I have a passion for the outdoors and I am most happy enjoying what nature has to offer. Hobbies include photography, birding, Pickleball, astronomy, biking, and hiking. I have been happily married, for 50 years, to an amazing person.
“I think this one will do!”Focused“Hurry, I can’t hold this smile forever.”“I Wish I May,I Wish I Might, have her gone from my sight/site.”
“If I close my eyes and wish, really hard, for her to go away now, will she?”
When we pulled into our RV site at Little Manatee River State Park, last Sunday, this beauty was there to welcome us. After that first day, I didn’t see her any more. On Saturday afternoon she came back for a visit; ate, walked around and then headed across the street to visit the people in site 20.
~~~
For information about the Gopher Tortoise go to this web-site:
I remember, as a little girl, one of my favorite things to do was to find a tree with just the right crooked branch. One that curved just enough for me to lie in. Â I called it my “reading” branch. I would grab a mystery book, climb into my tree and lay there and read. What fun! You would think that time would pass slowly, but it didn’t. Before long it was time to climb down.
I also remember climbing a tree in my Brownies’ uniform/dress and falling out of it, splat! It knocked the wind out of me, but I didn’t hold a grudge against the tree!
These days I just love to take photos of gorgeous trees.
One is an explorer, always ready for a hike, loves to go down any trail, loves to go down anything that looks like a trail, remembers the ones she had been down and wants to go down the path when she passes it again. When The Explorer feels she hasn’t explored enough and we try to turn around, she stubbornly refuses to head back.
The other, I affectionally call the lagger. She lags behind, well, because she is basically lazy and spoiled! But, man can she travel fast when, I say: Â “okay, lets go back”! She trots full speed ahead and wants to be in the lead. Howard and I look at each other and just laugh.
I dearly love my pack and enjoy every step taken with them by my side.
Can you tell which one is the Explorer and which one is the Lagger?
Rainbow Springs State Park is a Florida State Park located on U.S. 41, three miles north of Dunnellon, Florida. It comprises 1,459.07 acres upland and 12.83 acres submerged. The most significant natural feature is the first magnitude headspring basin which produces up to 600,000,000 US gallons of fresh water per day, forming The Rainbow River. The looking glass waters of Rainbow Springs come from several vents, not one large bubbling spring.
The river itself supports a wide variety of fish, wildlife, and plants, many within easy viewing by visitors. In total, the park contains 11 distinct natural communities, including sandhills, flatwoods, upland mixed forests, and hydric hammocks. (info from the web)
One of our favorite things to do, when visiting a place, is to seek out local restaurants. While camping at Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon, Florida, we discovered a wonderful place. Howard first noticed this restaurant, because they had a huge smoker and it was sending smoke signals up into the air. Howard enjoyed a 9 out of 10 rating (his) pulled-pork sandwich and I had the very best smoked salmon I have ever tasted.
We also love to seek out great tasting micro-brew! No, no only one beer or a few samples at a time! {grins}
Loafer’s Restaurant has an extensive list of draft, micro-brews! We were given a couple samples and chose one called – Liquid Bliss, a Chocolate-Peanut Butter beer brewed by Terrapin Brewery in Athens, GA. One might think that this beer would have an overpowering favor of peanut butter, but it doesn’t! It is delightful.
With two visits, to Loafer’s, we accomplished – Pure Bliss!
Wolf Song Blog 