Rivers offer some of the best wild escapes. This winter we expanded our paddling horizons, exploring a number of new creeks in the Venice area. We found a peaceful retreat from the urban communities that line the coast. On our paddles we always encountered wildlife including a variety of birds - egrets, blue herons, ibis, wood storks...
We also bumped into a number of Alligators, some pretty good size.
Check out the gator just off Lori's left shoulder. You're seeing only the tip of the iceberg. There's lots of tail under water. Fortunately gators are rarely aggressive and the close encounters are usually uneventful.
We did a number of fun three to four hour paddles. Each providing a glimpse into Florida's past, slow, peaceful and surprisingly wild.
We also found a couple of new hikes within a 5 to 10 minute drive of my Mom's condo. Here my sister Jody and I walk the Jelks Preserve.
It's possible to get away from the crowds at some of the Venice area beaches. We spent a few evening watching the sunset beachside. This afternoon we're off for a beach walk. With a bit of effort it's possible to find both wildlife and solitude even on Florida's coast.
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