Around Jonathan Dickinson

Sunday  February 26, 2012
Don’t forget - MYMO

 

Sunday was an overcast, gray, cloudy day.

David slept in and I slipped out to see Hobe Mountain. 
That’s right, Mountain. 
Made me laugh. 
But they are serious. 
Read the information sign.

 

I walked up the boardwalk to take  in the view. 
No nose bleed from the height though.

 

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Good views of the park to the North, South, and West.  

 

 

 

 

 

Looking out to the east you could see the inland waterway and just past that the ocean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I zoomed in, I found this little house facing the inland water way.

 

 

 

 

Later in the day we went to Jupiter Beach where the streets for miles are
lined with multi million dollar homes.  Looks like lots of folks aren’t having any recession woes.

 

Coming back down I had to take this shot of a father and son spending some close time together.  Did you ever have moments like this with your dad?  I sure didn’t.  But wish I had.

Lucky boy, lucky Dad.

 

After coming down off the “Mountain” I thought I’d check out the other things in the park which are all down by the River Campground. 

 

 

So I hiked around and saw the Boat dock where the park’s tour boat leaves for its $18.86 per person tour.  And where they rent canoes, kayaks, and motor boats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

the swimming area in the Loxahatchee River

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The amphitheater also on the river

 

 

 

 

There are numerous trails and paths between each of these.  I took this one over to the River Campground

 

Good thing this is a slash pine forest so you can see over most
of the vegetation to figure out which way to go.

 

I just love this little campground and all the interesting “campers”

 

 

 

 

The camp hosts have everything all set up.  What do you want to bet
they travel with dogs??

 

From there I took the short path over to the campground boat
put in which is where I hope we’ll launch for a paddle on the Loxahatchee perhaps tomorrow.

 

By this time it is nearly 11AM and I’m assuming David is up although he
hasn’t called.  Time to get back and make some late breakfast. brunch? 

On the trail back along the River to the car, I saw this amazing tree.

Still alive, tall  and healthy.   Standing on its tiptoes.

 

 

David was up and feeling rested. 

After some food thought we decided to go over to the ocean.
Haven’t seen the ocean in FAR too long.
So we drove over to Hobe Sound public Beach.

 

 

Hobe Sound and its neighbor Juniper Island
are seriously beautiful and wealthy communities.
The road leading to the beach is lined with
gorgeous banyan trees.

 

 

 

 

It was a red flag day at the beach

There were only a few people out.

Even these folks had come in and were sitting on the railings to get out of the wind.

 

But the water was warm and wonderful.  I could have walked for miles
down the beach but it wasn’t a good place for David to sit.  Too windy.  Maybe another day.

 

We drove around on North and South Beach roads being amazed at how lovely all the landscaping was and how hidden the houses.  Miles and miles of oceanfront multi million dollar mansions.  The recession had no effect on these folks that seems apparent.  How is that I wonder?  Don’t they have their money “invested”?  How did SO many people make themselves recession proof??

 

We stop by the grocery on our way home. 
Fix hummus and spinach sandwiches for lunch.  
David takes a nap and I work on the blog.

 

We hike the Kitching Creek Trail

When he gets up, he wants to go out on the Nature Trail so we drive back to the main park area in the more interior part of the park where I had been this morning and hike the Kitching Creek Trail.

 

 

It’s more of a very nice walk actually through the Pine Flatwoods.

 

Aren’t the Slash Pines beautiful against the sky?

 

 

The trail takes us, of course,  to Kitching Creek.  It comes off of the Loxahatchee and looks like a fine place to kayak.  Very slow and serene.  There are some nice benches here where we sit and wait for a family with exuberant children to hike on down the trail.
We are quiet observant hikers.  That’s pretty difficult for most children.

 

 

I love the long elegant needles of these not so elegantly named pines.

 

They really are beautiful trees.  Look at this bark.

 

 

 

It was a very relaxing 90 minute stroll after which we went back for dinner.  
We really made the very best of a marginal weather day.