19 November 2021
On our way to south Florida, we stopped overnight at Pioneer Fiber Mill in New Smyrna Beach.
The owner walked us through the process of turning bags of raw wool from hobby farmers into useful, beautiful yarns.
After purchasing a blend of alpaca, merino, and silk yarn we parked next to a small shaded pond. Pioneer Fiber Mill is part of the Harvest Hosts* program.
Rested and ready for a different adventure we headed to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. This is the same island that houses Kennedy Space Center. If you have ever watched a NASA launch on TV and seen a wave of birds rising in the distance, those birds live in the wildlife refuge.
Across the bridge we entered the 140,000 acre National Wildlife Refuge. Blackpoint Wildlife Drive was reached shortly thereafter. The 7.8 mile drive winds through the refuge offering a slow (max speed 15) and easy way to see wildlife. Follow the link to the official info on the drive: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive.
A small alligator was our first sighting.
Water impoundments and prairie are an ideal habitat for migratory waterfowl.
Sighting some rare Blue-winged Teals was a treat.
The wildlife road was hard-packed sand and shells. It was smoother than the blacktop road.
Egrets were abundant.
Beth drove at a snail’s pace while I had the camera hanging out the window with the lens resting on a pool noodle.
Asking me to hand the camera across the cab, Beth had spotted this snake eating either another snake or an eel. I was impressed that she captured the action!
Storks were nesting in low trees.
This vulture startled me at one of the trailheads.
Herons, like this tri-colored, weren’t afraid of slow-moving camper vans.
This great blue heron was seeking protection from the ocean breeze.
Anhingas, like this one, have to dry their feathers before they can fly.
Here’s another Anhinga stretching in the sun.
An Osprey was enjoying a recent catch.
We only saw nine other vehicles during the course of our three hour drive. It is a wonderful expanse of wild Florida.
Two miles after the wildlife drive is the Visitor Center. Behind the center is a pond with a nice dock for bird watching. We spotted a huge alligator on the opposite side and determined it was a sculpture. When we looked at the photo, we realized it was real!
