Along the Atlantic Coast - Serendipity and Sadness!!

After leaving Florida on April 2, we made our first stop along the coastal route in St. Mary's Georgia.  Unfortunately we were not able to visit our beloved Cumberland Island due to the Easter Week crowd so we stayed in a lovely campground for a few days and hiked in Crooked River State Park.  Another stop was a visit to some Tabby (http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/ArticlePrintable.jsp?id=h-3277) ruins.  This early form of building construction, using crushed oyster shells and lime is fascinating and seems strong and lasting.

As we continued along the coastal route, our next stop was Myrtle Beach State Park, South Carolina for Easter weekend.  We set up camp here, and then were off to enjoy the beach and the pier. On the pier, we had a most wonderful surprise when we ran into two friends that we had known from Baxter State Park, Jodi and Mac.  (They have recently retired and are also serious "RVers".)  What a grand reunion we had! Serendipity everywhere! It was also fun to find some beautiful wild members of the lily family blooming for Easter morning.

Under the Fishing Pier

Our Easter Lilies

Our next destination was the Outerbanks of North Carolina, and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.  We accessed the area by ferry and camped first on Ocracoke Island, and then north on Oregon Inlet on Hatteras Island just south of Nags Head.  Before getting onto the ferry, Latona found a Blue Crab to photograph.

From Cedar Island...

to Ocracoke

We couldn't wait to get to the beach

I finally got the camera!

The energy and beauty of the Atlantic was breathtaking at times.

Tallest brick Lighthouse ever built.

       We enjoyed many hours of beach walking,  finding new shells, and often watching the dolphins playing close to shore.  Camping in the dunes was wild and rugged even though we were in sites made for campers.  We had been spoiled in other places with hot water in the showers but here it was only cold, cold, cold...

                                

As we travelled north, it was along the National Seashore that I started to realize that our wonderful trip was coming to an end. It hit me hard, and I had a few hours of grieving the loss of the freedom we have as we travel along together in our little van.  Of course, we travel with our children, grandchildren, family and friends in our hearts and minds, but feel quite free as we go along.  It was good to anticipate the joy of being with the friends and family we would visit on the final leg of the journey.  Still very grateful and happy... on to the Chesapeake Bay!

A VISIT WITH MOM

It has been quite a week since we shared the last blog.  We visited with some friends in Ruskin, Florida who were saying goodbye to a friend dying of cancer.  They had taken him into their home and were caring for him along with Hospice workers.  The following day we went to Wildwood to visit with Mom and Chick for a week.  Mom wanted us to do a few things.  Latona trimmed her hair for her and I planted the flowers (she said they are called Tropical Sisters) in the front of their home.  She is  doing well but does have arthritic pain in her legs and hips.  She is so stubborn (in a good way) that I am sure she will figure out ways to be comfortable.  And yes, I know where I get it...smile!

While at Mom's, we went to CVS to make a few copies of pictures and ran into a lady who was printing a picture of her husband who had only a few hours to live.  Latona hugged her while she cried and we promised to pray for her in the days to come.

Since leaving Mom on April 2, we camped in Georgia and now are staying in South Carolina, avoiding serious thunderstorms and coastal flooding.  During this time, dear friends and family members have also been dealing with circumstances that are filled with difficulties and suffering.  

As we approach Easter weekend, we are remembering all those who are suffering.  Distance does not remove the capacity of our hearts to be with our dear ones at this time.  We are grateful that it is the time to remember the One who lives and whose help and comfort is real.  Thank God.  With all our love and hugs.

Myakka River State Park and a Great Family Visit

Last Sunday, March 18, we started a 5-day reservation in another Florida state park - Myakka River, near Sarasota.  Each park has some familiar trees, plants, and birds, that we have seen in other Florida parks, while also offering unique natural sights for campers and day-users.  At Myakka River, there is a wonderful birding program with very knowledgeable volunteers staffing the birding platform with scopes and guidebooks and much information to share.  During our first visit to the bird platform, we met a couple of birding experts who happened to be from Blue Hill, Maine and are mutual friends with our book editor and his wife.  What a wonderful small world!  Here are some of the birds from Myakka River...

Roseate Spoonbills - always a favorite

Another special treat - A  flock of White Pelicans

Some on the wing -
eventually they will return to breeding grounds
in North Dakota

Flotilla of Pelicans possibly "herding" fish

We wanted to capture this photo that shows the work of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  It was explained to us that the holes that the bird drilled will eventually fill with sap and insects. The Sapsucker then comes back for the feast.

Red-shouldered Hawk

Black Vultures with a big "friend"

As you know, we love to hike and walk and see the natural world.  In this park, we took a walk along streams, climbed up 75 feet and looked over the tree tops from the Canopy Walk, and hiked on the Myakka Nature Trail and saw the recovery of the Sawgrass Palmetto after one of the controlled burns.

Trail goes all along the stream on left

Canopy Walkway from Top

Canopy Walkway from Bottom

Trail through the Live Oaks

All the duff that might add to a forest fire is gone.

Positive results of controlled burn - Palmettos growing

After our camping time in Myakka River State Park, we went to visit

Latona's oldest stepdaughter and her family in North Port and had our annual family reconnection with Debbie, Linden, Bub, Janet, Ozzie and Haley. On Sunday, Ozzie and family took us on their boat and snapped this shot capturing the spirit of the whole visit.  We love them and enjoy our time together.  In fact, although we left them a few days ago, we are still missing them.  Love to each one!

Today, it is back to my mother's for a visit, and by next week, we will be heading north.  Right now the plan is to head to the Atlantic Coast and use Route 17 to travel from Florida to the Chesapeake Bay along the coastline.  We have had a wonderful trip so far, and now we are "looking" due north as we anticipate being home and seeing all those we left behind.  Love and hugs, L&L

Along the Great Florida Birding Trail...

To start off...

Cloe sent me this picture of all four of us on the Anhinga Trail in the Everglades.  Just a note to let you know that she is the author of a great resource book for hikers called "Fifty Hikes in Northern Maine". We are very proud of our friend!

Another resource that we have been using is the guide to the Florida Great Birding Trail, provided free at the Visitor Center at the state borders.  So, this past week we were camping in the Collier-Seminole State Park, south of Naples on the Gulf of Mexico side of Florida (west coast), and using the birding guide to plan our daily adventures.  One place we visited was the Rookery Bay Estuary Research Center.  In the courtyard of the Visitor Center, we found some alligator statues and Latona couldn't resist acting out.



                  In addition to visiting the amazing Educational Center, we hiked the local trails.

Walking through the Slash Pines on the Snail Trail, we could see results of Planned Burns - used in Florida to control devastating results from the very common lightning strikes.

We also saw Resurrection Fern on bark of tree before rain.

and Resurrection Fern after the rain!  This fern actually can be so dry it looks dead.

Bloom of the Coral Bean.

We also took a second visit to the Corkscrew Swamp and another hike on the wonderful boardwalk through the Bald Cypress.  We learned from the information posted along the boardwalk that Cypress trees are the oldest living things on earth, and that the largest stand of virgin trees in North America was right here in the Sanctuary.

                                                          Some of the smaller trees and the Cypress knees.

Throughout the Sanctuary, we saw dew on the Alligator Flag.

and the Leather Fern...

Pink Lichen on the Cypress...

and a "baby" Cottonmouth taking a nap.

A final stop I want to share with you is Tigertail Beach, Marco Island.  This is a very popular beach both for humans and birds.    The beach is popular for shelling as well as nesting.  Many spots on the beach are closed off as "Critical Nesting Areas" for Plovers and other shore birds.

When we approached the area, we saw a lagoon and a "path" across the water to get to the beach on the Gulf.

After we make the journey across the lagoon, we arrive on the beach and start the search for the "peeps".

Success!  Wilson's Plover

Black-bellied Plover

Dunlins

Piping Plover

Willets and Dowitchers

Wilson's Plover

All in all we saw Snowy, Piping, Wilson's and the Semi-palmated Plovers.  There also were large populations of Egrets, Willets, Dowitchers, Dunlins and Herons.

In my mind, these last photos are some of the most beautiful that Latona has taken.  She did a study of the Little Blue Heron we found on Tigertail Beach.  Here are only a few of the shots.  The little crab is trying to get away but to no avail. The heron was very successful and had a great lunch while we watched.

One final treat happened as we left the beach area.  We had seen that the Burrowing Owl nests in the area.  After talking to one of the rangers, we learned where to look, and we found several nesting holes and got a good look at these adorable little owls.

Now it is time to sign-off before I lose this post (almost did that a few minutes ago)!  As we look back on the visits of the past week, we also share that it was a week of celebration for us - the anniversary of the beginning of the hike on the Appalachian Trail and all our many journeys together!  It is also the week of the birthdays of two grandchildren - both Lyla and Simon.  We wish them the happiest of celebrations and we look forward to seeing them soon.  Our planned date to return home is May 1.

Happy trails and be well!  Love and hugs, Us