Gulf State Park

March 1-31, 2015:  We decided to spend the month of March at this campground on the Gulf of Mexico.  There are fourteen miles of paved bicycle trails, hiking trails, and white sand beaches.  We also enjoyed numerous trips to Rita's for delicious frozen custard.

   There was an abundance of Great Blue Herons throughout the park....even on the lamppost!

          These alligators lived in an area along the Rosemary Dunes Trail.  This is Lefty.

                                    One of Lefty's offspring about two years old.

                                        Young alligators sunning on a warm day.

           This is a poisonous cottonmouth snake.  We saw many snakes while biking.

                                                         Cottonmouth 

                                                          Pigmy Rattlesnake

                            This cottonmouth was hissing.....we kept our distance!

       This turtle was snacking on the grass along the trail.  Our presence didn't disturb him.

    Nesting Ospreys:  They flew overhead daily.  We could view them in the nest with binoculars.

                                              Biking on the Twin Bridges Trail.

                 Exploring the Armadillo Trail.

                                                  Middle Lake Overlook Trail

                                                              Middle Lake

                                               One of many beautiful sunsets!

Topsail Preserve State Park

February 27-March 1, 2015:  This park is located in the Florida panhandle.  It is a nice half mile walk to the white sand beach.  We also enjoyed biking in the area.

                                         The campsites here are clean and private.

                                                                  Sunset!

                                              They call this the emerald coast.

                                                     A beautiful living starfish.

      We observed these deer grazing in the sand dunes on the walkway to the beach.

     In an effort to preserve the dunes, there is no foot traffic allowed in the sand dunes.

   These seagulls were following a school of fish.  They moved rapidly down the beach.

         

Hillsborough River State Park

March 22-27, 2015:  We chose this park because of its proximity to my cousin, Tom, who lives in Zephyrhills.  We had a great time visiting with family and exploring the park.

                                                            Entering the park.

                                                           Hillsborough River 

                                    This is a class II rapids on the River Rapids Trail.

                                         Notice the turtle sunny itself on the log.

                                           Beginning of the River Rapids Trail

Planning for their day of fishing in the Gulf.  They caught over 40 fish!  Newey cooked a delicious fish fry for us.

                                                   My cousin,Tom, and me.

                                   My cousin Tom, my brother, Dennis, and me.

Little Manatee River State Park

February 15-22, 2015: We traveled here so we could spend time with Dennis and Shirley.

                                                              Our campsite.

                                            My brother, Dennis, and I on a hike.

                                        Finding and watching interesting creatures.

               We viewed many manatees while they congregated in the warmer waters.

                              Strawberries in season!  We ate as many as we could!

                       Meeting new friends in the campground.........Skip and Cagney.

     Reminiscing about our many train trips to Texas to visit our grandparents....nice memories.

                                                        Little Manatee River 

                                                           Busy armadillo!

                            Going visiting.  Skip learned this from his friend, Tuscon.

                                 Relaxing day on the dock with Dennis and Shirley!

                                                             Nesting ospreys!