6/29 Quick Trip to Florida and Even Quicker Visit at Myakka

I had to fly to hot, muggy Florida to help get the financial and medical situation of some family members settled.  There was not enough time to do everything, but we (another relative) and I were able to get bills and other financial documents organized and arrange for better medical care.  It was a stressful and exhausting several days, so just before I left, I headed out to one of my favorite Florida places for a relaxing hour of so.  

I'll be here at the Myakka River State Park for two weeks in December, but it was nice to just spend some time away from touristy Florida and out into the "real" Florida.  

The park roadway crosses the Myakka River at this bridge, and a lot of people fish here, but even if they didn't this place attracts a lot of birds alligators. 

This is slightly off-season and the alligators had no reason to be basking in the sun since it was so hot, but there is still wildlife here. 

My, what big eyes you have! 

This guy swam up, hoping no doubt that we were fishing, and he could have scraps or take our bait.  Sorry, but no free meal. 

 

 Actually, these guys were fairly small, about 5' long.

 

There was also a small family of deer just up the road. 

Myakka Lake is at the end of the road.  No boating here, but you can kayak if you are brave enough.  Note the sign warning about vultures.

So, how can a vulture cause damage to vehicles?  Well, apparently vultures like to have fun, and their idea of fun is tearing up windshield wipers and other rubber or loose parts of vehicles.  They really don't eat the rubber--they just like to tear things up.  These are very intelligent birds and obviously bored. It is recommended that you put plastic grocery bags over your windshield wipers and possibly a tarp over your entire vehicle.  Check this out:  https://www.npca.org/articles/1628-vulture-vandals

And here are the guilty parties--black vultures.  They are smaller than the turkey vultures we see up north, but not less ambitious.  In this state park, the rangers set off fireworks periodically to scare them out of roosting in nearby trees. 

And all vultures are federally protected, so you cannot shoot one.  They are excellent garbage collectors and rid our lands of dead animals, so they serve a useful purpose. 

The gift shop and cafe is pretty desolate this time of year, but they were open for business. 

A hopeful resident. 

These are limpkins.  They live in marshes and along rivers, and eat snails.  You can identify them by their brown coloring and unique beaks that are yellow at the base and brown/black at the curved-down tip. They live only in Florida and southern Georgia. 

So, will be looking forward to coming back here for Christmas this year.  In the seven years I have been traveling, this will be the fourth Christmas spent at Myakka!