After church, lunch, eagle watching and naps, we set forth to visit a beach preserve near Bonita Springs, about 30 minutes away. We arrived a little less than and hour before sunset and waded along the shore. The Gulf was definitely too cool for (us to go) swimming although the air temperature was in the low 70s.
Because the sun was low and the breeze light, we didn't need chairs or an umbrella. We set up on one of Doug's old quilts on the sugar-fine sand. Near the water, the beach comprises small shells. The backdrop is sea grape, planted to stop beach erosion.
Incoming tide means dinner for the shore birds. Several varieties of sandpipers and plovers would run into the surf to pick up a delicacy. Then they would run back on the beach, ahead of the under tow. Another post of the various birds and plants we saw on this vacation will appear sometime next week, after we get home.
The expanse of beach shows birds and people waiting for the sunset. The buildings in the background are high rise condos. We also drove through an exclusive residential area on the way to this beach. Few homes seemed occupied. We don't know if they are unsold, in foreclosure, or if the rich northern folks who own these "winter homes" just haven't arrived for The Season yet.
A new camera with a zoom lens and a sunset are an addictive combi- nation. But I kept trying to capture the light in the water as the waves broke on the beach, showing the progress of the sunset.
Sunsets on the Gulf move fairly quickly. This one began to light up the clouds nearby not long after we arrived. For a while, a sun dog was visible and the air took on a golden hue.
As it got closer to the time the fiery cauldron of sky and sea were about to peak, it was closer to the time we needed to pack up, since the preserve is closed at sunset, or 5:30 p.m. local time. It was getting close to time, so Norm went down to the water to wash the sand out of his shoes.
All in all, another perfect ending to a lovely day in Southwest Florida. Hard to believe we have to head North again in less than a day.
1 comment:
Thanks for a beautiful tour of Florida. I feel like I'm there (not really, it's 19 degrees here). Loved the eagle and the ocean. I think I'm ready for a vacation.
K
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