Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve

For the most part, my youth was spent playing with a black Labrador named Troy.  He and I romped the rugged coast of south Devon, England   Summer weekends were spent swimming around aggressive jags of rock which separated the long line of beach in to a fantasy of unique coves.  Troy, was a wonderful swimmer, how many times he saved me from being swept out with the tide, I can’t image.  My parents were pretty relaxed with monitoring my whereabouts; they had no idea the perils their 7 year old exposed herself to.  Once again, thank heaven for Troy.   Dogs are my everyday; feed the dogs, play with the dogs, talk to the dogs.  Recently we had to put Luna down, we are left now with Foster Noodle Brown and Pluto.  As you may have may have read in a previous blog, exploring new places to take the dogs is a favorite way to spend a morning.

Today; Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve, This park I refer to is along Highway 40, Yankeetown; the “follow that dream parkway” (yes – Elvis put Yankeetown on the map way back when).  Easy parking, by virtue of the fact that few people take advantage of the beautiful resource.  A boardwalk curves around a small lake, owned by a blue bird – maybe a heron – .  A natural lawn carpets broad trails leading through pines, then live oaks and then out to cross a marshy causeway.  Needle grass is tinged black from brine and a three story observation deck looks proudly out over the estuary.   At the end of the causeway is an island of sorts, a spooky forest, stunted trees, low hanging branches shrouded with nets of Spanish moss.  And then a jetty with a small square for a floating dock.

Mudflats and thirsty oysters at low tide.  High tide and  a bright white rising sunlight bounces off smooth water.   I love life here in Yankeetown, I love life here in America.  I feel so privileged to be a part of this country.