A Touch of Paradise

Well, I finally got to the beach this weekend. Have missed it very much and hopefully will be going more. This is Boca Grande. It's a sweet little town on Gasparilla Island on the west coast of Florida. With it's tree lined streets and old time feel it is definitely worth the trip. I left at around 5:30 AM to get there and catch a good light. I got there around 6:30 and head straight for the beach. I drove into the parking lot at the park and the parking lot was full! You can imagine my shock and the exclamation that came out of my mouth! LOL There was a tarpon tournament going on! Anyway, I went ahead and grabbed my camera and headed for the beach to salvage what I could. There were so many boats that you could barely see the water! I walked down the beach and to my surprise, I got some great shots and may even have contest entries in some of them. I finished at the beach and then took a walk around town to see what I could see. It is about 3 to 4 blocks wide from the bay to the gulf and it was a pleasure to go. I hope you enjoy the pics as much as I enjoyed taking the. You will find that I return here time and time again and am never disappointed. It was a shot from here that got me published. I guess the island holds some kind of magic. At least for me it does. Enjoy and have a GREAT day!!

In Search of the Swamp

I went last weekend down to the Big Cypress Preserve in the Everglades. I have, for some time, wanted to get into the Fakahatchee Strand and see what I could see. On the way I stopped at the Big Cypress Boardwalk and took a stroll. What a peaceful walk that was! Surrounded by the sound of at least 6 different frogs, birds and the call of the hawks, it was great. The best thing about it was the trees. What a site they were! The cypress trees were massive and the mixture of palms and oaks with them was a treat. I came across two trees in the boardwalk that would have taken 3 of me to put my arms around them. I saw an eagle nest in one but the fledgelings have all gone now. All in all it was worth the time. I then went on to the Fakahatchee Strand and ended up being a little disappointed. It was so dry that there was really nothing around to take pics of. I got a few shots of the grassland and the drive anyway. There is also a pic of a dried up roadside pond that shows how desperately water is needed there.

I left there and went on another scenic drive in the area. There I was able to get some pics of the gators there. Some of them were close and personal but it was worth it. Birds were scarce but there were a few to see. I will in the future go back here and try again and hope to at that time get back into the swamp a little bit. I hope you enjoy. Have a GREAT day!

God's Gifts

You know, when I see things like this on my treks to find that "shot", I am amazed at all that is out there to be seen. I feel blessed every time something like this falls onto my path. Being able to capture something that most people will never see in their lifetime is what makes the whole prospect of photography worthwhile. In my heart I wish that people would just take the time to open their eyes and see what God has given them and not be so wrapped up in the materialism and self absorption that seems to be the way of the world today. My path this day took me by these little guys in the woods on the east side of Lake Okeechobee. I heard whining as I was looking at scratches on a tree and there they were. There were 4 of them in a ball of fur on the ground. I'm sure mama was close and keeping an eye on them but what a treat! I just wanted to stay there with them forever. Everyday gives me at least one treat to cherish. I hope you all can find that in your life too. Open your eyes and look around, I'm sure you will see. Have a GREAT day!!

While I've Been Gone.......

White Pelicans/ J.N. Ding Darling

National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel

Anhinga/Clewiston

Beach/Boca Grande

Bald Eagle/N Fort Myers

Mama Gator/Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest

Lubber Grasshopper Iguana/Clewiston Lighthouse/Sanibel

Otters/Okaloacoochee Slough State Park

Snapping Turtle/Fisheating Creek

Wildlife Management Area

Crested Cara Cara/Fisheating Creek

Wildlife Management Area

Old Pier/Boca Grande

Gator/Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area

I am really not good at this yet so forgive the mess! LOL Hope you enjoy anyway. Have a GREAT day!!

I'm Back!!!

I have been gone for a while but I am going to try and get back into the saddle again. I will not be on the kayak anymore, well maybe sometimes but I will be hoofing it more. I am flying solo again so I will be hiking a lot more. I tend to get better pics on the ground anyway so hang with me.

In the Woods

Another place I wanted to tell you about is the CREW Land & Water Trust. It is located in Collier County and can be accessed by SR 82 or Corkscrew Road south. Beautiful setting to enjoy the "real" Florida woods. You have your regular flatwoods with palmettos and pines and then you have oaks, marsh, slough and more flatwoods. The way it is set up, you pass through each stage gradually and enjoy the best of them all. Of course the mosquitos were bad, with the rain we have been getting but with the right repellant they were bearable. Spring or Fall would be GREAT for taking your time and spending the day. They have wide trails mown and some boardwalks through the swamp and slough area. Some of the trails are pretty primative but that also adds to the beauty of it. Definitely worth the hike and we will for sure be returning to see what we missed and revisit what we saw.