December 12 - 23, 2008
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Creeping carefully out of State College on icy roads, we were soon on the highway headed south with steadily improving travel conditions. An invitation from our neighbors, Carl and Shirley, to join them in their rented Naples FL condo had been too good to pass up --- especially after one of the coldest Novembers we’ve ever experienced. The trip would also give us the chance to visit with Patty’s daughter and family in Falls Church VA on our return.
We have long had the notion of riding the bicycle paths of Greensboro NC, a city purposely on our route for that reason. However, though we came prepared to ride, the 43 degree temperature transformed our plans into an exploration on foot. We walked part of the Lake Brandt Greenway, checking out its surface, admiring the scenic reflections and viewpoints, and vowing to return in warmer weather:
By the time we crossed into Florida, temperatures were in the 70’s and ideal for riding. Conveniently, the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail was close to our hotel. What a pleasure to be able to ride in December in such agreeable conditions:
That hallmark of the South, Spanish Moss, was draped everywhere:
End of the ride for us was this viewpoint at the site of Lake Alachua. In 1873 a nearby sink, that normally channeled run-off water underground, apparently plugged and created a huge lake. Even citrus-hauling steamers plied the water for nearly 20 years until, suddenly, the sink reopened and the water, just as suddenly, disappeared. Today, this area is a preserve called Paynes Prairie with little water in sight:
At our leisurely pace of travel, the 1200 miles to Naples FL took us four days. We had no trouble locating the top floor condo our host and hostess were renting:
Carl was especially eager to hit the links and practiced every chance he could get:
Next morning, Shirley was ready to guide us on a biking tour of the area:
We passed one beautiful building after another and gorgeous landscapes beyond count. Here are just two samples:
Pausing at Shirley’s favorite tree, photo-taking was mandatory:
On a drive-by in the evening hours, we found this tree has a night life as well:
In fact, holiday decorations were everywhere, not just in this outdoor mall:
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, managed by the National Audubon Society, was another of our daytime destinations:
A 2 1/4 mile raised boardwalk allows visitors to ramble through prairie, marsh and forest areas and past several small lakes:
Wildlife is plentiful in the Sanctuary, especially birds, such as this heron,
and small critters like this tree frog,
and some critters you wouldn’t want to mess with:
Every late afternoon was reserved for sunset watching. This beach, on the Gulf of Mexico, was only a five minute stroll away:
Whether sitting or standing,
we made sure the sun set in the west:
Another day brought more biking, this time along virtually every Port Royal street there is:
That excursion took us so close to downtown, we simply had to walk the Naples pier:
Adjacent to the pier are some appealing beaches, popular even on this December weekday:
On the pier itself, an itinerant photographer offered us a special deal if we would consent to being photographed, so we did:
In exchange, he introduced us to some of the local residents, hanging about in hopes of a handout:
After remarking, “That’s the strangest seagull I’ve ever seen,” I was informed this bird on the rail is, in fact, a tern. Well, I wasn’t far off the mark as, apparently, terns belong to the gull family.
Naturally, we shared several enjoyable meals with our irrepressible host and hostess.
If Carl looks like he’s about to burst into song, he might have been --- or, perhaps, he was feigning surprise that anyone would desire his photo. Such a ham, this guy!
Homeward bound all too soon, we did make one final stop in Florida at Myakka River State Park. About 9 miles off I-75 and east of Sarasota, Myakka is Florida’s largest State Park. Had we the time, we could easily have busied ourselves happily in the park all day: biking, canoeing or kayaking, taking an airboat ride and checking out the birds.
With limited time, we arrived at the concession area ready for lunch. Were we surprised to find an abundance of vultures parading about, similarly ready for a good meal:
A unique feature of the park that we did experience was the “canopy walkway,” a suspended path at tree top level with an observation tower on one end. Because of the surrounding trees, it is a challenging structure to photograph:
This sketch may better convey its layout and size:
Of course, like typical tourists, we had to prove we were there:
Florida made one last impression on us as we crossed the St. John’s River in Jacksonville. Approaching the Broward Bridge from the south, motorists have a knockout view of this two-mile-long, cable-stayed bridge. The highway here makes a rapid ascent from water level to an elevation of 175 feet above the water. This remarkable bridge on the east side of Jacksonville was completed in 1989:
Four days of easy driving took us safely home again, including even a short stop near Washington DC to visit with Patty’s kin. Arriving home on the 23rd, there was just enough time to prepare for Christmas and the first-ever visit of son Daniel the following day ..... but that’s another story.