Sunset on 2016

As the sunsets on our year, we watch it set in another campground, complements the Army Corp of Engineers. Our home for a good portion of this winter is the parks along the 152-mile Okeechobee Waterway. I talked about this system in an earlier post but to give a bit more light on this area, this system is an adaptation of existing waters — the St. Lucie River from Stuart to Lake Okeechobee, the lake itself, then the Caloosahatchee River to the Gulf. The two rivers had always drained the lake and supported passage by small boats. The lake itself is feed by water runoff to the north and it drains south into the Everglades. After floods in the 1920s, dikes were created around the lake, canals were built to more efficiently bring water into the lake. Along with improvements to the locks, this system was completed in the 30s and gave boaters a shortcut for cruising from the Atlantic to the Gulf without rounding the Keys, a saving of 206 miles.

Five locks lift boats from sea level to the lake, which averages 12 to 16 feet above sea level, then back to sea level again. The waterways channel depth is normally 6.44 feet with the lake minimum level of 12.5 feet (above sea level). Vessel draft of 5.25 is the suggested maximum. The river portions of the waterway have gentle currents and tide ranges are mild, averaging only a foot or so at either end. Commercial traffic is light, with most navigation consisting of fishing boats, house boats and manatees.

Lake Okeechobee. Derived from the Seminole Indian words meaning “big water,” Okeechobee is aptly named, for it is the largest of Florida's lakes and the second largest fresh water lake within the entire US. It covers over 730 square miles of Florida's heartland.

But as with most systems built by humans to alter mother natures ideas, this system has created some major issues for the system she had in mind. As a person who has lived along a dredged creek, I know that this takes out the natural cleaning of the waterway and allows polluted water to get further downstream creating new issues for people that had no issues prior to the work.

With Okeechobee, the changes have been effective for most flood control but it has put so many nutrients and pollutants into the lake that when the water is released into the rivers it goes into the estuaries causing red tide. Red tide is harmful to both people and marine life and is putting a dent on tourism. The channels south of the lake have opened up new land to sugar plantations but they have drained the marshland that once flowed into the Everglades causing a breakdown in the entire Eco system reeking havoc in the Florida bay. The government has started to try to fix the problem but it's very tricky and very expensive. You can't just go back but going forward needs to be done with more for thought so it doesn't just create a new set of issues.

I struggle with this, I'm a boater and love these parks. They give us so much enjoyment as we travel with great fishing, excellent boat watching and well maintained campgrounds. As populations grow our needs for places to live and resources for food grow as well. Not so sure sugar is in the food pyramid. I'm a huge nature enthusiast and witness to how fast things can change with devastating consequences when we upset the natural balance.

Campground hosts

It's clear to me who is in charge at this campground!

Christmas in FL

It just seems wrong to see snowmen on lush green grass under palm trees but then, it is better than snow cover any day. Makes me wonder what it is like to live in the southern hemisphere with the seasons opposite ours. The locals have a good time decorating and it chears up the neighborhoods we walk In everyday.

We'll have a Blue Christmas

Gary calls Blues scratching post with a bed on top his buggy. So we decorated it for Christmas with all the trimmings and Blue was happy. It's hard to get a clear photo of him, and get the lights because he is always moving and a slow shutter speed just will not get the job done. Not a problem as I think of Blue as a blur anyway.

Hiking the Telegraph Creek preserve

It's called hiking but in this part of the country, that means you have a nice walk along a road off the highway. Sometimes accompanied by cows or horses along the fence, always through palms, Pine trees, live oaks and tall grasses. The first photo is a combination sea graphics and Palm. One common element is the potential for snakes and armadillo but that is where the similarity ends. There is no elevation change to make your heart work but the high humidity will certainly make you break a sweat.

Foggy morning on the Caloosahatchee River

Some mornings we wake to air so thick that everything has a wet coat and the colors of the landscape disappear for lack of sun to give color. As the breeze begins to build, everything changes. The birds start to move about, mullet break the surface of the water and the fishermen take their places along the pier. The days about to heat up.

Sub zero or sub tropics?

Back home the folks are finally feeling the effects of winter with fresh snow and below zero temps. Now if you ask Blue if he misses the snow I'd have to say not at all. It's been in the mid 80's here and he still finds a sun beam to stretch out in. The only white we will see this Christmas are the sands of Captiva.

Last of the big fish

Well, maybe not the last if Gary catches a red or some other large fish that is new to us. If my fish looks bigger than Gary's that is because it is! 32" to 29"... Big old snook, had to put both back even though they were in the slot because it is out of season. I understand why Gary is hooked on snook, they fight and run getting the heart racing! fun stuff.

River life

The Caloosahatchee River

The Caloosahatchee River, a part of the Okeechobee waterway, links the Atlantic to the gulf giving boaters a short route rather than traveling the long distance around the southern end of the state. It gives us a great place to see some fabulous boats as they make the crossing. From small fishing boats to big yachts, you see it all as they slowly pass. It's amazing what money can buy.

These are examples of the mid size vessel we see daily.

Fishing fools

Big fish bite at night and in the light rain. Look at the smile on Gary's face, he could care less about the light rain, the mosquitos that show up at sunset or the warm clothing we wear to keep the bugs away even though it's quite warm and humid.

Sanibel & Captiva

Sanibel Island & Captiva are a nice day trip from our camp site near Fort Myers. With 15 Miles of Beaches, 25 Miles of Bike Paths, 50 Kinds of Fish, 230 Kinds of Birds, 250 Kinds of Shells & 0 traffic lights, there is more to do than we can handle in just one day. Because this is not our first time to the islands, we made a stop at J. N. Ding Darling National Park to say hi to a few of the 230 species of birds. The park did not disappoint with views of white Pelicans, pink spoonbills, brown and white ibis and little blue herons, a colorful trip to the islands for sure.

Big cats in FL

I've always thought of the mountains out west when considering big cats but Florida is also home to the Florida Panther, a cousin to the Cougars. Also called mountain lion, puma but they are not panthers like leopards or Jaguars as the name suggests. Florida's panther population is thought to be 100 to 160 adults and yearlings, a figure that puts the on the endangered species list. As recently as the 1970s, the Florida panther was close to disappearing, with as few as 20 animals in the wild. Sadly another was lost not far from where we are staying. This cat suffered from what kills most big cats in FL, a run in with a vehicle at night. As nocturnal hunters with a wide range, the cats are rarely seen by motorists until it's to late.

Relaxing winter

This has been a very relaxing winter so far. Just Enjoying the weather, fishing and eating fish for the most part.

Spanish moss

Spanish moss is not actually a moss (or a lichen) but a flowering plant in the bromeliad family which grows hanging from tree branches in full sun through partial shade. It is beautiful and hanging from many of the trees around our campground. I have been warned however that it's best to leave it where it is and not to try to bring it home as it plays host to many insects. I admit, the thought did cross my mind.

The furry family has grown

The last time we were at Ortona Lock and Dam, there was a family of 3 otters. That family is now up to at least 7. Today the mother took a well deserved dirt bath in the afternoon sun just for me to enjoy. Except for the water thing, she acted a lot like a cat, twisting and primping with a lot of attention to that fantastic tail. She looks so friendly but after watching her eat a fish, it's good to be at a distance.