Wednesday, February 27

This morning was overcast 24C (75.2F). Started off to go for a walk around the park but only got as far as our next door neighbours. Steve & Judy are from Bowmanville, originally from Birmingham, England.

Went down to the pier to watch the fishermen. There were lots of pelicans there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We decided to drive north on the Keys and stopped at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, which is the first undersea park in the US at Mile Marker 102.5. The upland areas offer visitors a unique experience in the mangrove swamps and tropical hammocks.

We made the Visitor Centre and Aquarium our first stop. It features a 30,000 gallon saltwater aquarium, nature exhibits and a theatre showing nature videos.

There are 3 Nature walks available along the Mangrove, Wild Tamarind and Grove trails. We took the Wild Tamarind Trail first.

South Florida is home to a variety of tropical plants not found anywhere else in the continental United States. Many of these plants are found in a plant community called the Hardwood Hammock. The origin of the word of hammock comes from a Native American word “hamaca”, meaning shade; or fishing net for the tangled vines of the forest.

 

 

 

Next we found the Mangrove Trail. Blending land and sea, mangroves form an interesting environment along our coastline. Once considered useless, the many values of mangroves are now evident. A variety of wildlife finds food and shelter in the mangroves. Their roots help stabilize the shoreline and also filter pollutants.

 

 

 

After our strenuous hikes (LOL), we enjoyed a refreshing ice cream cone before returning to the Jolly Roger Park.