In the past few months, rumors of closing the park have circulated.  Citing a reduction in the county budget, members of the Pinellas County Board of Commissioners are considering closing the park.

A survey was conducted and a vast majority of visitors to the park would be willing to pay to see the park remain open in its natural state.

It is rare to find natural Florida available so close to developed areas. After it is gone, it is gone forever.

Do what you can to keep the preserve natural!

Objective: The Brooker Creek Nature Preserve located in Tarpon Springs, FL is about 7 miles long and 1.5 miles wide. It is a full 8500 acres of undeveloped land surrounded by rapid suburban development. The Brooker Creek Nature Preserve is labeled as a wilderness area. Wilderness areas have been designated ever since 1964 when the Wilderness Act passed, protecting these undisturbed lands by law. Due to the million deficit this year, Pinellas County may close down the preserve, thereby exposing the Brooker Creek watershed to the environmental damages caused by urban development. All life depends on water, keeping the watershed clean is vital to keeping the ecosystem healthy. All life is connected to each other through the common need and use of the watershed, which is a big indicator of water quality. The Brooker Creek watershed is the only stream that flows into Lake Tarpon. Without the preserve, urban sprawl would certainly spread to the area, degrading the land and polluting the water eventually making it ecologically unsustainable and greatly lowering the biodiversity. Many endangered species and larger animals that are rare in the rest of Florida, are in abundance at the preserve. Bobcats, coyotes, gopher tortoise, otters and wild turkey live in the preserve. As do the endangered air plants like orchids and animals like the Bachmans sparrow. There is not normally enough undeveloped land in the Eastern United States to support such a large and diverse wildlife …

Weeki Wachee Springs is best known for the aquatic show featuring Mermaids. Early explorers, months away from females, often mistook the Manatees that populate the springs and the river with legendary Mermaids of myth. The show at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park began in 1947 and has had its ups and down since then. The park, once a private enterprise, is now being maintained by the State of Florida Park System. With 538 acres, the park offers beaches, boat tours, which are included in the price of admission, picnicking, Scuba diving (divers must be accompanied by an instructor from the dive shop), snorkeling, and swimming. For those without boats, the park offers canoe and kayak rentals. This is a great way to explore the river for those visiting the area or those who prefer a leisurely paddle downstream.

Our trip that day began at Rogers Park located at 7244 Shoals Line Blvd. in Spring Hills. The park includes a sand beach and swim area. An observation deck to watch for Manatees is positioned near the river. Two launch areas are provided by the park, one for motorized boats and one near the park entrance for canoes and kayaks.

After launching, head toward the main river and turn right. This will take you toward the headwaters and the main spring. Weeki Wachee River is darker at this point, due to run off and tannins, that are created by the cypress tree needles that drop into the water. These tannins create the copper color tainting the river.
Paddling east toward the spring head, the water becomes clearer and the flow is more pronounced. It can be difficult to make headway against the current especially during the low tide, when the water is being pulled out to the Gulf of Mexico.

Canopy along the bank of the Weeki Wachee River

During our trip, we encountered several Manatees in the river. Manatees , also known as sea cows, can usually be found in the river until late March or early April. Though the 72 degree water may seem cold to you, it is far warmer than the Gulf of Mexico in the winter months. In order to escape the cold waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Manatee travel up the rivers created by the Florida aquifer. This year has been particularly rough on the sea cows, due to the unusual and extremely cold weather that Florida has experienced. There were a record number of Manatee deaths affecting an already stressed and decreasing population.

Weeki Wachee River by Gregory Colvin Photography

I had heard that the river was crowded on weekends, which is when we visited, but there was not a large crowd the day when we made our journey upriver.

After a day of paddling on the river you may want to get a bite to eat at the Upper Deck Restaurant, just over the bridge from the park. The beer is cold and we enjoyed the chicken tenders. I might warn you that the potato skins were over cooked. We did not sample the entrees, so I can’t advise either way on those.

The canoe and kayak rental next door has also a small art gallery featuring local artists and is worth a stop and browse.
For a more intense paddling experience, put in at Bay Port, a nearby historic park, and head east toward the headwaters.

Whatever you choose, Weeki Wachee is well worth a visit.

Planning travel to Costa Rica?  Tortuguero National Park is a destination that I can and would recommend.

Tortuguero National Park is more of a preserve than a national park.  A park ranger once explained to me the difference between a park and a preserve.  In a park, if a raccoon were to attempt to steal your food while picnicking, the raccoon would be moved. In a preserve if the raccoon were to attempt to steal your food, then you would be removed. In this preserve, you would probably substitute a monkey instead of a raccoon.

The park is result of the efforts of Dr. Archie Carr, Joshua B. Powers and John H. Phipps. Dr. Archie Carr, who received his doctorate from the University of Florida, had done extensive research on sea turtles. His researches lead him to write the book “The Windward Road”. This book documents the plight of the sea turtle as it travels from its nesting grounds and then its return to the same beach to laid its eggs. This cycle continues throughout the turtle’s life.  Through the work of these men and many who assisted them, they laid the foundation for the creation of the Tortuguero National Park.

As I prepared to write this article, fresh from a trip to the park I received the latest edition of the newsletter, Velador, from the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, which was founded to protect sea turtles and their habitats.  The CCC has recently celebrated the 100^th birthday of Dr. Archie Carr. Being slightly younger than me the CCC is in its 50^th year. Time flies when you’re having fun.

To arrive at our jumping off point at the marina at Parismina, we travel by bus on dirt roads. Pasting the homes of the locals, many of these were what are called shotgun houses in New Orleans, because you could shoot a shot through the front door and not hit anything as the buckshot cleared the back door. I was surprised to see how many lacked a front door, but had a blanket covering the entrance. Those residents we did see usually waved enthusiastically.  Tourism has become what the turtle trade and logging was not that many years ago, a source of income. English lessons are advertised almost everywhere. I am be wrong, but everyone appears to be eager to secure a position in tourist trade.

Our stay in the preserve began by river ferry.  We left from the quaint ferry station in Parismina, where you buy a little of everything. I chose the ice cream bar.

A series of canals lace the landscape and were created by the almost 200 inches of rain yearly, and by plan. Traveling by boat in the Caribbean can be risky and these canals were created as a safer alternative to the ocean.

I have always loved traveling by waterborne vessels and these were beamy and fast. Being open to the air, you can experience the rivers and canals very up close and personal and may get wet.

Leaving Parismina, the landscape is open grazing fields, with cattle on banks that have been eroded banks by the flow of the river.

Later you enter the rain forest areas or jungles. From time to time, I saw iguanas scurrying along the banks and could hear the distance sound of howler monkeys in the tree tops.

On our trip, the day was clear and dry. Arriving, we checked into the Laguna Lodge Tortuguero

Being on a tour, we ran into the tour group traveling a day ahead. A new friend, we met at the airport in San Jose, who was with this tour group, told us that when they arrived, it was raining and had just stopped that afternoon, prior to our arrival.

After placing our luggage in the room, we walked around the grounds.  The hotel is feast to the senses.  A hobbit looking building serves as the reception center and gift shop, the restaurant and bar is open air and located over the river.  The rooms are Spartan and for me, very comfortable, no air conditioning, or televisions, or radios. Creating for me one of the best places that I have ever stayed the night and we were staying two nights!!

After enjoying the pool and of course the pool bar, we went back to our room. On each porch are two rocking chairs. The porch of each room is large enough to shelter guests from rain with its overhanging roof. The construction of the block of rooms is a crawlspace design, permitting the air to flow under the rooms and the windows can remain open due to the overhanging roof covering the windows. The breeze from the Caribbean was our air conditioning system.

Then the rains returned.  For many travelers, the rain would be an inconvenience or a disaster, but we found it somehow comforting.  Walking to dinner was not uncomfortable, kind of an adventure.  Before dinner a local group of musicians performed during happy hour.  Our tour guide told us they also perform at the local disco. Disco, in Costa Rica, is what they call a night club.

Umbrellas were provided by the Lodge and after dinner we strolled back toward the room in the rain. Jan wanted to see the beach. If you haven’t been to a beach without the hundreds of lights from a major city, I will tell you now that a beach in a preserve at night is dark, very dark. The sands of Tortuguero are a dark brown and the only way to tell where the Caribbean water starts are the breaking whitecap waves. The waves could blanket the sound of an approaching jaguar, which our guide assured us stalks these jungles. You can bet I was watching.

The rain continued. It was steady. It beat a constant rhythm on the roof, on the overhang and on the ground outside the windows.  It was a siren song for sleep and it had been a long time since I had slept so soundly. Combine that with the sounds of the birds and insects that added their songs to the evening serenade and those two nights of sleep were worth the entire trip.

During the day, tours were conducted by guides who had grown up on the banks of the rivers and canals and knew the area by heart leading us to where we could spot the local animals. Though it continued to rain, it added a sense of adventure to these river treks. Anybody can go out when it’s dry.

In the afternoon we visited the Turtle Museum and after watching the video presentation, adopted a beautifully green sea turtle which we keep in the bathtub. Seriously, you can adopt a sea turtle and help with the work of the CCC in protecting the turtles. Contact the Caribbean Conservation Corporation at www.cccturtle.org or call 352-373-6441 to donate.

We then strolled through the village and observed the local school house, open air, of course, browsed the stores and purchased local clothing and crafts.

Personally I was sorry to leave the Laguna Lodge and would like to take the room and the rain home.

Laguna Lodge Tortuguero

http://www.lagunatortuguero.com/

Though we only stayed three nights, the city enchanted me. Probably the choice of hotels helped. A stay at the Hotel Modera is a treat. The décor is artistic, clean and European. The rooms are very comfortable and appointed with fine art and extremely comfortable beds. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. We were always greeted with a smile. Collin at the front was a fountain of information on where to go and what to do around town. The lobby is large and open, filled with art and spaces to relax and people to watch. This is easy to do with the floor to ceiling glass walls and glass doors. Just outside the lobby is a common area that contains a living wall. The wall is decorated with vegetation that grows on the side of the wall, across from which are the outdoor fire pits. It was a treat to sit by the fire, put up your feet, enjoy a cocktail and talk with fellow guests. A perfect ending to a perfect day. Hotel Modera http://www.hotelmodera.com/boutique-hotel-portland-oregon.aspx Of course a visit to Portland would not be complete without a visit to wine country and the beaches. You can easily combine the trip. It takes about an hour and a half to drive to the coast, but it is worth the drive. It will take a little longer if you stop at the wineries for wine tasting. It would take a lifetime to sample from all the wineries, but what could be better. Portland is a college town and it of course means inexpensive restaurants and great places. One that we visited was McMenamins Pub East 19^th Street Café near the campus of the University of Oregon. It has a laid back atmosphere. While we were there we met fellow Floridians from Key West who own a condominium in Portland. http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=15&category=Location%20Homepage Getting around Portland’s downtown is free thanks to the trolleys and buses provided by the city. Coming from an area where either you drive or stay home, it was welcome thing to experience. A trip to a different town would not be complete without eating at a landmark restaurant and Jake’s is just such a place. The menu is seafood and it is good. Though the tables were a little close together for my taste, we solved that by staying in the bar area. A better place to watch the people. http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/locations/portland-oregon/portland-oregon/swtenthave.aspx Ghosts and pizza! You get them both at Old Town Pizza in – you guessed it – the Old Town section of Portland.  The rumor has it that Nina, a prostitute turned states informer, was found dead in what is now the pizzeria, thrown down the elevator shaft. There is a table in the shaft. It is said that Nina herself carved her name in the brick. Ask a waitress and she can point it out. The city of Portland has a great deal to explore and I will probably revisit some on the other attractions with you in a later blog. http://oldtownpizza.com/Home.html If you want additional information you can visit: travel Portland http://www.travelportland.com/

We found out about this organization through a friend who is a member.

Who and what is Friendship force? The Friendship Force website describes itself this way:

“Friendship Force International (FFI) is a worldwide network of clubs (local chapters) and individuals that advance our mission of promoting global understanding across the barriers that separate people. We do this by connecting people from different countries at the personal level. When local hosts open their homes to visitors from other countries and cultures, true understanding can develop through the sharing of meals, conversation and the routines of daily life. Since its founding in 1977 FFI has brought together millions of people. In 2007 alone, 5767 friendship ambassadors traveled between 58 countries, with thousands more serving as hosts. Our mission, structure and activities are described in our website: www.thefriendshipforce.org “.

Have you ever visited a foreign country and wondered how the people live and what a typical day is like for them? Or what it looked like inside their homes? Or what do they eat for dinner? These questions are answered in the friendship force because the idea is for members to allow visitors from other groups to stay in their homes for up to a week. This is called hosting. The hosting members provide meals and take the guests to places of interest that reflect the local culture and activities that they and their families enjoy.

As an example our local group visited the Washington state Friendship Force of Lower Columbia. While there we visited the Kalama Marina Park on the Columbia River where there are two giant totem poles and the host group provided a potluck dinner. We attended a lecture at the Lelooska Long House a Native American ceremonial lodge. Picnicked at Ecola Park at Cannon Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean and sea stacks, a must see if visiting the area. The view is breath taking. The host group arranged a steamboat ride on the Columbia River followed by a stop at Multnomah Falls and Bonneville Dam. The final day was visit to Mt. St. Helens volcano visitors’ center. While we there we had an opportunity to dine with the host families and their friends and came away with friends we would never had met if we hadn’t joined the Friendship Force.

The cost usually is a fee to the hosting group through headquarters in Atlanta and that might include airfare or you may have to make your own arrangements and each visitor pays for one dinner for the host family. It’s a bargain with a purpose. By living with the host family you get a feel for how people in other countries or states live. It promotes understanding and goodwill.

One upcoming trip is to Koriyama and Kyoto Japan with includes a seven night home stay and ten night post tour. This trip includes airfare and hotels. For more on this tour visit the Friend Force website:

www.thefriendshipforce.org.

All and all it is a win/win, less expensive travel opportunities and the chance to make new friends in the far corners of the world.

This blog is dedicated to all things travel. During my travels if I find a restaurant, park, trail, cruise or anything odd or interesting I will pass it along.

The blog is two way street, if you know something of interest about a destination please pass it along.

We can discuss budget travel and deals. Everyone needs those these days.