With 2012 finally here it is our last chance to prove the Mayan Prophecy is incorrect. But we can only do so if we make it past December 21, 2012. So just in case the Mayans were on to something we decided that 2012 should be the year we enjoy life to its fullest. It will help that we are both already retired and living full time in our Tiffin Motorhome. It also helps that we are in southwestern Florida at the turn of the new year with a forecast of 80 degrees …
To start off the new year we decided we would spend the first day of 2012 at the beach. Thus, we headed towards Fort Myers Beach until we came to Lovers Key State Park. We passed the main park entrance and drove until we got to the northern end of the park where there is a dirt parking lot on the left side of the road just before the drawbridge entering the town of Fort Myers Beach. From here you can enter the state park for a $2.00 per person entry fee which gives you access to the park for the day. The park is part preserve for a nice sea oats dune community and has a long expanse of beautiful white sandy beaches for the public to enjoy either by sunbathing or by fishing from the shoreline.
This part of the park entry is near a ship cut and there is a fine soft white sandy beach along the channel. A short walk towards the Gulf of Mexico will take you to the end of the channel to a wider beach on the gulf. There were lots of of boaters out this day. This beach is actively eroding as can be evidenced by the dead and uprooted trees all along the shore. These trees make the scenery a bit eerie but are quite photogenic.
The brittle starfish were plentiful in the surf and even a few dolphins were spotted just off shore. The beaches were pretty crowded since it was a weekend, and a holiday weekend at that, but that didn’t stop the ospreys from snagging an occasional mullet from the surf to take back to their nests to feed their adolescent children.
We really enjoyed this day at the beach and since there is a strong cold front heading our way we stayed out most of the day in the surf and the sun. With Tuesday overnight low temperatures being forecast in the 30’s on the way we will probably make one more run into the everglades today before we leave Bonita Lake Resort…
At least we had a grand start to 2012 and hopefully the best is yet to come for us and for all of you… Happy New Year!!!
Looks nice and warm enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteDuring the last century alone there have been dozens of predictions of the end of the world.
ReplyDeleteThey all have one thing in common.
None of them came true.
Love the photos. So glad you two rang in the new year on a beautiful, sunny beach! Wishing the a wonderful and Blessed New Year!
ReplyDeleteA great way to begin a new year, on the beach!
ReplyDeleteThat's my idea of starting the new year right! You can never spend too much time at the beach :)
ReplyDeleteThe perfect way to ring in the New Year in my opinion. So smart of you to get out there before the cold front. We'll be down there in a week or so. Hope the cold is gone by then.
ReplyDeleteSherry
www.directionofourdreams.blogspot.com
Love reading about your Florida adventures. I haven't figured out how to be everywhere at once yet, so am appreciating where I am at the moment, but still still still want to spend a winter in Florida.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place to start your New Year. We head to Florida soon..cant wait.
ReplyDeleteHappy 2012 to you and yours!
Very cool pictures! Such a nice warm sunny place to be for New Years day. Have a wonderful 2012, and we'll enjoy following your adventures here on the blog.
ReplyDeleteWhat a splendid way to spend the first day of the year.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a VERY good start to a great year!
ReplyDelete