November 9th, 2008 Sandra Friend
This Tuesday, November 11, is Veterans Day, and Florida State Parks is honoring our veterans and active military by providing free access to Florida State Parks on Nov 11. Why not thank a friend or family member for their service by taking a hike with them? I had that pleasure a couple of years ago, when my brother-in-law Jeff Smith was recuperating from a serious illness at the VA Hospital in Tampa after returning from to the US from a long tour of duty in the Air Force. Rob and I took Jeff out to Lettuce Lake Park and Hillsborough River State Park for short hikes so he could get some fresh air and get used to walking around outdoors again. Please be sure to honor those who serve(d) next week by spending some time with them … and take a hike in a Florida State Park.
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November 7th, 2008 Sandra Friend
Urban walkers just lost access to one of the longest waterfront trails in Florida - the Friendship Trail, atop the old Gandy Bridge between Tampa and St. Petersburg on Tampa Bay - because serious structural deficiencies were found in the bridge. The bridge hasn’t had vehicular traffic in years but is a popular destination for walkers, bicyclists, and in-line skaters, but the problems with the structure are severe enough that the bridge was shut down as a public safety measure. There’s always Bayfront Drive, but it’s not quite the same as walking OVER Tampa Bay. Here’s the details from ABC News.
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October 30th, 2008 Sandra Friend
Episode 005: A Walk at Green Cay Wetlands (18:43)
Earlier this month, I stayed with my friends Ted and Trudy Winsberg on their farm while I was participating in the Diabetes Walk event in West Palm Beach, and I had a chance to walk with Ted along the boardwalks of Green Cay Wetlands one morning. This spectacular wetlands park is their legacy to the people of Florida. Not long ago, it was part of their bell pepper farm. Now it’s a re-created Everglades habitat, a haven for birds and hikers alike. This episode is an edited version of a walk through the preserve with Ted.
Music included in this podcast:
“The River Bank” by Shaun Harris, RoyaltyFreeMusic.com
Get details about and directions for the hike at http://www.floridahikes.com/greencay
I shot video a little later this same day, so I plan to add that as my next vidcast on the Florida Hikes channel.
Play or download the podcast with the tools below. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed for the Florida Hikes! podcast, or download the series from iTunes.com
Episode 005 - Green Cay Wetlands [18:43m]:
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October 10th, 2008 Sandra Friend
Thanks to recent heavy rains in South Florida, the Everglades is flush with water like it hasn’t been in a long time. What does it mean to hikers? Closures! I was down there in Big Cypress for Labor Day Weekend and the water was already waist-deep on me in places that are normally knee deep. I can’t imagine just how deep things are now. Here’s two alerts I came across in the past day:
“The River of Grass is flowing” Water levels at Shark Valley may impact your visit…. Essentially, the paved road is underwater so the tram isn’t running as often, your bicycle needs water wings, and hikers will share the road with the all-too-feisty ‘gators. Read more…
Water is flowing over Loop Road. Don’t even THINK of driving to the southern terminus of the Florida Trail until it recedes or you may find your Toyota in the canal with the rest of the wildlife. Here’s the official alert.
Meanwhile, enjoy the wet wilderness while it lasts … and take a snorkel!
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October 6th, 2008 Sandra Friend
This weekend, I joined my friends from the Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association for an American Diabetes Association fundraising walk in downtown West Palm Beach. Drenching rains couldn’t keep this group of hardy hikers away, even if we were walking the urban jungle - 2 miles through the canyons of downtown West Palm Beach - instead of the natural one. Brought together by outdoor writer Warren Resen, the Florida Hikers team finished early, well ahead of the rest of the walkers. Spending the weekend in SE Florida gave me some small opportunities to hike in natural areas, too. More on that later!
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