Welcome 2013

I read the series of the Hunger Games awhile back and loved them.  We watched the movie last night and it was also great.  The second movie has already been produced but is not going to be released until next November.  Not sure why so long from now but you can watch the trailers on the internet already.

After the movie we watched the ball drop in Time Square and then Tom and I hit the pool for a midnight swim.  I have never had a swim at midnight on New Years Eve before.  Another thing off my bucket list.

Back in the pool this morning to get some exercise.  John and Judy headed off for a motorcycle cruise to check out some new areas.  When the returned they had a destination in mind for the afternoon...Gasparilla Island State Park.  It was a bit of a drive but well worth the time and the $6.00 they charged to drive over the bridge and causeway to the island.   Lots of beautiful houses on the island and the pretty town of Boca Grande.  One short lane way took my breath away.  The trees that lined this street were right out of the movie Avatar.  The pictures do  not do them justice.   The street is called Banyan Ave and the trees are Banyan Trees.  They can grown to be over 600 feet in diameter and 98 feet tall.  They are the national tree of India and worshiped by the Hindu.  Incredible!!

At the end of the island is the park.  Here is where in years gone by there was a rail line that came down to the shore to pick up the containers from ships.  The harbor there was the deepest in Florida until they dredged out Tampa Bay harbor.  After that the rails were removed, the piers taken down and it is now a bird sanctuary.

 The current that moves through this pass is extremely fast and very dangerous.  There is no swimming allowed along this stretch at all.

Some fisherman were busy along the shore.  One fellow caught this Bonnethead Shark.  It is the smallest of the hammerhead species.  He figures it was about 3 or 4 pounds. It is kind of cute.

Another fellow had caught a string ray.  These must be caught and released as they are protected in these waters.  The Park Ranger came along just in time to help remove the hook from the mouth of the ray and release him back into the water.

The ranger gave us some of the history of the area and told us about some of the animals and fish we could see here.  We did see lots of dolphins playing in the waves.

I managed to find a couple of small shark teeth on the beach.

John and Judy enjoying another day in paradise.

Until next time - safe travels.