  Jerry managed to catch him and throw him out in to the cold.  I do hope he survived the throw.  Even if I had kissed him he probably would have only turned in to a pint-size prince.  And besides who needs a prince when I have Jerry.

We broke up camp early this morning and headed for Ft. De Soto Park, about 91 miles south of where we were.  It took a couple of hours to get there and we did not have camping reservations so we weren’t even sure we’d find a site.  But things worked out and all is good.  We have a site facing the water, surrounded by palm trees, a table, a grill and each other.

The whole day was pretty much overcast and our time was taken up with traveling, setting up camp and exploring the park.  We stopped at a bench and had a short glass of wine, then visited one of the beaches.  A walk on the beach brought the sun out just in time to watch it set. Once again it was breathtaking.  I asked someone to take our picture with the sunset in the background and as luck/blessings would have it he was a photographer.  Needless to say the picture turned out very well.  We hung around with him for a while and took, oh so many pictures, of the colors.  He would predict what the sky would do next and what colors we’d see.  I would bet you could compare it to watching the Northern Lights, without the cold.  This lasted for about 30 minutes or so then the moon smiled at us from behind the clouds.  What beauty!!  He also took some pictures of us and said that he would post them on his face book page (“God’s Beauty – cause” )  So from the name of his page we could tell that we were both on the same page.

We’re back at the campsite.  It is 7:30.  Jerry is fixing himself a brat and chasing raccoons.   I’m still in awe that we are here and doing this.  May each of you (or maybe it is both of you, who read this) have the same opportunities as some point.   

It is Sunday evening.  Truly a day the Lord has made and it would be hard not to rejoice in it.

1/13/13

What do you call it when...

...-you have the opportunity to head out on an adventure, no expectations, no time table (and with someone you love)

-you have a cozy A frame tent to sleep in

-when you can manage to get up off the ground in the morning without too much trouble

-the restroom is close by in the middle of the night (and clean)

-you wake up in the morning to a heaven full of stars

-you have breakfast on the beach watching your world grow light (raisin bran never tasted so good)

-you are able to visit a state park / a place where wounded animals are nursed back to health, a place where the staff and the volunteers are knowledgeable and friendly (on the trip to the island the boat driver filled us in on the park and it’s wildlife and anything we saw along the way, on the way back he invited us to enjoy the ride in silence, another person while talking about the manatees was asked about their intelligence the ranger’s answer was something like ‘by who’s standards are you judging?)

-you see so many different types of birds, fish and also otters, alligators, and people

-you enjoy a simple picnic lunch

-when you have supper on the beach watching the sunset show

...Whatever you call it, it springs from a sense of awe, wonder and gratitude.

 1/12/13

Oh, My Heavens...

…the heavens are aglow with all the stars of the night competing for attention.  It is breathtaking!

A couple of firsts today -

-kayaking with the manatees – Jerry of course could not confine himself to the kayak so he got up close and personal, as much as you are allowed.  We were out for about 2 hours.  Also saw a couple of herons, a turtle, fish and an osprey – wow.

-to retain what little sanity I have left I got a hair cut at a barber shop.  It was handy and the price was right.

-we grilled supper on the beach and watch a wonderful sunset.  This is what fairy tales are made of.

Not bragging - just reporting

 1/11/13