I had a long list of chores scheduled for today but when Katie and Peggy asked if I wanted to paddle, I immediately said yes! The water was a few degrees warmer than the air temperature of 64° but since the sun was shining and the breeze was minimal we didn’t mind.
Even though we didn’t see any dolphins we still had lovely afternoon paddling around Bear Creek and Boca Ciega Bay. What a wonderful way to start the New Year!
As we step into a new year full of possibility, may our paths be lined with love, our journeys guided by hope, and our lives filled with joy.
Even though it was chillier than I would’ve preferred, I wasn’t going to miss the last sunset of the year. It didn’t go out with a bang, and personally, after the year I’ve had, I think that’s just as well.
Yesterday was my first visit to the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Knowing it would be busy because of the holidays, I arrived right when it opened. I was one of the first 10 people in the small park and while it was chilly (a mere 42°) it was worth it!
The park encompasses Homosassa Spring, a first magnitude spring that is the head of the short, 7.7 mile, river of the same name. The area first became popular with tourists in the early 1900s as a railside attraction.
Passengers marveled at the fish and manatees amassed there. The constant 74° temperature of the water is the main draw, especially during the cooler months when the Gulf water drops into the low 60s.
In the 1940s, the area officially opened as a roadside attraction, expanding again in the 1960s to include native and exotic animals, many of them trained to perform. By the time the state purchased the property in 1991, that mindset was outdated. Today the emphasis is on the protection and conservation of native wildlife.
The park now provides refuge for injured or habituated animals that are native to the state. Residents include manatees, bobcats, Florida Panthers, Red Wolves, and foxes, as well as numerous bird species.
However, since the river runs through the center of the park, it is also visited by numerous wild animals that take advantage of the safe haven. Other than the charismatic flamingoes, all the animals in my photos above were “visitors”.
Speaking of flamingoes, while admiring them I overheard a Florida girl earnestly ask her dad, “Why is it so cold?” I commiserated with her, even though I was wearing my down parka and gloves. Yes, I’ve lived here for 6, going on 7, years now but I still keep a pair of them in my car (after all, that’s why it’s called a glovebox)!
In case you were wondering, the name Homosassa came from the Seminole and Creek languages and purportedly translates as “place where wild pepper grows”. The pepper in question is the native Firecracker Pepper (Capsicum annum). I didn’t notice any peppers but I did spot a scraggly wild orange tree growing in the mesic forest along the Pepper Creek Trail.
Overall, it was a lovely way to spend one of the last days of the year!
In case your holidays have been a bit hectic, Westley is giving you a gift – a demonstration of purr-fect relaxation! Wishing everyone some peace and quiet!
They may not be wrapped under the tree but I’m wishing you the best gifts of the season – love, peace, and joy!
We may not have snow and Santa’s method of transit may be a bit different down here but the season is still celebrated in festive style. Hoping your festivities are filled with joy!
The weather down here has been incredible lately, with daytime temperatures in the upper 70s and plenty of sunshine. On Sunday I drove down to Myakka River State Park. It was the first state park I visited in Florida when I moved here back in 2019, right about this time of year. While I’ve returned to wander a few times since, I don’t think I’ve had quite such an amazing experience before.
As the afternoon heated up, I headed into the forested hammock. The thing about winter in Florida, I go through a lot of clothes! When I left my house it was 59° so I wore jeans and a long-sleeve shirt. By the time I parked at the trailhead, it was mid-70s and sunny so I switched into shorts and a tshirt. I started the day on an open trail but by mid-afternoon, the sun chased me onto a much shadier trail. We may not get showy Fall colors down here but as you can see, the foliage was definitely festive!
For the last part of my day, I trekked south along the much-diminished Myakka River. Though our dry season has just started, most of Florida is already in a Stage 1 drought. As a result, I was able to reach sections of the river that would typically be completely under water.
I perched on one of the trees downed by last year’s hurricanes and waited, knowing that low water levels elsewhere in the park would bring wildlife here. I didn’t have to wait long, as a steady stream of birds and even a raccoon soon stopped by.
As for alligators, you know what they say, if there’s water in Florida it’s a safe bet that there’s gators! I admire them from a distance because although they mostly laze about, they are surprisingly quick and agile. The momma gator in the video below swam over to warn me to stay away from her not-so-little babies.
The weather was absolutely perfect for a morning paddle, so I loaded up my kayak and headed downtown. There’s a little park just north of all the high-rises that has a small boat launch. I often walk along the Coffee Pot Bayou seawall, so it was nice to be out in it for a change.
This small, sheltered waterway just off Tampa Bay is favored by all manner of birds, dolphins, and manatees (though sadly, I did not see any of the latter today). Thankfully, my bird and dolphin sightings more than made up for the lack of sea cows. The best part was watching a momma dolphin carefully guide her baby as it rolled on the surface of the water (see its little white belly in the video below). What a morning!
*Yes, I wish I had been closer. Also, please admire my restraint as I did not squeal (though I really wanted to)!
The weather recently has been just delightful, sunny and warm (in the upper 70s during the day). Westley loves his outside time and especially enjoys it when I’m sitting out there with him. Though, as you can see in the second photo, he finds it annoying when I turn our afternoon into a photoshoot!
Could be worse, buddy, we could live somewhere cold and wintery!
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