Don't Walk Hallow Twisted Woods at Night

On the hiking trip in Guana Tolomato Matanzas Reserve, there are a lot of bare and twisted trees growing in the wetland.  I would not want to walk in these woods at night.  I was weary of snakes in the tall grass.

A Hike to Tolomato River

Walked first hiking trail in several months at Guana Tolomato Matanzas Reserve off A1A located between Vilano Beach and South Ponte Verde.

Golden Hour at Marineland Beach

 

 

Golden flowers, orange butterflies and warm sea oaks and a golden glow all over the beach.

Sunset Matanzas River

 

I rushed to Crescent Beach area to get the sun setting.  It was only a matter of minutes that the sun sink behind the horizon. 

Marquette Harbor Lighthouse

A few pictures I took during a tour of the Marquette Harbor Lighthouse.

Morning Light at Vaill Point

 

Took a morning walk an hour after the sun had rise at Vaill Point Park.  The morning sun was shining through the trees casting a glow on the palm plants and river.  The water was still and shimmer with reflections of the clouds above. 

Salt Water Springs "Into Each Life Some Rain must Fall"

I took a quick trip to Salt Water Springs.  It was raining so there were very few people at the park.  It was lush with hanging moss, oak trees and flowing bluish green spring waters.  It has been a rainy week in Florida with many a thunder storm pounding the landscape.  The famous words "Into each life some rain must fall" is by poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  It was too wet to do any hiking but the scenery was beautiful even with dreary grey clouds.

The Rainy Day

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Morning Glory Rain

"The morning glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books."  Whitman, Walt
These morning glory flowers were growing outside my window so I took these pictures after a morning rain.

After a Morning Rain

After a morning rain.
the morning glory bows,
Rain droplets falling,
The dawn is breaking,
Sounds of leaves rustling
As the misty wind blows,
Clouds bathe in light,
The silent sun comes,
As treetops glistens,
A new day has begun. 

by PL Fallin

Gathering Storm Clouds South Ponte Vedra Beach

I am taking an Oil Painting Class with instructor Artist Linda Holmes at the Cultural Center in Ponte Vedra.  Driving on A1A is a very scenic coastal drive from St. Augustine to Ponte Vedra.  Today the massive thunder clouds over the ocean was astounding and I had to stop and take pictures.  I applied a dry brush technique to give the photos a painting effect.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

These pictures were taken during the summer when we visited friends Tom and Melody in Marquette Michigan.  The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is located is located on the south shore of Lake Superior in upper Michigan, between the communities of Munising (west) and Grand Marais (east).  It was a two hour boat tour and worth every minute.  We saw spectacular multicolored sandstone cliffs, pristine beaches, sand dunes, waterfalls, and caves.

Mt. Victoria - Wellington and Miramar Peninsula

 

 

Took a bus tour of Mt. Victoria and the Miramar Peninsula on a beautiful sunny day.  The view was spectacular in all directions.  Wellington was on the west side and the Miramar Peninsula was in the east. Later in the week, I drove the complete route around the Peninsula to see the beautiful bays of Seatoun.

Rimutaka Hills - Following the Yellow Brick Road

Driving the Wine Trail to Martinborough takes you through the winding Rimutaka Hills.  I am not an experience driver in mountain ranges, particularly with heavy commercial trucks passing me left and right and tail gating me.  This is the only road in the upper hut to travel to Martinborough.  I looked for alternate routes and there are not any.  I had the pleasure of traveling over the Rimutaka Hills twice.  It gave me courage and you have no where to go except to follow the 'yellow brick road.' 

"The yellow brick road,
a journey into the unknown.
Courage, brains, and a heart.

All we need to do is tap the ruby slippers
to reveal who we truly are. "