Hi, I’m Sandra Friend, owner / webmaster / chief content creator and a lifelong hiker. I’m a blogger and travel writer, too, which is why I need to be transparent about my business activities: not just to make the Federal Trade Commission happy, but to let you know I’m one of the good guys.
Now and again, I’m provided free admission, free lodging, and sometimes even free transportation to visit places I write about. (Free food doesn’t happen often!). It’s a norm of our business, since getting reimbursed for the expenses of travel research is a rare thing indeed. I don’t, however, let these perks color my coverage. I tell it as I see it – or leave it out of the book (or blog) altogether if I think you won’t enjoy it.
As a freelancer trying to scrape together a living from many little scraps, I do try and make a little money from this website. Once in a rare while, I’ll be asked to write a little something for pay. You’ll see the words “sponsored post” in the tag if I do. I receive income from click-throughs as well. For instance, if you click on a book image and end up on Amazon.com, they pay me a little something above the buck or so I earn in royalties. Some advertisers pay me a little percentage if you buy something from them.
Note the emphasis on the word “little.” 
Donations help me cover the cost of running the site. Donations for certain products, such as the Big O Hike booklet, are passed on from me to the local Florida Trail chapter. I’m not a nonprofit, nor do I play one on TV. But I do volunteer for many nonprofits that help keep Florida’s outdoors a pleasant place to play.
Thanks for visiting, and remember – a day in the woods always beats a day in the office!
