Saint Marks Lighthouse

Saturday Bill and I drove to the Gulf. First we visited St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge. We wanted to see what the lighthouse was all about, but also ended up taking a couple of nature walks.

       The Plum Orchard Pond Trail, near the Visitor’s Center.  The Visitor’s Center had some displays and several free publications about the wildlife at St. Mark’s. I picked up a cool laminated fold-out on Florida’s Wildflowers and Butterflies.

The lighthouse has stood at St. Mark’s for over three centuries, and was moved once due to beach erosion. We were disappointed that we could not go into the lighthouse, but it sounds like that will change in the future. There are plans to open the living quarters and have historical and archaeological items on public display.

   This is attached to the back end of the lighthouse, obviously where the keeper lived.

Unfortunately, my pictures of the lighthouse from afar did not turn out very well. It was a gorgeous day, sunshine and blue skies. But since I was standing in the shade when I took this, it turned out a bit too dark.

And I think this is my favorite picture from the day …   About says it all, doesn’t it?!  We walked the two trails around that marshy area, the Lighthouse Pool Trail and the Cedar Point Trail. There were a lot of picnickers and fishermen (and women!). Next time we will have to remember to take a picnic lunch. Instead, we drove over to Alligator Point, where we usually go beach walking, and ate lunch at the newly rebuilt Angelo’s Seafood Restaurant overlooking Ochlockonee Bay.

Angelo’s was washed away by Hurricane Dennis in 2005 and just recently reopened this winter. It’s a beautiful place, lovely view and great food, but not the place to grab a quick and cheap bite to eat. We had enjoyable meal, though, sitting on the deck and watching the boats and birds over the bay. We needed our jackets, as the breeze was a bit chilly, but still warm enough in the sunshine. Spring is here, I think!

After lunch, we drove to Alligator Point, walked for a bit, and then headed home. After all, there was the Bud Shootout to watch! Race season is finally here!