Hiking and biking on the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway!

 

We got back from our camping trip and I headed for the Greenway!

The Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway! 

It's close to home and always a good hike.

I did not ride a bike but when I looked up the hill on a side trail, these guys waved at me!

Of course I'll get off the paved trail for my hike!

It's a great place to see birds!

These Palm Warblers really have some pretty color at this time of year.

And there are monsters in the forest.

I tried to make this one a monster but I'm not sure. 

What do you think?

At the end of the hike, I looked down the firebreak and saw a Wild Turkey.

We may be camping again soon! I'll visit when I can!

Happy weekend!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !  

My Happy Place UPDATED at the end

 

We found a new bench on one of our hiking trails. It's up on a plateau where some bike trails intersect so I'm sure it was put there for the mountain bikers. I hope they don't mind if I sit there and ponder from time to time.

I have to say I have lots of happy places to hang out. There are benches and picnic tables all along the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. But to tell the truth, I rarely sit down. 

We found this new bench on a hike a few days ago and then I went back up there to sit and observe. I told myself I would sit there for 15 minutes but I didn't quite make it. I would rather be walking around, seeing what's around the bend.

Bike Trail Signs....and NO we don't walk on the bike trails!!!

We have the most beautiful Phlox growing along the highways right now and I parked next to a patch.

Lots of butterflies and bees!

I hope you can find your happy place. Even if you can't get out and walk, sometimes a drive in the country or a visit to a lake or river can give you a nature boost. It's important for our mental health. And you just never know what you'll see!

What do you think this is?

I've shown one before so many of you will remember what it is. They are hard to see on the ground among the leaves. 

I brought it home to photograph it with my roses.

It might be a tiny hummingbird nest! 

UPDATE...I had my doubts and they were confirmed by two of my favorite Florida blogs. Pamela sent me a link (in the comments) and Wally sent me this link in an email. It is NOT a hummingbird nest. It looks very much like one we found a few years ago. But it is the cocoon of the polyphemus moth. Thanks for all of your sweet comments and for the help in a proper ID. I'm still learning!

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays and

I like Thursdays HERE too!

Hike #88 and 3D Objects

It's so hot the birds and critters were in hiding this weekend.

But the bicyclists were out enjoying the trails.

I didn't see any other hikers! But the bicyclists are all really friendly to me. I see some of the same people when I hike the Florida Trails. 

And yes there are long hills on this section of trail. It's not hard for a hiker but it's hard for the bikes to get enough speed to get all the way up. Most of them are in great shape though! And I can lengthen my strides and go as slow as I want. 

Even though it was only 83 degrees, the humidity was 85%. I can see my summary on my Apple Watch. The sun was bright but a nice breeze helped.

And most of you know by now that I am using Photoscape to make 3D Objects....

and most of you probably think I'm addicted.....

and some of you might wonder if I'm having fun....

and ALL of you know I go a little crazy from time to time.

(mosaics from Mondays past that were made into 3D cubes)

And speaking of 'crazy'! I am SO proud of my new haircut that I will show you photos taken with NO make up on! I never thought I would even be SEEN without makeup and here I am taking photos and showing the world. But I had hiked, taken a shower and sat down in the lanai for a much needed haircut! My sweet hubby cut about an inch off the ends of my hair and now it's turning under again instead of flipping up! And YES...I know it is 'glow in the dark' silver!

I love it! Thanks sweet hubby!

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

I'm linking with All Seasons at the Jesh Studio too!

Would you rather ride?

Maybe you would like to ride a bike on the Florida Trails!

It's a nice paved trail for bicycles and there are plenty of trails through the woods for mountain biking too!

I see a lot of bikes when I walk but these are some of the neatest! (and yes, these are bikes that you pedal underneath the framing, not motorized)

And the last time we were at Blue Run Park we saw these adorable 'girls' bikes and I asked if I could take photos of them. 

Aren't they the cutest?

This one says Margaritaville and has a pineapple cup holder! 

So would you rather walk or ride?

I’m joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE .

Hats off to the bicyclists on the Florida Trails!

Are in my case....'caps off'!

I love sharing the things I see in nature when I hike but I'll dedicate this post to the friendly people I meet on the Florida Trails!

On the section of trail that I hike, I rarely even see another hiker. I see LOTS of bicyclists though!

And they all greet me and wave when they go by. Some ask me if I've seen anything as they speed by. A few even stop to chat. 

I've learned some of my 'regulars'....people I see just about every time I hike. I recognize them by their bikes, or their helmets or their greetings! One man stopped to ask me about an ID on some birds he saw last week. He described them and I was able to tell him they were Swallow-tailed Kites. When he stopped to chat, he said, You're just the person I wanted to see today. That felt great...and it felt even better that I actually knew which birds he had seen. I've seen quite a few of them lately too!

 Swallow-tailed Kite

So these are a few photos of some of my favorite people and a few Swallow-tailed Kites in flight!

Cheers to everyone that enjoys the Florida Trails!

Love One Another!

I’m joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE .

Share the Trail! "The Florida Trails"

It's great to live close to so many wonderful hiking trails! But as you can tell, I have my favorites! And hiking the the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross-Florida Greenway is at the top of my list! 

AND to make it even nicer, sections of it are paved! So it is very popular with the bicyclists. They are very courteous and always speak when they 'fly' by! And I hug the side of the trail to make it easy on them. There's plenty of room and they always say, 'passing on the left' and then follow up with a greeting. It sure makes the hike more pleasant!

So when you see the wide paved trail in my photos, it is for hikers and bicyclists only (not vehicles). 

 Imagine my surprise when I saw a 'boat' coming down the trail!

 Oh, it's NOT a boat? 

There's a bicycle in there somewhere, covered with a wood veneer! Pretty unique, don't you think!

And to include the birds I saw on this particular hike...

House Finches

a 'lone' house finch

and a Yellow-bellied sapsucker

wondering what kind of critter was staring back at him!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

Hike #73 The Downy Woodpecker

This little Downy Woodpecker stole the show on this hike!

 

He just kept jumping from one limb to another

but always in view of the camera.

So I stood still and kept shooting!

I saw lots of Warblers

and Bluebirds too.

I always say, Bluebirds of Happiness when I see them!

Do you know what this odd looking pod is in the tree? It’s almost as big as a golf ball and appears to be growing on a tree, not on a vine. I’ve searched online but can’t figure it out.

It was a warm day with hardly any wind…

perfect for the bikes I saw!

There are paved bike trails and mountain biking trails at the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway.

Do you think we should take our bikes and ride one day?