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!

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!

Along the East Coast with More Friends Than Fair Weather

Posted on November 8, 2012 by fran

I’m not even going to try to candy-coat it… I’m feeling skunked by my autumn in the northeast. I’ve dreamed of seeing this part of the country ablaze with color for many years, and had high hopes of adventuring through several states to witness and capture them at their best. With dreary, rainy weather far outweighing the sunny days, and the unusual lack of vibrance in the trees, I know I can’t even come close to showing anyone the beauty of the northeast. Lesson learned; Nature keeps it’s own calendar. Best not to count on it’s cooperation, and arrive with an open mind rather than one full of expectations.

What the northeast was lacking in color, it made up for with friends… old and new. I’ve shared several times that one of my greatest joys out here is precious time with friends. Some of those friends I knew and sought out to reconnect with along the way, while others were chance encounters with strangers who quickly became friends.

For several months I’ve been communicating with Horace and Sharon, who I met in Jamaica more than twenty years ago (and haven’t seen since), about connecting when I made it through the Boston area. As that time drew near many of the campgrounds in the northeast were shutting down for the season, making it difficult to plan a stopover for few days. Knowing my size limitations, Horace arranged for me to “camp” on the property of their very good friends, Steve and Bobbi, about forty-five minutes north of them in Hampton Falls New Hampshire.

It’s never easy to impose on friends… lock, stock and barrel (not to mention two dogs)… but to drive onto the property of complete strangers can feel like a huge intrusion. What little discomfort I may have felt was put to rest when Horace and Steve greeted me with smiles, escorted me up the long driveway, and got me settled into what would be our “camp site” for the next few days. We could not have asked for a better spot, nor more gracious hosts.

One of our favorite camp spots, in Steve and Bobbi’s front yard!

After exploring the woods around their home with the girls, I went inside and spent time getting to know Steve and Bobbi, and their dog. Oscar, who was obviously quite precious to them, was old and ailing but still getting around slowly and able to eat the home cooked food Bobbi prepared for him. I enjoyed the way he pushed his head firmly into my hand each time I reached out to pet him.

Sadly, I found out yesterday that Oscar passed away the day before. He was 15 years old and lived a long and happy life, but my heart goes out to Steve and Bobbi for the loss of their beloved little friend.

Steve and Bobbi’s cool little guy. Oscar

Knowing how much I love horses, Horace asked if I’d like to visit his friend Jay’s farm to see and possibly photograph his “Warmbloods”. Of course I jumped at the chance! Jay was there to greet us, and walked with us to the fence where we were immediately greeted by three of the biggest, most beautiful horses I’ve ever seen.

With Jay’s permission I stepped into the pasture to give them each an alfalfa treat I had tucked in my pocket. In no time at all I was surrounded by these tremendous animals. They could not get close enough, which might have been intimidating because of their size and numbers, but I did not feel afraid. I’ve mentioned before that I believe horses can sense our spirits, but the same can be said for theirs, and these three had very gentle spirits.

As it turned out, it was actually difficult to get good images of them because they followed me so closely around the pasture. It was hilarious actually. They were like little puppies wanting all the attention they could get! I chose not to sweat the images too much and enjoyed their presence instead. The encounter was so amazing I could have stayed for hours, making it hard to walk away when it was time to go. Thank you Jay, for sharing the “gentle giants” of True North Farm with me!

Jay Howlett’s True North Farm

Duplicor

The wonderfully handsome Bodacious, Duplicor and Kingston!

Bodacious sitting down on the job

While I was photographing the horses, Horace grabbed a few fun shots of me with them…

Getting some lovin’ from Bodacious!

My helper!

Both Bobbi and Sharon are big horse lovers as well. Bobbi’s horse, Sachi, was stabled at a ranch within walking distance of their home, so I got to spend a little time there as well. And Sharon took riding lessons at a ranch a little closer to their home outside of Boston. Horace and I made a challenge of trying to get a great action shot of Sharon and Sugar in a very dark barn, on a really cloudy day. (Kudos to Canon for the quality of the highest ISO setting on the 5D MarkII.)

Sharon perfecting the “sliding stop” on Sugar

Bobbi’s horse, Sachi

Steve, Horace and Sharon

After a few wonderful days with Horace, Sharon, Steve and Bobbi, it was time to continue on my journey. I was already stretching my stay in the northeast out longer than most, and had to consider weather and the fact that most of the campgrounds in this part of the country were closing (if not closed) for the season. Next stop was Cape Cod where fellow photographer and Brooks Grad, Patrick Wiseman, graciously offered me camping space in his driveway.

With the business climate in the world of professional photographing changing at mach speed, Patrick decided to branch out to hotel ownership and, more recently… restauranteur. Needless to say he had a lot on his plate while we were there, so the girls and I had plenty of time to explore the Cape on our own. We had one glorious day of sunshine and spent it zig-zagging all the way up to the tip of the Cape, stopping where we could to nose around, and hike a ways whenever possible.

As always, I was drawn to the lighthouses. They are always unique and full of history. Details about these lighthouses and more can be found by clicking on the blue links. Chatham Light.

These adorable first mates really wanted to come ashore and play with my “roadies”!

Brewster’s Windmill

Home of Edward Penniman, well known whaler from the Eastham area.

Edward Penniman House, Eastham

Nauset Light below replaced the Three Sisters of Nauset in 1923. You may recognize it as the lighthouse on Cape Cod Potato Chips!

Nauset Light

Two of the “Three Sisters of Nauset”

The Pilgrim Monument, which stands high on the hill in Provincetown, commemorates the day the Mayflower made landfall in Provincetown Harbor on November 21st, 1620 after 67 days at sea.

Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown

The Highland Lighthouse was a particular favorite, and I barely made it there before sunset.

Highland Lighthouse

The following morning I launched my kayak from a small marina on Prince Cove and spent a few hours “stalking” the local water foul.

Swan pair in Prince Cove

Common Cormorant

Prince Cove

Great Blue Heron

Osprey on the hunt

The shot below was not a particular favorite but I was amazed to see that this Osprey actually has a fish in EACH talon!

Osprey double dipping

Swan in Prince Cove

The night before leaving Cape Cod I checked out Patrick’s restaurant, Mooncussers Tavern in Harwich Port, and enjoyed some wine and the most delicious Tapas I have ever eaten! I would highly recommend this place (which will also be an Inn soon!) to anyone visiting the Cape!

Sending a very BIG thank you to my special friends, Horace and Sharon, Steve and Bobbi, and Patrick! I can’t begin to tell you how much my time with all of you meant to me. I hope to see you all again soon!!

Pure Michigan- The Upper Peninsula (part two)

Posted on September 22, 2012 by fran

Before I get into my remaining tales from the Upper Peninsula, I have to apologize for the size of these two posts. If they load slowly for you it’s because of the sheer volume of images. I whittled them down as best I could, leaving out many I would love to have shared. Just sit back and relax while it loads… grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine while you’re waiting… and then enjoy.

When I left the Keweenaw Peninsula I made my way east to Munising and found a very spacious spot right on the water at their local Tourist Park Campground. Once settled I ran into town for supplies and a stop at the visitors center. The folks at these centers are usually quite helpful in guiding me to the kinds of attractions I enjoy… the adventures and the beauty. Most importantly I wanted to find out the best option for kayaking around the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, a stunning place I’d been reading about.

View of Pictured Rocks from shore

There are a few lookout points where you can see a bit of it from shore, but I knew that would not compare to seeing it from the water. Because the cliffs face northwest the best time to view and photograph them would be evening, but I’d also noticed that the wind seemed to kick up as the day progressed. Kayaking on a rough and unpredictable body of water… especially alone… is a risky thing to do. Add to that the nearest put-in point was a fair distance from much of this long, beautiful shoreline. I may be adventurous, but I’m not foolish. I hoped to find the right opportunity to experience it from my kayak, but in the mean time I booked myself on a boat tour. This was money well spent, as I was able to check it out from the safety and comfort of a large vessel, and the captain who narrated was very informative. It was a lovely evening (one I COULD have kayaked as it turned out) and the setting sun danced brilliantly on the colorful rock walls.

Can you see the pirate face in these rocks?

The Munising area also boasts a number of beautiful waterfalls. I’m sure the prime time to see the falls is late spring after the snowmelt, and not at the end of an unusually dry summer, but several of the falls still flowed with fresh clear water. All of these were within short hiking distance from a roadway.

Wagner Falls near Munising

Tannery Falls

Munising Falls

Miners Falls

Sable Falls

I never had the right break in the weather to make my way to Pictured Rocks in my kayak, but I did launch it from my campsite and got out for a paddle one evening. It was choppy and cold, but I was close to the safety of shore, and within viewing distance of several people. Before loading the kayak back on top my car I took it out one last time my last morning there. Since there was really nothing notable to photograph I left my camera gear behind and focused on the workout. While paddling along the shoreline I realized this would be the perfect opportunity to see how the dogs would do on the kayak… something I’d always wanted to try. Here I had a gentle shoreline where the water was cold, but comfortable enough for me to get wet.

Thinking one dog at a time would be the best approach I grabbed Sadie, and although tentative at first she willingly got aboard and cruised with me for awhile. Next it was Jazzy’s turn, but Sadie did not want to be left behind, so with Jazzy in the back and Sadie between my feet we set out. We stayed close to shore and cruised for a bit. By then the wind was picking up and it did get a little choppy. Not ideal for our first foray on the water together, but they did fine. Sadie bailed when a couple big waves rolled over the bow, but she swam ashore and trotted along with us on the beach… all smiles. I couldn’t help wishing there was someone around to get a picture of us!

After a few enjoyable days in Munising I moved on to the eastern edge of the Upper Peninsula to Paradise, and more specifically the Tahquamenon Falls Rivermouth Campground. After settling into my campsite I set out to explore the area. First stop was Whitefish Point where I hoped to see and photograph the lighthouse and check out the shipwreck museum. Unfortunately the lighthouse was covered with scaffolding while they worked on a fresh coat of paint and much of the grounds were blocked off. I opted not to pay for access since much of what I wanted to see was off limits. Instead I took a walk on the beach.

Whitefish Point Shoreline

After my walk I headed back south and then west to see the Upper Tahquamenon Falls. In the image below you can see a streak of color, which I understand is usually much more prominent. The brown tones that typically run through these falls are caused by tannins leached from the cedar swamps that the river drains from.

Upper Tahquamenon Falls

The following day was filled with rain, which gave me a good excuse to stay inside and work. My campsite was very close to the Tahquamenon River, and right alongside a dense forest. During a break in the rain the girls and I found a lightly used trail through the trees and set out for some fresh air and exercise along the river. When it was clear that we shared the trail with no one else I let them run freely off-leash. I wish I could adequately describe the moments that followed… simple moments… but remarkable to me, and I believe they were to the girls as well.

There is nothing quite like walking through a forest, on a trail softened by decades of decomposing pine needles, especially after a cleansing rain. The greens are greener, the sounds are softer, and the air is fresher… cooler… and more pungent with earthy aroma. When I find myself surrounded by these “ingredients”, I am instantly transported home… and to my childhood. I remember vividly running carefree through the woods with my brothers. So much of our childhood was spent tromping through the woods in the cool, damp, pungent state of Washington. These truly were the very best days of my life, and if asked… I have no doubt my brothers would agree.

So what’s a woman filled with childhood memories and surrounded by a damp forest do?? She RUNS… freely and happily along the soft pine-bed trail, leaping over roots and downed trees like a child. The dogs caught on quickly and were overjoyed at my joy. They joined in, and we shared in a game of catch me if you can until I could hardly breath. It was great fun!!

The following day when the rain let up I made my way to the Lower Tahquamenon Falls in hopes of putting my kayak in the water. I parked my car and hiked a short distance to a beautiful vantage point from the trail.

Then I walked down to the dock where you can rent row boats, to find out how best to launch my kayak. Launching meant dragging my kayak off my car, a fair distance through the park, down a steep hill and into the water near their dock. That of course meant I’d have to do the reverse to get it back on my car again. This would take time and a fair bit of effort, not that the effort would stop me, but it was also starting to sprinkle again. While I was discussing this with the park employee I noticed a sign… $5 per person to rent one of the rowboats that were lined up along the water right next to me. Two minutes later I was rowing across the river toward the island surrounded by (and blocking from view) most of the lower falls. This was the best $5 I’ve spent in a very long time, and I had the entire island to myself!

Lower Tahquamenon Falls

Heron on the hunt at Lower Tahquamenon Falls

Zen by the falls

After leaving the lower falls there was one last place I wanted to see before setting out again the following morning. I knew there was another beautiful lighthouse at a place called Crisp Point, but there were no road signs to direct you there, and everyone I asked was rather vague with directions as well. It was remote, I was told, and best not attempted without all wheel drive. A park ranger told me which way to head down the highway, and which way to turn off on a dirt road. From there I was on my own. I knew the shoreline was no more than 15 miles north so I figured on about 20-25 minutes depending on road conditions.

I watched my progress on my GPS, which showed the shoreline but absolutely no roadways around me. The muddy, bumpy, windy road took me meandering northeast through the woods. Thankfully there were little signs (a sketch of a lighthouse and an arrow) nailed to the trees at most of the forks along the the way. It seemed like I drove forever, and I was glad to be in my trusty CRV as I encountered deep puddles and sloshy mud all along the way. I was not disappointed when I finally arrived at the Crisp Point Lighthouse (45 minute later), but I was amazed that this gem along the shore of Lake Superior was left so remote. There’s no doubt that the effort I made to get there (and slight twinge of fear at the thought of getting stuck where few others dared to tread on such a yucky day) made it all the more special to me that day.

Crisp Point Lighthouse

View from the top of Crisp Point Lighthouse

By the time I made my way back to camp that evening Zippy (my Honda) was as dirty as she’s ever been. I was happily greeted by the girls who were more than ready for a walk. While out we took the time to get to know a few of our new neighbors. It’s always a treat for me to meet new people along the way. It’s fun to share stories of our adventures, and fellow travelers are always a great resource on places to see down the road. I especially love it when the same great destination is shared by many. Then I KNOW it’s a must see!

As the breeze died down and the water calmed a bit I decided to drop my kayak in the water and talk one of my neighbors into taking a few pictures of me and the girls “Yakin’” on the Tahquamenon River.

Yakin’ with Jazzy and Sadie in Tahquamenon Falls State Park

The following morning we were on the road again, and leaving another place on my list of favorites… Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

That’s not the end of Michigan. There’s a bit more to come in my next post. As I write this though, I’m preparing to hop the border into Canada, as I make my way to the northeast corner of this great country. The northeast draped in fall foliage is something I’ve always longed to see. The time has finally come!!

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Reminder to those interested… my Journey in Focus 2013 Calendar, which is filled with some of my favorite images from my year long journey around the country, is available for ordering now at a pre-print special price (which includes tax and shipping) of $16. Multiple copies will be discounted since my shipping costs will be less, so be thinking about folks on your gift list who might enjoy it as well! Once I go to press the price will go up to $18 (plus tax and shipping.) I’m working on adding a shopping cart option here, but in the mean time those interested can contact me directly through the contact button at the top of the page.

Catching Up With Family from Nebraska to Wisconsin

Posted on September 7, 2012 by fran

At the time of this writing I’m sitting along a lovely shoreline on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, looking out the windows of my motorhome at perfection… blue skies filled with dramatic clouds… and wanting so badly to go out and play. The last month has seen me through several states, and lots of time with friends and family along the way. It’s hard to sit down at my computer to work when I’m with people I love. So friends, forgive me once again for my silence. I’m sitting still and alone for a few days in order to enjoy this beautiful part of the country, AND get caught up on my work. Maybe another three posts in three days. We’ll see.

So… back to the midwest! At last writing I was wrapping up a very “unique” week in Sturgis South Dakota. My ultimate destination for the months to come is the northeast corner (or should I say quarter) of the country, but a trip south to Nebraska was next on the list.

I was born in the Cornhusker State (Go Big Red!) and although I haven’t lived there since I was seven, I have many wonderful childhood memories of my youngest years there… building snow forts with my brothers, summers on the lake, visiting my Grandpa Reisner on the farm, the sound of ice cubes crackling and the tickle of “fizz” on my nose when my Grandma Weesie poured Coke in little tin cups for me and my brothers, and all the Holidays and Husker games surrounded by the warmth of family.

Not long after I set out on my journey last fall I got a sweet note from my Aunt Sandy telling me how tickled she was that I was taking this journey. I sent a note back telling her I had every intention of swinging through to pick her up on my way to Minnesota where her daughter Anne and her family live. That time had finally come, so I plotted my course and headed southeast. I didn’t take the quickest route through Sioux Falls, but dropped down into Nebraska and journeyed through the countryside. One word… CORN. Miles and miles of corn.

That’s not to say I didn’t find beauty here. I enjoyed the tranquility and was in awe of the vastness of these farmlands. My favorite vistas were the slow rolling hills filled as far as the eye can see with corn rows, and dotted with farmhouses, old barns and silos. I can’t count the number of times I wanted to stop for pictures only to be faced with that common feeling of frustration with no place to pull off the road. I’ve shared that frustration many times in my blogging, and it hasn’t gotten any easier for me to drive right by a great image. I have to say that for every wonderful image I have gathered along the way (thousands!), there are 10 times as many I can only take along in my memories.

When I arrived in Fremont I turned west and drove out to North Bend for dinner with my second cousin, Tom Wolf and his wife Deanna. It’s always good to spend time with them and get caught up on family events, and reminisce about the years gone by. After a wonderful meal and warm hugs I headed back to Fremont and the welcoming arms of my Aunt Sandy.

The following morning we all boarded The Beast (me, Jazzy, Sadie, Sandy and her Golden Retriever, Penny) and headed up the highway. In addition to lots more corn we came upon some cool old churches along the way. Where I could, I stopped to snag a few shots. At this point I can’t even say exactly where these churches are along the country highways of Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Anne’s family lives in Duluth Minnesota, but were spending the weekend at their cabin on Lower Eau Clair Lake in northwest Wisconsin, so that’s where we headed. I had not seen Anne since our Grandma Weesie passed away several years ago, and really only knew her children from pictures. I could write volumes about the fun and laughter and games and stories, and our dogs at play! I so enjoyed seeing my “little cousin Annie” in her roll as Mom to her great kids, Lucy and Alex and as a loving daughter to my Aunt. (Anne’s husband Mike was off on a guy trip for the weekend, so I didn’t get to see him until later.) The weather wasn’t great, but we did get out on the boat for a tour around the lake which I thoroughly enjoyed since we saw both Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle as well as a Great Blue Heron and some Loons.

Our lovable dogs from left to right- Max (hidden in the shadows), Penny, Sadie and Jazzy.

Anne with her adorable kids, Lucy and Alex.

A quiet moment between mother, daughter and dog (Aunt Sandy, Anne and Penny)

Golden Eagle soaring above Lower Eau Claire Lake, Wisconsin

Great Blue Heron on Lower Eau Claire Lake, Wisconsin

Common Loon, Lower Eau Claire Lake, Wisconsin

Hummer on Anne’s back deck

When the weekend was over I left my motorhome behind and drove my car into Duluth for an overnighter, some sight seeing along Lake Superior, and a bit more family time. I was amazed to realize I had not seen Mike since I photographed their wedding a LOT of years ago, so it was great to finally catch up with him. Anne and Sandy and I took a drive up along Lake Superior. This was my first real “Great Lakes experience” (other than Lake Michigan from downtown Chicago at night) and I couldn’t get past the feeling that I was standing on an ocean shore. Waves roll in to sandy beaches or rocky shorelines, and there’s no land in sight as you look across the lake. The only thing missing was the sticky salt. The lighthouses made it all the harder to shake that feeling. It was truly a strange sensation.

Bald Eagle along the shore of Lake Superior, Minnesota

From Palisade Head- Minnesota north shore along Lake Superior

Palisade Head along Lake Superior in Minnesota

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

Split Rock Lighthouse

Gooseneck Falls Minnesota

Along Lake Superior Shoreline, Minnesota

Dusk on Lake Superior

Pier in Duluth Minnesota

After our priceless family time in Duluth the girls and I drove back to Wisconsin, reconnected with The Beast and headed north to the southern edge of Lake Superior where we camped in Port Wing. I was quite taken with the amazing old barns along the roadways in Wisconsin and took advantage of the limited opportunities I had to pull over for a shot.

While “docked” alone with a good WiFi connection at a tiny little campground in Port Wing I made a promise to myself to stay INSIDE to catch up with all the work I was behind on. I know most of you think I’m on a perpetual vacation, but I’m not. And staying inside when there’s so much to see outside is extremely hard for me. I had a very productive day, but ended up regretting that I didn’t put off work for one more day when a big storm set in that night, ruining my plans of kayaking the Brule River the following morning. I would have postponed my plans to move on, but I had my daughter, Elissa, booked on a flight to Milwaukee two days later and had a lot of beautiful ground to cover on my way to see her.

I actually drove out to the Brule hoping the skies would clear by the time I got there, but no luck. While there though, I did take the time to drive a bit further out to a place Anne told me about, Amnicon Falls State Park. Definitely worth a look-see. It was yet another reminder of the diversity of our landscape.

Amnicon Falls State Park

More barns along the way, and as you can see the skies were clearing before my morning road trip was over… making it all the harder to pull steaks and head on down the highway.

My next stop was Bayfield, a beautiful port on the southern end of Lake Superior I’d been reading about. Near here, along the shoreline, were fascinating sea caves and arches that I was looking forward to exploring in my kayak first thing the next morning before heading south to meet up with Elissa. Sadly remnants of the storm still lingered. I got up before sunrise and backtracked more than twenty miles along the shoreline to the ideal launch site to see the caves. I was met in the parking lot by a park ranger who informed me of the small craft advisory in effect. I’m no fool. I drove away feeling horribly disappointed. Two missed opportunities in two days. And as I drove the skies cleared, and clouded, and cleared again. Ever changing.

From the Marina in Bayfield Wisconsin

On the way back to Bayfield it was thoughts of my daughter awaiting my arrival at a friend’s house in southern Wisconsin that put a smile back on my face. When I got back to the campground I happily pulled steaks and turned south. With lots of ground to cover and another night in between us, I entertained myself with thoughts of Elissa, and little else.

Next stop… Brookfield Wisconsin, where our dear friends Don and Lissa Berg were hosting my wonderfully spirited, precious pride and joy… Elissa!!!

Colorado… Too Much of a Good Thing???

Posted on June 25, 2012 by fran

I can’t believe how far behind I am on blogging! Not that it’s been all that long since I last wrote, but I have an over-abundance of stories and images to share and my days have been far too full of fun and friends and beauty and adventure and dogs to take the time to sit and research and write. And as is often the case, when there is time I have little or no internet connection. This is still my number one source of frustration on my journey. Not sure how I’ll get caught up, but I’ll do my best!

After putting my daughter back on a plane to Texas I headed to Fort Collins for a big party celebrating the marriage of my good friends Tony and Beth Courter. Although I’m back in Colorado to work on my book, being here to share their joyous day is the reason I made quick tracks back across the country when I did. Congratulations you two. May your journey together be joyous and everlasting.

While in Fort Collins, “camped” on the street next to their home, I found myself itching to take my kayak out. I had not been on the water since I left Savannah two weeks prior, and it was most definitely time. The yearning was so strong that I drove out to a tiny little lake in town, drug my kayak off the car, across a field, down a hill through the brush and dropped it in the water for my shortest excursion to date. I wasn’t expecting to find much worth photographing on this mini adventure, but took my camera anyway… and I was tickled to find one Blue Heron along the shore.

Great Blue Heron, Fort Collins

After a few more days in town I decided it was time to head up the mountain a ways for some real camping, and hopefully some real kayaking too! As it turned out, the county campground I picked (Horsetooth Reservoir) was just over the ridge from day one of what has become one of the states most destructive wildfires. At writing (12 days later) the “High Park” fire has burned through more than 100 square miles and destroyed at least 190 homes.

High Park forest fire the day it started, from Horsetooth Reservoir

I was told the blaze was a safe distance away, so I rolled in and set up camp. Since there were a lot of speedboats on the water that afternoon I decided to wait for the peacefulness of sunrise to take my kayak out. That afternoon Jazzy and Sadie took me for a good walk, I got some work done, had a good dinner and crashed early. I woke up in the middle of the night to smoke in my RV. Enough smoke to wake me from a deep sleep. When I stepped outside I was surprised to find the campground eerily quiet. It was dark as can be, but you could see and smell and “feel” the smoke, and I couldn’t believe I was the only one awake and alarmed by it. The dogs were clearly on edge as well. Although there was little wind, it had clearly shifted. Knowing this could mean the fire shifting directions as well, I got in my car and drove up the hill to see if I could tell where it was. I couldn’t see the blaze from the top of the hill so I figured we were ok for the time being, but I didn’t sleep a wink the rest of the night. By daylight the smoke had shifted north again, and the campground came to life like any other day. After brief consideration I decided I had no desire to camp this close to a raging forest fire. Friendly conversation with the park ranger led me to Carter Lake, a 45 minute drive but probably about 15 miles south as the crow flies. I found a great campsite right on the lake and settled in once again. The next morning I finally got my sunrise cruise in the kayak. I understand they evacuated the campground at Horsetooth Reservoir that day.

Sadie at Carter Lake with smoke from the High Park fire in the background

Jazzy and her new friend Koda

Cruising Carter Lake

Before continuing my journey around the state in search of dogs, we spent a little time with my cousin, Anne, and her family in Lafayette too. The girls and I stopped here for a visit last winter as well, and met their new family pet, an adorable Goldendoodle named Scarlet. I’m not sure I’ve ever met a cuter and sillier pup, and although she has grown in size, she has not outgrown the silliness. Jazzy and Sadie thoroughly enjoy romping around the yard with her!

Scarlet

Countryside in Lafayette

From Lafayette we were off to Westcliffe where my good friends Bob and Kathy Seei own the delightful Over the Brim Inn. I visited them as I embarked on my journey last fall, and fell in love with this little town and the surrounding area. [Previous Post] The route I chose took me past the Royal Gorge which I’d read about, and was told there was a park not too far off the highway where I could leave my RV and walk with my dogs across the impressive bridge that spans the Gorge. Soooo… off the highway we went, up a steep and windy hillside to the Royal Gorge Park. I had in my mind a state park, and was not prepared for what I found there. I followed the signs to park my RV on the fringes of their huge parking lot and walked with the dogs to the entrance. I felt foolish paying $26 to enter the park when all I wanted to do was walk across the bridge and back, but I’d come all that way to do so. I spent less than an hour there and couldn’t get past my disappointment. Maybe it’s just me, but it just feels wrong to make an amusement park out of such a beautiful natural wonder. I didn’t take pictures of what I DIDN’T like about it. The Gorge itself was impressive regardless.

Royal Gorge

Bridge over the Royal Gorge

Thankfully my spirit was revived during the enchanting drive along the Arkansas River. With very few places to pull off in The Beast I can’t begin to do the area justice, and I vow to come back one day and stay for a while at a campground along the river.

Arkansas River

Deer comfortably grazing and lounging right on the edge of town

With my RV parked in Bob and Kathy’s spacious driveway in Westcliffe, and the offer to stay as long as I’d like, I took the time to get to know the area… and the locals. While out to dinner with Kathy my first night in town I met some folks with dogs, who knew some folks with dogs. One introduction led to another, and soon my schedule was full!

Marti Marnitz told me about Judy Anderson, who has three dogs and whose ranch was the background to Comes a Horseman.

Once a Horseman was filmed on this beautiful piece of land

Marti also told me about Shirley Lloyd, who lives on a beautiful piece of land, has several dogs, lots of horses, and five Savannah Cats. I spent an entire morning visiting, walking the land with her and gathering images for my book (and then some!)

Savannah Cat

I took almost a whole day to visit Mission Wolf, a wonderful sanctuary run almost entirely by interns and volunteers. The three main goals of this nature center are to 1) Provide resident wolves with as peaceful and natural life as possible. 2) Connect people with nature and foster concern and support for wild habitat protection. 3) Educate to the extent that wild wolves and humans may co-exist so that sanctuary’s like theirs will become unnecessary.

My day was spent learning about, photographing and bonding with these beautiful creatures. By bonding I mean up close and personal. A small group of us were able to go inside one area where three wolves came around to “meet and greet” us the way they would greet other wolves in the wild… face to face. They want to smell your face and teeth and lick you. I’ll admit it’s a bit intimidating to have a wolf come straight at your face, but we were told by the staff that if we turned away or pulled back, the connection would be missed and that wolf would not return to you. It was a wonderful and cherished experience.

A few more creatures from my day…

I met these little guys right in the road on my way out to Mission Wolf

And before leaving town, I photographed one more big, beautiful dog and a stunning sunset over the Sange de Cristo Mountains.

Lucky

Final Days in Florida

Posted on May 18, 2012 by fran

The first thing I have to say about Florida is… well, I was going to say it rains a lot here, but upon reflection what I really need to say is that I will be back. It did storm a lot during the weeks I spent in Florida, but now that I’m in Georgia (where it’s been storming as well) it’s not the rain I think about when I reflect on my time there. What comes to mind is the diverse beauty of this state, the old friends I was able to spend time with, and the many new friends I met along the way. This journey is about just that… savoring the blessings. It’s about nurturing a sense of peacefulness in my heart and mind that allows me to SEE the blessings for what they are, and to truly appreciate them. To those many friends… old and new… who have been a part of my journey, I thank you. You should all know that you are like precious gems to me, and I am glad to have you to carry along in my memories as I move in silence down the highways. Actually, sometimes I’m “rockin’ out”, but the memories are there regardless!

I entered Florida along the Gulf Coast, and other than my delightful little side trip inland to Ichetucknee Springs, I’ve stayed pretty near the coast all along the way. Fort Myers to the Everglades, down through the Keys and back up the East Coast. (The links lead to my blog posts about these areas) My first destination as I left the Keys was West Palm Beach. I taught a multi day workshop here a few years ago and really enjoyed what little I saw of the area. In addition, I have several friends in the vicinity, a few of whom I haven’t seen in years.

With no real urgency to get up the road, I decided to sit tight for a week. One reason behind that decision was that most, if not all, campgrounds offer a better rate by the week than by the day. I made a conscious decision awhile back to sit still more frequently for a few reasons… 1) better camping rates, 2) I’m not burning gas when I’m not moving, 3) allows me more time to get my work done. And despite what many of you think, I am working out here! Funny that I bring up all these good reasons to sit still more frequently and move at a slower pace, while at this very moment I’m preparing to literally race back across the country to Colorado to work on a book.

Anyway… I found a great county park just south of West Palm… John Prince Park, right on Lake Worth. I could not have asked for a more spacious and peaceful setting.

Our first morning there started just right. No storms! And with a fresh cup of coffee and the girls by my side we stood just outside the RV watching the sunrise and enjoying the stillness. I was JUST contemplating putting my kayak in the water for a sunrise cruise when an Alligator slowly swam by twenty feet off shore from where we stood. It didn’t completely freak me out. I was more interested in grabbing my camera than anything, but I did think better of stepping off the shore when there was not another soul around (or awake anyway).

Later that day, and several other times during the week, I did indeed kayak on the lake. I never saw another Alligator, but as expected, I did see some birds! By now it’s probably obvious that I am very intrigued by Heron and Egret. All birds for that matter, but especially the ones that are unique to me as so many in the southeast are.

John Prince Park from the water

Great Blue Heron

White Ibis cruising through the campground

I spotted this guy from quite a distance… wings spread in what looked like some sort of mating ritual, but it seemed late in the season for that, so I did a little research. What I discovered is that Anhinga (also known as Snakebird) often swim with their body submerged, with only head and neck visible above the water, giving it the appearance of a snake. Like Cormorant, Anhinga lack the oil glands that many water foul use to preen. They have to perch for long periods of time like this in order to dry their wings. Interestingly, they stab their prey with their long serrated beak, flip it into the air and gulp it down headfirst.

Anhinga

Anhinga, also known as Snakebird for obvious reasons

Female Anhinga

The Tern family still have me a bit baffled. If this is a Common Tern why does he have an orange beak? If a Forster’s Tern, why the black legs? The other Terns seem to have black caps as opposed to the little patch. If anyone has knowledge of these birds I’m all ears.

While in the West Palm area I was finally able to go out scuba diving for the first time in several years. I had hoped to go while in the Keys, but the storms prevented it. I did find a great dive shop at Jupiter Beach. The boat was a bit crowded, and the visibility was marginal, but it was a treat to reach 75′ for a drift dive along the reef. It’s an amazingly different world down there! If I felt I’d have more opportunity to dive I’d most definitely get set up with a housing and lights so I could feed my fix underwater as well.

I was grateful for the pockets of sunshine throughout the week, and especially happy to see the skies clearing my last morning on Lake Worth. All the better because my friend Gregg was joining me for one last paddle before packing up and heading north. Since I travel alone my kayak forays are almost exclusively solo, so it’s a nice treat for me to have someone along to enjoy the adventure with me, and in this case I came away with a few pics of ME on the adventure! (Thanks Gregg!)

Sunrise on Lake Worth

My friend and fellow adventurer, Gregg

photo by Gregg Dyess

Male Anhinga

Limpkin

Birds are often hard to identify, especially when they are not fully matured. While on the lake I spotted this Heron, which at first glance I thought was a young Great Blue but with a bit of research discovered it to be a Juvenile Little Blue Heron. They are born white, and on the way to adulthood take on a “piebald” coloring before maturing to a slate blue with maroon neck. Regardless, he was fun to follow.

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

As was this Great Egret…

Tri-colored Heron

After a fun morning on the water I packed up and moved north to a little campground right on Flagler Beach. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… I LOVE the sound of the ocean!

Although they had to be on leash, Jazzy and Sadie were happy to have their toes in the sand again. I took them for a long walk down the beach as soon as we got settled. Not without my camera of course!

White-rumped Sandpiper

I thoroughly enjoyed watching large groups of Brown Pelican gliding up and down the coast… until I got back to my RV an hour later to find it COVERED in Pelican Pooh!!! Actually, I still enjoyed watching them. What I didn’t enjoy was washing their droppings off my RV. Price of admission I guess.

Brown Pelican

I have to share one last story that I posted on Facebook. My last night in Florida I’m having dinner with Gregg at a little place overlooking the ocean at Flagler Beach and my eyes are drawn to this lovely young gal walking in the surf. I didn’t have my camera with me, but Gregg handed me his tiny little point n’ shoot and hollered “Have fun!” as I trotted down the stairs, across the street and down the beach. I wonder how differently it would have come across if I’d been a man saying “Hi. I’m a photographer (standing there with a camera no bigger than my hand mind you) and I’ve been watching you from across the street.”

This is Paige and she was kind enough to indulge me in a few quick spontaneous shots. We are hoping to get together for a REAL photo shoot when I return to Florida in the winter.