Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

I know this part of Florida better than my own back yard in Saint Paul, Minnesota. I can look at the GPS once or twice and remember the route to a new destination. Unremarkable for most people, but for me a near miracle.

Because of lost satellite communication, we did initially miss our turn to Boyd Hill Nature Preserve as we drove past the jungly neighborhood near St. Petersburg Country Club, which sounds upper crust but looks more like a public course. However, we could see the park beside the golf course and found the entrance easily. As we entered the nature preserve facility, I had the sinking feeling that I was once again among my new peeps, the spry elderly as well as earnest women of indeterminate age in outfits colored with natural dyes. One woman was decked in full naturalist regalia, including bug-proof stockings, sensible long skirt, hiking boots and safari hat with mosquito net.

In the coolness of the canopy

My heart sank when I saw the high efficiency toilets low to the floor. Should I have tried the stall for people with disabilities? I decided to attempt the descent to the seat, hoping that the poorly fastened lock on the door wouldn't pop open, leaving me to scramble desperately to make myself decent. No worries. All the exercises I've done in church since my knee replacements, practicing standing up from a sitting position without using my hands, have paid off. The low loos were a cinch.

Boyd Hill has a small aviary of injured birds of prey. The Boyd's Hill euphemism is that the bald eagle, hawks, owls and kestrel are "in training". While their enclosures are large and appropriate (I suppose) for birds that can't be released into the wild, seems to me these private creatures don't like being "on display" and I can't think of any educational purpose that couldn't be performed in some other way.

Coots should be in Minnesota soon

We signed up for the "tram tour", really a convoy of two 8-person golf carts. Our cart included Canadians from Toronto and Corner Brook, Newfoundland. The naturalist, Andrea from Arizona, waxed eloquent but maybe a little long on the five ecosystems in the park, but the tour was well worth our time.

I was thrilled to see a gopher tortoise, an alligator, and coots in the lake, preparing, I thought, for the long migration to Minnesota -- always a first sign of spring to me at Fort Snelling State Park. I was relieved that Bob enjoyed himself too, as these venues are "iffy", at best.

"Cold" Florida Day

I love a cold day in a warm climate.This is the kind of weather I really appreciated in my lifeguard days, now so far in the past that I wonder why I still feel like a teenager around any swimming area. Only diehard water lovers show up to swim -- easy watching for lifeguard staff.

At the Temiscaming waterfront,  "insiders" gathered in the lifeguard shack and played cards. The 6-8 evening shift, busy on a hot day, was often totally free, giving us the opportunity to swim ourselves.

The pool and hot tub were empty this morning after the 8:00 a.m. lap swimmers, an older couple who hit the pool early every day, had left the deck. Steam was rising from the water -- perhaps 88F or so -- and I felt enveloped by warmth as I stepped in from the 50F chill.

Another perfect day.

Pope Francis' First Year

Today is the first anniversary of Pope Francis'  pontificate. The Catholic News Service is all business in this story, but I rather like the secular press' memorable moments, including this item in the Huffington Post.

My own first reaction to the first Jesuit pope was that we would have yet another intellectual rattling off principles of canon law and Church doctrine. So happy I was wrong! I love the way Francis surprises us with his spontaneity and ability to reduce complex issues to language all of us can understand.

The pope's challenges to prosperous westerners make me feel a little guilty and uncomfortable, but I do appreciate his pope's energy, honesty and connection with people. And I love his anniversary tweet,"please pray for me".