Complaints Department - Road Edition - Kingfisher Trail Review

After taking on Pinnacle Mountain I went over across the parking lot to a place I always walked as a cool down from going up and down Pinnacle Mountain. There are some really nice views on this trail as you will be seeing momentarily. For those who don not like hiking at all, like I've heard from a few already, this is a great place for you. Plenty of things here that are a real treat for the eyes. But first, here's something that I caught in the parking lot that was a definite treat for my eyes and I knew it would be for others as well. Check out this '66 'Stang:



This bucket is in tip top for sure. The owner either kept it right or restored it with great care. Anyway, on through the parking lot. In front of the Kingfisher trail there's a place for the little kiddies:

See, there's something for EVERYBODY. Now for the trail:

Anyone who is a birdwatcher or nature lover in any way shape or form will get an absolute appreciation for what's about to follow. Entering the trail, you look down the trail at a sight like this:

The picture really doesn't do this trail justice. Standing in the middle of this trail early in the morning, you get such a sense of peace and serenity that really hits you, I can't explain it any better. Moving through the Kingfisher, you come toward a creek area that runs along the back of the trail and here's your first view of it:

I think it's important to add here that it's a good idea to just stay on the paved trail, poison ivy and thorny shrub run not to far off the trail. Perhaps those with a background in Botany have spotted that already along with these massive wonders:

Tell you what, this is better as I got a lot closer for this shot:

Bald Cypress, these things are such a sight to see. I mean these things are HUGE! Here's a view looking up at these things:

Behind me from this shot are some Paw Paw trees. No fruit on those bad boys, I ain't much for fruit anyway. While moving further down the trail, the creek turns into a shallow area filled with the Cypress Knees:

These things grow upward from the roosts so that the tree can breathe when the place gets flooded, plus it adds some stability for the tree as well. Panning to the left you can see them stretch further on down:

You can probably make out some river cane sprouting all up in here. All throughout this dank marsh mess, you find different types of birds from Wood Ducks to Woodpeckers. Of course you'll also see some Kingfishers as well for which this trail was named after. I didn't spot any that day, they usually hang by the water so they can swoop down and gank something from the water. Oh yeah, almost forgot, WATCH OUT FOR GATORS! They've been known to hang down in the creeks. The trail starts making its way back toward the park from here. If you want, you can sit down on the bench built into this bridge here:

All through this trail you never loose that sense of peacefulness that you get from the first time you set foot on the trail, it's really something. After moving across the bridge a few feet, you can see the parking lot and the vast areas of picnic landscape past the trees. Once you get close to the part of the trail that parallels the parking lot, you can look back and get this view:

Well, this concludes the Road Edition. I hope you all enjoyed it, I know I did. I can't believe I got as much accomplished as I did. Funny thing is that there's still more things to see. If I happen that way again, I'll be sure to dig up those spots and possibly do another Road Edition. I'm still thinking about some of the photos that didn't make the cut. Not sure what to do with them. I'm sure I'll find a use for them.


ROAD EDITION NOW COMPLETE AS PROMISED.