[at-l] Myakka State Park (OT)

[RoksnRoots at aol.com (RoksnRoots@xxxxxxx)]

           This area of semi-tropical woods surrounds the Myakka River east 
of Sarasota. Built by the CCC in 1935 it encompasses a large drainage and its 
accompanying uplands. Its area is 45 square miles containing nothing but wilds 
and some minor cabins and park facilities. The park came into being during 
MacKaye's heyday. 


       I set off from the trailhead just for a short walk to see what was 
there. Inside the gate was a pickup with a permit for backpacking. On the back 
was a conspicuous "Appalachian Trail Conference" decal. It was obviously someone 
going in for some camping. 

    If you are from the north the woods are a complete throw as far as trees 
and vegetation. The understory is palmetto thicket making and exotic palm leaf 
pattern everywhere you look. The canopy was only about 50-60 feet or so 
consisting of predominately live oak. Other trees tend to look similar, so 
distinguishing them would be difficult at a glance.

      The hot wet climate makes for an additional dimension of growth in the 
form of epiphytes, bromeliads, spanish moss, air plants, fungi etc. So the 
woods are basically draped in hanging growth everywhere you look. I would say the 
ratio of leaves to other growth on each tree is about 50%. 

      The trailbed was rutted like wild pigs had foraged on each side of the 
path. I'm not sure if it was pigs or local animals. Interspersed with the 
hardwood and sable palm forest are "prairies" of low-lying vegetation and grass. 
The growth is reminiscent of NE blueberry scrub flats, but upon closer 
inspection the members are fully semi-tropical with greater variety. 

      I only had an hour so I was lucky the light rain stopped and the warm 
sun shone through at sunset. This made the dripping bowers, bogs, and lakes 
light up in a tropical landscape accenting the wading birds -including 2 bright 
pink spoonbills. I also saw a large "cooter," which is a large fresh-water 
turtle. I think it was laying eggs by the side of the road. That says a lot about 
how the wildlife considers the park road. If the roadbank is raised, it is a 
good place to lay eggs. The turtle was bigger than a basketball. A large spider 
hung suspended over the park drive.

      On the jungly path a branch fell without wind. I was waiting for a 
large bird to fly off -but nothing. I picked the branch up thinking it was pine. 
What I though were long rows of healthy green long pine needles was actually a 
dead oak branch covered in epiphytes. This pretty much sums up the type of 
woods I was in. 

      A rainbow appeared over one of the prairies as I looked at the "Florida 
Trail" sign at a junction. Apparently this is a disconnected western branch 
to the Florida Trail. So, the FT could rightly be called a network. The main 
trail is over by Okeechobee. 

    
              It was 90* yesterday. Something to consider for those seeking 
some warm weather long distance backpacking...

          (Only 1 mosquito & and 1 deerfly)

 

      

    The interesting this