Eliza’s Ramblings – Journal Entry 10.21.23

No, I didn’t see the Night Heron today. The photo was taken at one of the wetlands in Palm Beach County. The bird lives in Florida and is seldom seen during the day.

Today I went out in the morning to North Peninsula State Park. I had the path pretty much to myself. Everyone else was on A1A (state highway) or in Flagler Beach. It also seems there was a bike rally. High Bridge Road where the park is located is on the Ormond Beach Loop, which follows Old Dixie Road, Walter Boardman Road, High Bridge Road, and A1A (to confirm that, check internet). Tons of bikers, motorized and foot, were on the road. Weekends are very busy on A1A! Still, like I said, I had nearly the entire park to myself, save some guys who were doing some work, one other hiker, and a couple of people hanging out at the entrance to the footpath.

I drove home via High Bridge/Walter Boardman/Old Dixie/Old Kings Road. If you know the back roads, you can avoid the heaviest traffic.

The other day, I visited Washington Oaks Garden SP, again. This time I visited the beach, walking to the coquina rocks and back again. The tide was incoming, the waves stiff and washing the coarse orangish sand. Coquina is a sort of limestone made up of tiny compacted shells. This rough substance was used to construct some of the earliest buildings in Florida, those made by white settlers. Some of these buildings still remain and can be found in places throughout this coatline.

The diminitive forest of Live Oaks, Red Bay, Magnolia grandiflora, Cabbage Palm, and a wild assortment of shrubs, perennials, and vines, is the first line of defense for the coastline, anchoring ancient sand dunes, and bearing the full brunt of any hurricanes that make their way up the Florida coast. Flagler County is a rare place where you can still find these hammocks (sheltered place) on the coastline. The trees are never very tall due to the heavy wind load and the poor sandy soils, yet despite all the hardship, the hammocks are quite jungle-like. I observed the tiny hoof prints of wild pigs, the linear path of a large snake, and tiny feet of a feline creature (possibly a bobcat) on the sandy soil of the path. There were birds in the trees, flitting around and making it hard for me to identify them. I think I spotted a black buzzard, a large common bird that enjoys surfing the thermals above the jungle.

The shrubs are dense, presenting a wall of greenery on either side of the well-groomed path. The trail was about 2.25 miles in length, climbing slightly and looping around as it crossed a couple of utility roads. The condos just south of Flagler Beach could be glimpsed to the north.

Due to our recent cooler weather, the bug patrols were non-existant today, so I didn’t have to don any repellent.

Earlier in the week, I revisited Washington Oaks Garden SP (I think I already mentioned that above).

The Showy Egret is identified by the yellow feet. I did learn something about wading birds while in SE Florida.

At Washington Oaks Garden, I hiked on their version of a nature trail, although that one didn’t have the labeling and kiosks available at North Peninsula SP. The path was longer than I remember it and the surroundings have changed. I remember what the trail looked like after Hurricane Matthew roared by in 2016. The live oaks were shredded and the saw palmetto trunctated from the storm surge that overtook the seaside hammock, crossing A1A and wiping out the oceanside dunes. The dunes have been restored, but many oaks and other trees have been removed due to salt exposure during the 2016 storm surge (and any other that has taken place since then).

Fees vary from state park to state park. You can check online or call the rangers to see what the going rate is for any facility. North Peninsula SP has no fee. Washington Oaks has a $5.00 fee. I purchased an annual pass so I don’t have to worry about $$.

I also made a short stop at Bulow Plantation State Park. There is a meeting hall, the ruins of the old sugar mills, a couple of trails, and a boat launch. Bulow Creek is a great place to float a kayak or small boat. It is a tidal creek, though, so be aware of shifting tides.

As you can see, I’ve been going out on short outings since I arrived in the area. I will continue to do so as long as fuel isn’t too expensive and the excellent weather holds.

Hope you enjoyed these little glimpses into some of the sights available in Flagler and Volusia counties on the central Eastern coast of Florida.

By the way, Flagler Beach is quite the “old Florida” town and proud of it. Colorful cottages and houses abound. Rambly restaurants and shops line the streets. The place is always full of people as it is a crossroads, with SR 100 dead ending on A1A. North is St. Augustine, south is Ormond Beach and Daytona. Take your pick.

Enough for now,

Eliza

https://sunnysjournal.com

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