Have you seen WahooHiker’s new video blog yet? I’m impressed. Talk about an extreme blog makeover, and it works. I’ve been meaning to post about Kevin’s video of the hike I led at Silver Glen Springs, where veteran USFS retiree Johnny Pohlers was along for the trek and I imposed on Johnny’s most excellent interpretive skills, and embed the video (see below), but heck, go to his site and watch it there on Vimeo. It’s much higher quality and pretty darn slick.
This Tuesday, November 11, is Veterans Day, and Florida State Parks is honoring our veterans and active military by providing free access to Florida State Parks on Nov 11. Why not thank a friend or family member for their service by taking a hike with them? I had that pleasure a couple of years ago, when my brother-in-law Jeff Smith was recuperating from a serious illness at the VA Hospital in Tampa after returning from to the US from a long tour of duty in the Air Force. Rob and I took Jeff out to Lettuce Lake Park and Hillsborough River State Park for short hikes so he could get some fresh air and get used to walking around outdoors again. Please be sure to honor those who serve(d) next week by spending some time with them … and take a hike in a Florida State Park.
Episode 005: A Walk at Green Cay Wetlands (18:43)
Earlier this month, I stayed with my friends Ted and Trudy Winsberg on their farm while I was participating in the Diabetes Walk event in West Palm Beach, and I had a chance to walk with Ted along the boardwalks of Green Cay Wetlands one morning. This spectacular wetlands park is their legacy to the people of Florida. Not long ago, it was part of their bell pepper farm. Now it’s a re-created Everglades habitat, a haven for birds and hikers alike. This episode is an edited version of a walk through the preserve with Ted.
Music included in this podcast:
“The River Bank” by Shaun Harris, RoyaltyFreeMusic.com
Get details about and directions for the hike at http://www.floridahikes.com/greencay
I shot video a little later this same day, so I plan to add that as my next vidcast on the Florida Hikes channel.
Play or download the podcast with the tools below. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed for the Florida Hikes! podcast, or download the series from iTunes.com
This weekend, I joined my friends from the Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association for an American Diabetes Association fundraising walk in downtown West Palm Beach. Drenching rains couldn’t keep this group of hardy hikers away, even if we were walking the urban jungle - 2 miles through the canyons of downtown West Palm Beach - instead of the natural one. Brought together by outdoor writer Warren Resen, the Florida Hikers team finished early, well ahead of the rest of the walkers. Spending the weekend in SE Florida gave me some small opportunities to hike in natural areas, too. More on that later!
It’s been almost seven years since I met Bart Smith at an FTA Annual Conference, when he sought me out to say “how’d you like to do a book together?” The result of our chat was Along the Florida Trail, which I section hiked to write and he thru-hiked to photograph. He already had two excellent books with notable authors, Earl Shaffer and Karen Berger. And after he packed up the things he left at my house while he was hiking and headed home to Seattle and family, we kept in touch now and again but not like we did while collaborating.
This spring, Bart’s wife Bridgie got in touch to tell me the exciting news that Bart would be wrapping up 16 years of hiking ALL of the National Scenic Trails, and he’d do it to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the National Trail System. She asked me to work with them on content for his website, which I was honored to do. Today Bart met his goal: all trails complete! Here’s the story.
His website’s a beaut, too, with slide shows from every National Scenic Trail. Be sure to take a virtual hike with Bart down the Florida Trail! Bart’s website: Walking Down A Dream.
Just heard from Ryan Carpenter, aka Green Tortuga, that he’s letting his old blog lapse and has put the details of his Florida Trail thru-hike with additional photos at http://www.ryansatotalgoober.com/adventures/2008/
If you’re thinking of a thru-hike or just want a fun read, check it out! I especially like the photo sequence of navigating under a low-hanging branch at Juniper Run.
Now here’s an ambitious project to see Florida by land and sea. The expedition team plans to follow the route of the new Florida Circumnavigational Trail under development, kayaking along the Florida Coast from Fort Clinch State Park at Fernandina Beach to Gulf Islands National Seashore in Pensacola. They’ll then put on the backpacks and hit the Florida Trail, hiking south to Big Cypress National Preserve. All the while they’ll be shooting photos and video to post on their website. Learn more at http://sunshineexpedition.com
Here’s a new one for the blogroll: Florida Footpaths, a website celebrating the stories along the trails of the Ocala National Forest by actress Kim Crow. She and her husband have a home in Hog Valley, and they meander the byways and trails soaking up stories and sharing them via audio and video presentations. See the site!
Episode 005: A Walk at Green Cay Wetlands (18:43)
