Author: reweidman50

Cayo Costa State Park

reweidman50 Florida Beaches, Florida Islands, Florida Parks, Florida State Parks, Uncategorized , , , , , , ,


We spent an adventurous weekend exploring one of the most remote state parks in Florida: Cayo Costa State Park, which is located four nautical miles west of Pine Island. In fact, the only way to reach Cayo Costa Island is via Tropic Star ferry or private boat. We had a pleasant ride aboard the Tropic Star and enjoyed talking with Captain Bruce. It took about 55 minutes to reach the island, where we checked in and purchased some firewood and bags of ice. Then a tram (which runs on the top of the hour between 9 AM and 4 PM) took us about a mile across the island to the campground. We camped at campsite #6, which was spacious and a short distance away from the beach access and restrooms. Note that there is no electricity on the island, but potable water and cold showers can be found at the restrooms. So logistically speaking, you must plan out your meals and bring plenty of supplies, since the gift shop on the other side of the island only stocks snacks, sodas and water bottles (along with Klondike bars!). After pitching our tent, we strolled to the amazing, practically deserted white-sand beach and caught a beautiful sunset. At night, we sat around the campfire and then headed along the Cemetery Trail with just our flashlights to guide us to the Pioneer Cemetery. Real creepy and very cool! There are just a handful of graves here and one of the most notable is that of Captain Peter Nelson, who died on September 7, 1919, at the age of 80 years and whose inscription reads, “After life’s fitful fever/he sleeps well.” The next morning we woke up before sunrise and strolled down the deserted beach for a little shell collecting (we also came across the gulf calico crab pictured above). Then I explored some of the miles of hiking trails in the center of the island. Oh yeah, as we set about cleaning up our campsite, we noticed a four-foot snake with a black head slithering out from underneath our tent! The park ranger later told us we had witnessed a rather harmless eastern coachwhip snake. Good times! Bottom line: Cayo Costa State Park is a great campground, one of the best we’ve experienced during our Florida travels, but make sure you are totally prepared for this rustic adventure!

 

Hike #25: Cayo Costa State Park

reweidman50 52 Hike Challenge, Florida Parks, Florida State Parks, Uncategorized , , , , , ,


Hike #25, 52 Hike Challenge: Cayo Costa State Park. One of the great things about camping on remote Cayo Costa State Park (you need to take a ferry from Pine Island to get to Cayo Costa Island) is the incredible diversity of hiking trails on the island. Due to time constraints, I only had the opportunity to take a beach walk and sample about half of the trails (Cemetery Trail, Scrub Trail, Quarantine Trail and Pine Wood Trail), but I was truly impressed! Distance: 3.5 miles.

Hike #24: Shingle Creek Regional Park

reweidman50 52 Hike Challenge, Florida Parks, Florida Wildlife, Uncategorized, White Squirrel , , , , , ,


Hike #24, 52 Hike Challenge: Shingle Creek Regional Park, Kissimmee. Although Shingle Creek Regional Creek Park lies just off bustling U.S. 192, it seems worlds away once you take to the hiking trails! Fortunately the weather cleared up and I was able to knock out both the Babb Landing and Steffee Landing sections of the park. In addition, I caught a glimpse of a white-tailed deer on the Babb Landing side and a rare white squirrel on the Steffee Landing side (see if you can spot it in one of the photos above!). According to the Florida State University Coastal Marine Laboratory website, “The white squirrel is actually a genetic anomaly due to a mutated gene from the common Eastern Gray Squirrel. It is called leucism, which is a condition characterized by reduced pigmentation in animals caused by a recessive allele. Unlike albinism, it is a reduction in all types of skin pigment, not just melanin. White squirrels lack red eyes and also tend to have a gray patch on their heads and what is referred to as a ‘dorsal stripe’ down their backs.” Shingle Creek Regional Park is home to The Paddling Center at Shingle Creek. Wildlife Sightings: White-Tailed Deer, White Squirrel. Distance: 3.1 miles.

 

 

 

 

Gator Joe’s Beach Bar & Grill

reweidman50 Florida Bars, Florida Restaurants, Uncategorized , , , , , ,


I’ve always wanted to go to Gator Joe’s Beach Bar & Grill and finally got the opportunity Saturday after we dropped by nearby Lake Griffin State Park. Billed as “a family friendly restaurant with a laid-back atmosphere & island cuisine,” this lakefront eatery, which was established in 1926, lived up to all our expectations! According to Gator Joe’s official website, the legendary eatery “got its name from a famous alligator who lived in Lake Weir from approximately 1930-1952. In 1934, while trying to find the Ma Barker Gang, the FBI intercepted a letter mentioning an ‘Old Joe’ near the Barker hideout. Lake Weir was pinpointed as it was found to have a big gator known as ‘Old Joe.’ On January 16, 1935, the FBI found the Barker gang in a historic home 1/8 mile from Gator Joe’s and in a 4-hour gun battle, Ma and one of her sons were killed. ‘Joe’ on the other hand lived until 1952.” Diners can even view Gator Joe’s encased foot near the entrance to the restaurant, which is located at 12431 S.E. 135 Avenue in Ocklawaha. Believe me, it’s worth the trip!

Lake Griffin State Park

reweidman50 Florida Hiking Trails, Florida Parks, Florida State Parks, Florida Wildlife, Uncategorized , ,


Encompassing 620 acres just north of Leesburg, Lake Griffin State Park is home to the second-largest oak tree in Florida! A short trail leads off a small parking lot to the right just after the ranger station to this massive live oak tree. The sign in front of the live oak tree reads, “This live oak tree is the second largest oak tree in the state of Florida and is estimated to be between 300-500 years old. It serves as a home for many species of mammals and birds and may even have been a landmark for the Timuca Indians who frequented the area before settlement and later the Seminole Indians. The first settlers discovered the tree in 1811, since then it has attracted tourists from the entire nation.” In addition, the park features two hiking trails, campground, canoe/kayak rentals and guided pontoon boat tours. Lake Griffin State Park is located at 3089 U.S. 441-27 in Fruitland Park.

31 Days of Halloween Movie Challenge

reweidman50 Film Recommendations, Horror Films, Uncategorized ,


For the first time ever, I embarked on the 31 Days of Halloween Movie Challenge. My only criteria was that I picked horror movies that I had never seen before and that they at least had some horror elements within them (although several could be easily labeled thrillers or horror/thrillers). However, I did end up watching a lot of movies I had missed over the past 10 years or so that I had heard good things about. It was a fun odyssey and I found a few really good films (along with a couple of real turkeys like Pay the Ghost!), which I have highlighted in bold throughout the final list below:

1. Show Yourself (2016)
2. The Hallow (2015)
3. Wake Wood (2009)
4. Pay the Ghost (2015)
5. The Babadook (2014)
6. It Follows (2014)
7. The Invitation (2015) 
8. Let Me In (2010) 
9. The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016) 
10. From the Dark (2014)
11. The House of the Devil (2009)
12. Honeymoon (2014) 
13. The Uninvited (2009)
14. The Pact (2012)
15. A Dark Song (2016)
16. Killing Ground (2016)
17. Better Watch Out (2016)
18. It Comes at Night (2017)
19. The Exorcist III (1990) 
20. Creep (2014)
21. The Suffering (2016)
22. 1922 (2017) 
23. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
24. The Endless (2017)
25. Spring (2014) 
26. Craters of the Moon (2013)
27. Take Shelter (2011) 
28. Apostle (2018) 
29. The Dark (2005)
30. The Skeleton Key (2005) 
31. Frailty (2001) 

Hike #23: Hal Scott Preserve

reweidman50 52 Hike Challenge, Florida Hiking Trails, Florida Wildlife, Uncategorized ,


Hike #23, 52 Hike Challenge: Hal Scott Preserve, Orlando. The Hal Scott Regional Preserve and Park encompasses more than 9,500 acres and features three loop trails: White Trail (4.3 miles), Red Trail (6.1 miles) and Yellow Trail (6.3 miles). I took the White Trail and enjoyed one of my first truly fall hikes of the season. Note that you will share the trail with cyclists, hikers with dogs and sometimes cyclists with dogs. I will definitely be back to hike the other two trails down the line. Distance: 4.3 miles.