A Southern Girl in Yankeetown, Florida

We have come up and down U.S. Highway 98 many a time and I have long been curious about a sign pointing to Yankeetown. Last weekend, we decided to take a little wander and see what was down the road. There are several signs along the road, including the one below. 

Below is the bridge.

There is a sign that even directs you to the "beach," which I would call a stretch. You are definitely at the coast and where the water meets the land is technically the beach, but this looked more like our panhandle shore than what I think of as a beach. 

It was cold, clear, windy and beautiful. 

I read that the name came from the many yankees that came to the area to fish and hunt.

Speaking of names: this truck was in the parking lot. What else could the man do with a name like Fisher?

 The word was the big tarpon were in around some of the docks in Crystal River. Our son and family saw them the next day. There are vacation rentals available in the area, but you might have to choose your time. The Yankeetown school that serves PreK -8th grade, is home to the Mighty Sandgnats.

Mailbox Monday: Big Bird

Great Egret

 This great egret patiently posed on a bridge rail for me to take a few shots as it considered the option of fishing in the creek below.

What a beauty!

Avocets

These American avocets were wading around in one of the shallow pools at the lighthouse last week. They are such elegantly striking birds that they are hard to miss. They summer and nest in western states and into Canada, and fly to southern coasts for the winter. One interesting fact I read is that when they have finished mating, the pair entwine their necks and run together. One-day-old avocet chicks can swim, walk, and even dive to escape predators.

BIG Bull Gator

B and I made a few runs to the lighthouse over the holidays. On Christmas Day, this huge bull gator was sunning on the bank very close to the road near the boat ramp.

If you click on the picture below, you can see the fine lines of cobwebs that criss-cross his head.  He had either been there for a while or that was some fast-working spider. Maybe it helps keep the sand gnats out of his eyes.

Cool tail, too.

Open House at the Lighthouse

Last Saturday was second time that B and I had been inside the lighthouse at St. Marks. It is only open on rare occasions. And truly it is not open to climb the tower, but only tour the keeper's cottage.

In this room below, you can see the base of the tower that is the entrance to the winding stairs. Signage relates some of the stories of the families who have lived here over the 100 plus years that it was occupied.

The lighthouse was constructed in 1842.  The 1867 Fresnel lens was removed by crane this past November and sent for cleaning and restoration. 

In its place stands a simple conifer.

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