Tsala Apopka Outfall Canal

 Ready for an adventure?

We'll drive out to the dam....but only this once!

So look around and take all the photos you want because this will be the only time you get to go! 

The road was rough. ROUGH? There has to be a better word for it! 

Little Blue Heron, Anhinga

But for all locals, DON'T GO! Even with a high profile, 4 wheel drive vehicle it is a challenge.

Alligator and Stork

And there are birds and a monster gator to see but you can see those things in other places that are easier to get to. I was at least glad that we didn't meet anyone on the road. MEET ANYONE? NO WONDER!

Monster Gator

Stork flying away! lol

But before you think I went on a back road far far away. It was not far away and people lived on that road. But it was not maintained and there were holes big enough to bury the Jeep. I was driving, hubby was helping as in.....stay on the gas and ease through....don't stop....climb out of it.....get through the next hole....over the next hill....hug the right.....go off into the ditch on the left....through mud and muck and vegetation....no place to turn around....KEEP GOING!!!

ATV in distance, this was the only wide spot in the road!

We met one big truck with a trailer load of ATVs (driven by a lady) and one ATV (driven by a little girl). 

Osprey

Stay CALM....HOLD ON!

Osprey

Sandhill Cranes

So these are some of the neat things we saw when we were back there. 

Jeep, Colored Pencil 

Am I glad we went....well of course! 

Will we go again? Short answer...NO! 

My sons will be proud of me. I DROVE that Jeep! 

One gorgeous flower....just ONE!

Get out there and do something exciting this week!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

You can never go back!

Well, you can….you just won’t see the same thing that you saw before! lol

I take a lot of shortcuts and one day this week I drove on a back road and saw wild turkeys under a Live Oak Tree.

I was happy to get a couple of photos (from my window) but decided to go back the very next day and try to get better pics.

Well….this time there was a herd of about 20 goats under that same tree! (and no, I didn’t get a very good photo of them)

But I did drive down a side road to try and saw an alligator!

Right in someone’s FRONT YARD! giggle giggle!

I’ve had such a good week! The weather is so gorgeous and I’ve been hiking every day I can find the time and energy!

And my Fall Mum is blooming again! We set the pot outside when it finished blooming and look at it now!

AND…strawberries are in season here in Florida!

I’m thankful for so many things this week!

So….I’m joining Thankful Thursdays.

Traveling Mosaics

We had great weather conditions on our trip to NC and back. And since we’ve been back, the weather has gotten cooler and less humid. We are seeing the photos and video of the terrible damage on the Gulf Coast and feel so sad for these fellow Floridians. The damage did not come into the central part of the state and affect us but the sadness and loss sure does.

I don’t take a lot of photos while we travel but here are a few in the form of mosaics!

And when we stayed overnight in Georgia at our favorite Hampton Inn, this mosaic was on the wall.

Cotton fields ready to be harvested!

The big beautiful sky!

To the MOON!!!

And a little town along the way with Fall decorations.

I just have to include the first photo I took when we got back to Florida. I was gathering up my bag, water, camera, etc and saw this beautiful dragonfly in the grass next to the driveway.

Welcome back….it said!

I’m joining Mosaic Monday HERE.

“Scenery”

When I drive to Halpata Tastanaki Preserve, I’m always intent on seeing birds or wildlife.

But of course that doesn’t stop me from taking dozens of ‘scenery pics’!

It has been the most beautiful summer here in North Central Florida.

Our temps have not been too extreme and we’ve had enough rain to keep everything nice and green.

So let’s enjoy the scenery!

Oh, wait!

Is that a Swallowtail Kite high in the sky?

Well, it’s a good thing I have plenty of film in my camera. (just kidding)

I need to take just a few more pics before I go.

We expect it to be HOT here in Florida during the summer months, but it hasn’t been bad. How’s the weather in your neck of the woods?

I’m joining Mosaic Monday HERE.

Mr. & Mrs. Crane and Junior

I drove into the Pruitt Trailhead at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve last Sunday morning and this is the FIRST thing I saw.

The Sandhill Crane Family

I parked under a shade tree, grabbed my camera and went all around following this happy family around.

Luckily they were taking a leisurely Sunday stroll and I was able to keep up with them!

I noticed that one of them was MUCH bigger than the others!

But I really could not tell that one of them was a young one until I got home and looked at my photos.

He was a paler color overall and the red on his head was more of a peachy color.

HEY wait up everybody!

I should have know by his behavior! He kept falling behind!

It was a beautiful morning and even though it was hot I managed to get a short hike in.

We are hotter and dryer this week so I don’t know if I’ll be able to get out in the next few days. I need to start another craft project! lol

And on that note, I would like to thank everyone that commented on my last post HERE! I wrote about my volunteer job at Legacy Hospice House. I was so happy to be able to finally share it with you. You are ALL such wonderful friends…so encouraging and supportive! Thank you SO much for your kind words! Sweet Hugs, Diane

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

How about a Sunday Drive?

Maybe we can get some ‘award winning’ photos!

Well I KNOW I saw some award winning sights!

We drove the backroads looking for something that we didn’t exactly find!

So it turned into a fun ‘unexpected’ adventure!

What we DID find was peanuts growing as far as the eye could see.

And we stopped at a gate and got out for photos and could see all the way to the Gulf Coast!

I’m still amazed living here in Florida that we can be so close to the Gulf Coast AND the Atlantic! (as the crow flies!)

We’ve had enough rain so far this summer to keep the fields a deep summer shade of green.

You just never know what you’ll see when you get out on the backroads. We saw an eagle too but didn’t get any photos of it. That didn’t take away the excitement of the experience though!

As you can tell….I liked all of my photos AND all of my mosaics!

I hope you enjoy them too!

North Central Florida!

What a beautiful place to live!

I’m joining Mosaic Monday HERE

and Cooking and Crafting with J & J.