The Wandering Disciple

Launching your kayak from the Oyster Creek kayak launch, you can encounter a nice collection of mangrove islands on your journey to Lemon Bay. These mangrove islands are the lifeline of the bay, providing a place for shorebirds to roost above the water and a place for fish to hide below the surface. (Photo: May 22, 2015)

The calming tidal flow of Oyster Creek as it flows to Lemon Bay. On of the tributaries of Lemon Bay, Oyster Creek flows through both the Ann Dever Memorial Park and Cedar Point Environmental Park with plenty of great hiking and wildlife opportunities along the path. (Photo: January 1, 2013)

How much wood can a woodpecker peck if a woodpecker could peck wood?  This hairy woodpecker is getting busy at the Ann Dever Memorial Park in Englewood.  The woodpecker uses its beak to pick apart the tree, eating the bugs located under the bark.  (Photo: January 1, 2017)

A gravel trail leads you on a nice leisurly walk in the woods at Ann Dever Memorial Park in Englewood.  While most people know this park for its sporting activities, the hiking trails are the hidden gem of this park. (Photo: December 30, 2012)

A raised boardwalk takes hikers deeper into Ann Dever Memorial Park. The 420 acre park features almost four miles of hiking trails. (Photo: January 1, 2013)

The scrub habitat dominated the land at Ann Dever Memorial Park. The park features 420 acres of land for various uses including hiking and more. Click on the photo to view more photos of the Ann Dever Memorial Park. (Photo: December 30, 2012)

Englewood, Florida: We decided to break in the new year by taking a nature hike and enjoying the great outdoors. January in Florida is some of the best weather, its cooler with bright blue skies, great weather for getting outdoors. We decided to head back to Cedar Point Environmental Park for two reasons, to see the eagle nest and to hike a few other trails. We were greeted with wildlife as soon as we entered the park. A gopher tortoise was waking down the park road, seems he too wanted to take a hike in the great weather. Once we parked the truck, we tried to hike the Fern Trail. That hike didn’t last long, as we passed the first turn of the trail we came across the trail closure sign. The trail was closed to limit access to the nesting bald eagles. So we doubled back and headed to the Jeep Trail to take a look at the eagles. The eagle nest is located about a quarter mile down the trail and is still open to visitors. On the trail, you will come across a memorial bench...