Winter 2017--Lithia Springs Part 2

There will be a closed in foundation on 24 30-50 foot long posts driven into the sand. They can't insure anything on the first floor because they are so close to the shore and storm surge in a hurricane
could wipe out that floor. It is just for parking area and storage.

The living area will all be on the second floor with two staircases and
an elevator for access. It will still be 2200 square feet, but all raised!

As it turned out, the campground didn’t stay full the whole time we stayed. It had a few campsites that opened up during the week and then filled again for the second weekend. Some schools apparently had the whole week after Presidents’ Day off because there were kids around pretty much the whole time. We found plenty to do as we explored two other Hillsborough County parks that had camping, went to church at the very welcoming Faith Family UCC church where they insisted we stay for a potluck meal after the service, and we visited Brenda and John Sternberg in Tampa. That worked out very well because we could do some laundry at their house, and while I got my hair done at a stylist Brenda recommended, John and Marv drove over to the Beach House, which has been razed, and they checked on how the new construction of their Retirement House was coming (see above). 

Paddling our inflatable kayak on the reservoir at Medard Park, a Hillsborough
County Park north and east of Lithia Springs, 

We saw wonderful waterfowl on the reservoir water and the shore.

We think this is the biggest alligator we have ever seen in the wild. It was about 15 feet long.
We were sitting quietly about 20 yards away taking this picture when a helicopter went over
us, flying low. The alligator suddenly splashed into the water and looked like it was headed
right to us!! We have never paddled so fast in our lives!!

This is the view from the birding tower at Medard Reservoir.

E.G. Simmons County Park is south and west of Lithia Springs,
right on the shore of Tampa Bay.

There were no boats at the boat ramp, just lots of pelicans.

We had heard of this park in the past but never visited it. People warned us that
the bugs are bad because of the mangroves lining the shore line but we didn't
have any problems as we hiked around during out visit.

Winter 2017--Lithia Springs Part 1

Lithia Springs: We were relieved to find that we had our choice of five campsites when we arrived at Lithia Springs County Park on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 12. By the next day the camping was full and stayed that way most of the time we were there. We took a site across and up a few from our favorite sites that are against the woods towards the river, but we have a large area of greenery and growth behind us here for privacy, too. 

It wasn’t going to be as convenient to get to the bathroom as our site at Myakka, where we could easily go every night for a shower before bed, but it would do nicely. We got set up and then went for a two mile or so pedal to see how the park looked this year. 

Our banner from Cindy Chalou lends a touch of color and class to the camper!
The center panel says "All who wander are not lost".

Last year the water was very high and the Alafia River that runs through the park and is fed partly by the spring was too high to kayak up river as we had done our first stay there. This year the state is in a bit of a drought and the River is too low to take our kayak. The park is one of our favorites and although we started with a 10 day reservation we soon extended it to two weeks. There is a Beef O’Brady’s just down the road where we watched MSU beat osu on Valentine’s Day. Next to it is a Winn-Dixie for some of our grocery shopping and down from there a Publix. It’s a pleasant three and a half mile pedal through Fish Hawk Ranch to a small strip mall where we had breakfast on Valentine’s Day at Scrambled Eggs. After breakfast we drove to a nearby Hillsborough Park called Blackwater Creek and took a 3.4 mile hike. 

The Jimmy the Greek--naan bread topped with scrambled eggs, spinach, feta cheese, tomatoes,
Hollandaise sauce, and a balsamic reduction plus a fruit cup--was an excellent choice.

This small tributary to Blackwater Creek is just a damp area right now.....

...but there were a few Florida iris drawn to the wetness.

Some kind of Bluebird was tweeting away overhead as we walked by.

Tampa is a day trip away and we are near to Plant City. We are also near to Largo, where Louise Sternberg had just moved, and where Jill and Dan Baker live so we drove over Wednesday to visit them and we called Thelma twice to wish her Happy Birthday! 

Much of the furniture is on backorder so seating is a bit sparse right now.

Her bedroom has a big, well lighted walk-in closet.

Her screened balcony overlooks the golf course. There is also a pool at the complex.

Jill and Dan screened in their patio for a nice seating area. Their home
 is right along the fairway for their golf course.

The living room

On the way home we used a Groupon Marv bought for Bar-B-Que at Uncle Mike’s the day after Valentine’s Day and they gave me a really lovely (leftover) rose as we left.

The spring is more shallow than last year but it's always a refreshing place with its 72 degree water.

Winter 2017--Myakka Part 3

This Bald Eagle was resting beside Upper Lake when we walked out
on the Bird Walk. It later took off and was fishing beside a juvenile.
We saw the juvenile catch a fish, at which point the adult chased and
(unsuccessfully) tried to take away the fish.

A Ranger told us this was a Stilt. Experts, do you agree?

The alligators along the River Hike were numerous and the most active
 we have ever seen. They were constantly swimming and there were a couple of
brief altercations as territories were crossed.

An osprey fishing overhead

I get my big white birds confused. I think this is a Great Egret.
Can anyone set me straight or confirm?

The jungle-like Myakka River

The same Ranger as above said this was a Limpkin. 

A cormorant dries its wings.

The Canopy Walk with the tower ahead.

The view over Myakka State Park from atop the Canopy Bird Tower

A (presumably) prescribed burn in the distance, beyond Myakka State Park.
You can see the shadow of the Tower on the treetops.

Winter 2017--Myakka Part 2

 At the Camper's coffee on Wednesday we learned from Mike and Ruby that the Herrman's Royal Lipizzaner Stallions had winter quarters near the park. They give demonstrations as part of their training for a $5 donation at their outdoor ring. The place was packed and the talk was very informative.  

The stallions are very competitive for dominance and having them perform
together means the riders have to limit eye contact between the horses.

The five mile round trip hike to Deep Hole is well worth the
heat of the palmetto flatlands to be in the Preserve.

Two kayaks and a row boat came from up river to cross the
Lower Lake, over Deep Hole, and continue down the Myakka.

An anhinga sunning itself beside the sinkhole 

Myakka has as many Black Vultures as it does alligators, I think.
And they both like to hang out at Deep Hole.

Looking across Deep Hole

Alligators

The Deep Hole is teaming with life, all peacefully coexisting when we were there.

This Osprey took off from its nest near the trail as we returned from Deep Hole

We were supposed to be able to see a Penumbral Eclipse of the Full Moon
on Friday night, but unless this is it, it didn't really show.