Join Me on a #MeetTheAuthor #EcoTour on the Fabulous St. Johns River

/ Marcia Meara

Cruising the St. Johns Aboard the Naiad

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Start your new year off right! Spend two hours on the fabulous St. Johns River, surrounded by scenic beauty, fantastic birds and wildlife, and a bit of Florida history.  Join me on Saturday, January 14, for a fun afternoon tour, with a  brief pause midway for a reading from my latest book. When we return to the marina, I’ll be available to sign books for anyone interested.

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Me, with My Son & DiL’s Dog, Happy.
(Sorry. You’ll Have to Settle for Just Me on the Tour.)

This is the tour that inspired my Riverbend series, and while we’ve had to say a sad goodbye to Captain Jeanne Bell (who will live forever in our hearts), Doug Little will share his extensive knowledge of the river’s wildlife and history with you. Doug is a first-rate photographer, and thus, was the inspiration for Gunnar Wolfe in Swamp Ghosts, a fact he will be sure to share with you.  😀

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Barred Owls Are Often Seen on the Tour, Up Close and Personal

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Breathtakingly Beautiful Purple Gallinules Nest on Portions of the St. Johns

The tour leaves Highbanks Marina, in DeBary Florida, at 1:30PM, but be there earlier. Perhaps 1:00 to 1:15. You don’t want to get left behind.

For reservations, call 386-626-9004.

I hope you folks who are in the area will come along for a great afternoon. It’s a terrific, peaceful way to unwind, accompanied by lots of moments of high interest and/or excitement when something really cool is spotted. Large alligators, baby alligators, birds of all kinds, manatees, deer, and even black bears have been seen while cruising on the Naiad, so mark you calendars now!

Here are a few of the things you might spot!

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BIG Alligator

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Not So Big Alligators

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Florida Black Bear

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Southern Bald Eagle

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Raccoon

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Great Egret
(Though probably not in breeding plumage this time of year.)

Remember: Call 386-626-9004 for Reservations!
Hope to see you there!

~~~

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Swamp Ghosts: A Riverbend Novel
Finding Hunter: Riverbend Book 2
That Darkest Place: Riverbend Book 3 (Coming Spring, 2017)

 

29 thoughts on “Join Me on a #MeetTheAuthor #EcoTour on the Fabulous St. Johns River”

    • I wish you could join us, too, Mae! It would be so much fun. Doug is a great tour guide, and I’m not bad, myself, in some areas. (I’ve led Audubon field trips before, by canoe, many years ago, and have never lost my love of sharing tidbits on what we’re seeing.)

      If you ever plan a vacation in central Florida, you’ll have to let me know. I’ll take you on the cruise, even if it isn’t a “meet the author” thing. We could just relax and enjoy the sights. You know . . . like regular people! 😀

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        • Hahaha. No one has ever called me a field guide before, though I have a bookshelf full of them. 😀 I was very involved with Florida Audubon many years ago, doing various things over time, like raising orphaned birds, running their art gallery, and yep, leading canoe excursions and field trips now and then. I was once a docent for the Central Florida Zoo a long time ago, too, working with–guess what–snakes. Worn many hats, I have. (Doing my Yoda impersonation, now.)

          Hope you make it down this way! 🙂

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        • I was a painter 25 years ago, teaching beginner acrylic classes, and selling my own decorative/tole work at shows and on eBay. Before that, I had a craft shop. Before that, I was a full-time volunteer at the Florida Audubon Society. Before that . . . well, you get the drift. I seem to reinvent myself every few years, but THIS time, I’ve found the thing I was always meant to be doing, so I’m stickin’ to it. (Because, hello? 72, here. Only so many more chances to try new careers. 😀 )

          BUT, even 25 years ago, I was very into nature and wildlife. I just would have taken you out in a canoe! 😀

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    • It’s freezing here, too–but only because I have the a/c cranked down to sub-zero! 😀 Seriously, it dropped to 54 last night, in a bone-chilling cold spell, but will be up to almost 80 again today. 😦 I’m so ready to have light a cozy fire and curl up for an evening.

      We are supposed to have some 35-ish night time temps over the weekend with highs in the upper 50’s and lower 60’s, but only for two days. Then back to 75-80’s again. SO . . . you definitely should be down here, if you want to warm up. And you’d love the eco-tour, I’ll bet. Put it on your Bucket List, and get here some day! 😀

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