The view from the river

So as I've previously mentioned, the manatees have proved to be elusive for us while here in Southwest Florida. As further evidence of this, I offer you our trip to "Manatee Park"near Fort Myers. We went there for two reasons, because we figured that it would offer a higher percentage shot at seeing some actual mantatees, and because it was yet another opportunity for me to drop my kayak in the water for a few hours.

Upon our arrival, we learned that 30-40 manatees were indeed at the park...the day before. Oh well, Laura got to add a few birds to her Florida list, while I had an enjoyable 4 hour or so paddle down the Orange River and out onto the Caloosahatchee, which ultimately connects Lake Okeechobee with the Gulf Coast.
While I was out there, I had hopes of seeing a lingering sea cow, but this was the best I could do:


I guess an on-river manatee sculpture will have to do...


Storks are ugly birds, and apparently, all the trees on one side of an island on the Caloosahatchee were beaten with an ugly stick, 'cause there were storks all over them.

Ugly, ugly birds. Fortunately, the other side of the island was covered with the considerably more attractive Great Egrets:

I checked, and that was not an olive branch, though both types of birds seemed to coexist fairly peacefully...


...although any bird is prone to the occasional hissy-fit:



I have to say that the paddling opportunities down here in SW Florida have been really cool. I've been able to sample different portions of the "Great Calusa Blueway," which consists of almost 100 miles of marked inter-coastal waterway "trails" along the coast, as well as 38 miles of the Caloosahatchee River and 52 more miles of other tributaries. If you're curious, you can find more information on the Blueway at www.greatcalusablueway.com

Next up: more bird pics, and crimes against nature.