Settled down for the week in Oscar Scherer State Park, we walked some of the trails. Alligators. I hate alligators. Signs all along the waterway reinforced my dislike.
The South River estuary running through the park is beautiful, full of old live oaks and their dripping Spanish Moss and other native plants. And presumable, alligators.
Ice cream! Happy Luke found ice cream cups available at the Nature Center. We are ready to walk the trail around Lake Osprey. (A 16 year old girl was killed here 2 years ago by an alligator - she made the unfortunate mistake of going swimming at dusk).
This Little Blue Heron isn't afraid of alligators. He is happily fishing in the shallows of the lake. His give-away markings are the beautiful blue feathers and his two-tone blue beak.
Smoke, ever a cat, discovered her new nest while we were gone. A ray of sunshine and a fleece blanket are all it takes.
Friends Phyllis and Peter, from NC, stopped to visit for a few days on their winter FL trip! We took off for Tarpon Springs. Tarpon Springs is the "sponge capital of the world". The town was established by Greek sponge divers in the early 1900's. About 15,000 square miles of the Gulf of Mexico has water depths of 50 to 100 ft with bottom suitable for growing sponges. Sponge diving is still a big business here.
Greek style fishing boats line the waterfront.
A memorial statue of a diver is also on the warf.
We visited the sponge museum, an interesting place full of sponges for sale, an informative video, and helpful salesladies. Phyllis and Peter are in the diver's helmet
It was a bitter day for FL - about 45 degrees, very windy, and overcast. Luke and Phyllis braved a walk to the beach at Honeymoon Key but not for long! The white sand is beautiful.
Next, Phyllis and I had a girl's day of shopping while Luke and Peter headed out to look around Sarasota.
Our last day together, we all went back to St. Petersburg to visit the Chihuly Museum, the permanent home of some of his collection . This glass artist has the most fantastic glass sculptures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Chihuly We loved the museum! Here are a few pictures of his larger than life works.
A 20 ft high hanging work.
Orange flowers on the wall.
Clear bowls
A room size rowboat filled with colorful balls
A multi-colored hanging
The largest piece is a room sized landscape of plants sitting in water
The room itself was amazing. The oval room with near parabolic ends allowed Luke to stand facing one end and I stood facing the far wall. He could speak to me and it sounded as though he were standing just behind me.
Last, Fort De Soto. Batteries and a military post were constructed in 1900 at the demand of the Tampa residents. Frightened by the Spanish-American war, they wanted better defense. 29 buildings were constructed. The post had 8 twelve inch M 1890-M1 mortars, capable of reaching 1.25 - 6.8 miles with 700 lb shells designed to penetrate the steel decks of ships. 3 inch, 15 pound guns were also placed to protect from fast moving boats in the 1.25 mile area that the large mortars could not reach.
The sea is slowly claiming one of the batteries.
About a dozen horseshoe crabs were stranded on the beach, awaiting the returning tide.
It was a great week at Oscar Scherer with Phyllis and Peter.
On Saturday we drove 65 miles south to Koreshan State Park, located in Estero. Another nice old park in a great region to explore. Former neighbors Connie and Mike plus Ali and Charlie have moved here. We plan lots of time together.
No comments:
Post a Comment