2/20/22 St. Mark's, St. George's Island, Tate's Hell St. Forest, FL

2/20 Sunday

31 degrees this morning at 7 AM.   We pass a few more smaller sinkholes on the way back to paved roads and take 98 west to Lighthouse Road and St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge.  We come to the entrance, free with our passes, and a large Visitor's Center and an Education Center which are closed.  Too bad because we've read that they are worthwhile.

The refuge covers 70,000 acres so we have a bit of a drive to the lighthouse, but it is through some beautiful wetlands with quite a few birds!  It has warmed up, though windy, and the sky is a gorgeous blue. We join several cars and a few photographers with huge lenses, stopping here and there for photos.

Mostly herons and egrets with a few cormorants, ducks and ibis.   We are wondering if we are still in gator country when Greg spots one sunning, which answers that question.  There is hiking and fishing available too, but most people just seem to be birding or sightseeing.

The road ends at St. Mark's Lighthouse and we park and do some walking here.  The lighthouse is 82' high and was built in 1833, then re-located in 1842.  It is visible from 19 miles offshore.

Notice the bird and it's shadow against the lighthouse in this picture?

Beth wonders along the water's edge and notices some splashing going on.  There must be a school of fish here because the pelicans and some other birds are repeatedly diving into the water.  And then she notices some fins when a few dolphins join the feasting!  How cool!  

I watch for a while and talk with some lucky women who live near Talahassee and come here often. 

Then I find Greg and we explore a bit further in the Trek,  and begin the drive back to 95. What a beautiful place!

We next stop at Wakulla River Park which was written up somewhere as a cool place with a boat ride.  It seems to have fallen on hard times, though, and while a fine place for a picnic, the dock is falling apart and we see no boat.

Back to 98W.  We pass some more stands selling boiled peanuts and laugh because Yvonne, being a Yankee, told us she thought people were saying "bald" peanuts for the longest time.  (We tried them on another trip and opt to pass on this southern treat.)

Next stop is St. George's Island, one of Florida's Gulf Coast barrier islands.  9 miles long, it is 4 miles offshore and reached by a long bridge that was completed in 1965.  We stop at the lighthouse first which was only decommissioned in 1994 after operating for 142 years!  

We drive the length of the island, part of which is developed - somewhat - 

 - and part a State Park.  Sand and dunes and probably some nice beaches in warmer weather! There is a campground out here too and several picnic shelters on the beach. The sand is very fine and nearly white.

We head back across the bridge and stop at the Family Coastal Restaurant that we had noticed earlier for some more seafood.

An older building with a nice covered porch area where we enjoy some great seafood.  Beth goes with the shrimp, which our waitress said were peeled earlier today. They are superb! And fried green tomatoes as a side. 

  Greg gets a Sea Monster Po'boy, which has grouper, shrimp and scallops on it!  

There are two seafood processing places next door and this mountain of shells.

 From here we take 65N toward some State Forest campgrounds.  But shortly we leave the paved road to follow a sign to the Ralph Kendrick Dwarf Cypress Boardwalk.  Never heard of Dwarf Cypress trees before but there are lots of them in the few acres around the boardwalk.

I think of swamp water being murky and yucky, but this seems to be clear and fresh.

 Leaving the boardwalk, we follow another sign to Rake Creek campground which is one of the ones mentioned on Campendium in Tate's Hell State Forest.  It consists of 1 picnic table, 1 fire ring and 2 cleared sites.  The self-pay kiosk is history, but it seems a terrific spot. 

 There is a small stream behind us and a short walk to a river.  Not sure which is Rake Creek. 

 Beautiful sunset.  Quiet night.