Palmetto Trail

We walked a bit of the Palmetto Trail from the trailhead again today and I took too many photos as usual and now can't decide what ones to publish.  It is so beautiful and I want to share it so hang with me here, OK? (I will keep most of them small so remember that you can click on them at any time to see them larger with more detail)

As you know, this is my usual view - Kirby's back.  That is a good thing as today I spotted and swatted a big mosquito on his shoulder.  The mosquitoes were terribly thick.  We had sprayed repellent before leaving the camper and it did help.

This is just one of the areas where the mosquitoes are growing.

The ferns are growing wild everywhere.  Living most of my adult life in Southern California where ferns only grow in pots in an atrium I am continually delighted to see them in their natural state.

I love the boardwalks that get us over the bogs and marshes.

There are some areas where these waffle boards have been laid down to help hikers stay out of the wet. We will shortly come to really appreciate them!

This is one of my favorite spots on the trail.

This doesn't capture what I want too well but I hope you can feel the denseness of the forest.  It is true, you can't see the forest for the trees.

More delicate ferns.

OK, I can recall seeing this last year when we were here.  It is a mystery.  A tumble of broken bricks and mortar with some remaining foundation. Of course I want to solve the mystery or at least come up with a plausible story about it.  So, this is what we decided it used to be - a very well hidden illegal STILL!  Just a little Moonshine Maker!  What do you think it might have been?

 I love this forest!

Now the mud was coming and we were glad for the waffle boards.

This is where we had to turn around a few days ago because there was a total pond covering the trail.  Today the water had receded just enough to make it passable.

You can see the waffle board making our way easy over the muck.

Kirby held Jake close by because the other day when we were here, as we discussed a way around the water, we looked and there was Jake laying in it.  Ah, nice cool water!  Dogs!!

Finally we were completely thwarted in our attempt to get to the Intracoastal Waterway via the Palmetto Trail. Way too much mud and water.  We had to turn back again.

Isn't this little bridge charming?

Almost back home......just a few more ferns!