No More Waterfront Property!

February 29, 2016

Last week gave us one more drenching overnight rain, but we seem to have finally hit a drier trend in the weather. Check out the view out our side door. That's the most dry ground we've seen since we arrived.

Dry Ground!

A few weeks ago

Unfortunately, the trails are still under water and there are few hiking options for our visitors. A through hiker on the Florida Trail, which runs through the park so that hikers can tent in our campgrounds, hiked in over the weekend. He and his pit bull had to go through neck high water in Starvation Slough, west of here. The dog swam while carrying it's own pack of freeze dried dog food. Since we had no new information about the trail out of here, he opted to call a friend to drive him to “higher ground”. He was hiking from Key West to his home in Toledo, Ohio.

Hiking flooded trails offers many delights!

We've been happy with our routine. I'm in the office on Thursdays and Sundays, and Greg makes his own hours, usually pulling the invasive Sida planicaulis bushes a few mornings a week and spending a little time on the rental bike maintenance. He helped to build new shelves in the bike shed. In between we relax, walk, read, write, and just generally chill. We get some over the air TV, mostly from Orlando, which seems rather far to me, but keep up with a few programs and local news. We stream Netflix while we still have enough monthly gigabytes, and then catch up with DVD's. We're currently working through season 3 of “Vikings”. Thanks kids for the Christmas present!

Hog Rooting damage in the middle of Military Trail

Tree Frog that was hiding in the park entry cash box

Last Tuesday we made our bi-weekly grocery run, this time to FT Pierce on the Atlantic Coast. It's a little farther than Sebring in the interior (two hour round trip) where we have been going. We took a few loads of laundry with us since the volunteer's washer was moved out to be used by the campers, since theirs broke. No word on when we get another one, so we decided to find a laundromat. After three tries, (thanks Google Maps...) we found one, did laundry, then went to look for a Thai restaurant a short way up US 1 for lunch. Once again it was nowhere to be found, (again, thanks Google Maps...) and wound up at a BBQ joint called Dale's. It was crowded, the food was good, and lunch was a good deal, so we were happy after our laundry experience.

This egret was fascinated by the mirrored laundromat windows

BBQ!

Then we found a Publix supermarket nearby. Spent a ridiculous amount of time stocking up for two weeks, because being in a new store always takes longer. As we were checking out we had a torrential downpour and had to wait for a slowdown in the rain. Greg ran between the raindrops, we loaded up our tiny, silver egg, (not much room with laundry, too) and gave up on FT Pierce and seeing the ocean. We made a beeline for the park and were glad when we crossed in the gate just before dark when it gets locked for the night.


Greg's brother and his wife made a quick stop-over on their way from the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Coast. Rob's comment as they finally got here and exited the car was, “You're even beyond the middle of nowhere!” We had a nice few hours and a picnic lunch with them, then they left to find civilization!


We've got a few photos of the wildlife including our resident opossum who we found at night trying to open our outside bin filled with cleaning products. He did manage to get the handles undone before we turned the flashlight on him. Usually he walks along the perimeter of our site at dusk and the crows shriek at him and try to run him off.

The baby alligators make a fairly regular appearance down the road, usually sitting on Mom's back or head. We've had snakes including cottonmouths or water moccasins, which are venomous, on the road sunning themselves. This week we spotted a northern harrier hawk, and most days we see red shouldered hawks. There are three does and a buck that pass through the campground as well, and the ever-present turkeys.

Red-shouldered Hawk

Baby gator hiding in the grass

Probably a Florida Water Snake

Baby climbing on mom's back

Checking on the gator babies

Constant supervision by the local hawks

Our most frequent visitors are the crows. They get into anything left outside. Greg has been leaving a little piece of plastic wrap tucked in the gaps of the picnic table. They like to come pull it out with their beaks, so that he will tuck it in again. Crow games... Their raucous calls and imitations of other local birds are always entertaining, especially the one who hoots like an owl!

The horses camped next door to us have left, and the campground is quieter this week. The weather is warming up and the wildflowers are slowly starting to bloom. Spring is coming and the hawks and crows are getting frisky! Wow! It sure doesn't take long to make baby birds! A little screaming and it's all over!

This week we are looking forward to a visit from our friend Brenda that we workcamped with last summer in New Hampshire. She is tenting, so we are praying for dry weather! So far the forecast looks good!