Myakka River State Park, Sarasota, FL

Here we are at our favorite inland park, just 9 miles east of Sarasota. The weather has been super and we are enjoying the hiking and biking offered here. Because this area has had a dry winter, we have not been able to kayak this beautiful area with these natives. The water is just too low that even areas that have some water are shallow and I sure do not want to bump one of these guys while they rest at the bottom. Their reaction under my kayak is not one I wish to experience. A positive to the low water conditions is that a lot of new feeding areas have been exposed for the birds. There are large numbers of sand-hill cranes, American coots, numerous ducks, roseate spoonbills, and white pelicans that we have never seen before. This year the wild pigs seem more numerous also, with lots of damage and sightings of a large number of piglets. A real blessing about coming to this park in February is that spring is popping here now. That wonderful fresh green of new leaves and grass is coming out. With our winters here, we get an extended spring season, February thru May. One of the activities here that is so good for my soul is riding our bikes the 4 miles of paved road through the park to the birdwalk at dusk. The day use people are gone and we have the road to ourselves. The temps are balmy and the late afternoon light is golden making the Spanish moss draped from the tree canopy over the road glisten. Thank you Lord for that beauty. This was taking during a hike at Collier Seminole in the Everglades but we have seen a number of these black racers this year. Thankfully they are not poisonous. We have enjoyed this week with our PA friends Pam and Joe. The week has been so packed that pictures from this week will come later. They fly out tomorrow morning and we leave Myakka Monday. Our next park is Little Manatee River SP, sw of Tampa, for a week. We look forward to seeing our Tenn friends, Gerri and Leon who are volunteering there this year. We should be able to kayak there as that water tidal.

Our new grandson is not ready to join us yet apparently. We are so excited to greet him when he is ready.