Category: adventure

'scene' along the way, adventure, finding my way, live and learn, perseverance, photography, road trip, technology

Take a lesson…

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Off I went on my own yesterday.  My destination was a covered bridge, found after a web search.  Did I check the map along with the GPS route?  No, and that’s the lesson.  I had options showing on the GPS, so I chose the one farthest to the south since my campground destination is north of where I am right now.  It wasn’t the highway option so it would have photo ops is what I told myself.  And it did…

But as the road wound left and right and up and down I began to wonder if I’d made a mistake.  It was looking like the proverbial middle of nowhere and I kept losing the Serius radio signal, making me wonder what I’d do if I lost the GPS signal.  Or ran out of gas, or didn’t find a bathroom soon.  And that’s when the GPS told me to take a right on Jimmy Lane.  I so wish I’d taken a picture of the turn off because it was a dirt road, no, a dirt trail, which I didn’t think was wide enough for the van.  No, I didn’t take it.  But the GPS kept insisting on equally trail-like turn offs of the road I was on, which, by the way, the GPS was calling ‘unnamed road’.  And then, like a mirage, came this…05-2i-19bridgetrip4Just in the nick of time a gal who was doing some landscaping along the wall told me how to get myself to my destination.  I had said that the GPS had led me astray and she explained that we were on the edge of a 22,000 acre wilderness area, and the trails that the GPS was telling me to take were left-over from the 1800s but for some reason GPS recognized.  They led nowhere she said.  I suspect I’m not the first person to have wandered through the area. I hope I’m not the only one who didn’t take the ‘road less traveled’.  But after that I passed through Newport, NH with a charming town square.

And my arrival at my destination was something of a let down.  It was just there, no fan-fare, a river crossing that led from NH to VT, or vice-versa.  I drove across several times and then decided to head for home, but on the highway this time. A lesson learned…

adventure, butterflies, nature, Nature's beautiful creatures, perseverance, photography, road trip, travel

A day to myself…

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This morning when I wondered what to do with my free day I looked up a wonderful local photographer to see where he liked to go.  Stalking other photographers again.  He had just put pictures of Nixon Park on his Facebook page and I figured that would work.  But by the time I had loaded the camera equipment into the car it was threatening rain.  I needed a plan B, and once I found out that Hershey Gardens had a Butterfly Atrium, an indoor Butterfly Atrium, I was off and running.  It wasn’t a huge space, but the variety of butterflies were amazing.  And lest you think that the butterflies in captivity might be less of a challenge to photograph, let me assure you that they aren’t.    It was a very nice way to spend a few hours, and I considered heading from there to Nixon Park since the weather had cleared.  But then I remembered that I meant to get an oil change before I left Florida.  So I asked Siri to direct me to the nearest Chrysler dealer and it was only 4 miles away from where I was at that moment.  Now I’ll be ready to continue this adventure, but not quite yet, but soon.

I didn’t see the bee in the feature photo.  What I thought I was looking at was a ladybug on the dandelion.  Things aren’t always what they seem…05-10-19blackogrange305-10-19blackogrange405-10-19blackorangepinkflower05-10-19blackorangepinkflower205-10-19blackorangyellowleaf05-10-19blueboy05-10-19butterflykid05-10-19orangeorange05-10-19timestwo05-10-19twoorangeblack605--19orangebutterflygreenleaf05--19owlbutterflyThe Giant Silk Moths were kept in a separate enclosure, with plexiglass walls.  Evidently they don’t discriminate as to where they lay their eggs, and their caterpillars will eat anything and everything.  This one was huge, I didn’t think it was real at first. And that’s their eggs that you see there too.  05-10-19silkmothandeggsOh, and another photographer had quite the dilemma.  I told him I’d send him this picture if he emails me…05--19nikonbutterfly

 

adventure, leap of faith, life goes on, perseverance, photography, road trip, sky, sunrise, weather

One more time…

naturecoastimagesblog

The good thing about stormy weather here on the nature coast is that it makes for spectacular clouds, and that makes for spectacular sunrises and sunsets.  I was up early enough to have gotten myself out to somewhere with a better perspective for photos, but I told myself I have too much to do.  So when I saw the sky I walked up my street thinking I might get a better perspective, but that didn’t happen.  Tomorrow I’ll be on the road by the time the sun comes up.  I wonder where I’ll be for the sunset tomorrow night?  Hope it’s pretty…05-05-19lastdaysunrise

adventure, fun, life goes on, live and learn, perseverance, photography, reality check, road trip, sky, sunset, travel

Mobile living…

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Since I redid the curtains in my ‘Florida room,’ as it’s known here, there is a sliver of window showing above the sheers I have hung up high on the windows.  I love how it looks from the inside, and if I happen to look up and notice the sky in the late afternoon I might see that there is a very pretty sunset going on out there and I’m missing it.  So even though there isn’t a great setting to compose a picture I won’t be able to stand it and I’ll have to go out with the camera anyhow.  I took these pictures a few days ago when the pretty sky out there got me out the door, twice.  The same thing has been known to happen out the front windows in the morning too.  Sometimes I might be sitting here on the computer and thinking there is a torrential rain storm going on, but it’s just the wind rustling the palm fronds.  It sounds just like rain.  When a woodpecker decides to peck on the house it’s pretty darned funny too.  But life is simpler now, and I’m kind of proud of myself for not missing the luxuries, like my dishwasher and garbage disposal.  Of course I haven’t attempted anything fancy cooking-wise, so far at least.  Going to the laundromat isn’t bad either.  And my sleep and wake hours have become more normal.  Early on in living here I was up so early that it was still pitch dark outside when I was ready to take a shower.  It was little horrifying to turn, my hair full of shampoo, and open my eyes, and realize that I was showering in front of a window when it was dark out and the light was blazing inside.  Yikes!  I was thankful I’m not a couple of inches taller.  So living here has probably made me even more ready than ever to take on this ‘mobile’ living thing and really put it into action.  As in heading north and picking up the RV/camper and hitting the road.  I think I’ll be ready.  I’m excited.  I’m the proverbial Little Engine.  I think I can, I think I can…

4-14-19backyardsunset24-14-19backyardsunset

'scene' along the way, adventure, birds, Florida landmarks, Florida wildlife, friends, fun, nature, perseverance, photography, road trip

John’s Pass…

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This photo from the FCCP photo walk last night just might be one of the least colorful one’s that I took, but I found the story behind it to be pretty unique.  We were enjoying being on the boardwalk and the bird’s eye view of the fishing boats that were at anchor, and the fishermen cleaning their fish.  They were being supervised by pelicans, snowy egrets, black crowned night hawks, blue herons, and white egrets, all waiting for scraps from their work.  Not having been there before it was hard to decide where to look first, the cute little shops, the scenery in general, or walk to the beach where the sunset would be happening soon.  One of the other photographers mentioned that when he comes to John’s Pass he always goes down an alley to a little building that has a sign about tarot reading.  I thought he was pointing out a place to eat, but he was talking about the birds, on the roof, on the wires, and on the neighboring buildings.  When we found this place later on the number of birds had dwindled and the owner of the business was hosing down the sidewalk out front.  She said that the birds come to her because of the rescue.  She told us that about 12 years ago a blue heron showed up with a fishing line attached to him, and she liberated him.  Soon another bird came to be rescued, and another, as if they were telling each other where to go when they got caught in the fishing gear.  And so it’s been going for all these years.  Just one little slice of what we saw last night.  After getting home late and having so many photos to go through this is the best I can do for now.  We had hardly gotten out of the car when we arrived and my friend was already declaring that she wanted to come back.  I think that’s a great idea!4-24-19johnspass34-24-19fromtheboardwalknightheron4-24-19john'spasssnowyegret

'scene' along the way, adventure, food, friends, fun, moments, nature, perseverance, photography, road trip, sky, sunset, technology

Recognition where it’s due…

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Let’s face it, I was never going to have worked at Publix long enough to be invited to one of their awards ceremonies.  Not when I took a part-time job as a second career, and not really understanding what a great company it was going to be to work for.  But the friends I made there have outlasted my years at Publix, and my friend Dee asked me to come with her as she was honored for her 25 years with the company.  The fireman’s daughter in me doesn’t mind admitting that I have never been to a resort as lovely as this one.  The view from the balcony of our room was spectacular right from go.  Hence the panoramic photo above,  I didn’t bring my camera so it was the trusty iPhone 7+ to the rescue.  I took a few pictures right away, and I could also see that the sunset was going to happen right out there, I’d have a front row seat.  Except the banquet might not end in time for me to see it.  Except it did, barely, and I snapped one picture as I raced to find my way back to the room for more photos.  I made it in time for a few photos, and I even made it back to the banquet in time for dessert.  Perfect!  Well, the only thing that would have made it more perfect was if we had thought to bring bathing suits so we could ride the lazy river rafting pool that was drifting along out there.  Now that would have been the icing on the cake!  Sorry, bakery worker pun there…04-06-19Omnifirst04-06-19Omnifirst04-06-19Omnifirst204-06-19Omni104-06-19Omnisunset04-06-19Omnisunset2