Okefenokee 2009 Week 3

Carl started the day with a brisk, six mile bike ride. It was invigorating and he spotted Eurasian collared dove and monk parakeet along the way. After breakfast we went birding at Green Cay Wetlands. Just like its smaller brother Wakadohatchee, nearby, this is a constructed wetland whose primary purpose is waste water treatment. However, the birds love it and the boardwalks attract birders, photographers and many Sunday strollers. We saw many, many birds but the hit of the morning were the sora. We saw several of these cute, small, reclusive birds including one right near the sign that said to watch for sora!

After hiking the 1.5 mile boardwalk we went back to the coach for lunch and to prepare for our dinner guests. Al & Eileen came in the late afternoon and we sat behind the coach watching the lake with wine and cheese. It was very peaceful and reminded the Kates’ of when they had their boat on Lake Winnipesaukee. We had a delightful dinner and a very pleasant evening.

Those of you familiar with this part of Florida will recognize this street name in Pompano Beach. The indoor flea market on Sample Road is huge. We got there in time for lunch and here the food vendors serve pastrami sandwiches, knishes and other traditional Jewish food. We spent the entire afternoon shopping there then returned to Lake Worth in time to meet the Bat Mitzvah girl for dinner. Millie met us at the coach then we went out to dinner.

We started the day with a walk/run around the park then did some chores and errands. After lunch we went to the movies to see Milk. It was a great movie and Sean Penn was fantastic. We then met Sandy’s Aunt Lily and her friend Ellie for dinner and spent the evening with them.

We started the day with another walk/run then closed up the coach to drive to the dump station. It is a bit of a nuisance but we were settled back on out site soon enough. After lunch we drove to Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge for a couple of miles of hiking along the impoundment dikes. We caught a glimpse of a sharp-shinned hawk but otherwise saw just the common wading birds and warblers. Still it was a pleasant hike. Back at the motorhome, Sandy made a salad and custom salad dressing for tonight. The baked stuffed lobster Cal made was wonderful and it was a special evening with dear friends Millie, Al, Eileen, Cal and Rhoda.

We got out once again for some exercise today, about a four mile bike ride. Later we stopped to visit with Shelley and Laura Singer and Bob & Janet Corvin, both couples members of the Chai Jewish motorhomes club. They are both parked nearby. We will see them again at the Rally in Brooksville. Mid afternoon we met the Kates’ and Millie at the theater to see Benjamin Button, an interesting and entertaining, though long movie. One more meal out brought our south Florida stay to a close. Tomorrow we head north to Jacksonville and the kids.

We had an easy drive north to Jacksonville, 300 miles of which 268 was on I-95. Once settled into Hanna Park we went to see the kids. Garrett and Wyatt greeted us eagerly at the door then went back to playing Batman on their new Wii electronic game system.

After dinner we all played Rock Band, taking turns playing the drums, guitar and singing vocal. It was harder than it looked and the Wii keeps track of all the notes you missed and displays a final score. Carl and Sandy can’t book a national rock group tour with scores below 50% (and that was on the easy level) but Scott and Wyatt were between 97% and 100% while playing Wyatt’s favorite, Eye of the Tiger. Garrett didn't score quite so well on drums but then, he has a broken arm!

We spent the evening playing games and chatting. We also got a fantastic Chanukah gift. The kids bought us one of those digital picture frames and then loaded it with 2,667 pictures of Wyatt and Garret starting in 1999. What a great gift!! It was all great fun and we didn’t leave until midnight.

We slept late and went for a short walk/run in the campground. We finished at the campground social hall where they had coffee and donuts for breakfast. We picked the boys up after lunch and brought them back to the campground. We played Sorry, took a night hike, ate hot dogs and hamburgers (turkey of course) but the big hit of the day was Owl Puke. A little explanation to set the stage. Owls and most other birds cannot pass undigested bones through their system. After an owl digests a mouse it has eaten, it creates a furry pellet in its gut, about 1.5 inches long and 0.75 inches in diameter. The owl then regurgitates this pellet. Typically, each pellet contains the complete skeletal remains of a mouse, rat, shrew, vole or other small critter. As a result these owl pellets have become very popular for science and nature projects; companies collect, sterilize and package them in large numbers. At the Ding Darling refuge shop, Sandy spotted these boxes labeled “Owl Puke” containing a pellet and a book explaining what one might find in the pellet. Carl was skeptical that the boys would like them-What does he know! We dissected one pellet today and it was an enormous hit. We were all astounded at how much the pellet contained. In addition to a skull with large incisors, we found and identified with the help of the book, ribs, leg bones, shoulder blades the lower jaw and many vertebrae. It was fascinating and we all loved it.

We ended the day sitting by a campfire with the boys. Sandy called her mother and Pearl got to talk to both of her great grand children. We then reluctantly brought the boys back home; they can not stay over night in the motorhome since Garrett is allergic to the cat. We were both heartened by the fact that, even with a new Wii electronic system with a bewildering array of games, the boys really loved Hanna Park and the Owl Puke!