Myakka River SP - April 24

We left Friday after work for our weekend trip to Myakka River State Park.  It is about one hour south of us. Going south on a Friday evening is a cake walk compared to going north, whether it is US 19, I-275, or the Veterans - they are all a nightmare.  Even just getting across the Gandy Bridge to the Crosstown can be a stressful experience.

This was our second trip to this Park.  We were there last August and it was hot and muggy. This year the weather was beautiful!  Something went a-muck with my camera, so the shots of the site are very dark.  It is unfortunate because this was probably the best site we have ever had in a State Park. There are three campgrounds in the park. We stayed in one of the older ones last time and this time the new campground (sewers).

The new LED lights are up and really give off a lot of light. Of course, there is a remote - we have a choice of over 25 different colors and options. 

The Park offers an airboat tour and a tram ride through the property.  Last time we did the boat ride, the tram does not run during the summer due to rain and flooding.   This time the tram ride.

We got our exercise this trip. It is a 3 mile bike ride to the marina, where we boarded the tram.  Our guide did a fantastic job.  She started by picking up a few shells at the river, including an apple snail shell, digested bones from birds, and turtle eggs that the alligators had gotten a hold on.  We saw a white tailed deer, an owl, alligators (mamas and babies), turkeys, vultures and lots of birds.   

She explained prescribed burns and the effort to restore the area to the prairie it once was.  Imagine my anger we got home and I read in the paper, “those people” in Tallahassee want to put cattle back on the land.  The pollution from the cows will undo all the work that has been done.  

As we were leaving, a new experience.  We were pulling out of the campground, when a turkey was crossing the road and then he just sat down right in the middle of the road.  One of the campers tried to shoo him, but that turkey was not moving.  Finally, he got a palm frond and shook it at the turkey and finally the turkey got up and meandered off at his own pace.

We took the scenic route out of the Park– the Canopy Trail. It is a beautiful winding road, along side the river with beautiful old trees towering over it.

It was very windy on the way home. I am afraid to be on the Skyway Bridge, when the wind is blowing hard.  And as luck would have it, there were high wind warnings.  I suggested taking the long way home via I-75 but that didn’t happen.  When we got to the toll bridge, traffic was backed up a couple miles.  We figured there must be an accident ahead, and indeed we saw a trooper with lights on going up the outside of the right hand lane. I was starting to freak, thinking we would come to a stop on the top of the bridge. The traffic stayed bunched up and moved about 35 miles per hour.  Funny thing was, there were no cars behind us and the only ones in front of us was the group we were in.  Then we figured it out.  The troopers were controlling the traffic to keep everyone safe. In fact, thanks to them, we had a nice drive over, nothing like what I was expecting.  So THANK YOU again to those who keep us safe on our roads.