February 20, 2006
Ochlockonee State Park, Sopchoppy, Florida
Arrived here last evening. Lovely park in pine flatwoods on the shore of a river of the same name “Ok-LOK-nee”. It is situate between the large St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge to the east and the Appalachicola National Forest to the West. The Gulf of Mexico is nearby to the south and Tallahassee is 25 miles north. We are in that part of Florida where the state runs east and west. We are about 35 miles from the Central Time Zone which crosses Florida (really).
As with Cedar Key, the coast line here is a bit indefinite. The land is largely swamp and marsh with pine islands and oak hammocks. The rivers wind and branch as they approach the Gulf and make all of the coastal area islands. Eventually ponds are scattered across the land and finally the land is scattered across the bays and Gulf waters. Beaches are rare and much of the “coastline” submerges at low tide. There is no shortage of wetlands here, it is the drylands that are precious and being lost to development!
Margaret, Tony, Anna and Emily arrived last night and came over to Mom and Dad Woods for dinner and to watch the Olympics. Bob and Cathy and John and Karen arrived late last night. MH and I, Mom and Dad Woods and my parents are all spendng a relaxing day on the beach. It is in the 80s with bright blue skies and a cool breeze that makes you forget how hot it really is. The crowds are gathering on the beach by the pier and I have never seen so many boats parked in the water in front of the Lani Kai.