WWW – 5.20.2020
Nearly Contactless Travel
During this time of COVID-19, Steve and I have been very careful. We wear masks when we leave the house, we require his business clients to wear masks when they come in the house, we shop only when necessary and have been very much at home since mid March. So, I am still kind of surprised that I recently decided to travel to north Florida . . . but I’m not going to feel guilty about it.
Continue reading “Nearly Contactless Travel”WWW – 5.13.2020
Bear Tracks Blackberry Farm
Slowly, slowly, our state is re-opening. State parks are opening with attendance restrictions, preserves are once again available, and people are taking advantage of the wonderful weather to get some exercise and Vitamin D. But if you want an adventure that’s DELICIOUS as well as relaxing and recharging, check out Bear Tracks Blackberry Farm.
Continue reading “Bear Tracks Blackberry Farm”Pancake TV with Pam and Valerie
In addition to spending as much time as humanly possible outdoors, I also love to cook. One of my favorite things to cook is pancakes, and on the second Saturday of the month you will generally find me at the East Lake County Chamber of Commerce cooking up pancakes and sausage for the community breakfast. Of course, this has changed now that we are social distancing. Serving pancakes to my friends and neighbors has become a bit more difficult — BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE!
Continue reading “Pancake TV with Pam and Valerie”But WHY do I Need a Personal Flotation Device? I can SWIM!
Look, I get it. Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) aren’t quite high fashion, and in the summer they can be really hot to wear. I don’t like the tan lines I get when I wear mine for an afternoon on the water. But Steve and I won’t paddle without them, and that’s not just because Florida law requires adults to have PFDs in their kayaks with them.
Let’s get the legalities out of the way first, and then we’ll deal with the practicalities of PFDs in a kayak.
Continue reading “But WHY do I Need a Personal Flotation Device? I can SWIM!”Do I Need a Personal Flotation Device when I’m Kayaking?
Yes.
WWW – 4.20.2020
Seminole State Forest – Bear Pond Interpretive Trail
When the State Parks closed due to the “safer at home” order issued by Governor Ron DeSantis in response to COVID-19, Steve and I were heartbroken. The majority of our adventuring, after all, occurs in our State Parks. But this closure has motivated us to spend more time in our local reserves, preserves, and conservation areas. I’ve been raving about the Seminole State Forest, and recently, we met a friend at the Bear Pond Trailhead for a morning of hiking in the Forest.
Continue reading “Seminole State Forest – Bear Pond Interpretive Trail”Backyard Bioblitz
This year’s Bioblitz, an annual citizen science project where participants record their wildlife sightings in the iNaturalist app for cataloging by Conservation Florida, has been moved from Rock Springs Run State Reserve to your very own backyard!
If you’d like to take part, just download the iNaturalist app to your smartphone. This app allows you to record your observations directly to Conservation Florida’s bioblitz project. Please visit the iNaturalist tutorials for more information and join the iNaturalist project here. Record your findings! You can also share your experience on social media using #GreatFloridaBioblitz