Six Mile Cypress Slough

I was having that overwhelming desire to explore and a need for peace and quiet, so I headed out to Six Mile Cypress Slough (pronounced "slew") in Fort Myers. Just 5 minutes from the I-75 Six Mile is a magnificent 1.2 mile long boardwalk that takes you through an unspoiled cypress swamp.

The greatest asset is the park is free. The only charge is $1.00 per hour for parking, maximum $5 all day. The interpretive center is a must either before or after your trip around the boardwalk. The building was designed to minimize its impact on the environment.

The slough is home to a widely diverse population of animals and plants. Luckily, I was on time to take a guided tour from one of the very knowledgeable slough volunteers, Kathleen. Our tour covered one of the 2 loops.

 

What is Six Mile Cypress Slough. First of all the slough consists of 3,420 acres of preserved wetland. It's 11 miles long and at it's widest is only 1/3 of a mile. The slough is a slow moving river or swamp that eventually empties into Estero Bay. During the wet season the slough has 2-3 feet of water making it look like a wide shallow stream. As the water moves slowly through the slough sediment and pollutants are absorbed by the plant life thereby cleaning the water. Because of the drought even the slough is dry by it's standards. The cypress trees in the below picture are at least 30 years of age. You can see old water levels on the trees.

Wild Iris

As we continued along the boardwalk we came to Gator Lake, which seems only fitting. This lake came about as a result of nearby road construction. They excavated material from the slough before it became a preserve to use as a base for roads. Yes there are gators but we also spotted anhingas, cormorants, turtles, herons and much more. There's also a beautiful outdoor amphitheater that faces the lake. It's so peaceful.

The slough has a wide variety ferns. We counted 11 different kinds. Here are just a few.

Virginia Chain Fern

Shoestring Fern

Another interesting fern we came across was the resurrection fern. This fern is a type of epiphytic fern meaning it grows on top of other plants or structures and it reproduces by spores, not seeds. Although resurrection fern grow on top of other plants, they do not steal nutrients or water from their host plant. It appears dead but it's not. During extreme drought they can lose up to 97 percent of their water content. When exposed to water it will come back to life, hence resurrection becoming green and healthy again.

Resurrection Fern during drought

As we continued around the boardwalk, Kathleen was able to point out many more interesting features. Here's just a few.

Strap Fern

Royal Fern

Mistletoe

Mistletoe is considered a parasitic plant meaning it grows on the branches or trunk of a tree where it will send out roots stealing vital nutrients from that tree. Consequently, the branch first then the whole will die. Note the dead branch.

One especially interesting feature about this slough is the absence of mosquitoes. Say what, how come we all asked. It's because of a small 1" long fish called a Gambusia Fish. They apparently live in the preserve waters feeding on mosquito larvae. No pictures couldn't see any to photograph. So I didn't have to put repellent on after all.

I spotted this next guy sunning himself on the branch. What's travelling through a swamp without seeing a snake or two. To me it looked like a water moccasin, not 100 percent sure. Got to love it.

There were so many more wonderful things we saw in the preserve. But this blog is getting lengthy so time to show one more pic and call it enough. You get the idea of how beautiful it is.

More Puppies

Back by popular demand. Many of you have asked for updates on the puppies. Well here it is. With the exception of typical puppy stuff they have been fantastic. We are lucky. We're at a park that everyone loves dogs but we are talking puppies. No  issues with socializing here. People are more than anxious to give them a little pet or simply play with them. We are so grateful it makes our job easier.

Stuart has been playing with them a little. We still have to be careful because of his back. It doesn't take much to exhaust him. These pics are at 11 weeks. They are growing fast. Calusa is in the green harness and Charlotte is the purple harness. You can definitely see the size difference.

Really, I didn't mean to pee on the floor

These next pictures are taken at 13 weeks. They are eating us out of house and fifth wheel. Their individual personalities are starting to show. Charlotte is the more submissive one to other dogs but she rules the RV. Calusa just wants to run and have fun. Stuart at times just wants to be as far away from them as possible...puppies bah humbug!

From the next pic you can see how big they are getting at 13 weeks. Everyone keeps asking us that very question "how big will they get". My answer is I have know idea. We will see in a years time.

They are inquisitive about everything at this point. Afraid of somethings but not noises. Hopefully they won't play any attention to thunderstorms in the summer back home.

I will keep posting puppy pictures as time passes. I'm going to try and get out to do some sightseeing in the near future.

New Arrivals

Well, I guess I have left some of you in suspense long enough. That was never my intention but you will know why shortly. We arrived Wednesday and Thursday morning we drove to Naples. I still haven't told Susan where we are going. She thinks shopping, well sort of. We arrive at the mall location of the Naples Humane Society and Susan figures it out. This whole time I'm asking myself why are we here. Lulu's death is still fresh. I miss her everyday. 

Walking in our eyes were drawn to 1 blonde and 4 black bouncing puppies. OMG! We watch them for a few minutes and immediately my eyes focus in on the smallest one. I ask if I could hold her. So, we make our way to the corral area and they bring her out. Another OMG! Puppy breath I forgot how wonderful it smells. This little girls name is Charlotte. 

After a couple minutes I ask if they have another girl and they do. They bring her out another OMG! This ones name is Calusa and she is bigger. So Susan has one, I have the other, now the dilemma begins. By this time we know that we are going home or rescuing a puppy but which one. Surprise, we can't decide so we take both. Yes both. I look at Susan and say "are we nuts" and her answer is yes. Here are the new arrivals to our family. They are 10 weeks in these pictures. I loved the names so we didn't change them.

Charlotte

Calusa

  

Here's a little history as to how they got to the Naples Humane Society. Mama was rescued from the streets of Labelle, Fl. They tell me she is a Chihuahua. Dad is anyone's guess but they figure he was a Dachshund. That makes these girls chi-weenies. Mama gave birth while in foster care. Unfortunately mama was found eating a cane toad which are very poisonous. Puppies had to be weaned immediately. Mama luckily survived the ordeal but was sick for a long time. These puppies had to be hand raised for a considerable time. We didn't realize until afterwards but when we walked into the mall on Thursday they had just gone up for adoption. How lucky are we. I found out later all the pups were rescued by the end of the day.

So we've had the pups for one week and my life has changed. It's all about the pups right now. I won't have any interesting places to blog about in the next couple of months. If you've ever had a pup you will understand why. Now double that trouble. They are so much fun.We have already cancelled our 2 weeks in the keys opting to stay put in Bonita. Again stay tuned for puppy updates and Stuart. Oh, we can't forget about a Stuart. I think these puppies are good for him. He was in a funk after Lulu died but now he's playing and tolerating them just fine.

Arrived in Bonita Springs, Florida

Fast forward a couple more driving days and we finally arrive at our destination. But first, we made a quick stop at Ocala Sun RV Resort. Again, I forgot to take my camera when I went out for a walk so no pictures. The park was easy on/off from the I-75. Of course the talk in the office when we arrived was nothing but the Presidential election. They asked me about the election and with a big smile on my face said "I'm Canadian". End of conversation.

We were escorted to our site by a very nice gentleman. He showed me where everything is connected then left. Nice touch. I'm hooking up everything and at the same time getting my first taste of the hot humid Florida weather...80 degrees. The site was a pull thru on grass with water, electric 20/30/50 amp, sewer, cable, and free wifi. Cost $41.00 

Everything about this park spelled neat and tidy. The only thing I didn't like was being parking behind the community center. People cut through our site to get there. Call me crazy but we were taught as kids not to do that. My parents couldn't stress enough about campground etiquette.

I stayed up late watching the election, finally turning in at 2 am. Oh well, the drive is only a few hundred miles. We arrived at Bonita Lake RV Resort shortly after lunch and as always was greeted with hugs, kisses, and a "what the hell took you so long". The managers (Patti & George) have always treated Susan and myself as family. That is why we keep coming back.

We back into our site and get everything hooked up. I take Stuart for only a short walk because his back is bothering him again. Poor guy. Off to the pool we go for our first swim of the season. How great is that. After supper I start researching some of the things I want to see while here. As I'm researching I notice an advertisement on adoptions at the Naples Humane Society. So of course I click on it and......big, big mistake. All I can say is stay tuned for my next blog.

RV Park Scoop - New Green Acres RV Park

Our third day of travel found us leaving the I-81 only to continue down the I-77 into North Carolina. We travelled through Charlotte, NC and around Columbia, SC where we left the I-77 to join up with the I-26. This is where we caught our first glimpse of the wind damage caused by Hurricane Matthew. Massive trees uprooted like popsicle sticks. Large branches that were once on the highway now lay along the roadside awaiting to be cut up for firewood. We couldn't help but wonder what it was truly like when the storm hit. We could only imagine.

As we continued, we turned onto the I-95 south where the drive went as smooth as a babies bum. We arrived at New Green Acres RV Park in Walterboro SC shortly after 2 pm. This blog is basically a review of the park. I have no pictures to post. Oh snap, forgot my camera while going for a walk.

First impressions, not a destination campground but definitely a good stopover for one night. Being just off the I-95 we had to deal with highway noise throughout our stay. Our site was a pull-thru with water/50 amp electric/sewer/cable/free wifi all for $32. Not bad at all.

Half the park were seasonals while the other half were over- nighters. Many of the seasonals were in much need of some TLC. Shortly after we arrived it was a constant stream of RVs coming in for the night. The park has a total of 106 sites, more than half were full by nightfall. All the sites were grass and sand which made it very dusty each time someone drove by. Stuart's nice white paws were gray by the time he finished his walk.  

Not sure of what we wanted for supper, I suggested to Susan that Cracker Barrel was just around the corner. She had her shoes on and was out the door before I changed my mind. We both decided on the roast beef dinner. The food was fantastic. It did not let us down. While we were unhooked we got diesel in downtown Walterboro. So far it's the cheapest @ $2.24 per gallon. Not sure what gas was. Anyway, now we're ready to hit the road in the morning.

New River Gorge National River

Waking up to another gorgeous sunny day is always a delight. Stepping outside into the nice cool refreshing air is a bonus. Even Stuart had a little pep in his step. After breakfast we broke camp only to continued our journey on the dreaded day two. The second day of travelling has always been the hardest for me. It doesn't matter where we are going I find it long and boring. So we decided to make a stop at New River Gorge National Park. The parking lot looks like it can handle any size RV so we shall see. But first we have a 2 hour drive. 

After a quick stop for diesel we continued on down the I-79 from Morgantown to Fort Chiswell. This part of the trek takes us over the Appalachian Mountains. Meaning, lots and lots of hills to climb and monster valleys to descend in to.

We arrive at New River Gorge in great time only to miss the entrance into the parking lot. The signs were obscured by shrubs. Okay! Have you ever been in that situation where you go "now what"! The only choice was to go in the DO NOT ENTER or descend 825 feet into the abyss. We made the shape turn with no damage to the RV thank goodness. It was all worth it.

Our first stop was the Canyon Rim Visitors Center which housed tons of exhibits and a short film.

The New River Gorge National River in southern West Virginia was established in 1978 and encompasses over 70,000 acres of land along 53 miles of the New River.

The New River is one of the oldest in the world. For centuries it was inaccessible to most people. In 1873 that all changed with the building of the railroad. Coal mining boomed causing towns to spring up overnight. Today, the rich cultural history of coal mining is preserved along many of the scenic drives.

The area is known for recreational activities. The New is renowned for its whitewater boating. With over 100 rapids dropping more than 668 feet, technical runs, and high volume of water  it is known to challenge even the best in the world.

In 1977 the New River Gorge Bridge was completed shortening the once challenging 40 minute drive on narrow steep mountainous roads to 1 minute. At 876 feet above the river it remains the third highest bridge in America.

How high is the bridge you ask. Beneath the bridge the Statue of Liberty could stand twice atop the Washington Monument and still have 20 feet to spare. These steps only took me half way down into the gorge below the bridge. What an amazing view of the river and the bridge.

The steel used on the bridge is called Cor-ten steel which rusts slightly on the surface. This surface rust inhibits the deeper rust eliminating the need for painting. What a brilliant person who thought of that, must have been afraid of heights. Steel was brought to position by trolleys running on 3 inch cables.

In comparison, the old Fayette Station Bridge under the New River Gorge Bridge.

After a nice hour of walking around we continued on our journey but first we had to cross over this massive bridge. WOW it's a long way down.

With the Appalachians behind us we pulled into Fort Chiswell RV Park for the night. Day two turned out to be not so bad after all.

Travellin' To Florida

Many people have asked which way do we travel to Florida. My response is whatever way suits us at that point in time. Meaning there are several ways of getting there I-75, I-79 to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, or the route we took this year I-79 to the I-77. Your probably wondering what in the world is she talking about. If you don't know the roads you wouldn't have a glue of what I'm talking about. So let me explain our route, the overnight stops, and so on.

As we pulled out of Fifty Point it was a gorgeous fall day. The sun was coming up and of course shining right in our eyes. Well that was short lived. The closer we got to the Fort Erie/Buffalo border the more cloudy it got. Luckily, it's too warm for snow and their's no rain in the forecast. We crossed over with a short wait and minimal questions asked. 

Our first days drive is always the longest, approximately 320 miles to Morgantown WV. This route takes us down the 1-90 from Buffalo to Erie PA. At Erie we catch the I-79 south towards Pittsburgh then straight into Morgantown. This far north, campgrounds that are open this late in the year are few and far between. So you take what you can get. While in Morgantown we stay at Mylan Park. A place we have stayed before. I also wrote a short blog on this park. Like I said before it's nothing but a big paved parking lot with water, electric 20/30/50 amp and if your lucky to get there on a non football game day you get sewer for $40 per night. We weren't so lucky. Yes, it's pricey considering we didn't have sewer but they do have 24 hour security, it's well lite at night, and there's lots of open space to walk around. This picture is from November 2013. You get the idea.

The drive to Morgantown is all interstate and relatively flat. The leaves have fallen off the trees so it's not real pretty. The sun did start shining again in Erie PA making for a nicer day. Other than a stop for diesel and another to stretch our legs we made the drive in great time. My average speed was around 60-62 mph and I got about 11.5 - 12 mpg. We left at 8:30 am and arrived at 2:30 pm.

I've often suggested to Susan that we should spend some time in Morgantown since there's so many interesting things to see and do. Well, maybe next time she has her eyes on the bigger picture...Florida, warm weather, and a heated swimming pool. In the meantime we still have 4 more legs of our trip to go but we're getting closer.

RV Parks Scoop - Fifty Point Conservation Park

It has been sooooo long since I've written a blog I ask myself do I remember how to do this. Of course. So I thought I would start with a place I know well Fifty Point Conservation Park. This park is our go to place after our home park closes for the winter and before it opens in the spring. Why this one? Let me tell ya. 

This park is located 5 minutes from my home town of Grimsby, Ontario meaning it's real close to my mother. That's the most important reason. Also very important is the park opens on April 1st and closes on November 30 of each year. I mean we are talking below freezing weather in the spring and late fall. To find anything open in Ontario that time of year is very rare.

Fifty Point is located just off the QEW (Queen Elizabeth Highway) on the north side or lake side (Lake Ontario) of the highway.

The park itself encompasses a total of 80 hectares of land. Within the park boundaries is a marina with docking spaces for 330 boats. The marina facilities includes a restaurant, a fully serviced gas dock and pump-out station, visitors dock, electric and water hook-ups, showers, washrooms and laundromat, and winter storage facilities. As you can see most of the boats have been pulled from the water and placed in dry dock. Of course as a camper in the park we have access to the restaurant and marina.

Fifty Point campground has a total of 70 serviced sites, all with water, electric, and sewer. Some sites are 20/30 amp while others are 30/50 amp. The price averages about $50 per night tax included.The newer area is open with large grassy areas between each site. Not much privacy here. In the cooler weather it's nice as we get lots of sunshine. 

The older area has all the same amenities but not so open. Large trees provide a nice shade canopy in the summer months when the days get up to 35-37 degrees C or hotter. They also have side by side pull-thru sites which I have never been fond of, to close to your neighbour.

There is one central comfort station for the entire campground. It includes washrooms, individual showers, and laundry facilities. Even though we did not use these facilities each day they were cleaned spotlessly.

Campfires are not allowed at each individual site, however the park does allow campfires at a few communal locations. WiFi is available throughout the campground free of charge. Not sure how well it works the further you get from the comfort station but from our site it was very fast.

If your into fishing this is the spot. You have two choices. A stocked pond within the park allows you to fish for trout and largemouth bass without a license.

Fishing in Lake Ontario and from the shores of the marina requires an Ontario fishing license. However this is where the salmon can be caught.

Entrance to the marina. Lake Ontario beyond that. Toronto is position right between the two jetties easily seen on a clear day.

The park also offers a dogs only beach which is separate from the public beach.

The one drawback about this park is the traffic, not from the QEW but from the people racing to get to their ball hockey game. Yes, each night teams play ball hockey in the park on an official size rink. It's actually fun to watch but beware when they are coming and going. Speed limits means nothing.

Maybe that is why a new 3.4 km path is under construction. I've walked this park endlessly and always see runners, birders, and walkers at all hours of the day and night. Yes, this park is the perfect place to see birds or ducks.

 As I walked the park I couldn't help but notice the destruction caused by a local beaver. Later I was able to locate it's den.

Autumn is a wonderful time in the park with the leaves turning all colours and the smells associated with them falling. Ya got to love it.