Florida Specialties

Florida is different than other states and not just their hanging chads!

Motorcycles.  If you want to kill yourself on a motorcycle this place is very accommodating.  It feels like the speed limit does not apply to motorcycles.  There is a road along side one perimeter of the rv park where the speed limit is 45 mph and routinely it appears motorcycles are zooming through in excess of 80 mph.  This usually occurs on Friday and Saturdays nights.  Other nights, they seem to keep it to about 70 mph while racing each other down the street.  The Sheriffs headquarters is about 1 mile away, and surprisingly the sounds of no mufflers and squealing from racing tires go unnoticed.  

In heavy traffic, it is very common to have a motorcycle go by you doing a wheeling.  For a motorist next to them, it is very scary because you do not know if they can maintain control at 55 plus mph driving on the rear wheel only.

This is a state that does not require helmets and, it is rare to see someone wearing a helmet.  As mentioned in an earlier blog, there are billboards everywhere to the tune of call us after your motorcycle accident.

Another interesting Florida thing . . .  When there is an accident, even minor fender benders, the police stop traffic completely, sometimes in both directions, until the accident is completely cleared up.  They do not often route traffic around the accident so you can plan on spending more than an hour at the most minor of accidents--and they have plenty of accidents here!  People are so used to this, that as soon as there is an accident stoppage, they get out of their vehicles and stand around or sit on their vehicles having a soda, snacks, and either talking with their neighbor or reading a book or magazine--they drive prepared.

I would estimate that each day we have been in the RV park, we hear fire engines and other emergency vehicles with sirens blaring heading to some emergency and this happens about 12 times a day.  I have never been in a place where the sirens are going so often that you begin to not notice them!

Florida is also different in a good way.  Southwest Florida, at least January through April, has the been weather we have ever experienced.  Sunny days in the 70s, low humidity, and a light breeze with evenings in the 60's.  There are tropical trees, plants and flowers everywhere.  It is really beautiful and then of course, the beach with silky white sand is spiritually fulfilling.

We are in a location where we can ride our bikes virtually everywhere we could want to go because there are broad sidewalks for bikers almost everywhere you go.

We have enjoyed this first winter here (although it seems like summer) and look forward to many more warm winters.

 

 

Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge

On a glorious sunny April morning, we drove the truck, with our bikes, aboard to Sanibel Island.  Just past all the activity of shops and folks along the island, there is a long stretch of seemingly isolation.  This is the area set aside as a wildlife refuge at the end of Sanibel and just before entering Captiva Island.  The refuge is called Ding Darling.  What a name!!  It turns out, a very famous cartoonist whose nickname was Ding and whose last name was Darling was a leader in getting this area preserved as a National Wildlife Refuge.

We took an 8 mile loop through the refuge.  The bird life was truly spectacular.  There were volunteers along the route with telescopes where you could see whatever was spotted along the way.  We happened upon a volunteer who had a two week old hawk in sight.  I looked through the telescope, and to my surprise, saw an all white baby hawk with black eyes.  I did not realize baby hawks were all white.  This little one was squawking non stop for mama. I think she had a lot of hunting to do to keep this little one satisfied.

As we biked along, we saw a young raccoon come out of the bushes--apparently to cross the road--and came to a sudden stop when he saw us.  He ran back in the bushes and then popped out again.  Oh my, they are still there.  He took a quick retreat back to his concerned mama and papa, and we could here all kinds of scurrying going on in the bushes.  We rode on ahead a bit and when we looked, back, the whole family crossed the road.  It was quite a sight.

Along the road were ponds on one side and then the bay that leads to the Gulf of Mexico on the other side.  We saw a sea bird not too often spotted called Roseate Spoon-bill.  This bird is smaller than an egret with white body and pink wings.  It is most beautiful.  All along the route there were hundreds of sea birds of all different species in the pond area.  These ponds make great resting areas and feeding areas.

We also saw an unusual looking turtle--not sure as to its name, but the alligators were busy elsewhere and not seen that day. 

When I see National preserves and parks like this one, I cannot help but think how great an idea it was for people like Ding Darling and those in and out of government to fight to preserve land not only to preserve habitat for native animals and plants, but to have these places of such wonder for people to visit.

tg