Day 6 Church service online and viewed Lake Okeechobee

 Today we "participated" in the New Life Fellowship service online.  It is certainly a different experience "attending" a church service when you are not with other believers in a house of God.  The worship time online is like viewing a beautiful, colorful sunset or sunrise by seeing a black and white pencil drawing of it.  

Our associate pastor, Arlen Stoltzfus wrapped up the Esther series.  So interesting -- the reversal that happened when Esther intervened to save the Jews from the destruction that Haman had schemed to bring about. The same destruction came upon Haman instead.  Pastor Arlen compared that to what Jesus did for us on the cross.  The cross in Roman times was a symbol of death and humiliation, but God's will was that the reverse happened and now it is a symbol of salvation and grace.

This afternoon we hunted around for an access point to be able to view Lake Okeechobee.  This time my online research led us astray and we drove half way around the lake before turning around and back tracked back up to the north end of the lake.  A nice young man at a gas station who called me "mam" --  gave us good directions. (Our young waiter at a Cuban cafe was polite like that too.)

                                                                                

                                 Lake Okeechobee on a hot -- 90 degrees -- spring day

                        

    

                                                                                    

A Cormorant drying its wings after diving under water (for 20 or more seconds at a time) to catch fish.

                                                                                    

This alligator was diving for a minute or so and then would pop up again.  It was a striped one instead of all black.

                                                                                    

These Cormorants enjoyed their perches on these posts.

                                                                                

A Great Blue Heron and an Anhinga with its mouth open -- at the edge of the lake in the reeds.

Tomorrow I think we are going to Highlands Hammock State Park.

Thanks for your comments!

                                                                          

Day 5 Restful morning then visited friends in Stuart, FL -- on the east coast of Florida

This morning we rested and puttered around the camper.  Then after lunch, we traveled to the east coast of Florida and visited with Dave and Joy Witmer in Stuart, FL.  Dave was the overseer of the Hope Net group of 4 churches of which our church -- New Life Fellowship was one.  It was great to meet Joy for the first time. We had good conversation, a lovely meal at a lively restaurant in Stuart and a quick stop at an Atlantic beach where they go.  I loved the scriptures, pictures and mottos throughout their condo -- below are 2 that were in their guest bathroom!       

                                                                            

Driving to the east coast, we went through this tunnel of trees on a scenic highway -- Rt 714

   

                                                                            

Our waiter was kind enough of take a picture of us with Dave and Joy Witmer

                                     The scripture verse is a little hard to make out in this photo:  

                                    "Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,

                                      Mightier than the breakers of the sea ---

                                      The Lord on high is mighty."

                                                                              Psalm 93:4 

                                                                                    

                                                      God is so good to us!

                                    

Day 4 Everglades National Park then to new rv park at Lake Okeechobee

 Everglades national park -- an amazing place!  And seniors get in free -- to all national parks --  with the senior national park pass.  Saved $30 entrance fee today!

We went on 2 trails in the park today -- the first one is called "Pa-hay-Okee" trail which means "grassy waters"                                    

                                            The Pa-Hay-Okee Trail head

                                                                                    

                                                            A young cypress tree -- lots of them here

                                                                                    

                                                This "grassy waters" area is a the Shark River Slough (pronounced similar to "plow") which is 8 MILES WIDE.  Interesting to read about -- see above.  It had a quiet beauty about it.

                                                                                    

                                                    We are sitting in our camper right now very near Lake Okeechobee which used to be the main source of the water for the Everglades traveling over 150 miles.  Now the Everglades depends on the summer rains because the Lake Okeechobee water has been engineered and diverted away from the Everglades.  See below:

                                                                                        

                                                                                        

                                                            Little yellow flowers popping up from the shallow water

The second trail we went on was the Anhinga Trail tour guided by a young park ranger.

We saw so much wildlife on this hour and a half tour:

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                            A young Great Blue Heron.  The guide said that they will stand like a statue for hours until they spot just the right fish to spear with their beak.

                                                                                    

                                    The guide called out "Alligator crossing!"

                                                                A Purple Gallinule

                                                                                    

                                                            This one is snoozing with its nose right up next to the walkway.

                                                                                    

                                                            The guide said this one probably ate something recently.  I was questioning what he could have eaten that was so big -- and a guy said "There's a visitor missing."  !!

                                                                                    

We did see an Anhinga on the Anhinga Trail!   They are called snake birds because they hunt for fish underwater but when they come up for air only their head comes up out of the water -- like a snake.  The guide said that the Cormorant (all black in color) also dives under water to hunt but when they come up for air, you see the body on the water as well as the head.   Anhingas can soar in the sky like hawks and eagles.

Our new setting for our camper:                                                                                    

                                This is our view behind our camper now near Lake Okeechobee

                                Nice country setting with a big cypress tree shading us in the afternoon.

Tomorrow we will go to a Florida state park (no discount for seniors!) -- Highlands Hammock State Park.  (A hammock is a slightly elevated (2 feet maybe) "island of trees" in the watery prairie.

            

                                                                                    

Day 3 Sights on the Florida Keys

Today we drove 1 1/2 hours to the town at the far west end of the Florida keys -- Key West and drove around the town then back tracked to Big Pine Key and saw a couple of little Key Deer. The afternoon and evening we spent with a friend who spends her winters on Marathon Key.   These first pictures are at the rv resort where we are staying:

                                                                              

There is a swimming area at the rv resort.  Notice a lady swimming in the background.  I guess she's not bothering the crocodiles:)

We heard heliocopters like this one flying low over the area --- we were told they were looking for illegal immigrant boats from Cuba (60 miles from Key West) or Haiti

Our rv site.  Vernon took the plants and geraniums out of the truck bed for some sun and water. My friend Patty called us the Clampets.  Haha.

                                                                            

Vernon looking down into the clear bay water.  There's a pelican enjoying the early morning sun too.

                                                                                

A stately Key West house

A Key West marina

Royal palms along N Roosevelt Avenue

                                                                                      

A Key West beach and pier

Chickens and roosters roam the yards and streets and are protected in Key West

The sign says "Key Lime Pie Cigar Factory"  

                                                                                

We drove onto Big Pine Key and then onto "No Name Key" and saw this little cutie.  It's a Key Deer.  This one is full grown (and pregnant) and about the size of a large dog.

                                                                                        

Our friend, Trish treated us to a visit to the Dolphin Research Center across the street from where she lives on Marathon Key.  It was delightful to see the dolphins interact with people.

We took Trish out to dinner next door to the Dolphin Research Center.  The Key Lime Pie was delicious!

                                                                                    

                                                                                        

She's holding on to the dolphin's fin to get a ride!

                                                                                

                                                                                        

                                                                                       

This iguana skuttled through the Center grounds!

                                                                                

This is a beautiful spot where Trish can come to see the sun rise and set at the mobile home park where she lives.   It was good to spend the day on the Florida Keys!  Tomorrow we leave the keys and head to the Everglades.