Lake Worth -- Palm Beach

We were making good time – heading east from Belle Glade - heading towards Lake Worth when several police cars with red and blue flashing lights, pulled out in front of us blocking the double lanes of eastbound traffic. Two more squad cars were holding back the westbound traffic further down the road.  Slowly, the biggest

tow vehicle we have ever seen, struggled to get the biggest, longest conglomeration of bright orange steel and trailers crept out from a side road and onto the roadway in front of us.  There were 8 axles on each supporting trailer and each axle had 8 wheels – making it 128 tires on the ground!  There was a man on the front trailer and another on the back trailer, each assisting with guiding the monster around each corner.  Of course there was a guide vehicle in front and another behind with lights flashing.  The blue and red flashing beacons on the top of each squad car brought up the rear as we obediently got in line behind them and progressed along the highway at a whopping 5 mph.  The Bexel Brothers Co. has been moving extremely large objects across America’s roadways since the early 1900’s.  Their website shows them moving the Space Shuttle on another one of their long low trailers!

NOW! This is a picture window

John Prince Park & Campground covers as many square miles as Lake Okeechobee but 300 of those acres encompass the long narrow waters of Lake Osborne.  The sites for the transient campers line the western shore so our big picture window faced the usually calm view of the lake.  There are the usual herons, cormorants, Muscovy ducks, egrets and gulls but H enjoys the skydiving pelicans the most!  From way up high, they tuck their wings back along their sides and dive head first into the lake with a huge white splash, momentarily disappearing but resurfacing with a fish in their pouch.    On our last stay here we were on the site next to this one and we took pictures of a big

Iguana on the large tree by the shoreline. This year we saw an even more impressive creature crawling up the very same tree that was now a mere 10 feet from the window by H’s recliner.  As if it felt threatened, it threw back its head and shook the large flap of skin below its chin.  Too bad, each time the camera snapped – the timing was off and I missed the shot.  Finally, it had enough and up the tree it scampered.  One of the staff ladies said there were at least 100 Iguanas here in the park and that they were very invasive.  There have been 4 of them in various sizes and colors – ranging from bright green (young ones) to darker shades of black/brown and orange, right here in our “yard” at the same time!

Lake Worth is just south of West Palm Beach and it’s even pricier neighbor of Palm Beach.  See why these cities are called PALM Beach?  After my eye appointment we followed the palm-lined road to downtown and then over the wide causeway to the REAL Palm Beach where that downtown is defined by Worth Ave and it’s small upscale boutiques.  The narrow winding road along the coast seemed even narrower with the towering 10 ft tall immaculately groomed hedges that obscured the mansions behind them from all of our prying eyes. We even passed by the Trump estate – Mar a Largo.  He was coming to town soon and the signs were already up – reminding the residents of the impending road closures because of his visit.

North of Palm Beach we found the Loggerhead Turtle Rescue.  A visit to the facility proved interesting with the large blue 3 ft tall “swimming pool” type containments for each rescued endangered turtle.  Each pool had a viewing window and signs explaining when and where the creature was rescued and why.  A protective barrier in the form of a long curved brightly colored mural divided the play area/garden from the sunshaded containers of healing turtles.  All that are able are returned to the sea when healed and healthy.

After almost 2 months of dealing with this corneal ulcer and the amount of strong drugs that I have put into the eye daily, this new specialist has given us the wonderful news that my eye is definitely better!  The wound is finally healing over!  It will leave a scar but it will not affect my vision, which is already returning to its pre-ulcer level.  It is still super sensitive tho to the wind, the cold and the bright sunlight.  The doctor has backed off the drugs down to twice a day, has added back the steroid drops I had been taking for rejection and has added a soothing moisturizing drop to the line up.  What great news!  Thank you Lord – and all my prayer warriors!

Our stay here is just about over.  Some of our list of things to do have been done – the bikes have finally been ridden on the miles of bike trails here in the park.  The sandy beaches of the ocean have been found, including the jetty at the Boynton Inlet.  We’ve even struggled thru a few really bad flea markets!   This weekend is the Chalk Art Festival in downtown Lake Worth.  Bud and Carol are coming for it also!   Our next stop is Manatee Hammock up in Titusville.  Too bad there is no space launch scheduled – the view from that park would have been awesome!