What's Up With The Snowbirds?

 My blog has been a bit neglected but I have a good excuse. I am finally nearing the finish of my next novel, Hidden In Harper Valley. I'll give you a hint with a question: What would you do if you suddenly had millions of dollars but your life was in danger?

My other excuses have to do with continuing to explore with our Florida grandkids. Life has been busy. 

Have you ever been on a chocolate walk? Thanks to our daughter-in-law who messaged me the information, we were able to have a great evening in historical downtown Venice. We went early and had dinner at the Crow's Nest which had a beautiful view of an inlet from the gulf. Afterward we walked down to the jetty and joined the crowd watching a beautiful sunset. Then it was on to the chocolate walk.

The chocolate walk took place between five and eight and by the time we got there around 6:30, many of the shops were out of chocolate. Still we managed to score some delicious chunks including a couple of Godiva chocolates as well as a taste of rich hot chocolate from an ice cream shop where we also got our dessert, creamy ice cream. 

There have been some lovely sunset evenings at Maxine Barritt Park about twenty minutes or so from where we are staying. It is amazing how many people flock to the Sharkey's Restaurant pier to see the sunset but the park right next to it is mostly empty with a whole beach in front of it to watch the sunset. We find a little spot where there is a bench and a break in the sea grape trees and brush and relax as we watch the colors in the sky turn from bight yellows to pinks to purples and sometimes come ablaze with oranges as well.

After a lunch with friends from home who actually have become residents of Florida, we met our son and his family for a walk through the MOTE Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Sarasota. It's one of their favorite places to visit and they were eager to show us around. We got quite a tour.

The aquarium was a pleasant drive from where we had lunch and took us over a huge bridge that spanned the narrow part of Sarasota Bay. It was a nice sunny day and while some are complaining about the cool weather here, I'm happy with sun and days that start in the upper 50s and climb to the 70s.

While we waited for our kids to arrive, we took a little time to explore the bird sanctuary that is right next to the aquarium. It is free--donations encouraged--and a very pleasant walk around to see the birds they are caring for, some who will return to the wild and others whose injuries will make them permanent residents. We found spoonbills which are always a delight to see.

Once the rest of the family arrived, we entered the aquarium and began our visit. There was quite a variety of marine life both large and small. Lots of research going on here. Some is visible, like the jelly fish reproductive area. Much goes on behind the scenes. 

The aquarium is expanding and building another facility near I-75. With all the spreading development in Florida there is a concerned effort to protect the natural beauty and environment of the state. Hopefully they will succeed because the rich abundant wildlife and marine life are absolutely worth preserving.

Part of the aquarium is located across the street in a separate building where there is a manatee and a huge shark tank. The only alligator we saw was the sculpture we passed in a hallway on the way out. Of course there always has to be one clown in the group. Neither she nor the sculpture were harmed. 

And between all this activity, pickleball, card games, writing and discovering new restaurants to sample, we managed to finish the jigsaw puzzle we purchased at Biltmore and start another.

Marine Lab and County Fair

 The weather is not the only thing that draws us to Florida each winter. It is an opportunity to be close to grandkids and to be a small part of their lives. Our oldest who are in high school have the unique experience of taking marine biology courses and becoming part of a marine biology group at school.

The school is amazing in all of that they do. There is also a performing arts group and lovely theater where we've been able to see a production already. The granddaughter who will be in high school next year is already part of that group and loves costume designing.

Getting back to the marine lab. We were able to attend an open house at the school lab. It is a huge lab (and classroom) with several large tanks and many individual smaller ones which are assigned one to each student to maintain. The school is licensed to collect from the bay area near them and they have a nice variety of fishes and other marine life on hand to study.

The large tanks include a "touch tank" with animals such as a starfish that you can actually touch--much like a touch tank in aquariums or at marine parks. Another large tank is home to several sting rays. 

The lab and its instructor who is a marine biologist (naturally) is a great opportunity for learning to appreciate the marine environment that is a big part of Florida. Whether it produces more marine scientists or not, it will certainly produce adults who care about their surrounding ecology. So grateful that our kids can be a part of it.

Our other venture into Florida culture was to visit the county fair. We haven't been to a fair in quite a while and with the cool temperatures, it was a perfect day for it--or evening as the case was. The fair was only open during the day on weekends and then from five to ten on the weekdays. 

It was not as big as some of ours are in Ohio but it had all the components that make up a fair--animals, agricultural and craft displays, rides and of course, fair food. 

We walked past cages of chickens and roosters, some fancier than others. I was surprised to find a couple of pheasants. I've never seen a pheasant at a fair before. There was a row of bunnies. There were plenty of ooos and ahhhs as people walked that row. Bunnies will do that to you.

In a large barn were rows of pigs. No ooos and ahhs but plenty of comments of how much they weighed. Most were just under 300 pounds. Lots of bacon!

The steers were outside in a covered coral probably to be sure they didn't get overheated in the Florida sun although heat hasn't been much of a problem since we've been here.

Well, after seeing the bacon and steaks, we were getting hungry so we perused the fair food offerings. There were a lot of repeats of the same food but we settled on a place that had some tables set up where we could sit and eat. Bob ordered a well done cheeseburger and I got a Polish sausage with onions and peppers. The fries only came in one size and one order was more than the two of us could eat. Add a bottle of water and our total cost for dinner at the fair was $40! Dessert was two caramel apples that we carried home to eat.

The rides area was the busiest of the whole fairgrounds. We watched a few and reminisced about the days when we could ride and enjoy. Now, we'd be afraid we wouldn't be able to stand up after them. The ferris wheel was tempting though but we passed.

Pickleball, the hand and foot card game, Bible study, church, a jigsaw puzzle, long walks and the occasional race after dinner to the beach which is about 25 minutes away to catch the sunset fill our days. We've only had a couple of days that were pool worthy but for me, I've enjoyed the temps in the upper 60s and middle 70s along with low humidity. Kind of like spring in the north.

Exploring Venice (Florida not Italy)

 Entering our villa in the Gran Paridiso community was relatively easy. We arrived a little early but when we contacted our leasing agent, she quickly gave us the entrance information we needed to move in. Gran Paridiso is a gated community in what we thought was Venice, FL but it turned out to actually be in North Port. The zip code assigned is for Venice but they pay their taxes to North Port who provides the city services. 

It took a little organization in learning what was and what wasn't in the villa as far as supplies went. In Key Largo's condo, there were always some condiments and lots of cleaning supplies. There was only a small smattering of cleaning supplies (no rags to use) and absolutely nothing in the super clean refrigerator/freezer. Oh wait! There were ice cubes. 

Lake Jervy

Wellen Park is a developing community only about a mile and a half away and has a Publix, as well as several restaurants, a Great Clips and a nail salon. And for Bob, the all important Ace Hardware. He can always find something to tinker with. We hit the Publix and did a major shopping trip for the absolute necessities. Over the next week, we'd find more things we needed and hopefully will get all used up before we leave in March. If not, our kids who are not far away can expect a windfall of leftovers. 

The all important pickleball courts were our next adventure. Gran Paridiso has six permanent courts and two that are flexible. It's not much different than back home where rules are a bit loose for rotation time on the court but for the most part, it works well and we were welcomed in. Pickleball people are usually very friendly no matter where you play.

Always smiling

The pool is huge but it does have to serve a community of 2,000 homes. We could only look at it for the first week since the temperatures were not conducive to swimming. Getting in would not be bad. It's heated.  Getting out would be a chilly run for cover. 

There is a nice gym with saunas as well. In the same center, there is a craft room and card room with two billiard tables. We found a group that plays hand and foot cards (Wisconsin style) every Tuesday and learned a few new rules and strategies. In the building that houses the offices and a huge lounge area, there is also a library full of books. 

Sharky's pier

The beaches of Venice are about twenty-five minutes from us. We found a place called Sharkey's that has a pier reaching out into the water where many people stroll and/or fish. The beach is known for finding shark's teeth and one warmer day we saw lots of kids with screen scoops searching the sand for good finds. 

Next to Sharkey's however, was a beautiful park and we enjoyed exploring and finding places where we could watch sunsets in the future. Our first couple of weeks were a bit cloudy, rainy and some days, downright cold. But it didn't snow!

Before leaving home, we had done a little research online to find a church to attend. We happened upon a group called The Church at Wellen Park which is five minutes from our villa and is a start-up church that meets at a small college campus. When we were first married, we were members of a start-up church. This has brought back fond memories. It's a nice congregation who are very friendly and welcoming. 

The campus of the college has a natural habitat in the middle of the acreage. It is a large lake named after a professor, Lake Jervy. There are some herons and other cranes that can be observed as well as a few alligators of course. The trail around the lake is pleasant to walk and we've visited several times already.

Gran Paridiso is not without nice places to walk and I have often walked from the community center back to the villa (about a mile) past several ponds. The interesting walk however is when Bob and I go the other direction to the two ponds by the back entrance near our villa. There are a couple of resident alligators there who come out when the sun shines. Oh and some very brave birds that dot the shoreline.

Big Hank

While the villa does not have the beautiful view that the Key Largo condo did, it is close to lots of interesting places, not to mention about twenty minutes away from our kids. We've already had a football watch party, a swim excursion, an evening with the conservatory they are part of that educated us on sawfish. One evening we were able to join them for a play at their high school and look forward to going to an open house for the marine lab they are involved with at their school. 

We are finding great places to eat including two that are on the Myakka River not far from us. One of them features BBQ and the best brisket I've had in a long time. Not sure about the alligator meat although they do have two very large stuffed alligators that decorate the indoors. Then there's the restaurant that we ate at just by chance with a spaghetti sauce that outdoes Olive Garden by far. Of course we had to find a Saturday breakfast spot. We found two. One which is similar to our favorite back home and another that is a pleasant alternative.

Sandhill crane

On Sundays, there is a farmer's market at what's called Wellen Park Downtown. It is a cluster of restaurants and big central area where live music is scheduled on weekends. My guess is this will be the center of all the development planned for the area. So far at the farmer's market we've found some nice veggies, strawberries and Bob's favorite bread and butter pickles and my favorite, soft pretzels.

A big find for Bob is a local ham radio club and they have invited him to join in on their winter field day. 

One of the things unique to this area are the sandhill cranes. They are about four feet tall when they stand up straight. The ones in Gran Paridiso don't seem to be afraid at all of people. The one I managed a picture of walked part of the way next to me on my morning stroll back  to the the villa from pickleball. 

We have only made a dent in the places to explore around here. We have plenty of time left for more great finds.

The Rest of Our Migration

Originally our migration south was to follow our usual route of home to Dobson, NC, to Fernandina Beach, FL, to our new destination in Venice, FL. Unfortunately when Bob tried to book our usual Hampton just off of I77 in Dobson, there were no vacancies. Unusual because we were booking months in advance. He booked our second choice, the Hampton in Mount Airy. He continued to book our stays and restaurant choices (we have some favorites) and paid ahead making them impossible to cancel.

Of course then he decided we needed to do something more with the Christmas season and we found the information for Christmas at Biltmore. That meant that after our Biltmore visit, we would have to backtrack a bit to Mount Airy for our stay there.

Mount Airy is Andy Griffith's hometown. It is Mayberry for all intents and purposes. Stores full of Mayberry themed products dot the downtown streets. We did a great tour on our own a few years ago and I posted about it. You can find it here: Mayberry USA.

It was still very cold and a bit windy so a lot of exploring in Mayberry was not going to happen. We were hungry when we arrived and sought out a place to eat. Where we parked was close to Barney's Cafe so we ducked in there. Lots of good choices on the menu that struck a chord with us. I ordered a PBJ with fruit cup and Bob got a grilled cheese sandwich, his favorite. It's a tiny cafe but very nostalgic.

We visited a couple of stores and then retreated to our hotel room for the rest of the afternoon. Dinner was at our favorite boutique restaurant at the Shelton Vineyards, Harvest Grill. We sat by a crackling fireplace and enjoyed a delicious meal.

On to Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island. Our favorite little French restaurant has been changed to a more contemporary restaurant and we had to sit outside on the patio with the aid of area heaters to keep us warm. It was New Year's Eve and they were busy.  The plan was to walk down to the marina and watch the shrimp drop (a giant lighted shrimp they drop from a big crane). Unfortunately we didn't realize the drop wasn't at midnight. It was at seven o'clock followed by fireworks. We did get to see the fireworks. The early hour for the drop and fireworks explained why there were so many kids around to celebrate.

We arrived at Gran Paradiso in Venice the afternoon of New Year's Day and after a phone call to the management rental company, we received our information to get into our villa. The villa is lovely but we have given up our wonderful view of the Florida Bay for grass and shrubs but we are closer to where our kids now live. The things you do for grandkids.....

Saying Goodbye to Key Largo

 It's always a little sad to wrap up our winter stay and head north again but this year is particularly difficult. It is the last time we will be snowbirding in Key Largo after twelve years of enjoying our winter stays. Let me explain.

The weather is only half the reason for coming to Florida in the winter. The other half is being closer to our Florida son and his family for a few weeks of the year. It was very convenient to stay in Key Largo as it was only about 35 minutes from where they lived in Cutler Bay. This year they have moved from their home on the east coast of Florida to one on the Gulf Coast of Florida--a good four hour drive from Key Largo. Needless to say it is too far to see them often.

Because of their move, we spent a good deal of time online looking for a place to rent near Venice which is much closer to where they are now. It's a nice place but there will not be a view like we have enjoyed here in Key Largo and we can only hope that the owners of the villa will be as gracious as the owners in KL who have allowed us to rent their condo for six winter seasons. 

And then there are the friends we have made here, some new and some we have kept over the years. Friends who played cards with us, drank in the beautiful sunsets each evening, shared community programs and concerts with us and of course played Pickleball with us. We were with the Pickleball group when it first started and have watched it grow to where they are in need of building permanent courts. We may have to come back and visit to see those.

Our morning view in Key Largo

Our last time to attend our "home church away from home" was yesterday. Thankfully we can still connect through the live stream they have each Sunday.

We will miss the sunsets especially not only for their beauty but the gathering together to celebrate the end of each day and look forward to the next day to come. I will miss the mornings full of pink and soft purple skies (Bob rarely made it out of bed for those), the call of the osprey as he hunts breakfast and the "boys in the hood", the osprey flock. Also missed will be the local manatees, the dolphins and the glowworms.

While it is sad, it is also exciting as we look forward to a whole new area of Florida to explore, being near friends from the north and of course our grandkids. Nature will provide entertainment there as well with sandhill cranes and the like. It will just be different and we will find much to make our next winter season wonderful.

Sunset On The Gulf

One of the evenings we spent visiting with our kids on the Gulf Coast of Florida we drove out to the Boca Grande beach. To get there, you have to cross a toll bridge, $6 per car. As Bob would say, the toll cuts down on the riff-raff. 

The island is not as busy as Manasota Key and there are beautiful homes (some very large) and condos everywhere. A little town we passed through had shoppes and restaurants and did not look nearly as chaotic as we'd seen in Manasota.

We followed our daughter in law's car to the beach. (The grandkids are too big now to squeeze eight of us in an SUV that seats six.) She and the kids had already explored all the nearby beaches and they really liked this one especially for the shells and sharks teeth.

The sand is very fine on the beach, sort of a grayish white. It kind of reminded me of dry cement and it readily stuck to our shoes and feet. While we waited for the sunset, the kids explored the beach and picked out nice looking shells. Excitement climbed when they discovered some shark teeth.

Soon the time came for the sun to rest for the day, at least in our part of the world. The sunset did not disappoint. Rarely does a sunset in Florida disappoint. 

Restaurants on the island are a bit pricey so we drove back past the lighthouse and across the bridge to a place our son knew of where we could afford to feed all of us a little better. 

A few rousing rounds of UNO at their house and we headed for our hotel. That in itself was quite an experience. 

We couldn't find any reasonably priced Hampton Inns (tis the tourist season) and we settled for America's Best Value Inn. It may have been the best value but... All I can say is it appeared clean but the phone sat on the shelf above the clothes rack, unattached, where the smoke detector should have been was a scared hole with something stuffed in it. Add to that a missing plug in the bathtub/shower that exposed a green moldy drain and the fact that the roof needed repairs from the hurricane accounted for the workmen who showed up at 6 in the morning. Like I said, the beds and floor and the rest of the bathroom looked clean. 

Next trip Bob has decided he doesn't car what the Hampton costs. *smile*

Gopher Tortoise Challenge

 The Cape Haze/Englewood area where our Florida kids are planning to build their house is also an area where there are a lot of gopher tortoises. What are they? Good question.

The gopher tortoise is an endangered species and is protected in Florida. Its origins go to back 60 million years and it is one of the oldest living species on the planet. They are known for burrowing into the ground. They have large hind legs and flattened forelimbs that are shovel-like, perfect for their digging. Their burrows can be 40 feet long and up to 10 feet wide and are known to provide shelter for 300 other species such as rodents, snakes, and the gopher frog.

The main threat to the gopher tortoise is loss of habitat and with all the development in Florida, it is a major concern. For that reason, there are restrictions on moving or even touching a gopher tortoise. Now with all of that said, let me take you to the lot our kids are planning to build on.

They knew up front that the gopher tortoises were in the area and on the lot. One in particular is burrowed into a spot where the foundation will be. Our son is undaunted by obstacles and has begun to learn what needs to be done to relocate the tortoise. A permit has been purchased and he is in the process of learning exactly how to move the tortoise without touching it as to touch it is illegal. Hopefully they will be able to use the bucket method which is to dig in front of the burrow and place a bucket into the ground, covered lightly with paper and dirt and wait for the tortoise to exit the burrow and fall into the bucket. There is a little more involved over the course of relocation but the tortoise will be moved to the back of the lot where there is more room to burrow away from the house building area. Since a gopher turtle lives 40-60 years or longer, they will be neighbors for a long time.

Our son and his family are very concerned with conservation and protecting natural species so I'm sure their gopher tortoise is in good hands. We did meet one out of his burrow in a park area where we walked a trail and I was able to grab a picture of it.

Hopefully the house will be built before another tortoise decides to move in.

Road Trip To The Gulf Coast

 Some may think the only reason we are snowbirds is because of the weather. It's not. The other half of the reason to come to Florida is to be able to spend time with our Florida kids. This year they have moved from the Miami area to the Gulf Coast area of Florida between Venice and Fort Meyers. So, we made the four hour trek from Key Largo to where they are to see them and explore the area looking for a new place to rent that isn't a four hour drive to visit. 

Our son always likes to take scenic routes. Bob prefers straight and fast. We compromised with a plan to do scenic on the way over and the faster route on the way back. Actually they both work out to be about the same.

The scenic route is the Tamiami Trail (Route 41). The route goes from US 1 in Miami to SR 60 in Tampa. It was the original "Alligator Alley" and opened in April of 1928. When it was built, not enough consideration was given to how it would affect the ecosystem of the Everglades. It became essentially a huge dam crossing the Everglades and slowing the flow of water. 

While the Everglades may look like just an immense field of tall grass, it is actually a very wide flowing river of fresh water that feeds estuaries where wildlife needs it to survive. Some of that problem is being corrected in a project that will allow water to flow underneath some places of the highway. 

Yes, it is scenic. As you cross the Everglades the grassy river/land stretches for miles. In places where there is more water, scores of birds like herons, egrets, cranes, anhingas and the like can be seen fishing for their meals or drying out in the trees or bushes with their wings spread. 

We did not see one alligator however. Of course we didn't have the advantage of our sharp-eyed grandkids traveling with us. They probably would have spotted a dozen at least. There were plenty of airboat places that featured rides into the glades and guaranteed sightings of gators. 

There are several signs along the way as well warning of panthers crossing. We've never seen one and that could be because they're mostly out at night. Still...eyes open for the possibility

Along the trail there are also several Indian villages and one that is open to tourists, the Miccosukee Indian Village. I've always wanted to stop there but it wasn't going to happen this day. In addition to the Indian villages, we passed several trailheads for hikers and a few places where small boats could be launched into the canals to go fishing. 

It was a pleasant journey and it ended with a visit to Manasota Key, a place we were considering for our winter stay next year. 

A Day In The Glades

The Florida Everglades is an amazing treasure of natural beauty. When our Ohio son and daughter-in-law invited us to join them in exploring we jumped at the chance not only to be with them but to hopefully enjoy a day full of discovery together. We met them at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center just before the entrance to the park. Being Martin Luther King day, the park entrance was free although we have a senior pass which would have allowed our car entry.

The weather was perfect and there was not a mosquito to be found, thank goodness. Not long into our journey we saw a couple of cars pulled to the side of the road. Sure enough there was an alligator out enjoying the sunny weather. It had been quite chilly, downright cold if you asked a Floridian, for several days and we expected that the reptile population would be taking advantage of the warm sun. This large guy was no exception.

After commenting how close those people were standing to the alligator and how that really wasn't safe, Bob and our son got out of the car and walked closer to it. Meanwhile, the girls stayed in the car and had our phones at the ready should we get a good video of the two of them running. Alligators may look sleepy and calm and too heavy to move fast but they are not. The four legged critters with the sly smile can run up to 35 MPH on land. This one just wanted to sleep and didn't seem bothered by the attention.

We were a little disappointed in the number of birds we saw. Usually there are a lot more and close enough to observe. We did get a close view of a large blue heron fishing and an anhinga but even the anhingas which used to be plentiful near the trails were scarce. Maybe there were too many people although it didn't seem that crowded except for the Anhinga Trail we walked later in the day.

At several places along the way out to the Flamingo Visitor Center at the other end of the main road, we stopped and walked the trails. While we didn't see a whole lot, it was very pleasant walking on the shaded paths. Looking up into a tree full of red berries, we found we weren't the only robins coming south for the winter.

At the Flamingo Visitor Center, there is a marina, a gift shop with sundries for campers, and a food truck! We've eaten there before and it's always been good. This day was no exception. A hamburger, sweet Italian sausage on hoagies with grilled onions and even the grilled cheese sandwich was wonderful. 

After we satisfied the appetite we'd built up with all that exploring, we walked around the marina area and watched several manatees. One of them was a momma with a very young baby on her back. I'm wondering how young the baby was. Baby manatees can't swim when first born so momma has to help them to the surface to breath. She carried the baby quite a ways and we never saw her submerge.

We drove back to the area closer to the entrance to the park which is called the Royal Palm Visitor Center. There is where the popular Anhinga Trail is and where you can almost always encounter an alligator. It was a popular place this day but it didn't seem to bother the alligators who were out sunning themselves. A couple were very close to the trail or right on it and certainly made several of us very nervous as we watched people getting closer and closer to them to get selfies. Warning: the alligators are not tame or domesticated. 

It was a full day at the Glades and we headed back to the condo in Key Largo where our son and his wife joined us for the sunset and dinner after. So much fun being able to spend a day enjoying life with them.

Gotta Get The Stone Crab

 

Our second of three "precruise" days found us making a trip to Key Largo where we usually spend our winter months. Our first stop was to see our friends at the Pickleball court. We masked up and stayed behind the fence as we visited briefly while everyone wished us well on our cruise.

A few laps around the Key Largo park to get some exercise and we set off to briefly stop at the condo complex where we usually stay. It was pretty quiet and we only saw a couple of people out and about. We walked around and moved on to the Harry Harris park in Tavernier to take another short walk around and enjoy the sun and breeze and the water.

Finally it was time for the treat of the day--Stone Crab. 'Tis the season and we didn't want to miss out on one of our favorite Florida meals. We stopped at the Key Largo Fisheries Backyard Cafe. It's outdoor dining and you can get the stone crab in the market where they will crack it for you and then you can get your cole slaw, mustard sauce and drinks at the cafe window outside. Now the last couple of years we discovered that there is a class of crab called Uglies. Usually the stone crab comes in three sizes--jumbo, large and medium. So are the prices for these ranging from $61 to $34/ lb. If you ask for the Uglies, which are just not quite the quality in looks as the regular claws, you can get a delicious meal for a lot less. We got a mixture of claws (about 8) for under $20. They taste just as good as the expensive ones and the wallet feels a lot better. Be aware that they are not always available.

Satisfied, we drove back to our Homestead hotel and sat by the pool researching more about our cruise and the latest news which was good and bad. More outbreaks among crew, future cruise credits for canceling, and encouragement from those who were going to board anyway. We are soldiering on. 

Social Distancing Among The Alligators

 Three days early for our cruise and plans to visit our kids changed because of COVID, we had to find some things to do that would be safe so that we could pass our COVID test before boarding our cruise ship. Could alligators transmit COVID? Very doubtful. We headed for the Everglades National Park. For us, with a senior pass, it was pretty much a freebie.

We skipped a stop at the Visitor's Center. No indoor activity for us if it could be avoided. We drove to a familiar place, Royal Palm where the Anhinga Trail is and made our way through the turkey vultures who were doing their best to pick at the cars in the lot that weren't covered with a tarp. The park provides tarps for you to cover the top of your car. The vultures like to pick at the rubber. Strange, I always thought they preferred road kill.

There were a few people along the trail but not so many that we felt a mask was needed so we enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine although it was a little cloudy. A mild breeze made it a perfect day. The only thing missing was the alligators and fishing birds.

Usually along the trail that runs next to a watery canal of sorts there are a slew of herons, cranes and other birds wading through the water, stopping to watch for a tasty morsel to swim by and plunging a beak into the water to bring up their breakfast. We could see birds in the distance among the tall grasses but there were none close by. It was a bit disappointing since the "fishing" is fascinating to watch. Someone mentioned that the water might have been a little deep.

No alligators were in the water either. Usually you see at least one or two in the canal but we would not be totally disappointed in the wild life. Midway to the observation decks, was a new kind of interesting show--a turtle that appeared to be laying eggs. She was right up against the pathway and acquiring several onlookers. I tried to get a few pictures and video hoping to capture the moment but we never did see actual eggs although with her undulations it seemed she was trying hard. 

When it began to get a bit more crowded, we moved on. Still no alligators were spotted. We got to the first observation deck where there are usually a dozen laying in the shallow grassy area. Nothing. We moved on.

Finally at the second observation area, we spotted one alligator near the base of a tree just hanging at the surface. But as we strained to see the alligator, we noticed another turtle swimming under the water near the boardwalk where we stood--much bigger than the momma who was trying to lay eggs.

A cormorant sat in a treetop out in the middle of the pond of water. The trees in the past have been filled with anhingas and it's always amazing to see them spread their wings to dry off after they've been diving for dinner. Nothing like that today.

We did spot one more alligator in the tall grasses as we made our way back to the main trail but he was pretty well hidden. Bob saw him as I was busy trying to get a shot of a beautiful dragonfly that had landed on a reed of grass near me. My camera kept having trouble focusing on the dragonfly rather than the background and when I finally got one picture I thought would do, I moved on and tried to see the alligator he pointed out to me. 

As we hit the main trail again, we backtracked to where the turtle was still working on whatever she was trying to do. I figure she was either trying to dig a hole for the eggs or had laid them and was trying to cover them over. About the time we arrived, the turtle was giving up. She took a few steps toward the path, turned and disappeared into the canal. I took a look at where she'd been but there was no evidence of any eggs and I'm guessing she found the

ground too hard to dig and went off to find an easier patch of soil.

On the way back to the car, I stopped quick when I saw another chance to capture a picture of the beautiful dragonfly. This time was successful!

We drove the 30 miles out to the other end of the park called Flamingo and were relieved to find a food truck there so we could catch some lunch. While we walked, a hawk flew over our heads and smacked into a wall of dried palm branches that were hanging down. His wings were spread out and for a moment I thought he had knocked himself out. He appeared to slide down a bit before he recovered and flew to a nearby tree. He perched there long enough to pose for some great pictures.

Our few stops on the way back did not lend any more unusual sightings but all in all, we had had a wonderful day even without many alligator sightings. Guess they were socially distancing. 

So keep in mind if you visit the Everglades, it's not just about the alligators. There is a lot of other wildlife to see.

It Pays To Have Friends With Connections

 Anyone who knows us knows we are addicted not only to travel but to Pickleball as well. We meet the nicest people playing at home and in Florida during the winter months. One of our fellow Florida players is married to a boat captain who does tours with his six passenger pontoon boat. We followed our Until-Next-Year lunch with a cruise on his boat. It was so much fun as well as informative. A whole new perspective on Key Largo from the water. 

Captain Larry picked us up from Senor Frijoles after lunch and took us out and across Blackwater Sound to a protected area of mangroves. We went through a channel that is part of the Intercoastal Waterway and then into a smaller channel that led to a small lake in the middle of the mangroves that are actually a part of the Everglades. Captain Larry has a special permit to go into the area with his charters. 

Mangroves are an important part of the eco-system. They reduce erosion, protect water quality, provide a nursery habitat for marine life and provide shelter and nesting areas for a variety of other birds and animals. Their roots that go down into the water make them look like they are standing on stilts. 

Along the way we saw a variety of birds including some really pretty herons and an iguana out for a swim. It was interesting to learn that the channel is where they anchor boats when a hurricane approaches. When Irma came through, the water was blown out of the Bay and the boats rested on the bottom but the mangroves protected them from damage. 

Since all of us onboard new what a manatee looked like, he didn't spend time trying to track one down. We did take a peek at the dolphin pens by the Dolphins Plus at MM102. 

Captain Larry was informative and kept us all chuckling with his humor as well. It was a relaxing and enjoyable time with wonderful friends from our Pickleball group. If you happen to be in Key Largo and are looking for a little relaxing and enjoyable time on the water, you might want to look him up. He does morning tours and some sunset cruises as well.