Boardwalk

The light is so great in Florida that taking pictures is a joy and hardly ever need any re-touching. Another great thing is the boardwalks and rest / picnic areas like this. I could sit here all day, it is just metres from the main road but so well screened that it is peaceful and secluded. I can still feel the warm wood on my feet.

Baby

I don't think I had ever seen an alligator until I visited Florida. On our first trip we went to Gatorland Zoo and saw many 'gators of all shapes and sizes. Years later we re-visited the place, getting there around opening time so it was nice and quiet. They really are fascinating creatures, very beautiful and yes...even cute (this is of course coming from someone who does not have to chase them out of the garden). We were taking such an interest in them that one of the keepers invited us into the "hatching" shed where all the young 'gators of various ages were kept (not sure I want to know what happens to them from here). He then took one for a "walk" outside, this was as near as I could get before it ran the other way. I'm not sure how the human inhabitants of Florida regard their animal neighbours but I think they wonderful.

Miami storm

Driving up from the Keys along US1 approaching Homestead the sky suddenly dumped huge amounts of water and despite the windscreen wipers going full speed and the car sitting high as it was a 4x4 it was pull over and wait it out time. The Sunshine State got a rain battering and it stayed around for a few days. Breaks in the cloud finally came after a few days (and much shopping in the many Malls). The novelty for the travelling Brit is of course that despite the rain it is still wonderfully warm.

Everglades trail

Another trip to shark valley in the Everglades....on the bicycle of course....7 miles of almost straight path with only aligators and other cyclists to navigate around....except for the odd packed tourist tram. Rewarded with a panoramic view of the wilderness from the observation tower.

Blue fish

A native of the reef off Middle Keys.

Naples sunset

There is something special about sunsets, the beauty of nature, the motion of the sun, the ending of the day.

Key West may be famous for its Florida sunsets but Naples seems to take the event to its heart.

We took a drive from Naples to Key West to do the tourist thing, on the map it did not look too bad but of course it took hours to get there. Saw the sunset and drove for hours back to Naples. Great atmosphere down at Key West but could have stayed on Naples beach for a much better view, like this one, on another day.

It is not that often we see the sun touch the sea in the UK so it is still a fascination to see it disappear in this way.

Portugese Man-o-War

I hate jellyfish, they are beautiful and fascinating creatures and (so far) have done me no harm, but I would rather swim with sharks than jellyfish ... the thought of those stings ... not nice!

It was the day before we were due to fly home, we were staying in Miami, the weather was (as usual) warm and sunny so it was off to Crandon Park beach on Key Biscayne. Greeted at the park entrance with a sign saying "jellies" .. oh well at least there is still the relaxing under the palm trees. There were a few jellyfish at the sea's edge and they looked fairly small and harmless, plus being bright blue they would be easily spotted, and there were some other people in the sea....so I managed to persuade my daughter to go into the sea with me. After a few minutes proving how brave we were in the shallows we decided that perhaps the sea was not so inviting after all.

When we got home I decided to check out what sort of jellyfish this was. A Portugese Man-o-War !!!....perhaps the most infamous jellyfish known since my childhood. Not the most dangerous jellyfish in the sea (that honour seems to go to the Box jellyfish) but are certainly capable of killing people with their sting in the wrong circumstances.

So lessons in life here...
don't follow others...they may be doing something stupid
there is always another day ...just because it is the last day of holidays save that swim if advised
pretty things are often dangerous :-)
Key Biscayne guide to Portuguese Man-o-War

Flagler's bridge

This is a well photographed shot of a well documented bridge at Bahia Honda, but it is still a great view and a fascinating story of the linking of the Keys and the damage that the 1935 hurricance wreaked on the railway. Turn around from looking at the bridge and you get the view in yesterday's post. The picture is best viewed enlarged.

The Internet certainly is is a fascinating place, some people sell their houses and live their dream, stopping off here along the journey, others offer up something a little more unusual about their visit.....weird....a public service ?

Bahia Honda

Florida...blue skies and blue seas.

The first time we visited Bahia Honda State Park we took a stroll along one of the beaches at the end of another warm, relaxing day...walking just at the waters edge, when within touching distance a Sting Ray gracefully swept along the waters edge, in just a few inches of water, a beautiful creature.

This is probably my favourite place in the Florida Keys, three great beaches, butterflies in the trees, walks to the historical bridge...it is even a pleasure to just watch the cars buzzing down US1 to Key West.

This is the view looking northwards up the keys, the phtograph does not do the fantastic view justice.

In the past

Avalon

Discovered that if you get there early enough Ocean Drive is a relaxing, quiet stroll (and you can get parked!) with interesting sites and time to stare at the fascinating art deco buildings. The colours in the Miami sun are great. Found some historical photos that show just how wild it was not so long ago.... but then I hear it is still pretty wild after dark :-).

Is there a link between the hotel and the South-West of England ?

Florida resident

Still on a sand theme this fellow (or lady...how do you sex a crab ?) popped up on Boca Grande beach to say hello, presumably not too worried about being eaten by the human residents as being a bit on the small side. Can't take credit for the shot as my better half got the better picture....as she often does.

Naples beach

Went to watch the sunset at Naples Beach ...what do you do while waiting ?.... watch the wind patterns in the sand of course.

Cocoa wall

Who needs to go diving when the sea life is on the wall ? Is it just Floridians that decorate their walls in this way or all of America ? And is Cocoa Beach the capital of Cams ?......
OrlandosclosestBeach Cam
Gosurfsportswear Cam
RonJons Cam
Surfline Cam
16Streets Cam

Space Mountain

A different kind of space ride. Space Mountain taken from the Gondola ride (that is no longer there....shame). Sad also to say that I know DisneyLand Paris Space Mountain is actually better.

Shuttle lift off

We heard that a shuttle take off was scheduled so thought we would go and watch, problem was that because it was carrying a military payload the launch time would only be announced 10 minutes beforehand. So we drove over to Merritt island, parked up amongst the many RVs and waited,...all day. There is only so much you can do sitting by a car on Merritt island before boredom sets in. After hours of waiting, at 7.23 pm Shuttle STS-33 Discovery took off, the first night time launch for a very long time. Becuase of the secrecy around the flight it was a little known fact that STS-33 was a historic flight for Col. Frederick D. Gregory, who became the first Black Commander of a Space Shuttle mission.

Having never seen - let alone photographed - a shuttle take off, it was spectacular. We were a few miles away but the noise, speed, light was something very special....well worth the wait. My poor attempt at capturing it is above, would be nice to have more practice.