Tuesday we went to the Equestrian campground and found that only four of the sixteen tables there had been scrubbed and power-washed. Before we started sanding we headed deep into the hammock to locate the orange trees. There are three wild orange trees, probably 30 feet tall. All of the lower branches have been picked clean, but we had our step ladder and extension picker. We picked three bags – probably three dozen or a more. Some are okay for eating but mainly they are good for squeezing into juice.
During dinner we were entertained by several musicians. There was a banjo, fiddle and guitar and it was enjoyable. Latter Charlie stopped by with another five gallons of Thompson’s so guess when we are done cleaning those other eleven we will be coating them.
When we got ready for bed, there was a very bright light at the rear of the bathhouse. It looked a little like a small light house – white tent/Tepee bottom and this very bright light on top. On Wednesday we learned it was ‘moth-ers’…..did not know there were people out there who like moths and take pictures of them. Apparently that light attracts them to the white tepee and they photograph them. In the office they were all excited to show Paul, the biologist, all the great pictures of moths they had taken.
Judy spent Wednesday working in the office – not one of her favorite things to do. Natalie is showing her some things and she is helping out. She has inventoried all the stuff for sale, completed the gas/mileage usage sheets on each vehicle for February and has been answering the phone. Meanwhile Jon has been busy power-washing picnic tables in the equestrian campground. Today he completed six and has but five more to do, if the rain holds off. Thursday’s forecast is calling for isolated and scattered (yes that’s what it says) thunder showers nearly all day.
Have not mentioned the wildlife but maybe that’s because we are used to it. Along Peevine Road, the main road into the park, there is a small mother alligator with a number of babies. Ruthann took a picture and counted nine sets of little eyes. The mother looks to be no more that five feet long, a young mother. And along the south side of Military Trail between the office and the equestrian section a small one can be seen in a mud hole. We think this one will be moving on soon as the water is beginning to dry up. Nearly every night and sometimes early in the morning the coyote are going at it. Sometimes it is just howling and others it is yipping as they run across the prairie. Of course we also have seen lots of turkey buzzards (though not nearly as large as their Texas cousins), crows, Caracara and many of those little shrub nesting birds in the palmetto. There is a burrowing owl with a nest along the main road, but it is in a pasture with cows and several donkeys and is hard to spot. We will have to make a trip out to several of the sloughs and see what is there too.
Well the weather guys were right. Thursday started out sunny but clouds were building in the NW. Weather dot com indicated that the rain would not hit our area until about 11. Judy headed off to the office and Jon loaded up the power-washer and headed to the equestrian campground where there were five more tables to clean. It was a good thing he packed his old shelter half (military rain poncho) as at 9:15 the skies opened and it poured. Though it rained for nearly four hours, the rain gages only collected a half an inch. Late in the day Jon finished the tables and Judy completed unpacking Charlie’s office goods. They had packed everything up to remodel the offices late last year and just never got them unpacked.
As we are to man the park booth at the Speckled Perch Festival on Saturday, after putting numbers on the electrical boxes in the equestrian we decided to have some fun. Shortly before noon we headed to Sebring to look for a couple of items and have a late lunch. Judy needed a 5/16” furl or sleeve and some thread material to tackle the pine needle weaving and Jon needed some socks. We also needed to find a special florescent bulb for our reading lamp. We accomplished it all and even stopped by a Sweet Bay Market and picked up a few grocery items.
We had only been back a bit when in the northeast sky you could see this long and wide contrail with a shinning dot at its head. We watched as the dot separated from the contrail and moved further into space. Checking the internet we discovered that it was a military launch form Cape Carnival sending a new GPS satellite into orbit – an impressive sight. Almost forgot that on Wednesday we were sitting in the Greystone having lunch when we heard two loud booms and the trailer actually shook some – it was the shuttle coming back in for a landing.
We completed our tour as booth watchers for the park’s booth at the annual Speckled Perch Festival. It was an interesting four hours as we meet some folks from all over, including Louisville, Ohio. We were surprised at the number of folks that live in Okeechobee that did not know of the park’s existence. A highlight of the booth was an alligator skull. It came from a ‘gator found dead near Gum Slough near the north park border. There were no signs of trauma and the park staff is not certain what caused its death. The mud hole he used had dried up, but that was not why he died. By the measurement from the nostrils to the eye socket the length figured to be between 11 ½ and 12 feet – a big one for sure.
This is the preserved skull on the display table.
Judy waiting for more ‘customers’ to walk by.
As the park will be full all week, Sunday we had to do a little work. We had three tables to sand and coat in the main campground and coat the two near the visitor center. We managed to get all but one done in the campground. So we this next week will be finishing up the tables in the equestrian area and then work on tightening up tops, legs and benches using deck screws and bolts.
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