“The further one gets into the wilderness, the greater is the attraction of its lonely freedom.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Month: August 2021
Lake Apopka
One of our favorite walks involves taking the scenic boardwalk at Oakland Nature Preserve to Lake Apopka. Up and back is just about 1 5 miles with some great views along the way. Enjoy your hike!
One Day
“Let us spend one day as deliberately as Nature, and not be thrown off the track by every nutshell and mosquito’s wing that falls on the rails.” – Henry David Thoreau, Walden
Hiking Spring Hammock Preserve
Over the next few months I will be doing a “greatest hits” tour of my favorite Central Florida hikes. I started with Econ River Wilderness Area in Oviedo a couple of weeks ago. Last weekend I hiked Spring Hammock Preserve in Longwood. Both are very scenic and not too strenuous.
What I’m Reading …
“America’s Alligator examines the colorful and sometimes conflicted relationship our species has had with Alligator mississippiensis. Doug Anderson explores the country’s rich alligator mythology and how it inspired various forms of art, stories, photography, tourism and even humor.”
Antonio’s Maitland
One of our favorite dining spots in Central Florida is Antonio’s Market & Cafe. Although there is a formal dining room upstairs, we enjoy the casual, bustling atmosphere downstairs. I recommend the margherita pizza with a glass of Cabernet, although you can’t go wrong with any of the menu offerings. After lunch, we cross the street for a stroll around scenic Lake Lily. Check it out!
To-Do List
“What’s a to-do list? … It’s a list of things that you don’t really want to do, or even think about. Everyone you know makes these lists. But how many people get up every morning and make a list of 10 things they want to learn or enjoy that day? Very few. And that’s really what I’m trying to do now.” – Francis Ford Coppola
Audubon Center for Birds of Prey
We had a great time exploring the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland this morning. The staff was very friendly and informative. They did an amazing job. Highly recommended!
Trails
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.” – Edward Abbey
What I’m Watching …
Big Sur (2013): Arguably the most successful film adaptation of any of Jack Kerouac’s novels to date, Big Sur was directed by Mark Polish and features amazing cinematography, solid acting and compelling voice-over narration such as “I was surrounded and outnumbered and had to get away to solitude again or die ” Eclectic cast includes Jean-Marc Barr, Josh Lucas, Radha Mitchell, Anthony Edwards, Stana Katic, Balthazar Getty, Kate Bosworth, Henry Thomas, Patrick Fischler and Jason W. Wong. Definitely not for all tastes!
Wandering Florida 