mangrove

Mangrove Coast of Ft. Desoto Park

This felt like an old childhood "hiding spot" under the canopy of this mangrove tree in Ft. Desoto State Park

Before settling in for a full afternoon and evening of football, I felt it important that I head out in the morning to be around a bit of quiet nature.  The Arrowhead Trail at Ft. Desoto Park is a short one, only about 1.5 miles long, but it is little trafficked and has a few of its own small, secret beaches.  Mangroves claim most of the coast along the edges of the peninsula the Arrowhead Trail follows, but there are a few openings that I fully intend to return to in the spring and use as private swimming holes.

 I have always been very curious about these organic deposits in otherwise clear water.

The first time I came to this area it was low tide and there was a good length of beach.  It was high tide this time, however, so the beachhead was limited to just a few spots.  Still, there was enough space to stand and gaze out over the intercoastal waterway in peace with only a baby horseshoe crab for company, who politely did not make a sound.

One of nearly countless spots on Florida's west coast that would make for great, scenic kayaking