Nature Trail Walk at The Bay Park in Sarasota, Florida

 Coming back from our lunch with friend Jo in Osprey, Florida we went together for a walk at The Bay Park.

While Pieter was napping upon our arrival, I'd walked this very stretch myself...

The day before we both walked to Whole Foods Market for buying us some Siggi's Icelandic yogurt (because it contains little sugar) and some fresh mandarins.

The Bay Park is like paradise...

Perfect reflection in the water...

Loved the way they had information burnt into the wooden boards from the walkway.

About Florida's iconic cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) that can live for two centuries...

Interesting history that some might have greeted the Scottish settlers in 1885!

We opted for The Bay Park →

It is very nice that there are spots with benches to rest on and for taking in the natural surroundings.

No need for running!

It also was the perfect ending of a happy day, after the lunch in Osprey with dear friend Jo.

See previous post: Lunch with a Dear Writer Friend in Osprey, Florida ←click link.

Wearing my pearl necklace and earrings with antique silver inserts, created by a dear friend.

The Bayou Bridge got donated by Bob and Lin Williams; they definitely deserve a shout out, because for their generosity so many others can indulge in this natural beauty from up close!

This for sure was not a park where you would want to hurry...

Just stopping and seeing these water birds come to their 'bedrooms'.

It was after 17:00 and remember, still winter time, as much as it affects this subtropical region.

But yes, they too felt the impact of the extreme cold from the North pushing all the way South.

In Lakeland, FL we had frost during our first night!

But like my opening image shows, those birds are near the water and sheltered inside these evergreen mangroves.

A lot of preening and also story telling about how their day went...

Just like in 2014, we made this WeFie at the Performing Arts Hall: {Sarasota Bay, Florida - Great Egret} ← click link

Wearing my black Escada jeans and only Pieter wanted to change into other shoes and thus wearing his shorts. I was comfy enough.

It was very hard with the low sun to get a WeFie without any glare... Hence that dancing sun-dot near my eye 😉

Those Bird Bedrooms in the mangrove were really filling up by now!

For both of us, this was a real BONUS!

Along the walkway, there was this area and I did step up for better viewing the birds.

The short video of it, is inside my Relive.

Pieter stayed down.

Just as I'd captured the birds in the trees on their branches for the night, I looked down and could not believe my eyes. A raccoon to the right, very close to my feet, only at the water level and a big bunny to the left! 

Wish I'd captured both of them on video as well...

Our actual walking time, as captured on our Strava app was 46 minutes and 47 seconds.

Relive, however shows it as having been 1 hour and 28 minutes. Well that is all the 'stand still' time included!

We also met with a German born woman, walking her two cute Dachshunds that reminded me of my sweet Mauzie girl... We did chat for a long time!

Again at the end of the trail we could see the John Ringling Causeway Bridge towards Saint Armands Circle on Lido Key.

It was interesting to spot this very bird that we'd captured at the beginning of our one and a half hour walk/chat and indulge tour. 

Now it was facing the opposite direction!

Before walking back to our hotel, I had to capture this building with so many palm trees growing in big planters on the roof top.

Enjoy my short Relive video of 1:06 minute here below!