A few days ago, Anna and I, along with Gary and Susan Bonneau, took the opportunity to RIDE OUR BIKES along the bike path that meanders through the entire CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE at THE GREAT OUTDOORS in TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA. We were afforded this opportunity while the course was undergoing routine maintenance, aerating and sanding the greens. The course is quite beautiful, with many fairways lined by tall bushes and trees, sporting many lakes throughout the course, and a number of picturesque wooden bridges over water and through wooded and wetland areas. Additionally, there was no lack of wildlife on the course, including many native birds, and a number of alligators. What a wonderful course that I must play soon, as well as spending some special time with our dear friends!!!
After our on-line church service, Anna and I along with our friends, Gary & Susan Bonneau, set off on a 20 MILE BIKE RIDE along the FLORIDA COAST-TO-COAST TRAIL. We started our journey in TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA, heading northbound through Mims along the trail, which was an old railway which has been converted. The northern section of the trail we traversed was especially scenic and peaceful. The trail is a small section of a 250 mile, continuous, cross state trail linking St. Petersburg and Titusville, which is to-date 80 percent complete. What a great day with great friends!!!
Today Anna and I started our morning by BIKING through our large neighborhood, THE GREAT OUTDOORS in TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA. After biking, we made a last minute decision to HIKE the remote ADDISON TRAIL located on the northwestern side of The Great Outdoors property. We proceeded from there onto a portion of the adjoining “FLORIDA TRAIL ASSOCIATION” TRAIL, owned by the St. Johns Water Management District. The Addison Trail is beautiful, traversing westward along the peaceful ADDISON CANAL built in 1912 & 1913, and lined by live oak trees, red cedar trees, and sabal palms, with impressive and expansive marsh lands fanning out in every direction. Beautiful trail and great day with my sweetheart!!!!!
For the second time in three days, we hiked 3 miles through the beautiful palm tree hammock covered PISARZ, EARLEY & INDIAN MOUND TRAILS within THE GREAT OUTDOORS in TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA. The Karen Early trail is named after the founding member of the Great Outdoors Nature Center. Susan Bonneau was able to join us as well which made for a special morning!! The paths are generally shaded and bordered by palmetto scrub, easy to traverse, and are uniquely grassy, except in some areas where the feral hogs tear it up in search of food. We came across many animal tracks, such as deer, raccoon, feral hogs, and more; some quite large which were most likely large feline, nocturnal cats, Florida Panthers. We also stumbled across bones from a large animal. They were somewhat spooky to say the least. All in all, we had a great morning hike in a wonderful, peaceful area of the parimeter of our wonderful neighborhood.
For the second time in three days, we hiked 3 miles through the beautiful palm tree hammock covered PISARZ, EARLEY & INDIAN MOUND TRAILS within THE GREAT OUTDOORS in TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA. The Karen Early trail is named after the founding member of the Great Outdoors Nature Center. Susan Bonneau was able to join us as well which made for a special morning!! The paths are generally shaded and bordered by palmetto scrub, easy to traverse, and are uniquely grassy, except in some areas where the feral hogs tear it up in search of food. We came across many animal tracks, such as deer, raccoon, feral hogs, and more; some quite large which were most likely large feline, nocturnal cats, Florida Panthers. We also stumbled across bones from a large animal. Somewhat spooky to say the least. All in all, we had a great morning hike in a wonderful, peaceful area of our wonderful neighborhood.
Anna and I are very blessed to have made prior reservations at WICKHAM PARK in MELBOURNE, FLORIDA before the recent mandates and restrictions went into effect. We are enjoying ourselves here very much as we await our property at The Great Outdoors in Titusville, Florida to become free. It is still under a rental contract for a few more days. Wickham Park is quite large, absolutely beautiful, and sports a plethora of outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, volleyball, lakes, camping, picnic areas, horseshoes, archery, dog park, group activity areas, disc golf, equestrian facilities, senior center, and more. It is a shame that Covid reared its ugly head and we are forced to social distance ourselves from our friends and family. With that said, we are certainly making the best of it!!!!!!
For the third time in the last two weeks, Anna and I have hiked or biked the beautiful and peaceful BREVARD ZOO LINEAR TRAIL located in VIERA, FLORIDA. Two of those trips were 17.5 & 16.5 MILE BIKE RIDES with our friends, GARY & SUSAN BONNEAU. Great times, with great friends, wonderful exercise, and a perfect social distancing activity!!!!!
We were able to spend some quality time with our son and daughter-in-law, CHRIS & BRIANNE BEACHAM, today as we practiced social distancing while riding bikes on the CROSS SEMINOLE TRAIL. The trail, which opened in 2002, traverses 23 miles through SEMINOLE COUNTY, specifically through the towns of OVIEDO and WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA. It is a well-designed, multi-use trail running through many sections of beautiful untouched “Old Florida”. We had an absolutely wonderful time, as always, enjoying a relaxing, fresh air day on the trail with Chris and Brianne!!!!!!
This evening Anna and I received a wonderful and totally unexpected treat during our evening walk around WICKHAM PARK in MELBOURNE, FLORIDA. Soon after our walk began we noticed a tremendous amount of traffic within the park, which was completely out of the norm. We also noticed lights in the distance from what we throught were police cars on the main vehicle park loop. Obviously quite curious, we headed in that direction, only to learn that the BREVARD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE was holding a drive-through, social distancing responsible “SHERIFF’S PARADE” within the park. How awesome it was to witness dozens of Police and Sherriff vehicles, including a bomb squad truck, mobile command center vehicle, helicopter, police dogs, dressed inmates, and so much more, all within the park. That was the “GEM” of our day!!!!!
Today I spend an incredibly relaxed day with my beautiful bride, Anna, at TABLES BEACH located at the north entrance of the PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE in SATELITTE BEACH, FLORIDA. The day was picture perfect in every way, and provided the down day we had wanted and expected. With “SOCIAL DISTANCING” requirements in place, we found this the absolute best place to be. The only people closer than 1/4 mile from us was a couple about 150 yards away. The beautiful birds and crabs were the only things within 6 feet of us. This was the perfect day, with a warm, comfortable breeze, brilliant blue sky, crashing waves, and sun kissed skin. Wow, it doesn’t get any better than this!!!!
Anna and I experienced the beautiful 5.8 mile roundtrip BREVARD ZOO LINEAR PARK located in VIERA, FLORIDA twice this week, first by bike with our friends, GARY & SUSAN BONNEAU, then by foot. We hiked a portion of what was the OLD HERNANDEZ-CAPRON TRAIL, running north from HISTORIC FORT CAPRON. The trail runs along a small section of the ATLANTIC COAST RIDGE, a rock formation stretching from the Florida Keys to southern Georgia. During Florida’s last ice age, approximately 10,000 years ago, Florida’s habitat shifted from a dry savannah to swamps and tree hammocks. The change coincided with the arrival of the first human beings in Florida, being the WINDOVER PEOPLE more than 7,000 years ago. It is a tremendous feeling to be traversing the same path as MASTODONS, SABER-TOOTHED TIGERS, SPANISH EXPLORERS, AND NATIVE AMERICANS. Great two days!!!!
