Silver Springs State Park: Sand Hill Trail

We arrived at Silver Springs State Park, Florida, around noon to check-in to the campground. Now we know check-in time is officially 2 PM are were prepared to wait as not every camper vacates the site promptly or early. Waiting really isn't a problem as there are many interesting areas to explore in most parks, you simply park the rig and walk a trail. Luckily the Sand Hill Trail started within a few hundred yards of the holding area.

Trails are easy to follow
Recent prescribed burn in this area

Bill suggested we take the cats for a hike which is normally a good idea. However, I was amazed the cats wanted to go as we had just left three days at our Citra home where they ran free. Never underestimate cats, they were ready for a new adventure! 

Anna, "OK, let's go"

The trail head was not far away but getting there involved crossing a broad road adjacent to the ranger station, meaning regular traffic, and then walking along the road for 100 yards or so. Neither of these are favorite cat past-times but with a little coaxing they came along without a fuss.

Down the trail
Slipjig in the lead

Now Sand Hill Trail lives up to it's name with plenty of sand, spiney grass, spindley pines, short cabbage palms, scrubby oaks, and similar vegetation. Being an overcast day we were grateful for the lack of vegetation, the weak winter sun just might burn through the grey to warm us. 

Winter Vegetation
Small oak with red leaves
Young Cabbage Palm
Plenty of brown grass

The trail is well marked with Yellow Markers and directional arrows which makes the path easy to follow. No questions as to the direction when you cross another trail or a service road!

You can't miss these 'trails'

We ambled along at cat speed with time to sniff the vegetation and air. The ground showed evidence of a burn in the last year and this fascinated the cats. After a while on the trail begins to drop or ascend depending on your direction of travel, the vegetation changes a bit, and an old sink hole is visible. Not far from this geological discovery the trail intersects the Sink Hole Trail, again all are clearly marked.

"OK, the campsite is ready.
Don't ask, how I know!"
says Slipjig

Cats are pretty smart because after ¾ of a mile they decided it was time to return. Wouldn't you know it, as we opened the truck door the man parking behind us said, “The ranger said your site was ready.” Now, how did they know that?

Campsite #33
Fort King Loop
Silver Springs State Park

Dismantling the Festival of Lights

It is true, all good things must come to an end.  The Festival of Lights ended the season on 12/31/2014 and a few days later the volunteers began the dismantling process.

Red Pole Tree
lights on the ground

The biggest and first pole tree we built.
27+ feet with many strands of lights

We remained at the park (Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center Park) a few extra days to give the January 3rd Campfire Program.  As with most of our "Florida History in Music" programs, it was well received.  About 50 people joined us for a presentation about White Springs and surrounding areas in song and story.  And, as usual, we received many warm and honest comments of "thank you" along with smiles and complements.

As we had a few uncommitted days it seemed reasonable to dismantle and pack the multiple pole trees which we constructed in November.

Bill wrapping lights for storage

Of course when you deal with pole trees that are 18', 22', and 27' tall you don't use a ladder.  You use a lift and this is a sweet machine for the job.  Originally I was the lift operator and Bill was the ground crew, Bill does not like heights. But later Bill wanted to try the lift and I became the ground crew.

The Electric Lift
which is perfect for high jobs

And,  Bill got into the act when we had to hang the huge green spheres, see below, as they were a little heavy and awkward to handle alone.  To hang the lights we both went up in the lift, hung the lights, and strung power cords up the trunk and along the branches.  Later when it was time to remove them, Bill was the lift operator and I served as ground crew.  Removing decorations is easy.

We hung the Green Globes
in November and removed them in January

So the decorations will be stored away until the 2015 "Festival of Lights".  Come September, volunteer crews will begin the decoration process for the December 2015 show.

Red Tree
Lights and Stakes
Packed in the box for next year

First Day Bicycle Ride

Our First Day Bicycle Ride
Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center State Park

Welcome to 2015 on a misty, cool, dreary day spent with friends.  What more could you want?  Friends in White Springs holds an annual New Year's Day brunch, noon-time toast, and a hike.  We were fortunate enough to receive an invitation.  

Dennis & Dottie with Bill
Hosts for the New Year's Day Brunch

After several hours of sterling conversation, stimulating ideas, new friends, and tasty brunch items it was time to toast 2015.  So, the group abandoned the warmth of the house and the dry porch for the backyard fire and more good wishes.  With the bubbly, alcohol or fruit based, we welcomed in 2015 at high noon on New Years Day.  Then... it was time to depart for the annual first day hike.  

The back woods at
Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center State Park

Now, Bill had a sore foot so hiking was out of the question; however, bicycling was not. So, late afternoon we headed out on our bicycles to the wooded areas of Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center State Park.

Did I mention not all roads were passable?

It was a cool, gray afternoon and so far a predictor of the weather to follow.  However, it is January in north Florida which is far from the balmy, sun-drenched dreams of snow birds.  North Florida is pine, palmetto, oak, brown winter grass, gray sky, and overcast.  

This road was a bit damp
complements of the recent rains.

Recent storms with heavy rains and gusty winds resulted in many downed trees and puddles.  So, more than once we stopped to move a tree off the road.  This was usually a two person job due to the length of the tall skinny pine or oak, the generous branches, and the soggy ground. Up until the late 1800s this was typical of over 90 million acres of the Southern US, it was covered in flatwoods forest, primarily pine and cypress, and heavily logged.

Bill adjusting the fallen tree
after we move it from the road
note the palmettos and pines

Yes, it was a bit of a mud ride on the back roads which are often dry but currently a bit swampy.

Isn't this fun?

It was not difficult to find roads and trails that were partially dry, that was easy.  What was challenging was getting around the water holes because the only "dry land" was  cross country and sometimes following an animal trail.  Pine flatwoods animals just don't make trails suitable for bicycling.  Not to worry, we kept the off-trail terrain to a minimum and selected areas that would quickly recover from our passage.

Another puddle to avoid

The main road leads past the primitive campground and back to the improved campground.  Upon exiting the road we encountered Rhonda walking Tucker, her dog, on their first day hike.  Rhonda, like us, is a volunteer for the Florida Park System.  This was not only her first day but her last day hike because the next day she started at Dudley Farm Historic State Park.

Rhonda & Tucker
ready for new adventures!

Happy 2015... 

to new adventures.

Out with the Old and In with the New

Here we are at the top of another year. Hard to believe that so much has happened and changed in 2014 whether you consider the nation, world, climate, or your personal life.

Facebook Compilation Tool
https://www.facebook.com/myyear2014official

 For those active Facebook posters you could generate the year with the "My Year" app or link.  The rest of us need to rely on memory, diaries which these days are often blogs... such as Blogger

Blog Dashboard

through Google where of course you read my missives.

Yes, this blog
http://margchauvin.blogspot.com/

So, let's consider 2014... on second thought maybe I'll let dead dogs lie.  Much better to look forward unless there is a lesson I missed from the 2014 goings-ons.  It is good to review your life but don't dwell on it because it could be depressing.  Looking forward, we have both scheduled and unscheduled time.  

Susan, Bill, and Marg
at Karen's & Eric's

Time with friends and family
Carol Messer in the rear
summer 2014

 January through March are reserved for adventure, family, and friend time.  We plan to ramble around Florida exploring the state parks (where ever we can find a vacant campsite), playing music with friends (throughout the state), and visiting family (Citra, Melbourne, St. Augustine).
  

Long Point Park
Sebastian FL

After that we expect to return to Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center State Park for April and May to work on the Florida Folk Festival.  

Our Sunday Morning Jam
Florida Folk Festival 2014

Seminole Village & hawk demonstration
Florida Folk Festival 2014

Summer is yet unplanned but it would be good to explore some mountains and find a few music jams... such as those in the Galax VA area.  Perhaps we will spend some time at a seaside park and find new adventures.

Old-time music jam
Galax VA 2014

The fall should see us at Anastasia State Park, September-October, and then back to Stephen Foster to help with the Festival of Lights, November and December.  

Sea oats at dawn
Anastasia State Park
2014

Hiking with the cats
2014

Volunteers & Friends
Festival of Lights
2014

Well, guess 2014 was pretty good and I did a quick review while looking forward to 2015!

Happy New Year.

The Festival of Lights 2014

After several months of preparation the "Festival of Lights" was held from December 5th through December 31st in 2014.  I must say this was a fun event which we enjoyed almost every night of the event... we did take a couple of nights off but not many.

Beautiful display, the Red Tree,
greets guests as they enter the park

November was spent working on the light displays, described in another post.  During that time volunteers and park staff were busy with hanging lights and decorations.  We personally hung lights, built pole trees, erected "The Bears", and helped with the light tunnel.  Among other odd jobs we helped with Santa's Village and the 'ugly' tree placed in the new Seminole Village.  I say new, because in 2014 the Seminole Tribe of South Florida built a village in a location near the Craft Square.  

For Christmas I want...
(Marg with Santa)

Of course during the festival in the 'off' hours we collected trash, repaired light strands (reported to be over 5 million lights!), and adjusted displays.  

One view from the bonfire
Bill & I hung the globes in this tree

At night we became 'elves' to work the festival.  There were volunteers everywhere who came from the resident volunteers, local residents, and Citizen Support Organization members.  It was fun to spend time with new and old friends.

Volunteer "Elves" on a cool rainy evening
Dennis & Bill on bonfires
Dottie on Smores

Bill was the king of the Bonfire and kept the fires going most evenings with Dennis taking several shifts each week.  

Great fire for roasting marshmallows

I became the switch hitter working where needed.  The variety was wonderful as I learned new skills along with simply having fun.  I sold tickets at the front gate.  In the Gift Shop area I made hot cocoa, played and sang with Betty the violinist. and worked the upstairs gift room.  In the Craft Area there were different skills needed as the popcorn maker, fire tender at the bonfire, smore's and marshmallow keeper, break giver, musician, and trash collector.  For me the variety was wonderful and each job brought new friends, smiling faces, and happy times.

All worthwhile for these happy guests

I plan on returning for the 2015 Festival of Lights at Stephen Foster Cultural Center State Park.  Yes that is in White Springs FL. Hope to see you 2015 Festival of Lights.

Ya'll come back now
Ya hear?

Hiking the trails with "The Cats"

 People are often amazed that our cats are leash trained.  Well the truth is we are leash trained to the cats.   You really don't walk cats, they walk you.  

Slippery in the lead
Anna in the rear

Now, they usually respond to a gentle tug on the lead if interested in your suggestion.  But when they have a specific direction in mind there is no budging them towards your suggestion.  You had best wait, suggest going home, or carrying them to another area... careful here as even loving cats can unleash the claws if they are frightened or threatened.

Slipjig is usually easy to walk
but she is now seven

The oldest cat was over five years old when we began the harness and leash training.  Her name is Slipjig, after an Irish music form, with a shortened version of Slip or Slippery.  You guessed it, she lives up to her name and easily escapes the halter when threatened.  However, until I ordered the Lupine H-loop harness her aversion to the harness and rapid escape was legend.  With the Lupine harness the situation changed and she escapes only when she fees threatened.  Warning, always follow the cat as getting in-front of a cat enables the escape artist.

Let's see what is in this hole

Yes, they still try to hunt with you in tow.  

Anna resting on a log
But alert for the 'hunt'

The photos in this article were from two walks on the trails at Stephen Foster Cultural Center State Park: Foster's Hammock Trail and the Florida Trail.

Adventure on the trail!
Stephen Foster Cultural Center State Park

Cats typically prefer tree canopy and protected areas when walking and lounging.  On lead they feel unprotected and often walk only trails or during the dark hours.  So, during dark hours they have led us through most of the light displays at the "Festival of Lights"... 

The Belle of the Suwannee
a nightly favorite for the cats

...through the light tunnel, past the small pole trees, around the steam boat.  We have strolled around the Museum, Bell Tower, Nelly Bly's kitchen, and the Auditorium.   

Along their favorite trees
on the nightly walks

Another difference from a dog, they walk on roads after dark as there is too much traffic on roads during the day.  Perhaps cats are wiser than humans and dogs with their caution about roads, daylight, and open spaces...

That was fun
When can we go again?