West Coast FL, the Interesting?

As we headed north on Rt. 19, we kept searching

for the Gulf of Mexico.  Not many roads lead directly

to the Gulf.  We traveled 24 miles west and finally

came upon the town of Cedar Key.

 

An array of homes in Cedar Key.

 

The staircases remind Bill of the moving staircases

at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies.  The owner

is a lovely woman who used to own a restaurant

 in Wausau, Wisconsin!

 

Bill with Crystal, the manatee.

 

There are so many islands along the cloast

it looks like the Thousand Islands in NY.

 

The vegetation along the west coast of Florida

is so varied and except for the couple of small

palms, this could be anywhere along the east coast.

It was a surprise to us.

 

Logging is a major industry in Florida.  You can

drive for countless miles and see trees being

readied to be cut.  This pine forest was planted

about fifteen years ago.

 

Miles inland from the Gulf, we found swamps.

 

Bird. Island.

It's for sale.  Any takers?

 

Check the height of these houses. The pilings

are between 16" and 18" high here on Dark Island.

The Gulf is on the other side of the trees.

 

If flooding is expected, the owners drive their

vehicles to high ground inland.  They use golf

carts to get around the island.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

West Coast Adventures, FL

Welcome to Gatorama!

 

Two alligators in an outdoor enclosure

sunning themselves.

 

Cuban crocodiles are considered to be the

most dangerous of all crocs.

 

A young peacock.

 

A couple of peahens.

 

A very loud and noisy parrot.

 

Goliath is a 70 year old American Crocodile who

is 13 feet long.  He lost two feet of his tail and

is blind in one eye.

 

Look at that smile on Bill's face.

Finally!  He has seen crocs and alligators

and has now held an alligator!!!

 

This a couple of courting alligators.

May is their mating season.

 

Central Florida is citrus growing country.

Orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit groves

go on for miles and miles.

 

Flock of white ibis along the side of the road.

 

A lovely white palm.

 

I am standing outside the stadium in Clearwater

where the Phillies hold their spring training.

 

Bright House Field.

 

A mural of the Philly Phanatic.

 

Security let me in just long enough to have my

picture taken with left field behind me.

Let's go Phillies!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alligator Alley, FL

 

These three black vultures greeted us along

Alligator Alley, I-75.

 

Canals like this, were built to drain the Everglades

and bring water to the cities on the east coast

of Florida.

 

Bill searched all day and did not see an alligator.

Did you know an alligator can out run a human?

We will be going to an alligator farm tomorrow.

 

Caught this egret up close.

 

Trees standing alone are know as tree islands.

 

In the distance you can see smoke from

controlled burning.

 

This is a small grove of swamp cypress trees

We passed many orchards of citrus fruits, but

it was impossible to snap a photo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Caught a couple of valleyball games on the

beach in Delray, FL.  I even got the volleyballs

going over the nets!  That's what you call luck.

 

We passed so many mansions on Route A1A, but

you cannot stop to take pictures.  Bill pulled over

so I could quickly snap this across the lagoon.

 

It seems like there are miles and miles of huge

hotels in Fort Lauderdale.  I was amazed at how

many people are in this city.  The traffic was light

when I took this picture, but for the most part

it is crowded with people blowing their horns.

 

How would you like to own this very expensive

boat?   It sure has a sleek design.

 

This was an eye catcher for me.  They look like azaleas

that have been pruned to this configuration.

 

I wonder how many millions of dollars are

moored in this lagoon.  It is overwhelming

to see such wealth and wonder what they

do all day.  All the yards are so well maintained.

 

Here's looking at you, kid!

We were on our way back from dinner when

I saw this little guy in the palms and had

to have a picture.  Tomorrow is the day

Bill has been waiting for.  We will be

heading off to Alligator Alley!  He has

been looking forward to seeing alligators and

hope his wish comes true.  Then we will be on the

west coast of Florida near the Gulf of Mexico.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lake Worth, FL

We stopped at a small state park along Route 1

on the way to Lake Worth.  I just had to take a

picture of these aloe plants with the other

ground cover.  They are beautiful.

 

I got so excited when I finally saw coconuts

on this palm tree along Coconut Row.  Bill

informed me that not all palm trees have

coconuts.  There are so many kinds of palm trees

I could never remember what they all are.

 

Royal Palms line this view of the town square.

 

Here's a really good shot of coconuts on a coconut

palm at Karl and Kathy's in Lake Worth.  Karl and

Bill came from western PA to teach in Toms River.

Karl gave me a lesson about the coconuts.  Inside the

green is the fiber like brown shell you have to crack

open to get to the coconut to eat.  In the spring of the

year most home owners will have them removed

before hurricane season arrives to avoid damages

from falling coconuts.  That's one thing we don't

have to worry about in NJ!

 

A Roibellini Palm.  It is a slow grower.

 

Karl and Bill in front of a large Bird of

Paradise that grows very quickly.  I found out

that Karl taught with my friend's uncle and

got him interested in coaching soccer.

He ended up being the head soccer coach

at Southeastern in Florida for many years.

What a small world!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jupiter, FL

The rain finally stopped and the sun came out this

morning!  However, we did not have time to spend

the entire day here, so we did what I call a "drive by".

 

I just had to play with my camera catching this

Monarch butterfly fluttering about.

 

The Space Shuttle "Inspiration".

 

Mercury/Redstone

First US Manned Space Vehicle.

Manned suborbital missions: Alan Shepard

May 5, 1961 and Virgil Grisson

July 21, 1961.

 

NASA Visitor Complex.

 

One of many beautiful homes to be seen on Route

A1A on the way to Jupiter, FL.

 

Bill and I really like the Spanish influence.

 

We saw this one was for sale, but know we might

only be able to buy the outside shower!

 

A beautiful grouping of palmetto palms near

the entrance to the beach by Sebastian State Park.

 

On the beach once again!  The water is beautiful.

 

This is a sign we don't see too often.  It is on the

front steps of Al's Family Farms, the place where

I order the best oranges and grapefruits at

Christmas time.  It is located in Fort Pierce.