Myakka River State Park

After a busy early morning doing more Pearl preparation, I realized it was a cooler day than usual.  At 71 degrees, I can function happily so decided to take the afternoon off, drive the 30 odd miles to Myakka River State Park, eat my lunch on one of the many trails I’d read about.

You can’t seem to get anywhere in Florida without spending time on the freeway. Sure enough, I was treated to 11 miles (30 minutes) of dense traffic before making the turn off to Highway 72.

Highway 72 took me through some  pretty countryside.  The big old pastures full of moss draped Oaks along the wetland kind of scenery that still exists in Florida in small doses.

Small doses because the lack of ecological consciousness that accompanies the greed driven, high paced development of Florida is rendering it unrecognizable. But that’s for another post.

I passed the Sarasota National Cemetery,

which may not be a massive as Arlington, but carries enough gravitas to remind one that too many people die in wars that only benefit the rich.

When I arrived at Myakka State Park, there was a line of nine cars before me waiting to enter. Friday, 11:30, Spring Break?  I suppose it was to be expected.  I paid my $4.00, added one for the donation box, and entered.

Most of the cars seemed to stop at the same places, posted viewing spots along the road. I passed slowly by these spots, managed to find my way to the few smaller drives, side roads, and trail heads which exist.

Yes, there were a lot of people. Yet I managed to get away from the crowds some of the time to enjoy some lovely sights.

 

And Birds.

Not as many birds as I’d hoped, given it’s a huge waterway, but the variety was pretty great.

I caught a glimpse of a Red Shouldered Hawk with a snake dangling in its talons. It zoomed directly in front of me, taking its catch to feed its young, I imagine.  

This isn’t my photo-I wasn’t fast enough-sadly,  it didn’t have a phot credit name, but yeah. this is pretty much what I saw. Great capture.

Plenty of Ibis here and there, a half dozen Great Blue Herons I could see scattered throughout the entire park, several times standing right next to honkin’ huge alligators.

This guy is actually almost five feet tall and that is not a log next to him. Look closely.

Further afield, this bevy of beauties includes Anhinga’s cozying up to some alligators lazing away in the sun.

The Canopy Trail, which I’d really hoped to take, was closed. I didn’t find out why.  Here is the boardwalk through the canopy, It is raised 25 feet above the ground and travels 100 feet through an oak/palm canopy. Completed in 2000, it was the first public tree top trail in North America.  Our imagination will have to help us imagine the prarie/hammock interface it hovers above as well as the wildlife we might have seen if only….

Meandering happily long the riverside, I saw plenty of Grebes and Moorhens, then one Roseate Spoonbill. There might have been a few more off in the distance but I couldn’t zoom in close enough. It’s almost the end of season for them. They’ll be heading south in a few weeks.

I never got tired of seeing these guys. Most of them were snoozing but this one had a bit of something going on.

Another Great Blue. They are so majestic.  This one is hunting along the wetland at the edge of the upper lake which the river opens into on its way south

Also along the lake shore, these tules are in full bloom. They remind me of giant green onions.

Leaving the lake and moving further along the river, I spy a bunch of lazy bones enjoying the sun.

Even with all the water in this state park,  I notice many of the native palms are in drought. It’s no secret that Florida’s aquifers are being tapped beyond repair to fuel the endless golf course communities and tech industries sprouting up, you see signs of it even here when you pay attention.

But let us leave Myakka State Park holding onto beautiful memories

And finally, the  wetland prairie.

with air so sweet from the awakening prairie grass I felt connected to the Divine as I stood breathing it in.

Yes, we are all One. It helps me to be reminded of that.

Blessed Be.