S333

Today is the final day of 2008.  So yet again, we pass through the door (or in this case, water gate) into a new year.

Under a live oak

This walkway had some big live oaks, with lots of spanish moss. Photo was taken at Patterson Park in central Florida.

Deer Creek bend

Here's a bend in Deer Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna River, in Maryland, just upstream of the US Geological Survey flow monitoring station.

Bridge of peace

I walked across that bridge, open to foot traffic only. That made it a peaceful walk.

Peaceful bend

Bend in the Peace River at Arcadia.

Valencias?

Actually, I think these may be the Florida navel orange. Florida has the best juicing oranges no matter what the variety.

Load of oranges

Top of the world

Another view from high up in the Alps, at the top of the watershed. Last three photos are courtesy of Martin Pfaundler.

Down glacier

In fluvial river systems we say "down stream," but in this photo we are looking "down glacier."

River of ice

An Austrian colleague of mine lives and works in Switzerland. This photo of a glacier perched high up in the Alps is a reminder that water flows even in its solid state.

Soaking in wave

This wave broke up on the low tide beach. It showed some signs of life before soaking in and draining back into the gulf.

Low tide twilight

One of the best times to be at the beach is near sunset during a low tide.

Naples sunset

It's getting closer to the shortest day of the year. But not yet.

Red drift algae

Navigational light

This light helps boats steer into the lock channel.

Lock and dam

Here's a panoramic photo showing both the lock and dam, looking north (upstream).

Lock view

Here's a closer look at the S65E lock. No boats passed through on the day I was there.

Looking back

This photo was shot standing on the dam, looking back towards the lock. You can see the lockhouse in the background.

S65E dam

Here's a photo of the dam, on the upstream side.

S65E lock

Here's a photo of the S65E lock, looking downstream (south).

Kissimmee River

The S65E is the downstream-most structure on the Kissimmee River, on its way down into Lake Okeechobee.

Multi-humped dome

This "multi-humped" cypress dome caught my eye from the helicopter. It's ringed at its perimeter by a continuous stand of pinelands. That ring of pines really jumps out now that the cypress have lost their needles and turned gray for the winter.

Old oil access road

Not too far from the old logging tram is another elevated grade that runs for 3 miles from Turner River Road toward Deep Lake Strand. It's an access road to an oil production pad that is no longer in operation. Today it's used as a hiking trail.

Old logging tram

The linear feature is an old logging tram located in the western edge of Big Cypress National Preserve. It connected State Road 29 to Deep Lake Strand where all the big trees were.

Turner River Road

Another view of Turner River Road, in Big Cypress National Preserve. When this photo was taken in late November, the wetting front had dropped below the pinelands, but you can still see standing water in the deeper cypress and marshes.

Not to be confused

No, this isn't another photo of Kissimmee Prairie State Preserve. It's a photo of Big Cypress National Preserve. Turner River Road to be exact.
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There is a Kissimmee Billy Strand in Big Cypress National Preserve, if that counts.

Perfect sky day

Another view of the Kissimmee Prairie. It was a perfect sky day for photographs. You don't usually get that in November in south Florida.

Entrance road

Another view of Kissimmee Prairie State Preserve, along the main access road into the preserve.

Kissimmee Prairie

I was surprised to see how much the Kissimmee Prairie resembled Big Cypress National Preserve's wet prairies.

There

Almost there