Author: reweidman50

The Thrill of Walking

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“The thrill of walking comes not so much from movement—except for the initial turning of a step out the door into a journey—but from its gifts of freedom and nonconformity. In a world built on speed, walking somewhere is an act of rebellion. You reject every type of contraption that your forebears have invented to get you there faster—including the bicycle—for your own two legs. You head out into the world while turning your back on its ways.” —Thomas Swick, The Joys of Travel (2018)

Black Hammock Wilderness Area

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I finally got the chance to explore 700-acre Black Hammock Wilderness Area in Seminole County (near Geneva) and I was not disappointed. The 4.5-mile hiking trail (part of which is a 1.4-mile loop at the end) features diverse terrain, including Mixed Hardwood Swamp, Pine Flatwoods and Sand Pine Scrub. The first section of the trail includes two scenic boardwalks. I had the place pretty much to myself, although I did chat with another hiker and a couple heading out as I was making my way back. Oh yeah, the parking lot is extremely small (enough for maybe five cars at the most) and so I recommend arriving no later than 8 AM or so on a weekend. Bottom line: It was simply one of the best hikes I’ve taken so far in Central Florida!

 

Black Bear Wilderness Area

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With urban sprawl threatening preservation efforts everywhere throughout Central Florida, 1,600-acre Black Bear Wilderness Area in Sanford provides a welcome glimpse of wilderness amid a nightmarish sea of cul-de-sacs, strip malls and office parks. When I arrived around 10 AM last Sunday morning, the parking lot was already full, so I had to park along the street outside. The trail itself is an often rugged 7.1-mile loop (part of which runs near the St. Johns River) and features 14 numbered boardwalks, but I only had time to do a brief sampler. So I first ventured out counterclockwise for about a mile and then hiked about a mile the other way. The trail is simply amazing and I saw two alligators sunning. Florida Black Bear sighting are apparently common here, but I had no such luck. I will be back soon to hike the entire loop at Black Bear Wilderness Area!

 

 

Hike #52: Hontoon Island State Park

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Hike #52: 52 Hike Challenge: Hontoon Island State Park, DeLand. Completed Hike #52 of 52 Hike Challenge at Hontoon Island State Park, followed by lunch at Bellini’s Deli (yes, I ordered roast beef and provolone!). The 52 Hike Challenge has been a great experience and I encourage anyone interested to just head out and get started! I always considered the completion of the 52 Hike Challenge as just the beginning – now I’m ready for more challenging hikes! See ya on the trails! Distance: 3 miles.

The Dawn Wall

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“In January, 2015, American rock climbers Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson captivated the world with their effort to climb The Dawn Wall, a seemingly impossible 3,000 foot rock face in Yosemite National Park, California. The pair lived on the sheer vertical cliff for weeks, igniting a frenzy of global media attention. But for Tommy Caldwell, The Dawn Wall was much more than just a climb. It was the culmination of a lifetime defined by overcoming obstacles …” [For more information, visit the official Dawn Wall site]

Valley Uprising

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“For the past fifty years, Yosemite’s massive cliffs have drawn explorers and madmen to leave materialism behind and venture onto the high, lonesome granite. The larger-than-life characters of Yosemite carved out an extreme bohemian lifestyle in the valley: living in the dirt, clashing with the National Park authorities, and pioneering the boldest climbs on earth. The torch has been passed across three generations of climbers; through rivalries, tragedies and triumphs, the art of Yosemite climbing has advanced beyond anyone’s imagination.  Narrated by acclaimed actor Peter Sarsgaard (Garden State, Jarhead, An Education) and produced by Emmy® Award-Winning Sender Films with Big UP Productions, Valley Uprising deftly recounts the history of Yosemite’s bold tradition: half a century of struggle against the laws of gravity, and the laws of the land.” [For more information about Valley Uprising, visit the Sender Films official website.]

Hike #51: Isle of Pine Preserve, Orlando

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Hike #51: 52 Hike Challenge: Isle of Pine Preserve, Orlando. I’ve been wanting to head out to Isle of Pine Preserve for several weeks and finally made it last Saturday. The parking lot was located within a neighborhood, but luckily there were several signs leading the way. Isle of Pine Preserve is the kind of place where you expect to see some deer and gopher tortoises, but I had no luck today. Although I hiked mainly on the Blue Trail, I also sampled portions of the Orange and Red trails as well. I will come back another time to hike the remainder of the trails. Distance: 2.5 miles.

Gopher Tortoise, Oakland Nature Preserve

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One of our favorite hikes is taking a stroll along the boardwalk to Lake Apopka at Oakland Nature Preserve. This time out we saw a rat snake slithering down a tree, a baby alligator unsuccessfully attempting to eat a baby turtle and this friendly gopher tortoise trying to get some sun. Nice outing!