Bon Secour NWR - Hiking Pine Beach Trail - 5/13/2022

 Hike:  Pine Beach Trail

Distance: 3.51 miles  Rating: 4.5/5  Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Conditions: Mostly sunny.  Very warm.  Light breeze.  Trails in good shape.  Last half mile hiking in sand is moderately strenuous.  Deer flies could potentially be a problem at times.

Thoughts/Observations:  I was the first person on the trail today.  Solitude was nice.  Area is most peaceful.  Many lizards, squirrels, and dragonflies observed.  Most dragonflies were bronze or brown.  Did see one bright green one near trail's end!  My favorite insects.  Hopefully they keep the deer flies in check.

Continued to practice GPS/Compass/Map skills for SAR.

Vacation 2022 - Gulf State Park Alabama Point - Beach Hike

 Hike: Beach and Boardwalk Hiking, Alabama Point, Gulf State Park

Distance: 2.7 miles  Rating: 4.5/5  Difficulty: Easy

Conditions: Sunny.  Light to moderate breeze.  Quite warm!  High 80s.  Wooden boardwalk and White Alabama Gulf Coast Sand!

Thoughts/Observations:  Beautiful day for a Beach Hike!  Not very crowded this time of morning.  Cost $3.00 to park for 2 hours.  Quite a few scallop type sea shells on the beach - gulf side.  No shells on channel side of Point.  Picked Donna several nice shells.

Vacation 2022 - Hiking Gulf State Park Day #2

 Hike: Rosemary Dunes around Little Lake via Beachmouse Trail, Campground Trail, Armadillo Trail, Cross Park Trail, and Catman Trail.

Distance: 5 miles  Rating: 5/5  Difficulty: Easy

Conditions: Sunny.  Light breeze.  Mid to upper 80s.  Asphalt and natural trails.  Light traffic.

Thoughts/Observations: No snakes observed today.  Many squirrels, lizards, dragonflies, and birds.  Great time of reflection.  Did some SAR GPS and compass training.

Hiking Gulf State Park - Hike #1

 Hike: Rosemary Dunes to Little Lake - Cross Park Trail - Catman Trail.

Distance: 4.7 Miles  Rating: 5/5  Difficulty: Easy

Conditions: Mostly clear.  Mid to Hi 80s.  Light breeze.  Asphalt trails.  Light hike and biking traffic.

Thoughts/Observations: On trail early enough to see two snakes crossing the trail; a small Black Racer and moderate sized Corn Snake.  Many birds, squirrels, dragonflies, and lizards along the route.  Beautiful day for a hike.