After a long week at work, I needed time out and away from the daily routine. But where to go? When I have “photography block” and I’m not sure where to head out and explore or things are not “right” (real or imagined) for places I’ve scouted before, Brevard county is my fall back area, north/central Brevard to be exact. Why?
Most of my dads family have lived there my entire life. So over 30+ years the area has become this Orlando natives second home, and honestly compared to the craziness and constant growth the Orlando area has become the Brevard area is my 30 minute drive to tranquility.
I woke up at 4:00 AM, grabbed the gear and stopped by Wawa for gas and coffee. This has become the tradition when I’m going out to explore and it gives me time to narrow down ideas.
Today the Indian River was the winner and I’m glad it did!
Along the drive east I remembered fishing under the 528 bridge and decided it might be a good place to start the day. Its a bit of a trick to get under the bridge, especially in the dark that involves getting off the 528 on the Merritt Island side, get back on heading west and pull off a 70 mph highway in the dark onto a seriously hidden dirt road (no 4x4 needed) and like magic your under the bridge!
As soon as I parked I knew I had made the right call. Clouds, light wind and lights from nearby Cocoa and west Merritt Island illuminated the area. I pulled out the gear and began composing.
Luckily it being a work day, I had the spot to myself, and minus a few left overs from fishing trips before me the area was clean and safe to wander around.
Thanks to a bit of planning on the app Planit! and a lot of luck, I was able to catch the moon rising with sunrise hot on its heels.
As the sun began to rise cloud cover began to creep in. I assumed the day was over, while I was packing up I just miss an osprey making a catch, “Well guess the morning isn’t over yet”.
Along with the birds fishing boats begin running the river, either planning to fish the river itself or heading to one of the channels connecting it with Sykes Creek, the smaller Banana River and eventually the Atlantic itself, I am dying to finally get the guts to wave one down to drop me off at one of the many islands on the river. I’m just dying to explore them! How I’d get back is a problem I probably worry about after the fact, knowing myself.
At dawn the shrimp boats start to head out.
Bird watchers will love the Indian River as at dawn thousands start making their way from spending the night on the Island to spending the day on the mainland (and visa versa)
All in all visiting the Indian River is a beautiful, peaceful and almost spiritual way to spend not just a morning but anytime of day. And not just under the particular bridge I visited. There are many parking areas (both official and not so much but they are easy to see during a drive by). No matter what you are into, swimming, fishing, photography, bird watching or just a picnic!
Growth is showing it’s price on the area however, the water not as clear, the fish not as abundant. The state and local area needs to address the issues and lack of flow the Indian River now has due to slowing and in some cases even closing routes of flow to and from the ocean. More visitors and more public outcry will do more to further helping this problem. Plus its FREE!!!!