It being Thursday and dry outside, it was time for another outing. This morning, I chose North Peninsula State Park and Betty Steflik Preserve in Flagler Beach as my walking destinations.

The Flagler Beach website describes the Betty Steflik Preserve as:

Betty Steflik Memorial Preserve is located in Flagler Beach. The Preserve’s 320 acres offer visitors a unique view of the salt marsh, maritime hammock and black mangrove communities by way of its trails and boardwalk. There is no better place to get a glimpse of gopher tortoises grazing or sunbathing than surrounding the Preserve’s parking area. A stroll along the boardwalk provides a close-up view of everything from gopher tortoises to wading birds and migratory birds thriving in these coastal estuarine natural communities.

https://www.flaglercounty.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/28/339

Here is the link to North Peninsula State Park:

https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/north-peninsula-state-park

I chose not to go onto the beach today and stuck to the two mile trail through the coastal hammock. North Peninsula is located off of High Bridge Road south of Flagler Beach and north of Ormond by the Sea.

North Peninsula has an assortment of shrubs, trees, and perennials. There are two types of oaks, Laurel and Sand Oak. Sparkleberry, a large species of blueberry grows in the thick underbrush, as does Saw Palmetto, and aromatic Red Bay. I didn’t spot any creatures today, just heard some noises off in the thick brush. The trail does have some signage for those interested in learning about the flora.

The trail starts at the edge of a large parking lot and dives into a muddy palmetto cloaked tunnel, winding pass soggy mangrove and a man-made salt marsh. The reconstruction of the salt marsh was completed in 2016. I first saw it when the area was being leveled and planted with native plants. By looking at it now, you would never know the marsh had only been there a short while. The original marshlands were disturbed by the construction (dredging) of the Intracoastal Waterway, which in Volusia County goes by the name of Halifax River. High Bridge is a drawbridge that goes over the waterway. The High Bridge road is not open during storms and high water due to its low-lying construction in some areas. I have driven through some sizeable puddles near Walter Boardman Pond and Bulow Woods.

The trail winds in and out of shaded hammock and then enters a section of coastal scrub, creating a narrow tunnel. Even though the coastline is merely a quarter mile away, you cannot glimpse the ocean from the highest section of the trail due to the height of the surrounding shrubs and stunted trees.

I wish I could convey the smells and sounds of this hike. It is one of my favorites in the area. There is the damp earthy odor of the mangrove, the spicy fragrance of Gerberia and Red Bay, the squeaks of an irritated squirrel, and whispering sighs of the sea breeze through the stiff underbrush and oak branches. Then, there are the tiny red berries of Yaupon Holly, decked out for Christmas.

After completing the North Peninsula walk, I drove over to Flagler Beach. The old town is filling up with colorful beach “cottages” ranging from one-story bungalows to three-story concrete beach houses. The use of bright house colors is encouraged. Flagler has grown considerably since I first visited the area in early 2016. It is directly situated between the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, making it part of a barrier island. Parts of town always flood during storm surges. In 2016, Hurricane Matthew chewed up a portion of SR A1A. The governor, Rick Scott, was able to get it repaired in just two weeks. The coastal highway is a vital connector for all the communities strung out along the coastline.

The Betty Steflik Preserve is located along the Intracoastal. Most of the trail is on boardwalk or hammock islands.

The boardwalk carries you across a broad salt marsh punctuated by coffee-colored fingers of water. Wading, swimming and flying birds can be seen in the salt marsh. I’m still trying to spot an alligator but haven’t had any luck yet. The marsh is filled with tiny red crabs and baby fish making it a popular spot for wading bird. Occasionally, you can hear the cry of an osprey on the hunt. Visually, black buzzards play overhead in the thermals, dancing through unseen currents.

The preserve is a popular place for walkers of all ages. Some benches and shade platforms are provided. Bathrooms are located in the large parking lot near the base of the US 100 Bridge (known locally as Moody Bridge).

The boardwalk was busy, with kids, dogs, adults… and occasionally, you’ll also find a fisherman.

With all the walking I managed today, I probably completed 4.25 miles. I am getting stronger.

After the walk, I treated myself to some take-away Chinese.

I wonder what I’ll choose to do next? It will depend on the weather outlook and world events…

In joy,

Eliza

https://sunnysjournal.com

Camera: Nikon Coolpix L830

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