And Let's Make It Four!

I don't know if we've ever had four Saturdays in a row free to explore our local parks and public spaces, but it happened this month. We made it to the beach, not just once, but twice, and finished exploring the county park in Belle Glade. This weekend it was time for a hike. We'll have to wait until rainy season is over to do the next one on the list - Jessop Trail from Cypress Creek to Jonathan Dickinson - but levee trails don't flood, so Wayne hiked for ten miles along the L-38 Canal and had a wonderful time.

I dropped him off at the start of the trail (Exit #8 on the Sawgrass Expressway), getting out of the car to take some pictures.

Then I drove around the Everglades Wildlife Management Area to pick him up (at the Sawgrass Everglades Park).

While waiting, I spent time preparing a lesson for Relief Society and reading a book, along with meandering around the park and even checking out the trail myself.

He finished, right at the estimated time!

On the trail, he saw a bunch of wildlife, including anhinga, red-winged-blackbirds, a turkey vulture, a racoon and a couple of new species that we looked up when we got home - Mustela vison evergladensis (otherwise known as the Everglades mink) and Celithemis eponina (or Halloween Pennant, a type of dragonfly).  Unfortunately, he was attacked by a bunch of biting flies as well. Fortunately, although they stung when they bit him, he wasn't bothered further by any allergic reaction, so no welts or itching. We also learned their proper name - Diachlorus ferrugatus (Fabricius), although most people call them yellow flies - and you can learn all about them here if you so desire. Thank you University of Florida and Florida Fish & Wildlife. Isn't it fun to learn new things?

I thought we might eat lunch at the Gator Grill, but Wayne voted for Burger King, so sorry I can't tell you if Gator Tacos are any good!

This was the third in a series of hikes leading from that Greenway parking lot.

• North 8.7 miles to the Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge
• South 8.6 miles to Markham Park
• West 10.6 miles to Sawgrass Recreation Area
• West 5-6 miles along Alligator Alley (aka I-75)

However, there are still more! Next up will be the levee hike west along US 27, starting at Markham Park. There's no place to park at the end of the trail, so it will be a "there and back" of about 10 miles. Does anyone want to join us? (Too late! It's been done now.)