Tarklin Bayou Preserve State Park

A few more photos from the Florida trip last month....

We had a great hike out at Tarklin Bayou Preserve State Park one afternoon.

Looking up!


Pretty flowers!


Cool boardwalk trail.


A type of pitcher plant - they're carnivorous!


Trees.


The bayou!

Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida

Jon and I also visited the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida. It wasn't a huge operation and it was right in the center of town. But they care for a lot of injured birds and some mammals too. It seemed like a really great organization and they really cared for the animals.

Hard to see behind the cage, but a cute little owl!


An albino vulture!!


Jon's not quite as big as a bald eagle!


A very silly goose!


Jon is the goose whisperer!! I don't know what it is with him and birds...


Pelican!


Pelican hangout.


We arrived during feeding time, and boy was that interesting! Pelicans are serious about fish!! The poor girl was nearly mauled!




THE SWARM.


Thievery!


Fight!!




The heron and muscovy look on with desire... and also disdain for the pelicans!


A very cool place to visit!

Memorial Park

One afternoon in Pensacola we visited Memorial Park where they have The Wall South. Memorial Park has different memorials for WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and missing children. The Wall South is a similar wall to the one in Washington DC with the names of Vietnam vets who died in the war. It was a gloomy day and was all pretty moving.

Dad and Jon checking out the Vietnam era Marine helicopter.


A view of The Wall South.


Up close.


WWI memorial.


Korea.


WWII.


Memorial for soldiers who earned a Purple Heart.


Memorial for missing children.

Fun

Some random pics from Pensacola that are just funny!

Graffiti

"Sara <3's (loves) Ben"
response:
"Sara's prego Ben

Jon's future boat. You hve to love the band Rush to understand.


Jon finds an internet meme!


The sun blinds me!!

Birds

Some of the many birds in downtown Pensacola!!



Just a couple of great blue herons!


The odd couple.



Jon creeps up on birds.


Again.

Running on the beach

Jon and I are training for the Illinois Marathon (relay) race coming up in May, so we kept up our running while in Florida and got a lovely change of scenery!! We jogged long Johnson's Beach on Perdido Key. This is the same beach we camped on last year.

Go Jon go!!




Love the Sea Oats!!!!


After our run we walked the nature trail on the beach.

An osprey nest with two adults! I don't know how to identify many birds, especially ones not in Illinois, but I know osprey from my time at Mono Lake.

Fort Barrancas

One of the sites we visited in Pensacola was Fort Barrancas, which is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. This fort was used by the Spanish, British, and US & Confederate armies throughout the 1700 & 1800s to guard the entrance to Pensacola Bay.

The Fort's dry moat.


The Fort's one and only entrance.


Inside.


The parts of the Fort that the Spanish built called the Water Battery.








Lots of cool arches throughout the Fort.

Pensacola, FL

Jon and I went to Pensacola, Florida last week, along with my Dad, to see my little sister Megan's softball tournament with Parkland College. We went last year (here, here, and here) and had a great time, so definitely had to go this year as well!

We had a great time and visited many cool sites. I feel I know the Pensacola area like the back of my hand!


Megan getting ready to bat.


The star pitcher. Usuall not a belly itcher.


Here's Meg and Dad at The Surf Burger on Pensacola Beach.


Here is our adorable condo at the Purple Parrot!
Living room.


Dining room.


Bedroom.


Ladder to Dad's loft.


View from the loft.