The big racoon...and new travel friends

As I came around a corner on the river trail at Koreshan, I encountered what may be the biggest racoon I've ever seen!  Wimp that I am, I started to turn around and go back, then I thought 'you silly goose', and (tentatively) decided I could walk on past.  After bravely telling the big racoon to "shoo", I also recalled that I had my camera.  At least I could get a pic of him before he ate me for lunch!

Time is winding down here in Estero.   After getting together with some people to play bridge this afternoon, I'll be getting ready to leave for Sarasota tomorrow, where I'll check out the place I may rent for a month.  And then it's on to Orlando for a multi-day get together with other Roadtrekkers.

The second photo is of  Tom and Welda, a delightful American/German couple from Munich that I've had the pleasure of spending time with.  They will also be in Sarasota when I'm there.    

The big racoon  

Tom and Welda, from Munich

Estero and Naples

I've stayed put for the past few days... enjoying the weather, touring the area, and visiting with snowbird friends. Am trying very hard to see the Manatees on the Estero River, where I'm staying, but no luck so far.  I keep hearing "they were there this morning...or this afternoon".  We'll be here a few more days, then plan to go up to Sarasota, where I hope to connect with a Bryn Mawr school chum whom I haven't seen since we graduated.

The beach at Naples Pier

Lunch with a friend at The Dock at Crayton Cove

Wat Tampa, Roseate Spoonbills, and Naples

On Sunday, I met an old friend and a new one at Wat Tampa, a Bhuddist Temple on the Palm River. The temple has a large Thai population and holds a food fair each and every Sunday, with freshly made Thai dishes in an open air market style setting.  I went there three years ago and my mouth has been watering to go back ever since.   They have soups, as well as hot and cold dishes, and a host of wonderful sweet desserts.   I had a Pho-type noodle soup for lunch, then got a couple of desserts to go (pumpkin and coconut flan and tapioca with mung beans), and a container of delicious spring rolls for dinner.  

After our delightful lunch on the banks of the Palm River, we headed off for Myakka River State Park, outside Sarasota.  Walks along the water brought sightings of (to mention just a few), Black-Necked Stilts, Limpkins, Yellow Legs, Osprey, an  immature Bald Eagle, Anhingas, Egrets, Wood Storks, Herons, Roseate Spoonbills (wow!), and my first alligators of the trip.  

Elli and I are now just north of Naples, in the lovely Koreshan State Park. It's an historic sight, as well as a park.  It was in the mid-to-high 70's today and only went down to about 60 degrees last night. I'd like to remain here until the end of next week (if I can get a space for my RT - cross fingers!).   I also hope to hook up with an old friend and her DH, as well as a friend of a friend from Annapolis.

Lorraine and Gail lunching enjoying the Thai fare

Wat Tampa

Choose your noodles - fine, medium or wide 

A Black Vulture, up close and personal

Elli's new friends

A very proud Egret

Black necked Stilts

Roseate Spoonbills on the shore of Lake Myakka 

A napping Alligator (I think he's napping anyway!) 

More Roseate Spoonbills

Another proud Egret

Tampa and the RV Show

Moved on to Tampa today.  And it's finally T-Shirt weather!   Went to the RV show, which is kinda like going to the Boat Show, only a bit different. It's interesting that some of the same vendors are here as are in Annapolis.  I must say though, that the 19' Airstream was the cutest thing on wheels.  

Am looking forward to meeting up with friends tomorrow and going to the Thai food fair at Wat Tampa.  

19 ft Airstream  - so sweet!

The Villages

The Villages - where there are 75,000 people, and seemingly 75,000 different things to do!  The White Ibis below are enjoying the pond at the Spanish Springs Town Square.

As you can see, it was beautiful today, but cold last night - 27 degrees!  That may have been even colder than Annapolis.  The news reports are saying that Florida is the only state without snow on the ground, and that includes Hawaii!

Ocklawaha and Mt. Dora

I left Silver River this morning (near Ocala) and headed toward a small town named Ocklawaha, in search of Ma Barker's hideaway.  In the 1920's, Ma Barker organized her sons into what became the notorious Barker Boys criminal gang, who were not only bank robbers, but also very successful kidnappers (Wm. Hamm, Jr. of Hamm Breweries netted  them 100k, and banker Edward Bremmer 200k, not bad money for the 1930's!).  Ma Barker came to Ocklawaha in 1934 to hide out, and the famed five-hour shootout with the FBI occurred just before dawn one January day in 1935, killing both her and her resident son.

After having my fill of chasing criminals, I moved on to Mt. Dora, an out-of-the-way picturesque lakeside village between Ocala and Orlando.  Quite the opposite of Ocklawaha, it would fit just as well in New England as Florida (even better, perhaps).

The photo was taken on the shore of Lake Dora, a Great Egret nestled beside some cypress knobs and a (surprise) Ahhinga in the background. Didn't know it was there til I uploaded the pic!

Micanopy, Cross Creek and Cedar Key

After four wonderful days of birding and socializing with new Roadtrek cohorts, it was time to move on.  Yesterday we visited Marjorie Rawlings homestead in Cross Creek.  It was there she wrote her Pulitzer prize winning book, "The Yearling", as well as "Cross Creek" and many other books.  It is a wonderful property, preserved by the Florida Park Service.  We even got to use pluck some sweet oranges and kumquats from well kept trees.  

Today brought a delightful trip to Cedar Key, followed by the Lower Suwannee Nature Drive and the swampy Manatee Springs State Park.  Photos are of sunset at Payne's Prairie Preserve, a small part of the  Marjorie Rawlings homestead, plucking oranges from one of the trees at the homestead, the prized Dutch Banded cows near Micanopy,   Manatee Springs (no manatees today, but gorgeous nonetheless), and a Great Egret and little Killdeer, both spotted at Cedar Key.

Elli's newest friend

GeoTagged, [N29.50485, E82.27931]

A 4 lb Maltese catches Elli's eye in the darling historic town of Micanopy, where it's 60 degrees and sunny. (yippee!)

Micanopy was the state's first inland city and the main street is lined with moss covered live oaks, little cafes and antique shops.

Off the the bird watching weekend at Payne's Prairie Preserve.

Florida

GeoTagged, [N30.47989, E81.63956]

Flew to Jacksonville yesterday and got reunited with my Roadtrek. In process of checking out all the systems and getting settled in. Elli is getting settled in too.