Escapees September-October 2024

skpstops

want to stay at a campground. Big Lagoon has many more hiking trails in different types of terrain so it may be worth a visit, even if you do not want to stay there. We found the hiking to be prettier than at Tarkiln. Being stopped on the trail when I spotted a cottonmouth snake was exciting! We waited until it crossed the trail before moving on. Tarkiln, which is open 365 days a year, 8:00 a.m. to sunset, unless there is a prescribed burn, is located at 2401 Bauer Rd, Pensacola, FL (30.372933 -87.402272). It costs $3 per vehicle; $2 for pedestri ans, bicyclists and extra passengers. Big Lagoon State Park, located at 12301 Gulf Beach Hwy, Pensacola, FL (30.318119 -87.4038) is open daily 8:00 a.m. until sunset. It costs $6 per vehicle to enter. Phone: 850-492-1595. Article and photos by Joyce Space #61818

One Sunday, we drove to Tarkiln Bayou Pre serve State Park which is 10 miles south west of Pensacola, Florida. The name “Tarkiln” refers to the tar kilns in the 1800s which were located on the adjacent peninsula to process the tar removed from southern yellow pines. The park is a preserve for many rare and endangered plant species, the most noted being the pitcher plant. T he fl ower part of the pitcher plant resembles a pitcher, thus its common name. Various species trap and digest insects and other prey in slightly different ways, but, in general, insects and other prey are attracted to the mouth of the pitcher plant from nectar that is secreted along the lip to the interior. The “throat” of the plant is slippery so the insect slides down into a pool at the bottom. Small insects drown there and are then digested by the plant. Some plants also have downward pointing bristles to keep prey, including salamanders, from escaping. Thereare fi ve species of pitcher plants in Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park. The most common is the white-topped (Sarracenia leucophylla) and found only from Southwest Georgia to the Mississippi River. We planned to hike and hopefully fi nd some pitcher plants still alive since it was past their season to bloom. We had a lovely hike and saw hundreds of dead pitcher plants and one barely alive. We are eager to go back in April or May which are the best months to see them in full bloom, though, depending on the weather, they are usually still in bloom in June and July. Starting out on a paved and barrier-free path, the 1.3-mile out-and-back trail becomes a boardwalk across a pitcher plant bog. The boardwalk ends at the Tarkiln Bayou. Along the way are QR codes to inform about the trees and other plants you will see. There is also a 5.8-mile nature loop trail which goes to the Perdido Bay. You might see nesting bald eagles from that trail. On December 25 and January 1, there are annual guided walks where you can learn about the other native and rare plants that inhabit the park. Participants can also learn about the turpentine industry. Tarkiln does not have a campground, but you can drive four miles south to Big Lagoon State Park if you

Apelican fl ieso ff the end of the boardwalk at Tarkiln Bayou.

GUIDELINES FOR SKP STOPS SUBMISSIONS Material for each issue will be selected based on location and the migration of seasonal travel. Submissions of 300 to 500 words are ideal. Due to limited space, submissions will be edited. High-resolution photos are included on a space-avail able basis. Include the name of the photographer and anyone in the photo. HELPFUL HINTS Share unique and o ff -the-beaten-path RV travel destinations. Keep submissions brief and include only pertinent information. Include the best season to visit the destination. Include information on RV parking and accessibility. Send submissions to Escapees Magazine, 100 Rainbow Drive, Livingston, TX 77351, or to editor@escapees.com.

30

ESCAPEES Magazine September/October 2024