A Wandering Week in Florida 1
If one focuses on Florida’s landscapes, birds and wildlife, ignoring peoples’ politics and outlooks, it has much to offer the walking poet. In less than a week walking and kayaking, exploring in 9 state parks and conservation areas, searching for Manatees and birds, I felt refreshed - green therapy.
Myakka River
The surprisingly cold March winds
whipping across the lake
choppy white caps and wavy sands
A flock of pure white pelicans
land together in formation
and float past silently.
Closer to shore
on long skinny red legs
Black neck stilts wade
Then take off aerodynamically
flying perfectly horizontal
led by their long pointed beaks.
Their more colorful cousins,
American Avocets
Still probing and wading
on their stilt black legs
swing their reddish brown heads
with long sharp beaks
in unison and keep foraging
The large limpkins,
brown and white speckled
Standing in deep water
are watched by the plovers and ducks
bobbing up and down on the waves.
All this time
on the far shore
The lazy alligators lie around
blue herons preen themselves
and I am content to stand and watch
the bird show
Mayakka Forest
The trees are large and complex
long strong limbs stretching out
like welcoming arms
for moss, ferns, bromeliads
and unseen varieties of insects.
In the early morning dew
the spiders webs are sparkling
woven so perfectly
waiting for their victims
to play their role
in the continuous cycle
of life and death.
Hillsborough River
On a whim I turn left,
off my planned route.
taking the rapids trail
through oaks, pines and ferns
I see my first florida rapids
Class 2 it says.
Dropping slowly down
over a dozen spread out boulders
after a heavy rain storm
One could call this a “rapid”.
The sunlight filters through,
the leafy branches of large pond cypresses
with their wide trunks
holding firm in the flowing stream.
As the stream widens out
water diamonds sparkle,
dancing around the turtles
resting on the bleached logs
below the waiting Anhinga.
to remind us we are in Florida,
A sign describes the American Alligator
which thoughtfully is sunbathing
on the opposite bank.
Colt Creek
I ask the lady at the entrance
best places for photography.
Clyde Butcher was here
he donated his photo to the park.
Putting on my shoes
Ivan tells me he is training
for a 45 mile race,
I remember lunch in Les Houches.
A sunny day under Mont Blanc.
The runners had just completed
100 miles around Mont Blanc
in 24 hours
I am ready for a long walk
I pick the 10 mile trail
Away for the coast
wanting different terrain.
Central Florida habitat
This is a real forest
strands of tall longleaf pine
with saw palm foreground
an occasional cypress dome
small patches of swamp
side trails off to primitive campsites
Shades of green and brown
broken by dazzling butterflies
and meadows with wild flowers.
I freeze, completely still
in the silence of the forest
no-one around me
just beautiful butterflies
shades of orange, yellow, black and brown
White and turquoise
intricate patterns and designs
like natures flying carpets.
Moving rapidly from flower to flower
drinking in nectar and moving on.
Names as fascinating as their patterns:
Gulf Fritillary, Silver Spot Skipper,
Horaces dusky wing, tropical checkered skipper,
The Southern Dogface and the Queen.
the White Peacock and the Zebra Longing.
Lunch on a bench over halfway,
imaging the sound of turkeys gobbling
thinking a healthy dinner in Dade City.
Soon enough I will discover
good food is not a priority
in this neck of the woods.
completing the circuit at the pond
I am happy to see the car
and sit under the shade
and plan my route to my next stop
Homosassis.
©MartinStrasmore2023