We were enjoying our stay at Torry Island so decided to camp there for a few days as we explored the eastern shore of Lake Okeechobee.
White Ibis
Osprey
This osprey seemed quite functional despite the fishing line tangled in its wing. 
This lake was more like a gigantic water reservoir. The entire natural shoreline has been replaced by a massive dike that circles the lake. I had expected a pristine primitive lake in the centre of Florida and saw a man-made reservoir instead. It appeared that little if any thought had been give to the impact on wildlife.
There is a large dock complex at the town of Pahokee. Given the lack of natural beaches, the local birds roosted on quieter sections of the dock. There were dozens of Black Skimmers along with Caspian Terns, Forster's Terns and a few Bonaparte's Gulls.
Great Black-backed Gull - Immature (128)
Caspian Tern
Forster's Tern
Bonapate's Gull (129)
Spotted Sandpiper in Winter Plumage (130)
One Spotted Sandpiper was also using the dock as a promenade. When you see this bird in summer you understand why it is called a Spotted Sandpiper. In winter, its breast is not speckled but pure white so the name seems incongruous.
Boat-tailed Grackle.
On a cloudy day, this bird looks like just another black bird, but on a sunny day it radiates colour. Iridescent feathers reflect the light in beautiful shades of blues and purples.February 18
It was time to head back to the Atlantic Coast. We drove north along the east side of Lake Okeechobee to Port Mayoco then east on highway 86. At noon, we stopped for lunch at the DuPuis Wildlife and Environmental Area. It was refreshing to hike through pine forests and meadows after days in the Torry Island marshes.
DuPuis Wildlife and Environmental Area
Palm Warbler
In the late afternoon, we arrived at Long Point Campground near Sebastian Inlet State Park. I was surprised to see Wood Storks walking around in the campground. It all became clear when I saw the fish cleaning station where the fishermen were filleting their catch. Wood Storks were patiently waiting near the fish cleaning station to assist the fishermen as needed.
After a brief look at the Atlantic Ocean we went to the inland side of the island.
Emma was keen to have an upper body workout so we rented kayaks and paddled around Sebastian Inlet.
White Pelican
When pelicans open their gullets you get a real sense of what the fish are up against.
Brown Pelicans
White and Brown Pelicans use different fishing techniques. White Pelicans fish by swimming along and hoovering up fish as they go. Brown Pelicans prefer to hover overhead then dive bomb the fish by plunging head first into the water.
Great Egret
There was a bit of a wind so we got more of an upper boady workout than we had planned. We went with the wind on the way out then had a very strenuous paddle to make it back to our starting point.February 19
Our day started with a walk along the Sebastian Inlet fishing pier. This substantial structure extends well out into the Atlantic Ocean. We carefully wound our way past scores of avid fishermen intent on landing the "big one".
Fishing Pier at Sebastian Inlet State Park
Fishing Pier
Beach on the Atlantic Coast at Sebastian Island State Park
The pier provided a good viewing of the adjacent beach. The water was a fair bit colder here than in the Gulf of Mexico but still attracted a goodly number of beach enthusiasts.
Atlantic Ocean
Northern Gannet - Immature (132)
From the end of the pier, you could see a few Northern Gannets foraging well out in the Atlantic Ocean.
The beach area also attracted the usual surf and sand bird species.
Royal Tern
Sanderling
Great Black-backed Gull - Immature
Before leaving Sebastian Inlet, we visited the Archie Carr Refuge, and learned about the efforts being made to save sea turtles from extinction. All along this beach, Loggerhead, Green and Leatherback Sea Turtles haul themselves on shore, scrape out a nest in the sand and deposit their eggs.
Archie Carr Refuge
In the past, people took turtle eggs by the truck load and drove the population to near extinction. Habitat loss and bright lights were also contributing factors to their downfall. Now, we safeguard the nests and keep disorienting night lighting to a minimum.
On this day, there were no sea turtles on the beach. Emma took a moment to flolic in the surf while I tracked down a few nearby birds.
Sanderlings
Willet
There are definitely too many suds in this surf. There has been massive algae blooms in and around Sebastian Inlet. This in turn kills thousands of acres of sea grass. Without plant life to sustain them, the fish and crustateans die and the lagoon becomes an inert wasteland.
It appears that nitrates and phosperous from city and agricultural run-off are the cause.
We must do more to reduce our environmental footprint.
February 20
Today, we drove to Disney World near Orlando. The freeways around Orlando and Disney World were complex but Magellan guided us smoothly to our Fort Wilderness campsite inside Disney World. This campground is first rate like everything else in Disney World. The quality and the price were top-notch.
The Disney World Complex is immense with five worlds to explore. On this visit, we chose to visit the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
Fox Squirrel
February 21Wild Turkeys were wandering through our campsite as we awoke. The Fort Wilderness campground is a sprawling complex nestled in a beautiful pine forest. It took a 10 minute walk through our campground to get to the lakefront where we caught a boat ride to the Magic Kingdom.
Fantasyland in Disney World
There was a real sense of deja-vu as we entered the Magic Kingdom. We had never been to Disney World before but we both have been to Disneyland in California as children. The lay-out of the two theme parks was identical and we relived our childhoods as we wandered down mainstreet and into Frontierland.
Main Street in Fantasyland
Steamboat Ride Around Tom Sawyer's Island
Our first stop was Tom Sawyer's Island where we had great memories of exploring the island as children.
Our first stop was Tom Sawyer's Island where we had great memories of exploring the island as children.
Emma Exploring Tom Sawyer's Island
We spent a pleasant day enjoying rides including the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Carribean, It's a Small World, Peter Pan and Thunder Mountain.
Jim at the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse
The fumes from the gas-powered floats and boats were out of place in the otherwise first-class services at the theme park. Disney needs to keep up with the changing times and hop aboard the environmental band wagon. Addressing energy pollution issues should become a priority.
Epcot Centre at Disney World
February 22
On this day, we went to the Epcot Centre. It was great. Epcot is for adults what Fantasyland is for kids. The exhibits were exciting, stimulating, and informative. We wandered around the entire day and well into the night.
The adult oriented rides were fun. Soaring was the best along with the Siemons ride about communication.
Around the man-made lake were displays from 11 different countries. This section of Epcot reminded me of Expo 86 in Vancouver. Each country displayed the art, food and history of their nation and the staff were citizens of that country. You got a quick snapshot of the historic worldview of each country. We made our best effort to drink in the culture of each country so we had beer, wine, schnapps, etc. Great fun.
Epcot Centre After Dark
Impressive fireworks concluded the evening. We joined the surging crowds leaving the park and found the right bus to take us back to our campground.
February 23
We left Disney World and drove east to the Kennedy Space Centre. I was thrilled. Emma was bored. For me, the rocket garden was great, the bus out to the launch pad exhilarating, the tour of the Saturn 18 rocket outstanding and the Imax film on the Hubble telescope riveting.
For Emma it was another day at the dentist.To get her grudging compliance, I had to promise to take her back to Orlando to see the Harry Potter exhibit at Universal Studios
Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Centre
Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB)
The VAB is th fourth largest building in the world.
Crawlerway to the Launch Pad
Saturn V Rocket and Jim
Saturn V Command Module
Space Shuttle Atlantis
By 5:00 p.m., the space centre was closing and our all too brief visit was over. Sigh from me, Yay from Emma. We drove to the nearby Manatee Hammock Campground for the night.
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