Tuesday,
May 12
Day
35
What
a fabulous and unexpected day. We decided not to go to Kennedy Space
Center as we had previously had been to NASA in Houston and didn't
want to pay $46.00 each considering there were lots of other things
to do. Amy and Steve told us to head up to the Canaveral National
Seashore which turned out to be fabulous. It is the longest stretch
of undeveloped coastline on the eastern coast of Florida and is directly north of
the launching pads at Cape Canaveral. It was initially set aside as
a security measure because of the Space program but also is habitat
to over 500 animal species and 1000 plants.
We initially took the
Wildlife drive which is a 7 mile drive through the wetlands. We saw
many birds including a roseate spoonbill and 2 alligators, one small
and one quite large.
 |
| Roseate spoonbill, regrettably not a great photo |
After the drive we made our way to the visitor
center and saw a nesting osprey and heard the alligators bellowing.
It is mating season! We found out what else to see and
drove to a boat launch where the manatees were mating and feeding.
This has been on Jodi's bucket list for a long time. When my dad
lived in Florida, I visited several times and always looked out for
manatee when we were out on his boat but never saw one. This trip we
made a special trip to the Tampa Electric Plant where they winter but
it was closed April 15. I figured I was out of luck again until
today. We were within just a few feet of them feeding and frolicking
in the water. There were at least 20 of them.
Manatees
Very interesting and
bizarre looking creatures. Seemed like a mix of part walrus, part
seal and part rhinoceros. I understand however, that they are evolutionally related to elephants and apparently at one time believed to be land animals. We were observing the manatees with another couple. Jack started talking to them and they were traveling for 6 weeks in the USA from the Netherlands. They seem especially
interested in seeing wildlife and had visited our country 4 different times and enjoy camping. We got their email as they are going
to be in the Pacific Northwest in September. Maybe we can get
together. We told them about the Affordable Travel Club so we will provide them with information. We then drove down
another dirt pot holed road in search of alligators. We drove in
about 4 miles and didn't see a gator until we turned around and got
within 100 yards of the exit. Haha. We did however see more
roseate spoonbills. It is really interesting to watch them fish.
They move their heads back and forth in the water, stirring up the
bottom. If you have never seen one, I recommend looking them up and
checking out their bills. Very cool. We then went out to the wild
Atlantic ocean beach.
 |
| Beach at Canaveral National Seashore |
Very beautiful and crazy currents. Jodi went
swimming and was taken several hundred yards down the beach and got
jostled around in a few waves. Overall it was very fun. We are so thankful that Amy and Steve told us
all about Merritt Island/Canaveral National Seashore!
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