Gator Creek Reserve Granted Me Peace

One person was layed-off at the office on Thursday. Two more were packing their offices in boxes on Friday. Very unsettling. I head home to my little cracker house on the river. Petey the puppy enthusiastically greets me from inside the fence. I go inside to check on my middle aged pup, Dickens. Dickens has been nursing a broken leg, but to my surprise he moved all of three feet in eight hours. He refused to stand. Something is wrong. The weekend is here so I can take him to his Vet. "He must have fallen" they tell me. "He has a slipped disk. This is out of our hands. He needs to see a neurologist ..and he might need surgery." My stress meter tops out as I can't help but picture a pile of insurmountable bills. "Can you leave him here for observation? We also want to put him on a steroid drip." Of course, I will be back at 5:00.
I need to get away. I have time to go hiking. It is 90+ degrees, the house, the yard and the laundry need tending. My decision is easy - I am going hiking. I filled my large water bottles, grabbed my backpack, my camera, and headed off to Gator Creek. I was there the week before, but did not get to walk the back loop. The bank in Zephyrhills lit up 97 degrees on its message board. This did not even phase me. I am going hiking. When I arrived at Gator Creek parking lot, it was high noon and not one car in the parking lot. I headed off to find the Creek and start Deer Run Trail. On the way I ran into a bustling Gopher Tortoise moving fast as if he was on a mission. He looked at me and showed no fear as we passed by each other on the trail. Amused, I took the opportunity to snatch a photo. I have to hike part of the Piney Wood trail to get to Gator Creek. It is fairly shady and feels great! Covered in perspiration, the slightest breeze gives tremendous relief. Finally, the Creek. I mark a waypoint. Very pretty but bone dry. I go forward. A few hundred feet starts the Deer Run Trail loop.
Not too far along the trail does it turn from a scrub to a wide open Prairie. Out on the left is a vast moss covered oak tree. I can’t help but to start humming the opening theme from the Munsters. I keep on. It is quite hot now with no shade at all. There is a scrub up ahead but still a nice little trek. Over on the right among the grasses I spot a purple flower. No, could it be? A passion vine growing in the middle of the prairie? What a delight to see one growing in the wild. I walk a few hundred feet more and come upon a sea of Florida Raspberry bushes. They look dried out and the fruit is scarce. I bet during its peak it is loaded with berries.
Finally I reach the scrub in the back. Shade at last! There is a lot of brown with hints of green on the left. It appears to be a recent controlled burn that stopped abruptly at the trail. Seeing the hint of green only reminded me of how spirited life can be. The palmettos were starting to grow back. This made for some interesting scenery along the back stretch. The trail turns just before what appears to be a private gate. It takes me back through the prairie. Another gate forces me to turn once again. The stretch is very plush. The grass is up to my knees and flowers are more prevalent. I spot two checkered whites fluttering about. I pause to take a photo but they fly outside the fence. Farther down I see several Pearl Crescents pollinating Spanish needles. They seem to travel in pairs and are much easier to capture on film. I see a Tiger Swallowtail and a Giant Swallowtail fluttering about. An Eastern Indigo slithers across the trail. I am elated. This place is great! I get back to the parking lot by 3:00 PM. Perfect timing.
I wake up Sunday feeling very rested, relaxed and at peace. I carry Dickens outside for his morning routine. I turn to walk in the house. He stands up , a little shaky, and walks. It is going to be a good day!
Gator Creek, thank you for giving me peace of mind. I will come back…perhaps in the fall when there is a new season for flowers and butterflies. Perhaps the prairie will be filled with Liatris and Golden Rod. I can only imagine.