Travels With PinF

PinF went in search of Florida today.

Not the South Beach Florida, not the Palm Beach Florida, and not the Keys either. For a change PinF looked to the north and lucky I did because I found another in a seemingly endless number of state parks that proliferate this sunny, warm place I call home. Deciding last night to use my free day constructively I took a look at the state parks to my north, a direction PinF rarely travels unless he's flying north to Philly. What I found was pure nirvana. Take a sunny 78* day with cobalt blue skies, a motorcycle, and an incredible stae park and yes you have PinF recipe for instant stress elimination.

My alarm seemed to sound a little louder on a Saturday than it normally does on a work day. Still, my pre-planning last night coupled with a stellar weather forecast had me motivated for the ride. It would be about a 100 mile ride destination: Sebastian Inlet State Park. I arrived, paid my 3 bucks got my map and set off to explore. My V Strom was loaded with the hard bags that contained all the gear I'd need for the day, towel, book, change of clothes, rain gear(just in case) and small mechanical kit. I left my house at 6:45 am, pulled onto I-95 at 7am and was sitting beachside having my eggs, toast, and coffee by 9am. The park is immense and it encompasses the Indian River and Atlantic Ocean. There are fishing piers, snorkel spots, kayak rentals, surfing beaches, campsites and nature trails. Wow.

I commenced to the beach and drifted into an Ipod funk for about two hours watching the surfers and breathing in the cool clean air. The whole area is so different from the south as you slowly drift into the Indian River farm lands laden with orange and grapefruit groves you're constantly reminded of "Old" Florida both by the archictecture as well as the landscape. Upon exiting I-95 I passed an old church, you know the type -- where they have something smart to say out front. Today's message was kind of cool; "Trade your piece for God's peace", even the people are different. They're more deliberate, less rushed and definitely more rural, it is afterall farming country, as evidenced by the beef cattle, horse ranches, and many citrus farms, and nurseries.

Upon exiting the park I came across two jewels of the day. The first was the Mclarty Treasure Museum, this was way cool. The building houses salvaged artifacts and jewels of the ill fated Spanish fleet that sunk off the coast on its way back to Spain in 1715 laden with treasure. Hence the name for this coastal area is the "Treasure coast"....what was really interesting was that the museum sits on the actual site where the survivors who managed to make it ashore started a survivors camp. My second discovery, and personal favorite was the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, the oldest and obviously first designated National wildlife refuge in America. President Theodore Roosevelt signed a presidential decree in 1903 declaring this slice of heaven such distinction.

I was finally utilizing the VStrom for its intended design--dual purpose. As I entered the first thing I noticed was the sign: "Historic Jungle Trail", and that's eactly what it was. NO sign of man other than the crushed shell and sand roads that wind their way through a pristine National Park that is home to hundreds of species of animals and has been restored to the original condition as the Spaniards would have found it 500 years ago. All non-native plants, trees and in some cases animals, have been removed and replaced by the original species. The first thing you notice as you enter is the silence. No noise in the park comes from man made machines, other than the vehicle you ride in-- or in my case - on. You would swear it's the first day of spring; bees buzzing, flowers blooming and birds and butterflies everywhere. Ospreys dive through the air, Black crown herons, storks, egrets, and the incredibly huge and graceful frigatebirds. PinF is certainly no card carrying Audubon member, but even the most uninitiated can but help to be awed by the birds.

I spent a good hour just enjoying the sun, the birds, the flowers the blue sky, and most of all I took in the silence. I was soon on my way out and ready to plug in to the Ipod for the ride back to my more commercialized, and fast paced life. Unlike visits to other naturally beautiful areas, this one was special in a different way. The entire trip was made characterized by a slower and less developed way of life, incredibly serene and beautiful. After checking out the scene PinF is sure to make a return trip, only next time I'll come better prepared with a tent and do an overnight in the park. Funny how I've been in florida ten years and I still discover new parks within a 2 hour drive that hold the real beauty of Florida. Incedibly they've managed to stay one step ahead, and out of reach of the developers. Here's hoping they continue to do the same.