“… without risk I don’t think there can be art … Suspend your self-doubt, do only the work you love and make it personal.”
“I was always a good adventurer. I was never afraid to take risks. I always had a good philosophy about risks. The only risk is to waste your life, so that when you die, you say, ‘Oh, I wish I had done this!’ I did everything I wanted to do, and I continue to.”
“The trick is to find the pleasures you can indulge in endlessly.”
“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 and enjoy that day? Very few. And that’s really what I’m trying to do now.”
“The secret of life is to say yes all the time … because when you’re old, you don’t want to say, ‘I wish I’d done this, I wish I had done that.”
“Did you see Rushmore? I was just like that kid.”
Author: reweidman50
Return to Lake Harney
Ideally located along the scenic St. Johns River, Lake Harney Wilderness Area is the perfect spot to get some exercise, view wildlife (I almost always see deer out here in the early morning) and social distance (I hardly ever run across anyone else out here during my hikes). There’s even an observation deck for a sweeping view of Lake Harney itself and the surrounding area. So, what are you waiting for? Mark Lake Harney Wilderness Area down on your calendar and get out in the great outdoors!
Orlando Wetlands Park Revisited
As I mentioned before, few natural places (if any) in Central Florida can surpass Orlando Wetlands Park in Christmas when it comes to viewing Florida wildlife, including alligators and a myriad of bird species. Last time out, I spotted this softshell turtle chilling out under a bench. Very cool!
A Day at Wekiva Island
One of our favorite spots in Central Florida to rent kayaks for a day exploring Florida wildlife, Wekiva Island is located in Longwood near Wekiwa Springs State Park. In fact, we try to get to Wekiva Island as early as possible, rent our kayak(s) and paddle down the Wekiva River to Wekiwa Springs. Then we disembark and swim around in the springs for a little while before paddling back to Wekiva Island for lunch and a craft beer at the Tooting Otter. It’s a great place to take visitors to give them a true taste of “natural” Florida.
Circle B Bar Reserve
After hearing great things about Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland, we finally got the opportunity to visit and enjoy just a small sampling of this amazing wildlife habitat. A former cattle ranch on the shore of Lake Hancock, Circle B Bar Reserve encompasses 1,267 acres and contains a diversity of great hiking trails. We saw several alligators and the reserve was also teeming with various bird species. We will definitely return soon to explore other areas of Circle B Bar Reserve. Highly recommended!
Devil’s Chair
I finally made it back to Cassadaga in search of the haunted landmark known as the “Devil’s Chair,” which can be found at Lake Helen-Cassadaga Cemetery. According to urban legend, if you sit in the immense brick chair at midnight, the Devil will pay you a visit. Furthermore, if you place an unopened can of (preferably cheap) brew on the Devil’s Chair at midnight, you will be greeted with an empty can the next morning. However, the most likely explanation for the Devil’s Chair is that it once served as a so-called “mourning chair” for an elderly gentleman visiting his wife’s grave. The legend is much more interesting, don’t you think?
Black Point Wildlife Drive
Part of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, the 7-mile, one-way Black Point Wildlife Drive allows you to view wildlife in its natural habitat such as alligators, snakes, river otters, bobcats, wading birds, waterfowl (in season), raptors and shorebirds without exactly roughing it. The cost is $10 per vehicle and the drive takes approximately 40 minutes (there are frequent stops along the way). Don’t miss it!
Richloam General Store
Step back in time at the Richloam General Store, which first opened its doors near Webster in 1922 and is today listed on the National Register of Historic Places as “the only remaining building from the Richloam community,” according to the historical marker posted outside the store.
Withlacoochee River Park
We discovered a great outdoor oasis way off the beaten path at Withlacoochee River Park in Dade City. Several scenic trails meander through the park, including a portion of the Florida Trail. Don’t miss the opportunity to climb the Observation Tower for a great view of the surrounding area. Oh yeah, make sure to pack some mosquito repellent because we got eaten alive on this outing – but it was well worth it! Other stops during this adventure included a visit to the charming 1922 Richloam General Store in Webster and an outstanding lunch at Kafe Kokopelli in downtown Dade City.
Boat Drinks – St. Augustine
During last Saturday’s torrential storm in St. Augustine, we ducked into a funky, Florida Keys-type eatery in the heart of St. George Street called Boat Drinks, which lives up to its billing as “a nautical tropical bar with frozen cocktails, a rum selection that would sink most ships and a bounty of fresh seafood.” Since it was early and we weren’t prepared for a full-blown meal, we opted to sample a couple of appetizers, including the Crispy Fish Bites (very good) and Plantain Chips ‘n Dips (outstanding). As you might expect, Boat Drinks specializes in an amazing selection of frozen drinks and rum punches, as well as rotating Florida craft beers. We had a great time at Boat Drinks and will definitely return soon! Oh yeah, we also hit one of our all-time favorite St. Augustine spots, Milltop Tavern. All in all, a very rewarding barhop in the “Ancient City” despite the awful weather.
Wandering Florida 