We’d been working on the house solid for a week putting in a new wood floor and I was ready for an activity. We decided to see if we could make a loop out of the state park trails. We put our six month old baby in the big wheel Mongoose carrier and grabbed Will and Serena our two and six year olds and headed off. We put water and crackers in the carrier along with sunscreen and polar fleece.

The best walking and trail parking begins here at the South end of Rum Road. The parking lot and walking trail are just right of the house.

Soon we were on the thin trails leading south. Eventually there was no clear trail at all but we had gone far enough that we knew we must be near the Narrows, a thin part of the island that has beaches on both the gulf and sound sides. Sure enough we found the Pines that mark the gulf side beach and we were shortly putting on our jackets in the face of the cool gulf breeze.

Raccoon tracks in wet sand.

We took the opportunity to shell and look for treasures on the way back. It was a fine cool morning with deep blue skies. It was 20 below in Minnesota but 65 degrees here. A cool winter day for here and fine for walking.

Sunset is always a good time for a walk. If it is warm wear pants or use bug spray for the noseeums.

Low tide in the mangroves reveals the shelly muck underneath.

A friend found a black snake which is quite friendly compared to corn or garter snakes. We handled it very gently and then returned it to where we found it. They help keep the rodents from overcoming us.

Gopher tortoise eye to eye.

When beach walking after rough weather you may find a crab trap washed ashore.

Sea urchins. In a while they will lose their spikes and show just their shell.

Oleander. Pretty but nonnative.

You don't have to walk far to see a mahogany tree as there is one in our yard. It's the wrong climate for them here but this one still survives.

Coffee Plant.

Cabbage Palm and Sea Oats.

Strange. Insects on siding. If you know what they are email me.