Nature Walk May 18th 2012

I planned on walking May 17th, but during the evening. However, it rained so I stayed in and did pilates instead. Since I am a day behind in blogging, I thought to share my walk on May 18th. A beautiful day with a little breeze.

I took my husband to work and ran some errands which took me about an hour. I returned home thinking I could read some business emails before my walk. An hour later, I was off for my brisk walk towards Sykes Creek. I left the house at 1:45 p.m. and picked up my pace at 4mph for my 2 mile walk.

There didn't seem to be any birds out. I guess the heat kept them hidden. I guess so, since it is the middle of the day. I was doing well walking fast and only stopping a few times to take pictures. The other three times because of bicyclists. I took pictures of these toad stools on May 16th on our first walk. They look different. Almost turned inside out. Best side view I could get.

Top view of the toad stool

The other toad stool is growing straight out

I continue walking towards Sykes Creek bridge and on a roll when I hear a small voice behind me say, "excuse me". As I turn around to see an elderly gentleman riding his bike at full speed coming at me. I moving quickly off his path. I look to see if it is clear to walk, it is and I continue. I reach the bridge and look down at the murky water. Schools of fish just swimming around

Just keep swimming.....

a lot of tiny fish

I thought, enough clowning around and get walking.... I reach Wal-greens and turn back around. I glance down the side walk and I don't see any one... I head back towards the bridge, which barely fits two people walking side by side. I am too busy looking out at this huge creek that I don't notice a bicyclist coming my way, until I looked up. He was approaching quickly, I thought am I suppose to jump off the rail? or squeeze myself up against the rail? or wedge myself between the rails?. Instead I stopped stood side ways so that he can continue to cycle. I was a bit surprise that there was not a thank you said. As I smiled and said, have a nice day. I was adjusting the way I was holding my water bottle, when I look up and see a bicycle handle a few inches away from my arm coming from behind me. I didn't hear the young man, nor did he say excuse me. I took a quick side step so he had room to ride. I looked up and said I am sorry. He said, OH, no problem. I guess I might stick to walking on the beach so that I am not plummeted by bicyclist... I should have taken a picture of the bridge side walk. At least the side walk is wider.

It was a nice day to walk.....started walking at 1:45 p.m. home at 2:22 p.m. walk at 4mph

Nature Walks

Wednesday May 16th, 2012 - Blog was delayed. I had to wait to down load (800) pictures from my mobile to my PC.Since relocating we have not been eating healthy or exercising. We thought we would take control and start watching what we eat. I was under the weather on May 10th -14th, and unable to do much of anything let alone exercise. We thought a good walk would do us both good, and to get back to our ole routine. My husband walks a lot at work, and I sit at a desk read and answer emails, list items in our online store, knit/crochet, and design jewelry, when I am not making orders for our online stores.We decided to have a nice 2 mile walk this (Wednesday May 16th 2012) morning before my husband had to work that afternoon. We started about 9:00 a.m. and got done around 10:45 a.m. A brisk walk would not have taken so long, but I had to stop and take pictures of the beauty around me.Here is a weed I noticed with huge thorns!

I didn't have my mobile camera ready so I missed taking a picture of a hawk sitting on top of a building. As we cross the busy intersection and past the car lots, my husband notices these fungus among us ;)

This toad stool looked more interesting to me.

The morning was sunny and the clouds were enormous. You could feel the humidity in the air, and let me say there was not even a hit of any type of breeze. we continued our walk, and we saw many lizard running about on the rocks. We neared Sykes Creek ready to cross the bridge when we saw this great blue herron standing perched on one leg with his back facing us.

Looking down at the murky creek you can see that the area we were looking at was shallow. You could see many types of fish, I couldn't even name any of them. There were small schools of fish to medium size schools of fish. Fish jumping out of the water. It was fun to watch to say the least. As we continued to crossed the bridge we see this fella drying his wings out..Double crested Cormorant -back

Double crested Cormorant -front - We are now off the bridge taking the picture of the front view of this bird.

I thought this scene of the creek was calming. There were no boats out yet.

We reach Wal-greens, threw our water bottles away and head back. The double crested cormorant feathers must have dried because when we came back he was gone. As we continue across the bridge we stopped at the same place to watch the fish swim in the shallow part of the creek. There was a lot more activity in the water this time. A lot more bigger fish. Jeff said, do you see the crab moving sand? It took me a moment to see the crab. The crab would grab a claw full of sand, walk out and dump it away form his home then scurry back, and repeat what he was doing unitl he was finished digging his hole. We watched the crab until he was done digging then hid himself. The great blue herron was still there, but facing us this time.

Sykes Creek

Here is a white Ibis bird which most people call Egret. Flew right in front of us and landed.

These beautiful flowers were all over the rocks.

On our street there is a house that has a dead palm tree that has a red bellied woodpecker that lives there. You can see his head peeking out. He hid when we came up the street.