I set out for another two days of image gathering this past weekend. I set out without a map in hand. I thought I knew exactly where I was going. I was totally off base. I set out Saturday and drove north to Palm Beach County, then west toward Belle Glade but, I knew I had to drive a bit further north. I couldn't find it. I bought a map only to open it and find it only showed the eastern half of the county. What kind of stupid map makers do that?

I decided to drive to Indiantown and possibly find my true location of Port Mayaca, where Lake Okeechobee and the waterway flowing east to the St. Lucie estuary and the Atlanic. I glanced at a roadside sign and did a U-turn to a place called, Grassy Waters Preserve. I had never heard of it.

The location was a natural water and animal conservation area maintained by the City of West Palm Beach. There were similar things to the Savannas but here, the canoe tours are only scheduled a few times per year.

I walked along a long boardwalk above the water and wet gound. I did see one bird I hadn't seen before, the Everglades kite, a hawk type bird. It was hovering around but not enough for me to get a picture. Kite image More on the kite.



This image I was standing on some steps that went right down to the water. I didn't ask what it was for since the canoe launch was in a different area. The Glades kite kept flying into the middle of this pic but I couldn't get an image of it.



I walked deeper into the preserve along the boardwalk. Above, the trees are Cypress but, they're pretty young and small.



Above is an 'air' plant. They are very popular here for giving a 'southern flavor' to the yard. I actually don't know that much about them, now that I'm typing this up but, this one was very healthy. [see below comments for more info on this plant.]



Above is the far end of the boardwalk. This structure is called a chickee hut, an architectual style of the Seminole natives. Its roof is made of palm fronds and is pretty waterproof in the rain.

A photographer at Grassy Waters told me how to get to Port Mayaca. It was not even in Palm Beach County but, in Martin County the next county north. On the way there I stopped at a wildlife management area. It is hunting season. There are hogs, deer, racoon, squirrel, bobcats, wild turkey, possum, and a few other animals that can be hunted. The brochure said only one animal per year per license for most animals. I guess hogs are about the only animal where it is legal to shoot more than one per year.

I arrived at Port Mayaca and was able to get some images for my burial shrine project even though I had to drive back there on Sunday afternoon. The late Saturday sun cast long shadows and some gravestones were impossible to shoot because of the darkness. Sunday wasn't so good with grey overcast skies. Oh well, I did my best.



Here's the only image for sharing at the moment from my burial shrine project. Author Zora Neale Hurston talks about this hurricane in her book, "Their Eyes Were Watching God." That book has been considered her greatest work. Hurston was born near Orlando and died in Ft. Pierce, where she is buried. There are always offerings of candies, rum, cigars, money and notes left on her grave. She was initiated into Haitian Vaudou in 1937 I believe, and many believers leave them. More about Hurston.

So, another weekend of productivity. Having a trustworthy vehicle makes a world of difference!