Vacation fun

Sometimes it's easy to spot the out-of-towners. Like those in the ocean on this chilly day. It was beautifully sunny but I was bundled up in coat and hat and still not what I'd call warm. These intrepid folk were either brave, foolish or just plain determined to hit the waves no matter what just so they could say they went in the ocean on December 27th. Good for them. I'll just watch, thank you.

Someone was also feeding leftover bread to the gulls, which always calls for a riot of noise and flapping wings. Too reminiscent of the old Hitchcock movie The Birds to make me feel comfortable though the bread thrower was enjoying the attention and having a great time.

Hurrah for vacations where you get to do things the natives would rarely do. Hurrah for us natives who will enjoy the beach and the bright sunshine long after you've gone.

Rosy spectacle

After several days in a row of gray clouds and rain or drizzle, it was such a welcome sight to see this spectacular rosy dawn. Cold though it was (well, for Florida at 50º) it was so exhilarating to be touched by the sun that I didn't mind the chill one bit.

The pleasure at seeing the sun again also reawakened my awareness of how important sunshine is in my life, both literally and figuratively. I suppose on those days with no sun, I'll have to work harder to bring small bits of joy into my life in other forms.

Um-m-m-m, well that's what this blog started out being... a grateful log, acknowledging the little things in life that I'm grateful for. Guess I've come full circle with that thought and I'll have to get back to basics. Thank you sun for this gentle reminder.

Dreaming of flying

Have you ever dreamed that you can fly... all on your own, no help from a plane or manmade wings? I used to dream about flying, soaring over the landscape like a bird. I haven't flown in my dreams in years, but have lately been having a flying-dream discussion with a friend who has been enjoying her nocturnal soaring.

It was beautiful today on the beach, though chilly, the skies were a striking blue, a few scattered clouds just seemed to be there for decoration, and my osprey was enjoying a tranquil flight. Kind of like an afternoon stroll in the park. She was not searching for food, just enjoying a peaceful soar as I was enjoying my walk. (And I barely got her in the frame of my second photo.) Watching her flight made me once again envy her ability to take wing at will. Ah well, maybe in my dreams.

Lens smudge

If you were wondering if there was something wrong with my camera, let me assure the camera is just fine... the fog however was really making its presence known. This photo was taken about 10:30 a.m. long after the fog should have burned off. What is missing in the photo is the 17-story building which stands at the edge of the beach. It appears to be gone, just gone.

Enjoying the misty hues set off many foggy memories of living on the coast of Maine. There were times when you literally couldn't see the hand in front of your face. Driving up our long driveway at night was often done at the pace of a walk. The best memory is one that no one in my group of friends will ever forget. One evening we rented a lobster boat to take us for a picnic on some islands not far offshore. Before we could get back the fog rolled in, we got lost, the ship-to-shore radios went out and a rowdy bunch of teenagers with plenty of beer to drink spent the night wandering around the ocean with no idea of where we were. There were plenty of worried parents ashore, I'm sure but I remember it as being one of the BEST parties of my youth.

Here 40+ years later a little Florida fog can conjure up some pretty powerful old memories and how nice that a long walk on the beach lets me relive each and every one.

Canaveral finale

Finishing up our day at Canaveral we went to a house that was built in the early 1920s and is the only remaining structure of what was then the Eldora community. It was pouring rain again thus I have no photos to show you of this lovely old home that has been restored by the National Parks Service. It wasn't supposed to be open but to our delight one of the Park Service Rangers was there getting ready for their open house so she invited us to come in out of the rain. We cheerfully accepted. If you are ever in the area this is an interesting visit on the edge of the Mosquito Lagoon and provides a look at what it must have been like at the turn of the century without the creature comforts we so easily take for granted. The top photo was of a pond behind the house followed by a shot of the clouds skirting the Mosquito Lagoon.

Our last stop was at the end of the park with a lovely look at the lagoon, the ocean and miles and miles of pristine shoreline. There was a large group of vultures (buzzards) nearby and one of my friends said..."go away, we're not ready yet!" We all had to laugh. The last photo is one of the vultures waiting for a boater to bring him his lunch. Wonder if he can read or if he's just going to park there anyway.

Canaveral continued...

For a while we sat in the car waiting for the pouring rain to stop while letting our soaked clothes dry out. Yeah well... we decided to go get something to eat as the rain ran its course. Whoever said "it only rains for five minutes in Florida" wasn't where we were that day.

Finally it DID stop raining and we headed out to Castle Windy another shell midden right on the edge of the sprawling and beautiful Mosquito Lagoon. Did I mention aptly-named Mosquito Lagoon? The trek there was stunning, like stepping back in time. The trail lead through lush primeval woods with saw palmetto, palms, cedar and stunning live oak. We were intrigued by the way the gnarled old oak limbs twisted and turned creating great serpentine paths between palms, old (wild) orange trees and other vegetation. I was most fascinated by the ferns that were growing right on the tree limbs. I can't grow a fern to save my life, yet here they were growing on a tree limb. What's with that? Stunning to say the least.

We finally emerged into the clearing on the edge of the Mosquito Lagoon, glimpsed the tall shell midden and before I could point my camera we were engulfed in greedy, blood-sucking mosquitos. I have never seen anything like it. The air was thick with them, they found every square inch of uncovered skin and landed for a feast. Picture if you will three adults swatting, screaming and running back into the woods. Needless to say, you will not see a picture of the Castle Windy shell midden. Phew!

Better with friends

For weeks, some friends and I had a planned outing to the Canaveral National Seashore. The closer we got the worse the forecast was... we decided to go anyway. It was cold (for Florida) and we got soaked with intermittent rain, but we had fun. First stop was the Turtle Mound. A shell midden started by the Timucuan Indians more than 1200 years ago. This ancient garbage dump stands 60 feet tall and was even noted on Spanish maps of the 1600s as a navigational aid. It was called Turtle Mound because it is shaped like a turtle.

The National Park Service has provided a walkway so we can climb to the top without disturbing the shells below. The sights from the top would have been more spectacular had it not been raining, but I have included two gray photos to share with you. Living on a flat barrier island it is amazing to be that high above the ground (without being in a building of course) and the views were breathtaking. Even the raindrop on the right side of the camera lens helps to share our damp day with you.

The best part of the whole day was sharing it with my longtime, though soggy, friends. We oohed and aahed and laughed through the day cold and wet though we were.

Next time I'll share some photos of the aptly named Mosquito Lagoon, some of a spectacular nature walk to another midden called Castle Windy, and some fond remembrances of the Eldora House. What a day. It's so nice that memories last a long time.

Ain't no sunshine...

Over the past five days we have had only a few brief glimmers of sunshine. This morning again was cloudy and damp as I left the house. Being a sunshine lover I was lamenting the lack of sun and of course a song ran through my mind. With all due respects to Bill Withers I had to change the lyrics to match my scenario — "Ain't no sunshine when it's gone... "

Headed North on my walk there was nothing but gloomy grey clouds, it wasn't until I headed back that I saw in the East a stunning sight of the sun and the sun's rays breaking through the heavy cloud layer. (See top photo.) A little farther along there was a flock of seabirds also celebrating the sun. Thank goodness, the sun helped me quit singing that song as well as helped put a smile on my face.

Hover gull

Finally... back to the beach after a day and a half of rain. We needed the rain so I won't object, plus it gave me the opportunity to do some chores inside the house that were neglected because I so enjoy being outside.

The sun came out late this afternoon but the winds were strong and even this gull was held almost stationary right in front of me by the wind. Amazing that these aviators were even trying to buck this kind of headwind. However, it gave me a great chance to be up-close and personal to a bird in flight and to take a photo of it. Now, how often does that happen? Cool!

Decisions, decisions

Until this day, I had always thought that one of the most uncomfortable things is taking a long beach walk wearing wet shoes and socks. What changed my mind was this unusual day. It was hot enough to wear shorts but it was also very windy — 20 mph winds gusting to 35. Thus was the problem created. It was blowing so hard that the sand being whipped at the back of my bare legs made it feel like I was being sand blasted. The simple solution was to walk in the edge of the water. No blowing sand... but wet shoes. What should I do?

Why not just take off my shoes and walk barefooted in the water, you ask? I thought about it but there is my currently broken little toe that is having a hard time healing, and a formerly broken foot caused by taking long walks barefooted in the sand... I just didn't want to go there again and opting out of my walk was not something I even considered.

Besides taking the above photo of this strange and interesting day with its huge contrasting puddles of sun and shadow, puffy fast-moving clouds and roaring sea (too bad I didn't have video to show you the blowing sand), I trudged along enjoying the time outside in squishy wet shoes and socks.

Return of the terns

Wintertime and it's time for the terns to return to our coast. I love these elegant looking Royal Terns and their colonies are full of sounds and antics that are sure to amuse. There are courting rituals that rival the roses, poetry and candy common to us humans. Though the males do bribe their sweethearts with fresh fish during courting... kind of like dinner at nice restaurant, the bobbing, weaving and head ducking is something I hope to never see on the dance floor from a date.

Nonetheless, the terns are back and I enjoy having them add an interesting element to my beach walks. They also tempt me to break into song appropriately from The Byrds... To everything, turn, turn, turn; There is a season, tern, tern, tern...