Warner-Boyce Salt Springs, the annex…

Almost immediately outside the gates to my home park is this little nature trail, which I had walked down before with friends.  But the other day I was by myself.  It’s part of a bigger park that’s a few miles down the road, but this part is small, and quiet.  It was sunny, which is why I was out in the first place, but I was surprised that my car was the only one in the parking lot.  But I started down the path anyhow, hoping to see, I don’t know exactly, I guess I was ready to be surprised.

The surprise proved to be how different the whole experience was when you are hiking by yourself.  The path was narrow, and as I walked it got shadier, and darker.  And I began to notice that there was water along side the trail.  And I got to wondering what creatures were lurking in the water, or on the path just around the bend.  From my previous trip I knew that the path made a loop, and just as I began to question the wisdom of the solitary journey the trail be gan to get damp.  No, muddy.  And the mud began to pull at my shoes as I took each step.  By this time I wasn’t sure if I would get back to the car more quickly if I turned around or kept going.  So I stayed the course.I began to wonder if I was more worried about four legged predators or two legged predators.  I wondered if it’s legal to carry mace in Florida?  But the reality was the only creature I did startle on the path was a partridge, or maybe it was a wild turkey.  It disappeared into the thick bush too quickly for a photo.  And I walked some more and began to hear traffic noises.

And I was back in the sunshine at the parking lot.  It was an adventure but all the excitement took place in my own mind.  I’m grateful for that…