Castle Windy Trail
Oak Hill, Florida
07 11 2020
1:39 PM EST
28°53'49"N 80°48'18"W
90° F, 32.2° C
69% RH
E 7 mph
Coastal Hammock
Recreational, National Park
Trail descriptions published online say there is always a breeze at Castle Windy, however, sweat beads dot our cheeks and the air is thick and still. We take our first steps underneath the dense hammock and hear a thousand tiny saltshakers; cicadas and their grand spectacle of noise. A low-flying Cessna circles above, its drone blending in. Even in nature, freedom from artificial sounds is impossible. Perhaps a sound-free environment would be unbearable, a din of neural noise and an overwhelming desire to pop the ears.
As we walk, we spot cabbage palm, scorpion's tail, and the occasional orange tree leftover from when the city of Eldora thrived and its chief export was citrus. These ancient dunes are topped with live oak, eastern red cedar, sabal palm, and yaupon holly. Fallen Air Plants lay scattered on the ground.
We stop to watch a zebra longwing butterfly. Its wings appear black with several narrow, yellow stripes as it moves erratically through the air. Thunder rolls over, signaling a late afternoon thunderstorm. We follow the shaded and linear trail until we reach a narrow entrance to a Lagoon. We see a hermit crab perched on a small stick.
As we walk, we spot cabbage palm, scorpion's tail, and the occasional orange tree leftover from when the city of Eldora thrived and its chief export was citrus. These ancient dunes are topped with live oak, eastern red cedar, sabal palm, and yaupon holly. Fallen Air Plants lay scattered on the ground.
We stop to watch a zebra longwing butterfly. Its wings appear black with several narrow, yellow stripes as it moves erratically through the air. Thunder rolls over, signaling a late afternoon thunderstorm. We follow the shaded and linear trail until we reach a narrow entrance to a Lagoon. We see a hermit crab perched on a small stick.
The sunlight flickers and shimmers along the shoreline, occasionally catching the back of an oyster shell with a tiny flash. This is the only trail in Canaveral National Seashore spanning the entire barrier island, a clear path from the Atlantic Ocean to Mosquito Lagoon.
Among the overgrowth is a picnic table, baked and splintered from the sun. We climb up and stand on top. The wood gives a little beneath our feet. We record the wind and thunder; the cicadas instantly go silent. About a minute passes before they resume with a slight stutter.
Beyond the table is a large Sisal; a species of Agave. This succulent plant reminds us of the desert. It appears out of place here among the Florida strangler and heavy scrub, a cactus in the middle of a forest.
We are now soaked with sweat. A breeze brings the scent of rain as we make a fitful effort to sip our water and put the bottles back in our packs. We begin our walk back to the car.
Among the overgrowth is a picnic table, baked and splintered from the sun. We climb up and stand on top. The wood gives a little beneath our feet. We record the wind and thunder; the cicadas instantly go silent. About a minute passes before they resume with a slight stutter.
Beyond the table is a large Sisal; a species of Agave. This succulent plant reminds us of the desert. It appears out of place here among the Florida strangler and heavy scrub, a cactus in the middle of a forest.
We are now soaked with sweat. A breeze brings the scent of rain as we make a fitful effort to sip our water and put the bottles back in our packs. We begin our walk back to the car.