To Melbourne
I wanted to leave St. Augustine early for my trip south to Melbourne, Florida, so I ate breakfast at the cafe in front of the Monterey Inn down the street. I was going to spend the day and night with my friends Kathy and Tony. Kathy is an old friend from my high school days in Northport who didn’t come to the reunion. While I was at the cafe, Kathy had called to tell me not to start out too early as a section of the I–95 was closed due to fog from the ocean and smoke from the fires. I left St. Augustine about 9 a.m., first stopping off the fill up the gas tank––a gallon of gas here in Florida was a full 40 cents cheaper than in Southern California. My GPS lady directed me onto Highway 1 and then onto the I–95. Signs later on directed me off the I–95, as a section of it was still closed. Other signs directed me back to the alternative Highway 1––it is a much slower road as it travels through towns with stoplights. I waited to get back onto the I–95 until I saw that the traffic coming from the north was getting light, indicating that the I–95 was opened in that area. I found Kathy and Tony’s beautiful new home in a retirement development in Melbourne. What was most interesting about their home was the very high ceilings throughout––the same as in the home I was in last night. They told me it was a new hurricane–proof design for Florida houses. Photo of my hosts: Kathy and Tony.
To Melbourne
Melbourne
I wanted to take a photo of Tony’s antique 1970 Monte Carlo, but it was in the garage, so I took a photo of a photo of it.
Melbourne
Melbourne
And a photo of an award the car received. Kathy and Tony gave me a grand tour of their clubhouse and then we went on an outing in their other car.
Melbourne
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
The Viera Wildlife Sanctuary was only a few miles from their home. It is located directly behind a water treatment plant––the plant feeds recycled water into the sanctuary. I would never have thought of visiting a wildlife sanctuary in Florida, but after visiting this one––absolutely fascinating––I recommend to anyone visiting Florida to visit one. When you first look at the sanctuary it doesn’t look like much, but it has numerous hidden treasures.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
More types of sea birds than I have ever seen were by the water’s edge. All the photos I took were from the safety of the backseat of the car––you’ll find out later why. Most of the first photos of the birds I am putting here show you what we saw with our eyes. The close–up shots of the birds are thanks to the wonders of photo programs that allow you to take a bit of a digital photo and make it look like it was the original one. I have tried to identify as many of the birds that I could––I could be wrong on some of the names. Photo: A snowy egret.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Close–up of the snowy egret.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
A tricolored heron.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Close–up of the tricolored heron.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Little blue heron.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Close–up of the little blue heron.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Waterlilies.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Close–up of the waterlilies.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Left: tricolored heron; right: white ibis; duck in the back.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Close–up of the tricolored heron and the white ibis.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Close–up of the duck. I couldn’t find out its name.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Foreground: white ibis; in flight: tricolored heron.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Close–up of the white ibis.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Close–up of the tricolored heron in flight.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Another photo of a white ibis.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Common egret.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Another photo of the common egret.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
An anhinga.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Close–up of the anhinga.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Water flowers.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Close–up of the water flowers.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Probably a glossy ibis.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Close–up of the glossy ibis.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Cattle egrets.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Close–up of the cattle egrets.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Some kind of ibis.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Close–up of the ibis.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Another photo of the ibis.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Another close–up of the ibis.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Ducks, but I couldn’t find the name of them.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Close–up of one of the ducks.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Alligators are usually seen hanging out on this island, but they go off the island in mating season, which it now is. The presence of alligators in the sanctuary is the reason I took all the photos from the safety of the car.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Tony was the first to spot the alligator in the water.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Close–up of the alligator.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Tony, realizing that I was disappointed in just getting a bit of the head of the alligator as a photo, very bravely got out of the car and found something on the side of the water to throw at the alligator, hoping that it would then surface. Kathy was worried that the alligator would get angry and come ashore and get to Tony before he got back in the car. But the alligator just swam very hurriedly away under the water––Tony really must have scared it. Photo: alligator’s wake while swimming away from Tony. We didn’t see any more alligators.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Palm trees partially submerged in the water.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Turtles.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Close–up of one of the turtles.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Bird, probably a tricolored heron, roosting.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Close–up of the heron.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Tricolored heron.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Probably also a tricolored heron.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Close–up of the heron.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
A common egret.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Close–up of the common egret.
Viera Wildlife Sanctuary
Coca Beach
We next drove around a beautiful area of old Florida homes in Coca Beach along the water. We didn’t go into the town of Coca Beach as Kathy and Tony had taken Eddie and me there five years ago when we had visited them. This photo is of, I believe, the Indian River, part of the Intercoastal Waterway. We next went out for dinner. The next morning the long–awaited Florida rain came and we all just sat on their lanai and talked––thank you Kathy and Tony for showing me a very good time. Then it was time for me to head to the Orlando Airport to catch first an American Airlines plane to Miami and then another one to Los Angeles. The GPS lady well directed me back to the Hertz lot, but I was very happy to give them the car keys back. This was the first car trip that I have ever taken by myself and I was glad that it was over as I was not feeling all that comfortable driving myself around, even with the help from the GPS. At the airport, I was back in familar travel territory––shuttles, terminals, and planes. The flights were uneventful and I was very happy when I saw the night lights illuminating the City of Los Angeles. The airport shuttle dropped me off at my house at 12:30 a.m.––3:30 a.m. Florida time. It was a good trip.
