There Are Mountains in Georgia!!!

Posted on May 19, 2013 by fran

Wow! I can’t believe it’s been a month since I rolled out of Florida and into Georgia. I’ve been saving up my Georgia experiences thinking it would be easy to condense them into one blog post, but I found myself enjoying the state so much I stayed longer than anticipated. Now I have the difficult task of whittling down the highlights and images. That’s never easy for me because I want to share everything!

I never would have guessed that Georgia was such a mountainous state. These mountains don’t rival peaks of the Cascade, Sierra Nevada, and Rocky Mountain ranges, but they are spectacular just the same. What I thought would be a fairly brief journey through Georgia turned into a few weeks, as I “feasted” on the the scenery… the forests, lakes, rivers and waterfalls… while they were brought exuberantly back to life by the wonders of spring!

At the recommendation of some of my new friends in Florida I planned my first stay near Calloway Gardens in Pine Mountain. I usually opt to camp in state and national parks when possible. Most don’t provide full hook-ups (utilities) and they rarely have wifi available, but they all sit in the midst of nature. Camping next to a lake or stream, easy access to hiking trails, and meeting friendly neighbors who enjoy the same is worth the inconvenience of using the “dump station” on my way out of a campground, and having to find a nearby coffee shop to take care of business online.

My first Georgia campsite was at F.D. Roosevelt State Park, just outside of Pine Mountain. I managed to score an enviable lakefront site that I was thrilled to call home for a few days. While there I took Jazzy and Sadie for several hikes in the woods, visited Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “Little White House”, and enjoyed watching a pair of geese and their adorable fuzzy yellow offspring!

Lake Delano in F.D. Roosevelt State Park, GA

F.D. Roosevelt State Park, Pine Mountain GA

My campsite along Lake Delano

F.D. Roosevelt State Park, Pine Mountain Georgia

Momma goose and her babies on Lake Delano

Chillin’ and Grillin’ at home in F.D. Roosevelt State Park (self portrait)

One neighbor I met, Joe, was on a solo exodus in nature while contemplating his future, his career, and in particular some choices he felt he had to make. Was it fate that brought him casting and reeling past my campsite? Our conversation started light…

“Hey… good evening.”

“Hi. I’ve been following this one bass all the way from my campsite.”

“Hmmmmm… Is his name Walter?”

My attempt at humor was met with a blank “who the heck is Walter” expression.

“Walter! You know… the trophy size bass that Norman pursues for years in the movie On Golden Pond.”

Still a blank expression.

“Ummmm… well… ok. I guess it’s an old movie.” I say as I glance away concealing a smile and only a slight bit of embarrassment.

We spent a fair bit of time chatting over the next few days… about life, about choices, and the importance of staying true to yourself and your convictions. I was truly impressed at the depth and understanding of this young man for his age.

A few days ago I came across a plaque with a quote on it that made me think of Joe and immediately snapped a shot of it with my cell phone and sent it to him.

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Lake Delano, FD Roosevelt State Park, Georgia

Joe, in pursuit of “Walter”

I spent one full day at Calloway Gardens. Unfortunately I was about a week or two late for their colorful azalea blooms, but found that there was still much to enjoy about this place. Walking amidst thousands of butterflies in the Day Butterfly Center was a delightful experience.

Day Butterfly Center, Calloway Gardens, Pine Mountain GA

New arrivals emerging from their chrysalides

Paper Kite Butterfly, Calloway Gardens

They also have a very nice “Birds of Prey” show which, of course, I couldn’t pass up. It was a good and educational show, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a Red-shouldered Hawk featured along with a few other hawks and owls. This is the same type of hawk that I managed to untangle from fishing line and hold for a few moments while kayaking in Florida. (Story and picture here… Friends Along Florida Waterways)

Red-shouldered Hawk, Calloway Gardens

Barred Owl, Calloway Gardens

Barred Owl

Azaleas across a pond in Calloway Gardens

Colorful leaves, Calloway Gardens

To top of the day, I indulged myself in their Treetop Adventure and Zip-line course. This was a rather intense obstacle course stretching from tree top to tree top, and I was glad to be wearing a safety harness as I wobbled and swung and teetered from one challenge to the next. I did the entire course with a GoPro video camera attached to my helmet, but have yet to find time to edit the lengthy clip. (Hope to add it soon!!!)

After Pine Mountain I made yet another pit stop in Atlanta to visit my friends Eddie Tapp and Judy Host. I’ve written about these dear friends a few times before. (Fellow photographers and kindred spirits) It’s rare that I plan my route to include large cities, but there’s no way I’d pass through the state of Georgia without visiting these two special people. Thank you, my friends, for hosting me and my girls once again!

From Atlanta I made my way to Vogel State Park at the southern fringe of the Smoky Mountains. Here I scored another awesome campsite right along Wolf Creek, and spent my days hiking trails to one waterfall after another.

Wolf Creek, Vogel State Park

Trees in the mist near Vogel State Park, Georgia

Anna Ruby Falls, Unicoi State Park, Georgia

The fresh green of spring in Vogel State Park

‘Tis the season! While hiking through the park along Trahlyta Lake one rainy morning I came upon this mother goose protectively sheltering her babies from the rain. I didn’t know until I passed by again how many there were!

Momma goose and babies in the rain, Vogel State Park

Momma and her babies AFTER the rain!!

Wild Iris, Vogel State Park

Trahlyta Falls, Vogel State Park

Helton Creek Falls near Vogel State Park

Dog Hobble, near Vogel State Park

Upper Desoto Falls near Vogel State Park

Lower Desoto Falls, near Vogel State Park

My campsite along Wolf Creek, Vogel State Park

My next stop was not too far down the road… Tallulah Gorge State Park. I arrived and set up camp in the pouring rain, which is never fun but goes with the territory from time to time. I accept it, deal with it, and then count my blessings as I peel off my soggy attire while stepping into a dry motorhome instead of crawling into a damp tent. I did plenty of that, sometimes for days on end, while living in Washington.

The following morning I hiked the North Rim trail with Jazzy and Sadie, and enjoyed several overlooks along the way. Knowing they were not allowed on the suspension bridge I set out on my own that afternoon to hike the South Rim trail, then down 1099 steps to the Hurricane Falls lookout point at the bottom of the gorge (and back up again!!), and back across the suspension bridge, which stretches high over the gorge floor, to the north rim and my campsite beyond.

Tallulah Gorge

L’Eau d’Or Falls (french for Water of Gold) Tallulah Gorge

Hurricane Falls, Tallulah Gorge

Steps to the bottom of Tallulah Gorge (1099 of them!)

This 1000 ft deep gorge is absolutely stunning, and well worth a visit if you ever find yourself in the area. Unfortunately the hikes I’d planned on doing down to and around the bottom of the gorge were closed due to weather and trail conditions, so I cut my stay one day short and headed off to my next destination… Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee.

View of the southern Smoky Mountains from a turn out on Highway 76 between Clayton and Hiawassee.

I have to admit the campground gods have been looking favorably upon me lately. I scored yet another great campsite, right on the waterfront of Lake Chatuge, at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. Moments after setting up camp I dropped my kayak in the water for the first time since leaving Florida. I did find myself missing the birds I grew to love along the Florida waterways, and thought it almost comical when I remembered there was no need to keep a lookout for alligator anymore. I was a bit startled when a goose came racing off the water and flew right at me, but realized it was my granola bar he was after, not me. I’m guessing he’s been fed a wee bit too much people food!

Another great campsite, Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Hiawassee GA

Hungry goose chasing me down for my granola bar while kayaking on Chatuge Lake

Although most of the Rhododendrons had not yet reached bloom, I enjoyed hiking through Hamilton Garden located right there at the fairgrounds.

Trail hike in Hamilton Rhododendron Gardens at Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds

Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Hiawassee Georgia

Rhododendron, Hamilton Rhododendron Gardens

Rhododendron bud,
Hamilton Rhododendron Garden

Iris, Hamilton Rhododendron Garden

Brasstown Bald, the highest peak in Georgia, was only about fifteen miles down the road, so I made a point of checking it out my first day in town. I was so entranced by the 360 degree view that I set my alarm for early the following morning so I could reach the parking lot well before sunrise, giving me time to hike to the top in time to capture the first light of morning. As it happened it was a very foggy morning, so no “sunrise” to speak of, but the foggy layers woven between the mountains held a mystical beauty all their own.

Afternoon view from the top of Brasstown Bald

Early morning from Brasstown Bald

Morning fog from Brasstown Bald

On the trail back down Brasstown Bald

Sadie and Jazzy enjoying the hike with me on Brasstown Bald

As it happened, my friend (and Canon contact during my time on their elite team of “Explorers of Light”) Steve Inglima was visiting his brother not far from me in North Carolina. He took the time to come down for a visit one afternoon, and showed me some of the sites I had not yet seen. The tiny little community of Brasstown was one of them. Field of the Woods in Murphy was another. The intense religious conviction that went into the creation of this place reminded me of another place I visited while journeying through southern California… Salvation Mountain. Thank you Steve, for taking the time. It was wonderful to see you!

Little front porch in Brasstown Georgia

Field of the Woods

There’s a song that’s been slow dancing through my head since the morning I crossed over into the Carolina’s, and I can still hear old Willie now… singing “Georgia on my Mind.”

One last peaceful image of a foggy morning from my campsite on Chatuge Lake…

Foggy morning on Lake Chatuge

Memories of Florida

Posted on April 29, 2013 by fran

It feels good to be on the road again after four months of sitting still. I was rarely still mind you, but “The Beast” was… sitting in the shade of a big oak tree that dropped things on her constantly, (acorns, tufts of spanish moss, twigs and even limbs at times, not to mention the dust and pollen) and was home to a lot of birds who dropped things on her too! And although I walked Jazzy and Sadie several times a day, they spent a fair bit of time waiting patiently for me to return from a water excursion that did not include them. They clearly share my joy to be on the road again, not to mention the new trails and scents to be found along the way. As the miles disappear beneath me though, my melancholy mind draws me back to my memories of Florida.

Of all the states I’ve been through on my journey, Florida has seen the most of me. One month last spring, and four months this winter and early spring add up to a little more than a quarter of my time out here. I’ve already written about Florida nine times. (see My Favorite Places Revisited for quick links to all of them) You would think I’d run out of things to share, but the experiences just kept coming.

My new friends Glen and Gwen, and their “Gulf to Lake Paddlers” group, got me out on Rainbow River a second time. It was interesting to see how springtime had changed the landscape in the two weeks since we had been there. Many of the birds even acted differently. I’d never tire of the unique and diverse variety of birds in Florida, especially along the waterways.

Great Egret takes flight over Rainbow River

Great Blue Heron in breeding plumage fishes the shores of Rainbow River

Juvenile Little Blue Heron, just starting to show his true colors!

White Ibis in flight over Rainbow River.

Male Anhinga, sporting his breeding colors (note green around eyes), rests above Rainbow River.

Spring colors at Rainbow River

I was fortunate to get my daughter, Elissa, out to visit me twice while camped in Florida. We enjoyed some day trips, including Tarpon Springs and Cedar Key. And although she was a little reluctant at first, I got her out kayaking along Halls and Homosassa Rivers, and ultimately out on the Weeki Wachee. There’s no doubt she enjoyed both adventures immensely!

Kayaking Halls River with Elissa and our new friend Reuben.

School of dolphin making a meal of mullet along Homosassa River

Momma Wood Duck cruises with her babies on Homosassa River

Little Blue Heron, Weeki Wachee Springs

Weeki Wachee Springs

We were also treated to a private stroll along the Three Sisters Springs boardwalk with my friend Kathy. This was shortly before the warmer weather took most of the manatee back out into the Gulf.

Manatee at Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River

Great Horned Owl, Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park

Curious turtle at Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park

One thing about staying camped in one place for awhile, it’s easier to build friendships with the people I meet. That was the case with Trish and RD Daniels, and their friend Jim. Trish and RD (neighbors in the campground) invited me to join them for a day trip to the Clearwater Beach area to visit their friend Jim. We had a marvelous time taking a ferry out to Caladesi Island where we strolled the beach for quite some time, talking and plucking seashells from the sand, followed by a sunset dinner on Clearwater Beach.

A walk on Caladesi Island with new friends Trish, RD and Jim.

Willet’s standing on the shores of Caladesi Island

Seashell seashore of Caladesi Island

Gopher Tortoise grabbing a meal on Caladesi Island

Enjoyed dinner at sunset on Clearwater Beach with Trish, RD and Jim.

Another outing, this time to Crystal River and Three Sisters Springs, with my “Gulf to Lake Paddlers” friends. I’m really going to miss this gang!

Gulf to Lake Paddlers, Three Sisters Springs.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Crystal River

And days before I rolled out of Homosassa/Crystal River area my wonderful friends Gwen and Glen took me out for a fishing excursion on the Gulf. I managed to catch a two Spotted Sea Trout and two Mackerel. I gave the Mackerel to friends, but made a couple of yummy meals out of the Trout. We spotted a few bald eagle on the way back up Crystal River. Such magnificent birds!

Catch of the day! Mackerel on the left and Spotted Sea Trout on the right.

Bald eagle perched atop a palm on Crystal River

Bald eagle in flight over Crystal River

Four months after my arrival in Homosassa, it was finally time to go. I found myself having to go through a mental checklist before hitting the road. The important things that had become so routine felt oddly new to me again, for a few minutes anyway… secure everything that can slide or fall while mobile, awning in, patio chairs and grill stowed, slides in, jacks up, unhook utilities, clean and stow same, program GPS, dogs in, steps up, break off, take a good look in every direction and take a big WIDE turn out of campsite, find a spacious place to pull over and park, run back for the car, hook up, run through all the gears and let it idle in neutral for 3 minutes, put her in AUX mode, hop behind the wheel of The Beast, buckle up and hit the road with plenty of water, good tunes and a smile!!!

At the recommendation of my friend Jim at Nature’s I made one last stop before leaving the state… Ochlockonee River State Park. This is a small but beautiful park just south of Sopchoppy Florida, home of the Worm Gruntin’ Festival. I got such a kick out of this (and the fact that I’d missed it by a couple days) that I had to stop and ask a local to clue me in. Worm grunting is a technique used for bringing earthworms (bait) to the surface. The “grunters” pound a wooden rod into the ground and rub a metal flatiron back and forth across the top of it. The vibration either gets them excited or drives the worms crazy, but it brings them to the surface.

My campsite right along the river in Ochlockonee River State Park

Pines and Palmettos, Ocklockonee River State Park

This park is well known for their unusual White Squirrels which weren’t running around in abundance like the others, but I did manage to find a few.

White Squirrel, Ochlockonee River State Park

Small pond surrounded by Pine trees in Ochlockonee River State Park

While camped here I dropped my kayak in the water for a 7.5 mile solo adventure on a loop up the Ochlockonee River, down the twists and turns of Bear Creek, and back up the river to the campground. It was a hot, muggy afternoon, but the exercise felt good and I enjoyed the peacefulness and critters along the way.

This Osprey, carrying a rather sizable branch, reminded me of the endless walks I took with the dogs while camped in Homosassa. I was amazed to watch Osprey flying above the treetops and snapping off brittle branches to use in their nests.

Osprey busy building a nest. Ochlockonee River

Curious Alligator on Bear Creek

At the recommendation of the park ranger I took a side trip to Wakulla Springs State Park and did their boat ride. It’s the only way to see most of this beautiful bit of waterway since they don’t allow any other boats on the water within the park, and there are no trails along the water. Because of this there’s an abundance of wildlife. Lots of alligator, turtles and of course all the birds I’ve grown to love. I also visited St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, a vast haven for Florida’s critters.

Nesting Osprey, Wakulla Springs

Bald cypress, Wakulla Springs

Great Egret in breeding plumage, Wakulla Springs

Bald Cypress, Wakulla Springs

Nesting Osprey, Wakulla Springs

Tri-colored Heron, St. Marks Wildlife Refuge

Florida was a special place for me in many ways. The waterways, especially those that can’t be accessed by motorboat, were absolutely stunning. And as I’ve mentioned, I’m a big fan of the birds found throughout the state. What I’ll remember most about Florida though is the wonderful new friends I met there. There are far too many of you to name here, but I know you know who you are. I want YOU to know that you will all be a part of my treasured memories as I travel down the road.

***Note, for those of you who are unaware, I’ve finally created a Journey In Focus Facebook page where you will find more frequent tidbits as I travel. Feel free to go there, and if you’d like, you can “like” it. https://www.facebook.com/JourneyInFocus Remember also that you can sign up for email notifications when I post here by clicking on the mail icon at the top of my home page. And feel free to leave your comments here! I always enjoy hearing from y’all!

My Favorite Places Revisited

Posted on April 21, 2013 by fran

Hello friends! I know some of you have been wondering where I’ve been. Amazingly, until a couple days ago I hadn’t moved in nearly four months. My last few blog posts were about my time in a special part of Florida… Homosassa/Crystal River… and in particular, the wonderful experiences I had and the special friends I met there. My time was so full that I decided to take a little hiatus from blogging… give myself permission to let it go for awhile, breath and enjoy the days. Letting go of life’s pressures WAS after all, one of the purposes of this journey.

So I kayaked, and did road trips, and spent time with friends, and walked the dogs a LOT! And I worked on other projects, including a “slideshow” from my first fifteen months on the road. THAT was one hellava big task! But it was inspiring, even to me.

After more than 23,000 miles on the road, not to mention hundreds on foot and nearly that many by kayak, I was overwhelmed. More importantly… I was grateful. I was grateful for the gift bestowed on all of us of this great land. I was grateful for the spirit it took to put myself out here. And I was grateful for the vision to see and capture the stunning vistas, and incredible animals, and memorable moments… to share.

I’ve been asked numerous questions while on my journey, the most amusing of which is, “You drive that big thing… YOURSELF?” Honestly, it never occurred to me that I couldn’t. The number one question though, is “Of all the places you’ve been, where were your favorites?”

While working on my slideshow I was inspired to consider this question, pick my favorites, and share my answers with you. Picking my favorites was harder than it might seem, for a number of reasons. First of all, it’s limited to places I’ve been on my journey. The choices may also be skewed by other factors… weather, season, how much time I had in any given place, and what I was able to do with that time. There’s no doubt in my mind that I’ve yet to see some of my favorite places, and that some of the places I’ve seen might have been favorites if only I’d had good weather, or more time.

Five favorites seemed like a fair number, but I constantly found myself wanting to add more. And of course… there were an overwhelming number of images from these places to share in one post. My remedy to that is to share a few select images, and the links (in blue) to my writings about these places. By following the links to the pages you will not only see more of the beauty, but read about the experiences as well. I also decided not to limit myself to one “stopover” point, one town, or one park, but rather “areas” that I feel comfortable grouping together as “a place”.

Keep in mind also, that I grew up in Washington State and lived in California for more than fifteen years. Both are amazingly beautiful and diverse states, but neither is on my list simply because they were not in the least bit new to me. They are both well deserving of top honors though, and if you read my posts about them you’ll understand why. (Just type Washington or California in the search bar at the top of my home page.)

So… here we go… in random order;

Upstate New York- I traveled into New York State through the southern tip of Canada (Niagara Falls area), and almost hate to admit how astonished I was as I made my way across the state. From Letchworth State Park, through the Finger Lakes region, and into the Adirondack Mountains. The landscape was lush… the lakes and waterfalls gorgeous!

Middle Falls in Letchworth State Park

Watkins Glen Gorge, Watkins Glen New York

Enfield Creek, Robert H. Treman State Park

Seventh Lake, New York

Ausable River near Lake Placid

Read my tales from Upstate New York at these links.

Crossing Into New York

Come Along on a Walk with Me!

Where Fairy Tales are Born

Trips and Trails and Puppy Dog Tales

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Oregon Coast- Having grown up in Washington the Oregon coastline was not entirely new to me, but I had not seen it since I was young and never in it’s entirety. I did a multi-day side trip to see the northern part of this coastline while I was home in Washington visiting family. Cannon Beach was the first place Jazzy and Sadie ever set foot on a beach, and they LOVED it. They ran and romped and played gleefully in the soft sand and cool breeze.

I traveled the southern part of this coastline when I continued on my journey after more than a month in Washington. My camp spots were almost always within the sound of the surf. The peaceful sound of the waves rolling rhythmically into shore is something I’ll never grow tired of. And of course the dogs loved our crisp morning walks in the sand. I did ride out one of the most brutal storms I’ve endured on this journey while camped along the shore in Gold Beach, but by morning the skies were beautiful, and everything even fresher than the day before!

Cannon Beach

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach

Oregon Sand Dunes near Coos Bay

After the storm, Oregon coast

Oregon Coast

Read and see more here!

The Oregon Coast

When I Think it Can’t Possibly Get Any Better…

Stormy Weather

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Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks- Where do I begin! Between the stunning vistas, the many hiking trails, and the amazing variety and abundance of wildlife I was in paradise between these two parks. Not only once, but twice I traveled here on my journey. It was so hard to drive away from here that I pushed back my departure three days in a row. To put it simply… mountains, lakes, rivers, bison, antelope, and moose. Lots of ‘em!

Autumn color before the Grand Tetons.

Bull Bison and Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

Osprey bringing fish to the nest, near West Yellowstone

On a day ride from West Yellowstone up to the Continental Divide and the border of Idaho.

Old barn and the Grand Tetons from Mormon Row.

Jackson Lake and the Grand Tetons.

Lots of goodies to see and read about here!

Sunrise on The Tetons

Teton and Yellowstone National Parks

The Road to Yellowstone

Tetons… Way Beyond Grand

Full Circle Through Eden

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Upper Peninsula of Michigan- I’d always heard how beautiful the “U.P.” is, and I swore one day I’d get there. When the time finally came I wasn’t disappointed. I’m glad I allowed myself ample time to experience this place from west to east. My only regret was leaving before the turning of the autumn leaves. All the more reason to come back one day. One thing that will always stand out to me was having to keep telling myself, while watching the waves crash ashore on Lake Superior, “This is not an ocean!”

Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

MichiganPictured Rocks along Lake Superior, Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore along Lake Superior, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

A hike in the woods, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Lower Tahquamenon Falls, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Crisp Point Lighthouse, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Yakin’ with Jazzy and Sadie in Tahquamenon Falls State Park

Beautiful images and some good stories here…

Pure Michigan- The Upper Peninsula (part one)

Pure Michigan- The Upper Peninsula (part two)

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The Waterways of Florida- I’m writing this post a day after departing Florida for the second time on my journey. Last spring I spent a month traveling throughout the state, mostly under a storm cloud. I made camp in numerous places between the western gulf shores, the Keys, and all the way up the east coast. This time around I spent more than four months hovering south of “old man winter”. Most of that time was spent camped in one place… Nature’s Resort in Homosassa. Before my arrival in Homosassa the longest I camped in one place was a week. (My average stay was 3-4 days!) It was not my intention to stay in one place, but the price was right and there was no shortage of beautiful places to see!

Ichetucknee Springs

Great Egret flying over Santa Fe River

Sunset from my campsite on Grassy Key

My first Manatee encounter, Homosassa River

Great Blue Heron flies over Halls River

Kayaking with friends at Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River

Read all about this marvelous state! (These posts are from spring of 1012 and winter of 2013)

Rolling Into Spring

New Sights and New Routines

Bird is the Word

Between Spring Showers

Final Days in Florida (2012)

Florida Take Two

The Warmth of Homosassa

More Beauty Around Homosassa

Friends Along Florida Waterways

Memories of Florida

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There were several other places vying for the top five spots here, and well worth mentioning. As stated, Washington State… in particular the North Cascades, the Olympic Peninsula, and the San Juan Islands in the Puget Sound. California… the northern coastline, Redwood Forest, Yosemite and Sonoma Valley. Glacier National Park… WOW! Colorado… the entire western two-thirds! Sedona… one of the most unimaginably stunning places I’ve ever seen. Utah… from Arches National Park all the way down through Canyonlands National Park and beyond was breathtaking!! (My posts about all of these places can be accessed through the search bar at the top of my home page.)

While working on the slideshow I was reminded not only of the beautiful places I have been, but also the unforgettable experiences I’ve had along the way. Seeing old friends and meeting new ones will always be at the top of that list. But the list goes on… kayaking amongst groups of dolphin, swimming with Manatee, getting up close with the mountain goats in Glacier National Park, an amazing wolf encounter that left me breathless, witnessing the birth of a baby Llama, rescuing and holding a hawk in Florida, and not only sharing more than 23,000 miles on the road, but hiking hundreds of miles of trails and shores with the two best dogs I know… Jazzy and Sadie.

And of course… spending time with my daughter, Elissa, at numerous beautiful spots across the country is one of those special blessings I could not have done without.

Kayaking with my girl!

Friends along Florida Waterways

Posted on March 5, 2013 by fran

Sorry once again for the delay in sharing my stories with you. I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy some great experiences with many new friends here in Florida, especially on the waterways. Lots of outdoor experiences means much time spent on my computer, loading and culling through the images I gather along the way, not to mention the tagging and writing.

The first stop I made during this venture into Florida was the Orlando area. It was there that I met a delightful new friend and fellow travel blogger, Erika Wiggins. I’ve been back to visit her twice while camped here in Homosassa. Through Erika I met yet another friend and fellow blogger, Rachelle Lucas. The three of us met up for some peaceful kayaking at Wekiva Springs. With so much in common conversation came easily as we enjoyed the serenity of the river.

Wekiva River

Alligator, Wekiva River

Rachel Lucas and Erika Wiggins on Wekiva River

Rachelle Lucas and Erika Wiggins on Wekiva River

I met three more “women of the water” right here in my campground. Donna Egbert, Sally Love and Kathy Edwards took me for a journey up Halls River to remote rookery filled with nesting birds.

Kayaking with Donna, Kathy and Sally on Halls River

Anhinga sunning on Halls River

Great Blue Heron nest , Halls River

I’ve mentioned in my last two blog posts that I’ve met a lot of new friends right here at Nature’s Resort. The “Cast of Characters” as I refer to them. From time to time I hop on a pontoon boat with one gang or another for a relaxing cruise down the river. Here’s some of my favorite characters… John, Gail, John (lots of John’s here!), JB (who’s also a John) and KC.

A few friends from Nature’s Resort

Osprey Nest on Homosassa River

Spider Monkey on Spider Island, Homosassa River

Spider Monkey on Monkey Island, Homosassa River

Alligator on Homosassa River

Pelicans scrambling for lunch on Homosassa River

When an article about my journey was featured on the front page of the Citrus County Chronicle I was almost overwhelmed by the outreach of many locals with suggestions of places I should see, and offers of kayaking adventures. It was that article that brought Glen and Gwen Cook into my life. It took a few weeks before we were able to coordinate our schedules for an outing on Crystal River, first on our kayaks to Three Sisters Springs, and then in their motorboat down the river to the gulf.

Gwen and Glen Cook

Pelican landing on Crystal River

Crystal River, Florida

Cormorant on Crystal River

Yellow-crowned Night Heron Crystal River

Days after our first outing I was invited to join up with a group of their friends for a 9-10 mile journey to Ozello Point and back. This was one of my more intense kayak workouts, in howling winds and waves.

I had a marvelous experience right after we launched our kayaks and headed down the channel toward to river. A hawk had gotten himself completely entangled in some fishing line and was struggling to fly, landing in the water amongst some of our group. He managed to flap himself to the shoreline nearby, but I doubted he’d survive as tangled up as he was. (I saw a dead Anhinga, caught up in fishing line and hanging from a tree limb, while out with the pontoon group above.)

Luckily one of the kids on the dock had a pocket knife, which was passed to me as I approached the hawk. I have to admit the sharp talons and beak of this panic stricken hawk were a little intimidating, but I took a slow and gentle approach. He must have sensed I was there to help because he held quite still as cut the line and untangled the rest from his body and wings. And then I got to hold him for a moment which was very cool indeed! (I believe it’s a Coopers Hawk. Any hawk experts out there??)

Interestingly I had a similar experience with a pelican who got snagged by a young boy fishing off the dock at Nature’s Resort a few weeks ago. I’m now being called “The Bird Whisperer”

Photo by Glen Cook

Long paddle with new friends, Crystal River

Great Blue Heron, Crystal River

With my new friends on Crystal River, L-R… Me, Richard, Carol, Glen, Rick, Layne, Kim, Gwen and Chuck

A day or two later I joined up with Glen, Gwen, Kim and Chuck for an outing at Rainbow Springs! This was one of my favorite spots yet!!

Rainbow Springs, Rainbow Springs State Park, Florida

Waterfall at Rainbow Springs, Rainbow Springs State Park, Florida

Trees at Rainbow Springs

Glen and Gwen Cook on Rainbow River

Tri-colored Heron landing at Rainbow Springs

Tri-colored Heron at Rainbow Springs

Anhinga at Rainbow River

Great Egret, Rainbow River

Rainbow River

Turtle sunning on Rainbow River

Sandhill Crane, Rainbow River

Anhinga and turtle on Rainbow River

Cormorant nests on Rainbow River

Little Blue Heron on Rainbow River

Rainbow River

Great Blue Heron and nest atop a tree on Rainbow Springs

Red Cardinal at Rainbow Springs

I’ve mentioned numerous times how fortunate I have been to meet so many wonderful new friends as I’ve traveled across this country. And none more friendly and engaging than those I’ve met and shared time with in the Crystal River/Homosassa area. Thank you one and all for adding to the blessings and memories on my journey.

More Beauty around Homosassa Florida

Posted on January 31, 2013 by fran

In my last blog post I shared the story of my first few weeks in Homosassa Florida; tales from Natures Resort, many images of the birds I never grow tired of watching… Heron, Egret, Pelican, Osprey, and an adorable video clip of my first Manatee encounter! Six weeks later I’m still parked here, still enjoying the people and the Homosassa experience…. from sunrise to sundown and beyond.

Sunrise on Halls River, Homosassa Florida

Daybreak on Halls River

Halls River

Trees along Halls River

Scene on Halls River

Evening on Halls River

About a week after I arrived, Eryn Worthington of the Citrus County Chronicle came out to interview me for an article she titled Letting Life Happen. That article (see blue link) inspired a flood of communications from many very friendly folks with offers of kayak meet-ups to boating on the river, as well as numerous suggestions on places I MUST see before I leave. I’ve only had an opportunity to meet up with a few, but I’d like to thank all those who’ve reached out.

One of those was Kathy Lemmer, who took me out kayaking at Chassahowitzka Springs (I’m told it’s pronounced “Case of Whisky”, which is much easier to remember.) We had a marvelous afternoon paddling our way up beautiful streams so thick with foliage you have to duck to get under some, and so narrow and shallow in some places you have to get out and walk your kayak. It was nothing short of breathtaking! Thanks Kathy!! Hope we can meet up again soon!!

Kayaking with my new friend Kathy on Chasawiska Springs

Chasawiska Springs, near Homosassa Florida

Chasawiska Springs

The springs on Chasawiska Springs

Kayaking the Chasawiska Springs, near Homosassa Florida

Another special place I strolled through on my own is the Ellie Shiller Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park. This beautiful 210 acre park surrounds the headwaters of the Homosassa River. It is home to hundreds of creatures, from a huge variety of birds to black bear, and of course manatee. Many manatee are injured by boaters each year, and in this area they are brought here for treatment. Once they are healthy they are released back into the springs. The other residents of the park are unable to survive in the wild on their own. I don’t typically enjoy viewing caged animals, but this park is very well done giving the animals very natural and spacious environments, and they are obviously well cared for. Photographing wildlife in a place like this is akin to shooting fish in a barrel in my opinion, but I brought my camera and made it my challenge to capture what I could with natural backgrounds and good lighting.

Burrowing Owl

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Florida

Wood Stork

American White Pelican

White Pelican with breeding season horny plate on upper mandible

Red-shouldered Hawk

Bald Eagle

Whooping Crane

Greater Flamingo

Barred Owl

Barn Owls

Crested Caracara

Young Roseate Spoonbill

Green Heron

Brown Pelican coming in for a land at Homosassa Springs

White Ibis

Burrowing Owl

Domesticated Turkey

Fox

Since these adventures I’ve made my way by car to Atlanta for the Imaging USA convention, where I was fortunate to see and spend lots of time with a tremendous number of good friends from my chosen profession. Most know me as a portrait photographer, many knew of my journey, and some of those I’ve managed to see across the country. It was heartwarming to see these folks, and even meet some new friends, after a few years off the circuit… and nearly off the grid!

I’m back for more time in Florida, and still calling Homosassa home. Here’s one last evening image taken from my kayak on Halls River.

Evening Scene on Halls River

The Warmth of Homosassa (Florida)

Posted on January 16, 2013 by fran

That’s a bit of a play on words I guess. I’m sitting in one of the warmest places in the country right now. I’m also surrounded by the warmth of many newfound friends. And I’m adjusting… to a much slower pace after more than fifteen months and 23,000 miles on the road. I gave myself until the end of the year to meander rather spontaneously around this country, absorbing and sharing the beauty and experiences as I went. Now, in addition to saving money on gas, it’s time to sit still long enough to get some work done.

Getting things done is proving to be far more difficult than I had hoped because most everything I have to do involves the internet, and the available WiFi is hit and miss. The speed (and existence) seems to come and go with the breeze. This is one big detail I have to iron out. In the mean time, it’s put me behind once again.

It has been my habit to write about a place after I’ve moved on down the road, but I can’t put this off. I already have far more images than I could possibly share in one post, and many more experiences ahead of me, so this is only a first installment about my time in the Homosassa/Crystal River area.

It was the manatee that brought me here. Swimming with these gentle creatures is an experience I could not pass up, and I was on the phone lining it up within minutes of settling into my campsite. After a quick online search I chose to schedule my “manatee experience” with a group simply called Snorkle with Manatee. The following morning I was on a pontoon boat with two gentlemen from England and the boat captain, Laura. She did a wonderful job of educating us on the Manatee, as well as proper (and lawful) etiquette before we slipped into the water wearing mask and snorkel.

You’re not supposed to swim after them, but if you’re still and calm their curious nature will bring them to you. In this adorable video clip one of the young manatee comes to me and bends for me to rub him when I reach out with my hand. With a video camera in my other I had little forward momentum so I kept slipping away from him, and he reaches out to me with his flipper to pull me back in!!

The friendly guy in the second shot below is literally holding onto me. He held me for a long time, turned me around and held me some more. I found out later they refer to him as Chester the Molester.

The campground I chose couldn’t be better. Nature’s Resort sits right on Halls River, making it easy to get out on my kayak frequently. In addition to the manatee there is a huge variety of birds to enjoy along the river… heron, egret, pelican, osprey, eagles and more!

Then there’s the people! I met several nice folks who came and went, but many of the people here live here full time or keep an RV of some sort as a weekend get-away. In time I got to know and treasure many of the regulars here. They are a fun and funny group! The stories… the pranks… the howling laughter. They remind me so much of author Carl Hiaasen’s characters I think I should write a book! There are too many to list by name, but I call them my “Cast of Characters”.

I have to share a funny story before getting to my image gallery… After a frustrating afternoon of trying to load my Manatee video to YouTube on slow WiFi only to have it fail, I slammed my laptop shut and grabbed my kayak. I needed fresh air and exercise… badly!! Ten minutes up the river I noticed a couple guys who looked like they were trying to paddle a Nature’s Resort pontoon boat with an oar. I know from years of boating that stuck on the water is not a fun place to be so I went to check it out. Engine wouldn’t start. They were stranded and there were no other boats in sight. Not one to shy away from a challenge, I offered to try to tow them back with my kayak. Took awhile, but I got ‘em there!! Now I have two more friends in my Cast of Characters!

There are many more stories soon to come, and many more beautiful images too! Enjoy the gallery below!!!

Great Blue Heron taking flight over Halls River

Great Blue Heron in flight, Halls River

Great Blue Heron, Halls River

Great Egret, Halls River

Anhinga watching over Halls River in Homosassa

Cormorant swimming Halls River

Great Egret taking flight over Halls River

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron takes flight over Halls River

Little Blue Heron

Osprey, Halls River, Homosassa Florida

Brown Pelican taking flight on Halls River

Brown Pelican, Halls River

Brown Pelican staring me down on Halls River

Little Blue Heron, Halls River

Great Blue Heron, Halls River

Great Egret taking flight, Halls River

White Ibis, Halls River

Juvenile Little Blue Heron taking flight, Halls River

Wood Ducks, Halls River

Great Blue Heron, Halls River

Great Egret, Halls River

Spider Monkey of Monkey Island, Homosassa Florida

Spider Monkey of Monkey Island, Homosasa Florida

Cat hoping for some fish at The Freezer in Homosassa

Cute pup watches the boat traffic go by on Halls River

Florida Take Two!

Posted on January 2, 2013 by fran

I spent more than a month under a rain cloud in Florida last spring, from Navarre Beach near Destin, down into the Keys, and all the way up to Flagler Beach on the northeast corner of the state with several stops in between. I had a few warm sunny days, but mostly it rained… more accurately, it stormed! I saw some amazing places though, which you can read about from here and another 4 or 5 posts beyond… Rolling Into Spring. I also spent lots of time with some great friends, old and new.

When I left Florida in late May I promised myself I’d return… to revisit some of these places and friends, and discover more of this beautiful and diverse state. Now I’m back, for an indefinite period of time. After more than 15 months and 23,000 miles on the road it’s time to slow the pace a bit so I can focus on several projects. That doesn’t mean I won’t be having fun and seeking out new adventures while I’m here, I assure you!

My first stop was Orlando, where my good friends Bonnie and Scott were visiting family. Bonnie has four sisters, so I was able to blend in almost undetected amongst them! We spent one day at Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral with Bonnie’s sister and brother-in-law, Sandy and Larry. Very interesting place! We enjoyed doing a shuttle launch simulator, a tour out past the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A, gawking at the HUGE rockets and all sorts of amazing memorabilia… from moon rocks to the earliest of space suits. We also attended a lunch with astronaut Jack Lousma. He spoke for awhile about his experiences, the most famous of which was… during his roll as CAPCOM to Apollo 13… being the one who received the message, “Houston, we’ve had a problem.”

I was a small child when John Glenn first orbited the earth, and only nine when Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon, but I remember how everyone was riveted to their televisions and radios… all eyes and ears on NASA… watching the launches on pins and needles. The one thing that struck me the most while touring Kennedy Space Center was the heroics of the astronauts. What brave souls… especially in the early days… to go where no man had gone before strapped into sixty two thousand pounds of metal and twenty eight hundred pounds of fuel!!!

“Rocket Garden”

Saturn V Rocket

Vehicle Assembly Building

Launch Pad 39A

With Larry, Sandy, Scott, Bonnie and astronaut Jack Lousma

While in Orlando I camped in Wekiwa Springs State Park, which I found to be spacious and peaceful. I have to admit to being confused by the name Wekiwa, since the river that is fed by the spring is called Wekiva. While driving through the area I saw street signs and businesses using both spellings. I was so perplexed that I asked several people who live in the area and found that even the locals are confused by the names.

Call me curious, but I had to dig for an answer. I had a hunch, and it probably nagged at me most because of the name of the street I lived on in Texas… Calvery Court. Not only was the name misspelled in the city records, it wasn’t even the right word! In a subdivision named Custer Creek, with streets names like Big Horn Trail and Last Stand, it makes sense the word they meant to use was Cavalry, a division of the army who fought on horseback. Calvery is not a word, but Calvary refers to the hill outside of Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified. That un-ammended error irritated me for the 15 years I lived on that street.

What I found when I started digging around online were conflicting answers. One source said that the Indians who once lived in the area used the w spelling for still water and the v spelling for moving water, and another had a slightly different but similar answer, that Wekiwa means “spring of water” while Wekiva means “flowing water.”

An article written by Jim Toner for the Orlando Sentinel told of Arthur E. Francke Jr., a historian and former board member of the Seminole County Historical Commission, who after careful research concluded that the proper spelling is Wekiwa. He wrote: “The confusion arises from the fact that the river, originally spelled as Wekiwa, over the years apparently through inattention and disregard for careful spelling, became known as the Wekiva River.”

The article stated that wekiwa is a Seminole-Creek Indian word for a spring of water. And that there was some debate whether different Indian words were used to describe a spring and a river, but apparently that was put to rest by linguists who said Native American languages do not have the letter “v.”

Although I prefer the idea that they are different words with different meanings, I’m putting my money on the spelling blunder. Whether Wekiwa or Wekiva, I enjoyed an afternoon of kayaking on this beautiful river… home to an abundance of wildlife, including alligator, turtles and a variety of waterfowl.

Wekiva River

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Great Egret in flight

Little Blue Heron on the hunt

Sunning Red-bellied Turtles

Turtles and alligator sharing a log

Moorhen

I noticed several signs in the park prohibiting dogs from the areas near the water, and judging by the number of alligators I spotted on this river it’s pretty clear why. I didn’t feel threatened by them in my kayak, but I have to admit that it did creep me out a little when I paddled close to this turtle and got a shot of him before I noticed the alligator on the bank behind him. And the following image… of what I assume is a momma alligator (note the larger one in the middle) amongst her adolescent brood. Three of the young ones slipped into the water as I paddled near, and I count eight different gators in the picture.

Family of Gators

Curious mind strikes again! When googled, I found out that a female alligator will lay between 20 and 50 eggs in a nest. I also learned that the sex of the hatchlings depends on the temperature of the nest during incubation. 86 degrees and below produces females, while 93 degrees and above produces males. I’m guessing that means temps between 86 and 93 produce male and female offspring. Although a mother alligator will defend her young, they have a mortality rate of up to fifty percent in the first year, and the biggest threat is other adult alligators. No wonder these youngin’s are sticking close to mom!

While in Orlando I also had the pleasure of meeting one of the fellow travel/adventure bloggers I’ve connected with virtually. When I realized that Erika Wiggins lived very hear where I was heading in the Orlando area I sent her a note to see if she’d like to meet in person. What we discovered over lunch was that although we were brought up very differently, we share many similarities in spirit, and just like that a new friendship was forged. You can find out more about my new friend on her blog, The Active Explorer.

When I left Orlando I relocated a couple hours west near Crystal River where I would finally have a chance to swim with some Florida Manatee, a story I’ll be sharing with you soon. In the mean time though, the girls and I made a car trip back to Orlando to spend Christmas Eve with Sandy, Larry and family, and Christmas day with Erika and her family! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… I am blessed to have such amazing friends in my life!

So… stay tuned for more of Florida, it’s beautiful waterways, abundance of waterfowl and my Manatee encounter!

Finally… Cumberland Island! (And a Bit More of Georgia)

Posted on December 24, 2012 by fran

As mentioned in my last post, I had a hard time leaving Edisto Beach in South Carolina. Spending time along that shoreline lifted my spirits tremendously after several weeks of cold and dreary weather surrounded by a rather bland landscape. (No leaves on the trees and no snow on the ground equals bland to this Northwest girl!)

I was heading to Orlando to meet up with my Virginia friends, Bonnie and Scott, while they were in town visiting family, but had one special stop to make along the way… Saint Marys Georgia. I camped in Saint Marys while on my way north out of Florida in the spring, with plans of taking the ferry out to Cumberland Island. Unfortunately the off-season ferry schedule prevented me from doing so during my brief visit. This time around I allowed myself a few more days in the area so I’d have plenty of time to visit this beautiful barrier island.

Saint Marys River

Common Cormorant drying his feathers after a swim

Cumberland Island, designated as a National Seashore, is 17 miles long. Unless you have a boat, the only way to reach this island is by passenger ferry (no cars, no bikes, no pets). Once there, unless you’ve pre-arranged a tour, the only way to get around is to walk or rent a bike. Since the trails are mostly soft sand I chose to hoof it. This limited me to exploring only the southern end of the island, but there was no shortage of history and beauty there.

Cumberland Island Maritime Forest of Live Oaks

The big attraction on this end of the island is the Dungeness Ruins, what remains of a 59 room Queen Anne Style Mansion built in the mid 1880s by Thomas and Lucy Carnegie. Thomas died before it’s completion, but Lucy raised their nine children on these grounds. She eventually acquired 90% of the island, and built four more mansions for her children including the famous Plum Orchard. (Much farther up the island, so I didn’t see it.)

Dungeness Ruins

For those who know me, or have been following my journey for awhile, it should come as no surprise that what inspired me most to visit Cumberland Island was the wild horses I’d read about who roam freely on the island. While exploring the grounds of Dungeness I was drawn to the sound of excited whinnying and followed it to find this stallion (at right), mare and their beautiful ghost white colt.

The wild horses of Cumberland Island

The trails lead past many historic ruins and a small cemetery, past salt marshes, and eventually across the dunes and onto a long wilderness sea shore where I gathered as many beautiful sea shells as I could carry. A mile or so up the beach a boardwalk takes you back across the dunes and into the most surreal live oak forest I’ve ever seen.

Shorebirds of Cumberland Island

Boardwalk across the dunes of Cumberland Island

Forest of Oaks and Palmettos

There are two rustic campgrounds on this island, one right here in this beautiful forest, but since I couldn’t bring the dogs along I was unable to stay for the night. From here it was a short hike back across the island to catch the afternoon ferry back to Saint Marys. I’d love to come back one day by boat to explore more of this enchanting island.

Speaking of camping… when I first arrived in Saint Marys I went back to A Big Wheel RV Campground where I camped briefly in the spring. It’s quiet, spacious and the owners are very friendly and helpful. Unfortunately they were experiencing WiFi difficulties and I had a lot of work to catch up on, so at the recommendation of a fellow RV traveler I met on the island I relocated to Walk-About RV Park a few miles up the highway. This is a fairly simple and quiet campground recently acquired by a delightful young couple from Australia, Troy and Suze, two of the hardest working and friendliest campground owners I’ve met during my travels. With four children to raise and lots of renovations taking place there was little idle time for these two, but that didn’t stop them from looking up from every task with a smile and a wave, or engaging in long conversation with their visitors.

One thing I enjoyed about this location was the open space surrounding the campground, where I could let Jazzy and Sadie run freely off-leash. One trail leads to a boardwalk across the marshes to Crooked River. We strolled here several times a day, once finding dolphin feeding along the banks of the river. It was a fairly handy place to launch my kayak as well.

Jazzy and Sadie on the boardwalk through the marshes along Crooked River

The “Duck Pond” at Walk-About RV Park

Kayaking under I95 along Crooked River

Sunset on Crooked River

End of a good day in Saint Mary’s

While there I did a day trip out to Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. On the short drive out to the Homestead hiking trail I spotted two alligator AND, for the first time in the wild, a Water Moccasin. You can bet I kept a safe distance from these creatures while photographing them! With predators like these lurking about you can’t blame the tiny little tree frog for hiding himself high amongst the leaves.

Okefenokee Forest

Aligator in Okeefenokee

Water Moccasin

Ity Bity Tree Frog

I’ve really enjoyed this laid-back corner of south east Georgia both times I visited, with plenty of wilderness to explore and all the amenities you could need right there in Saint Marys. I’ll keep this marked as one of those places I would come back to!

The next several stops will be in different parts of Florida, so stay tuned for sunsets, sandy beaches, lots of birds, and my long awaited visit with the Manatees!!!

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Drawn Back to the Sea

Posted on December 16, 2012 by fran

The picture of Elissa below was taken a month ago while celebrating her twentieth birthday in Asheville North Carolina. I don’t know if I’m more astonished that my little girl is twenty, or that a whole month has already gone by since then! As always, our time together was precious to me and went by far too quickly.

My baby turns twenty!

I’ve made a tradition of letting Elissa update my map of all the states I’ve been through each time she joins me on my journey. I usually get a bit of heckling about the ones I’ve missed, but I think even she was amazed that I’ve actually made it through 43 states since I left Texas 15 months ago, and many of those states two or three times!

Elissa continuing the tradition of adding recent states to my map

A day trip along the very popular Blue Ridge Parkway was top on my list of things I hoped to share with Elissa while we were there but it was closed in both directions, due to snow one way and an accident the other. Instead we took a trip to DuPont State Forest and hiked out to Triple Falls which is the background to scenes from the popular movie The Hunger Games. Sadly what autumn color might have remained was stripped from the trees on the fringes of Hurricane Sandy so we did not get to experience the area at it’s finest. I’m hoping to get back here in the spring!

Triple Falls in DuPont State Forest

While in Asheville we got to spend some time with clients who’ve become very dear friends. Steve and Lisa Jane Johnson flew out from Texas so that I could do their annual Christmas card portrait. I’ve been a part of this long standing tradition for many years, and since I’ve gotten to know some of their extended family I’m sworn to secrecy every year. The cards are aways beautiful and creative, and kept under wraps until they arrive in the mail. I would share, but Lisa Jane would then have to shoot me!

While in route to a second camp spot in South Carolina Elissa and I were amazed at how much more color we found on the trees as we traveled south on the highway. With little change to the climate and type of foliage I can’t comprehend the difference, but it drew us out for a walk in the woods once we were settled in our campsite.

I’ve mentioned before that the only significant hardship on my journey is being away from Elissa. We’ve managed to find some time together during all of her breaks from school, and I have to admit I always anticipate her arrival like a child anxiously waits for Christmas. Each time I see her at the airport I am overwhelmed with emotion… my miracle, my precious baby, my spirited and headstrong child… grown into a beautiful, vivacious, loyal and loving young woman. How is this transformation possible in the blink of an eye?

After a precious few days with her I’m filled with even more emotion when I have to say goodbye and put her on a plane back home to Texas. And then comes the hard part. The quite after the joy. It’s hard to shake off the sadness when Elissa has gone home. My best remedy is immersing myself in a beautiful place… hiking through a thick green forest, kayaking a beautiful waterway, or strolling up a beach to the sound of the crashing waves. Much to my dismay I spent the next ten days camped in barren forests under dark gray skies and pouring rain. Talk about a funk!

Thank goodness I had my very dear friends Eddie Tapp and Judy Host to visit in Atlanta. I hovered north of the city waiting for both of them to return home from individual business trips, but as soon as they were back I was on their doorstep and ready for some healing time with two of the most loving and sincere people I know.

While in the Atlanta area I also soaked up some time with a another friend, Rainy Chastine, and her family. As with many of the friends I’ve visited along my journey, these three are all fellow photographers. Professional photographers I should say… old school. (As in we’ve all been around for a good long while!) I don’t know how to adequately describe the bond shared amongst our peers, at least not in brief, but I will say it’s really quite remarkable.

Interestingly, time with these friends gave me a good excuse to take a bit of a sabbatical… from driving, from shooting and from blogging. For more than a week I enjoyed “normal stuff”. Normal as in not nomadic. I cooked in a real kitchen with Judy. Got a pedicure. Went to the mall. Celebrated Thanksgiving with Rainy’s family and friends. Cemented a friendship with her adorable nine year old daughter, Summer. Got hooked on The Voice with Eddie and Judy. Celebrated Eddie’s birthday with several of their friends. Lots of conversation. Lots of smiles. Lots of laughter. All good, and all healing. Thank you, my friends, for being there with open arms.

After several days of recharging off the road I finally aimed “The Beast” toward the shores of South Carolina. Roughly six hours later I pulled into Edisto Beach State Park and settled into a campsite a short stroll from the surf.

I’ve been asked a lot of questions during this journey… “How long will you go?” “Aren’t you scared traveling alone?” And one of my favorites… “You DRIVE that big thing???” …but one of the most significant is “What have you learned about yourself since you’ve been on the road?” One thing I’ve understood about myself for a long time is that I NEED nature. This subject alone is worthy of a blog post all it’s own, and will probably lead into a book I’m planning on writing, but there is no doubt that I feel less alive while confined indoors, or surrounded by a city. For me, nature and nurture go hand in hand. Deep down I’ve always known this about myself, but the necessity has come to the surface while on this journey. Whether high in the mountains, deep in the forest or strolling along a shore… there’s no doubt that my soul needs nature like my body needs the air that I breath.

The moment I stepped on this beach it was like a gentle wave of peacefulness washed over me, and I thought to myself, “I am home.”

Sunset at Edisto Beach State Park

The two days I planned on spending at Edisto Beach turned into four, and I was quite tempted to stay longer, but had plans to meet friends in Florida and had a few days of traveling in between.

I don’t do a whole lot of dining out, but after a long day on the road AND a long walk on the beach I needed a meal far more than I wanted to cook, so at the recommendation of one of the park staff I ventured out to the Waterfront Restaurant. The food was good, the staff was friendly, they had free WiFi, AND the owner told me about a great place to kayak where I’d likely see dolphin!

That night the sound of the surf lulled me into a restful slumber, and before daybreak it drew me back out to the beach.

Pelicans glide above the waves at sunrise

Late that afternoon I made my way to the southern end of Edisto Island with my kayak, where I did indeed find dolphin.

Kayaking with dolphin along the shores of Edisto Island

I forgot to mention that I learned of Edisto Beach from my friends and fellow travelers, David and Beth. David also suggested I check out Botany Bay Plantation, just down the road. This is a Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Management Area with a swampy creek on one side and the Atlantic Ocean and beach on the other… with a whole lot of trees, a small lake, and a few interesting tidbits of history in between. I enjoyed taking the self guided driving tour at a leisurely pace, stopping along the way to photograph the scenery.

Tunnel of oaks through Botany Bay Plantation

First alligator sighting since returning south, at Botany Bay Plantation

Bleak Hall Plantation icehouse

At the recommendation of one of the park rangers I also enjoyed hiking Scott Creek Trail right there in the state park.

Great Egret

Regardless of my plans for the day, I was drawn to the beach for sunrise every morning. I know Jazzy and Sadie enjoy walking along the shore every bit as much as I do, but they’re also good at indulging me… sitting patiently while I stop to photograph the waves and dolphins and pelican along the way.

Dolphin pair at sunrise

Brown Pelican

Jazzy and Sadie happy to be back on the beach!

I was camped about forty miles south of Charleston, and since I’d never been there I spent one afternoon hiking throughout the historic part of town. I know I didn’t come close to seeing all there is to see, and will make a point of coming back one day to discover it in more depth. In all honesty, it’s one of those places I know I’d enjoy more if I had someone to share it with, so hopefully I’ll come back with a friend.

Battery Park

Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge

Upon my return from Charleston I discover that a Pilot Whale had beached itself just a short distance from the campground, and sadly couldn’t be saved. I know it’s often illness or age that causes a whale to do this, but I had no way of knowing the reason when I left the following day. I just did a google search to see if any answers had been posted, and discovered this was one of at least three Pilot Whales that died along this part of the coast in a matter of days. No confirmed reason yet, but it’s suspected that intestinal parasites may be the cause in at least one of the whales.

Edisto Beach State Park… home for a few days… was another one of those places I had a hard time leaving, and did so knowing that I would return. When I do, it will be to this same campground. It was recommended to me, and I can easily endorse that recommendation. The beach is marvelous, the surrounding area enchanting, and the staff was helpful and friendly.

Virginia… Safe Haven and Great Friends

Posted on November 22, 2012 by fran

I’m sitting in the home of yet another photographer friend, Rainy Chastine, in Fayetteville Georgia… here to celebrate Thanksgiving, but blogging about my time in Virginia a few weeks ago. When it comes to giving thanks I have to say that my wonderful friends rank high on the list. I’ve said it many times before, but I don’t think I could state it enough… I am blessed to have so many great friends in my life, and I’m grateful for the time I’ve been able to spend with so many of you!!

As you know from my last post, my first stop in Virginia was at the home of my long-time friends, Scott and Bonnie Salem. They have a spacious property high on a hill overlooking the Virginia countryside, with plenty of room for The Beast. Jazzy and Sadie felt right at home with their three dogs, and two horses, and only wished they could make friends with the two shy barn cats too! We had a comfy room with a view (and regular size shower!!) inside the house, and wanted for nothing during our stay.

I’ve discovered The Beast is actually BIGGER than a barn!!!

Bonnie’s beautiful rescue horses, Plum and Lula

Plum showing her silly side

Lovely Lula

The entire countryside was really beautiful. I particularly loved the rolling hills and old barns, and pastures full of horses (and goats.)

Adorable neighbor

While visiting, Bonnie and Scott took me on a day trip to Shenandoah National Park where we drove the northern portion of Skyline Drive, a scenic roadway that follows the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The color was not peak, but we managed to find some amazing vistas just the same. It was nice to have someone else behind the wheel for a change, so I could just sit back and enjoy the view. And Scott willingly pulled off the road at nearly every single turn-out on the drive so I could savor and photograph the spectacular landscape which seemed to go on forever, even on this cloudy day. It was a Saturday in late October, and we shared the roadway and turn-outs with a lot of other people doing the same that day. Families and couples, most of whom were clearly enjoying what was likely to be the last of the color for the season, got on and off the roadway in unison with us. The pace was slow, as it should be. You wouldn’t want to do this drive in a hurry. The three of us had to laugh at a father we witnessed shooing his family back into their car while hollering “Hurry! Hurry! The more we stop, the less we’re going to see!!” I bet he never smells the roses either.

We had a wonderful day together, and spent a lot of time laughing and reminiscing, but the conversation often led back to Hurricane Sandy which was working its way toward the north east with a vengeance. Where we were in Waterford Virginia was on the southern edge of the RED zone, with wind gusts predicted to reach as much as 120mph. The storm was due to veer inland late the following day, October 29th, which also happened to be my birthday. By the time we got back from our day trip our concerns were building.

I felt confident that the girls and I would be safe in the comfort of Scott and Bonnie’s home, but I was concerned about how my motorhome would fare in such high winds. I have ridden out some brutal storms in The Beast, and at 12.5 feet in height and only 4 points (tires and/or jacks) touching the ground, I can tell you she can seriously rock and roll. I’ve wondered several times if the wind might tear the AC unit right off the roof. And none of those winds came anywhere near 120mph!

I considered loading up and high-tailing it as far as I could down the highway, but west was not an option since the cold front coming in from the north was dumping record breaking snow to the west of me. My only option was south, but that wasn’t really taking me any farther from shore. And I wasn’t really ready to leave yet anyway. We had birthday plans!

So we watched the forecasts, and I scoured the internet for information on how much wind my motorhome could withstand without falling over. It made complete since to park it nose (or tail) into the wind, but because of the arch of the outer edge of the storm the wind would be changing direction. I knew I didn’t want to be out there repositioning it with the change in wind direction during the storm. What I really needed was as safe place to park my RV indoors, or at least between sturdy buildings that would block the wind.

Bless my friend Bonnie for her resourcefulness and friendships forged!! She made a few phone calls the following morning, and scored me a nice big barn to park in. And many, many thanks to Doris Williams for providing a complete stranger with a safe haven for a monster size motorhome and auto! As it turned out, since the storm veered north as it came ashore, we were spared the worst of the winds, but it was sure comforting not having to worry about it!

The Beast, tucked safely in a BIG barn

After getting The Beast situated in Doris’ barn, there was still much to do back at the homestead. I spent the afternoon securing patio furniture and helping Bonnie cut down tree limbs that threatened to take down sections of fence if they were to fall. (All good exercise! )

Like me, Bonnie is a big horse lover. Her gorgeous mares, Plum and Lula, are rescues who had been abandoned and left for dead with numerous others, some of whom did not survive. Her love for these animals inspired her to volunteer her time at a rescue organization nearby. Once we felt all was secure on the home front Scott and I joined her for feeding time at Equine Rescue League. What a wonderful thing these folks are doing! The animals here are all loved and cared for… and very fortunate to have found a great home.

Red Baron

Doc, Dondi, and Domino

Rachel and Preacher

Humorous shot of Rachel

Barn dude, Skid Boot

Willy, right before he fell into the trough. I’ve never seen a cat so embarrassed!

We were all relieved to find the property in good condition the following morning, but heartbroken for those who suffered greatly in the wake of the hurricane. It’s horrible to see such devastation. One can only imagine the anguish over homes destroyed, and even worse… loved ones lost. The only thing I could think of to do to help was to stir up a little fund raiser for the American Red Cross with my fresh shipment of calendars. If you’re interested… Raising Funds for the Red Cross.

After a few more days at the Salem Hacienda, with colder weather setting in, it was time to say our good byes and continue on down the highway. Many thanks to my very dear friends… for the hospitality, the safe haven, the dog sitting, the birthday dinner, the day trip along the Blue Ridge, the love, the laughter, and the treasure of your friendship! Oh… and the lantern Bonnie snuck into my RV before I got out of your driveway!!! Love you two!!

As it happened, I had friends camped a few hours down the highway at John Prince National Forest. I met David and Beth while camping near Teton National Park in July. While sharing a few meals, AND some great hikes, a wonderful friendship was forged. It only made since to make that my next stop!

It was really great to see these new friends, who felt like old friends, once again. Over the course of the next few days we shared more meals and more hikes. Beth’s daughter, Avery, joined us for a seven mile hike through the forest. There was nothing particularly beautiful about the hike since the leaves had all fallen, but it was a pleasure to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air in the company of good friends!

David, Avery, and Beth

On the trail in Prince Edward National Forest

While camped at John Prince I spent the afternoon visiting my ex sister and brother-in-law, Kristi and David, in Mason Neck Virginia. It seems funny and awkward to introduce them in that way because they still feel like family to me. Kristi and I took Jazzy and Sadie and their two beautiful Golden’s, Scout and Jackson, for hike through the woods and out to an inlet near Belmont Bay. Then Kristi, remembering my deep seated Cornhusker roots, turned on the Nebraska football game and brought out the munchies!! The Husker win topped off a perfect day!!

Scout and Jackson with their new friends Jazzy and Sadie!

Scout and Jackson

Kristi with the troops

My last stop in Virginia was Lynchburg. The weather continued to be uncooperative, but the girls and I enjoyed a stroll about town. My favorite spot was Monument Terrace, which commemorates Lynchburg citizens who fought and died in the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam and present day. There are 132 steps, 10 landings and 11 monuments along the terrace, and I understand every Friday since 2001 it has been a place where people gather to demonstrate openly their support for the men and women who serve the United States military.

Monument Terrace

First Baptist Church

Federal Style Mansion on Point of Honor

Funny, I just ran in to meet some new friends who are gathering at Rainy’s to celebrate this Thanksgiving. After a brief conversation I excused myself long enough to complete this blog post. Actually, what I said was that I’d promised myself that I would not indulge in food or adult beverages until I finished this task, and that I frequently had to be mother to myself… “You absolutely may NOT go out and play until you’ve got your work done!” No point in talking back!!!

Now I’m off to celebrate! Wishing you all a safe and joyous Thanksgiving!!

Journey in Focus

with Fran Reisner

Tag Archives: Fran Reisner

There Are Mountains in Georgia!!!

Memories of Florida

My Favorite Places Revisited

Friends along Florida Waterways

More Beauty around Homosassa Florida

The Warmth of Homosassa (Florida)

Florida Take Two!

Finally… Cumberland Island! (And a Bit More of Georgia)

Drawn Back to the Sea

Virginia… Safe Haven and Great Friends