March 21st, 2022 Nature Trail at Cary State Forest

Today, we had to move from site 4 to site 5.  Here is what is interesting.  When I first made the reservations, there was only one day available on each site.  So a few days after I made the reservation, I went back in to check and lo and behold, site 4 was open for a week.  Interesting!  We could have stayed at an extra cost but we just felt it was easier to move.  Plus we were blessed that the person on site 5 left around 9AM.

Our new site – still beautiful:

 

 

Love the tall trees:

After we settled in, Andy went for his bike ride.  After finishing what I needed to do, I headed out to the nature trail.

Andy coming back from his bike ride:

The start of the nature trail:

The start of the wetlands/swamp:

 

 

 

 

Some of the areas had red water.  I think it was from the pine needles and pine cones:

Water everywhere:

At the end of the first boardwalk, I am now in the forest:

A few puddles on the trail:

Love the palms:

 

And then this almost ended my walk.  But looking around, I found a path that came out right by the big tree. 

Had to jump a couple of puddles here before I made it to the second boardwalk.  Found out that my sneakers do not leak – LOL!

 

Lots of old growth trees:

 

Cypress Swamp:

This was something new to me:

And here is a Cypress Knee:

Did not see a Wood Duck but there were a number of nesting boxes.

  Wood Duck Nesting Box:

The trail followed a couple of forest roads:

Lots of yellow flowers – hope you can see them:

The sun was hitting this yellow flower just right and if you look real close, it is glowing:

OH! Those beautiful pine trees:

 

I did not know whether I was going to publish this picture or not.  When I came around the corner, all I could see were “sparkles” on the water.  It was breathtaking.  I hung out here for a while just enjoying the sun’s reflection off the swamp.  The picture just did not capture that sparkle.

Love those pines:

Bluebird Nesting Box:

The trail was beautiful and it was nice to see the different ecosystems within the 2 mile walk.

When I got back, look who was waiting for me (with Andy, of course.):

We ended the evening with another great campfire.

Tomorrow we continue our trek north so stay tuned and enjoy today.

 

March 20th, 2022 Travel to Cary State Forest

We were up early today, dumped the tanks, made sure the shed was empty, the electricity meter read and the car hooked up.

Off we go:

Heading north:

Beautiful areas of Florida:

Tall pines surrounding us:

Green grass:

Spring flowers along the road:

This is US 301 – what a beautiful road instead of taking the interstate:

Entrance to Cary State Forest:

This is our site – I was SO EXCITED to see it!

In our site:

A little tidbit about Cary State Forest:

“Cary State Forest was established as Florida’s second state forest in 1937. Cary is known for its scenic mature flatwoods, sandhill and basin marsh.

Cary State Forest is dominated by slash pine flatwoods and is located between the St. Mary’s rise and the Atlantic Ocean. The ecosystems on Cary State Forest are varied and include 11 different natural communities: longleaf pine/wiregrass, mesic flatwoods, wet flatwoods, sandhills, basin swamps and cypress domes.

Wildlife species found on the forest include white-tailed deer, wild turkey, bobcat, otter, alligator, great horned and barred owl, wild hog, pileated woodpecker, yellow-throated vireo, pinewood tree frog, and various venomous and non-venomous snake species. The following plant and animal species are listed as endangered, threatened or of special concern and can be found on the forest: gopher tortoise, gopher frog, Sherman's fox squirrel, wood stork, swallow-tailed kite, night-flowering wild petunia and purple honeycomb head.

Many natural communities and their inhabitants are dependent on fire for their very survival. Prescribed burning is one of the most effective tools used in managing Cary State Forest. Prescribed burning helps maintain native plant and animal species and helps prevent uncontrollable, devastating wildfires.”

There are six RV campsites in the park and it is so beautiful.  Another hidden gem and a wonderful campfire with potatoes and steak on the fire.  Yum.

The weather is perfect – low humidity, slight breeze and in the 70’s.  Oh my.

How I missed this!

We will be here for two nights so stay tuned and enjoy today.

Stats for Today:

Routes Traveled:

Florida:  SR64; US17; US98; SR471; US301; CR470; I75; SR326; CR200A; US301; Pavilion Road

Miles Traveled: 250 Miles