Backstory: The Fort Gates Ferry

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - After posting my previous blog on our weekend trip to the Ocala National Forest, I did a Google search on the Fort Gates Ferry. It has quite an interesting background and the following information was gleaned from some of the entries including an April 18, 2006, article by Gary White of the (Lakeland) Ledger.
As noted in my blog there are bridges across the St. Johns both north and south of the ferry. It's about 50 miles to the other side if you head north and about 70 using the southern crossing. It wasn't mentioned, but the ferry captain showed us eagles nesting in some trees in the distance.
The ferry, in service since 1856, takes its name from a Federal Army installation which was located nearby. In addition to the heat, humidity, sand, snakes, ants, mosquitos, poor food and domineering officers, the conscripts at the fort were to lend a hand in the Third Seminole War and needed a way to get across the river. There were no engines to help these guys.
Other highlights include the Confederate Army utilizing the ferry during the Civil War and, during the 1998 wildfires, the State took over the ferry to get fire fighters across the river.
For the mechanical-minded the present day ferry (according the Ledger article) contains some/most of a 1946 barge and parts from a 1918 Sharpie sailboat. It weights one-ton and is diesel powered. The combination makes an ugly looking ferry-tugboat combo which is perfectly suited to the job.

Out There

OCALA NATIONAL FOREST (Fruitland, FL) - - We rode a huge, modern ferry boat while traveling on the Inside Passage in Alaska. We down-sized just a bit on this weekend's trip by taking the Fort Gates Ferry across the St. John River.
You roll up to the fish camp / ferry crossing and wait for the captain. If the boat is on the other side, you flash your headlights. It costs $10 per car to cross. The ferry can hold 2 vehicles...if they are the right size. The trip took less than 10 minutes.
This river crossing by ferry has been used for over 100 years. The only bridges in the area are a good distance to the north or south.
You roll off on the other side (above) and head out through the forest on a relatively hard-packed sandy/clay road (below) which is really only one lane. The soft sand on either side of the center of the road is a very visible warning that you don't want to move too much to the left or right...and you definitely don't want to meet another car coming the other way.
We met a forest ranger and a couple of other individuals as we got off the ferry. I asked, "How's the road?" He said, "You do realize you're out in the middle of nowhere, don't you?" We did. Eight miles later - - and no other cars - - we hit the main road and continued on to Salt Springs.

Almost nap time

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - The problem with having photogenic cats is that....you always figure you need one more pic. In this case, the princess needs no invitation when Lydia stretches out on the couch and puts a fleece blanket over her legs. The Princess is drawn, like a magnet, to stretch out and find a confortible position (for herself, of course). Note the whiskers caught on the fleece.

Hangout

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - This fine looking male cat is the leader of the Neighborhood Watch Group. He strolls around where he wants and rests where he wants - - including the roof of the Honda and sunny patches on the street. We aren't sure which nearby family claims him because he seems to give equal time/effort to each house.

From the archives

DILLON, MT - - This shot was taken on May 18, 2005 on the way to Montana's Glacier National Park. What we have here is a Used COW Lot and a transport vehicle. The town(?) was small so that on a good day for the UCL there were probably more livestock than people in this place.

The Queen Rules

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Despite the regal pose, the Queen would rip your heart out in a second - - if she had claws. Unfortunately, she has teeth which are put to use if she is displeased. The trick is in knowing when you've pushed the (always changing) limits of the Queen's patience.

New Year's Day photos

MERRITT ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE - - We did our New Year's Day ritual by heading to Merritt Island. Actually, this was our third trip since we got back from Alaska. On the plus side the birds were out in large groups; on the minus side the weather was overcast and the light was mainly flat. Still, we managed some good pics. (Check Lydia's blog for more).

Above we have a collection of egrets who took off when spooked at a feed zone. The middle pic is an Ibis/Egret question of who has the best reflection. The Roseate Spoonbills in the bottom pic are getting ready for tonight's cold weather.

Snow storm

NEW YEAR'S EVE - - 2007 is quickly heading toward a finish and 2008 is right ahead. More adventures and more birds and animals and exciting places await.

In the air

TIERRA VERDE, FL - - We returned to Ft. DeSoto Park to camp over the (long) Christmas Weekend. The birds weren't out in as great numbers as when we were here about two weeks ago. However, The Great Blue Heron (above) and the seagull hovering below, caught my eye. Note the identification/tracking band on the heron's right leg.

Twilight Zone

EGMONT KEY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, FL - - In some areas, the western side beach on Egmont Key resembled a shot out of The Twilight Zone. A low mist and low cloud cover created this overcast scene at 11:30 in the morning. Beach erosion over a number of years turned these palm trees into dead shapes like what you might see after a nuclear war. The ATV tracks are from the park ranger patrol while the couple walking in the center of the pic came over on the 'ferry' with us.

Turtle's eye-view

EGMONT KEY, FL - - Ever wondered what it's like down there? Young kids have a low level point of view - - usually knees of the teenagers and adults around them. But let's get lower, let's check out the view from the vantage point of a box turtle. As you can probably tell, this resident of Egmont Key didn't take too kindly to a human trying to see things from ground level.

Lunch Time

TIERRA VERDE, FL - - One of our favorite camping spots in Florida is Fort DeSotoPark, a Pinellas county park south of St. Petersburg on Florida's west coast. Aside from nice campsites and great facilities, the area offers unlimited opportunity to photograph pelicans, egrets and herons - - like the one above.

The breakwater area along the nearby fishing pier is one such location. This individual has just grabbed a lunch appetizer. Now, the problem becomes how to swallow the fish since it won't fit down his/her throat sideways. Compounding the fun was a group of about six hungry friends (outside this frame) just waiting for a slip.

Time to smell the roses

JASPER, ALBERTA, CANADA - - There's always time to stop and smell the (wild) roses as this elk is doing in a shot from a trip to Jasper in 2004.

Turkey Day weekend #3

NATIONAL KEY DEER WILDLIFE REFUGE, BIG PINE KEY - - Key Deer, primarily found on Big Pine and No Name keys, are usually too friendly and inquisitive for their own good and safety. This deer (probably) stuck her tongue out at us because we didn't feed her like the tourists who just rode off had. The biggest and strongest deer weigh only 90 pounds and stand 32" high

Hidden just off Key Deer Blvd. in the refuge is the Blue Hole, the largest body of fresh water in the keys and a vital resource of the deer. Given that there were/are alligators in the water it's probably a good feeding place for them too. The dragon fly (below) was hanging out on a piece of vegatation poking out of the water looking for 'skeeters or other small insects.

As always, double-clicking on any of the pics will get you a good-sized blowup.

Turkey Day weekend #2

ROBBIE'S MARINA SOMEWHERE IN THE KEYS - - On this Keys trip we 'discovered' Robbies Marina. I say discovered because we'd been by plenty of times on other keys trips - - it's kind of hard not to since there's only one main road (A1A) in the Keys.

To stay in business you need a 'hook' and Robbie's - - besides boat tours, kayak and jet ski rentals - - has turned feeding the fish and taking pics of the birds into a money-making proposition. Pay $1 and walk out onto the pier where the tarpon are thick in the water waiting for those folks who paid $2 to throw in bait fish.

Then there are the birds: The snowy egrets (above) who patrol the shoreline among the mangrove looking for their daily food while the pelicans wander around on the pier or hover (below) waiting for a chance to swoop.

Turkey Day weekend #1

SOMEWHERE ON A1A IN THE FLORIDA KEYS - - We spent Thanksgiving weekend in the Keys doing nothing much, taking photos and eating stone crab and key lime pie. It was tough but somebody has to do it.
This is a shot of a "keys alarm clock." No need to set your own alarm because the roosters crow when they want. And they strut like they own the place (wherever they are) and they generally do.

Wood Storks stalking

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Another image from out trip to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Twiggy

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Some birds, like this kingfisher, try to blend in with their surroundings and make it hard to get a good shot. Most of the time they win. However, this resident of the Merritt Island Reserve didn't hide well enough.

Sea Cows

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Here are a mom and youngster Manatee family we saw last week at Haulover Canal. Also called Sea Cows, these large hunks of blubber feed on river grass and other veggie things.

Looking for the 'wild life'

MERRITT ISLAND, FL - - Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is about 60 miles south of OB. The NWR shares a good portion of the land used as a buffer zone by Kennedy Space Center between the work/launch areas and the public. In fact, the launch pad(s) for the space shuttle is approximately 10-miles away (in a straight line) through alligator / mosquito infested mangrove swamp from where these pictures were shot. The reality is that the space center and the NWR protect one another. And we all benefit.

The blue herron (above) is searching very hard for a meal. The butterfly (below) will become a meal for some preditor if it isn't careful.