I joined a group to hike part of the Cross Florida Greenway on the 5th and got this sketch out before the hike and the rain that came along for the hike. Had to turn back during the hike to get into town and mail a package before the post office closed. So I rushed back by myself as fast as I could through the rain trying to keep the camera, sketch pad and the portable ‘Swampy’ dry. I had a vest on that help shield the items.

I got to the post office just in time and made a quick round of the area before heading to the trailhead where the group was suppose to end at. I got there and didn’t see anyone and thought if I missed them, I’ll pull the ol’ sketchbook out and do some sketchin’ since the drizzle had slid away.

It was then I realized my sketchbook was gone.

I started going through the car and couldn’t find it. Where could it be? On the rain soaked trail? I jumped in the car and sped the 6 odd miles to the trailhead I had started at. I started rewalking the trail. Along he way I came across the post to sign-in (for users to let the park know it’s being used) and left my phone number and a note that I had lost a sketchpad. I noticed that 5 others had signed in since I had been through. I made my way about a mile or so in to a point that I remembered having the pad with me. I headed back to the car and started thinking of other locations I might have lost it.

Getting to my car I got a phone call from a lady named Jan who had found my pad and saw the phone number written in the sign-in sheet. She had found the pad just sitting in the very wet trail. It was a short wait for the 5 hikers to make it to the parking lot. Jan’s husband had been thoughtful enough to place the pad in his backpack so that it avoided any more moisture. A hearty thanks to them!

Below are some photos I took during the hike:

This post is getting a bit long. In a separate post, I’ll include an interesting encounter I had with this mass of birds as they proceeded in an odd ballet routine in flight.

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I headed over to Bushnell, Florida, for the 31st annual re-enactment of Dade’s Battle at the Dade Battlefield. I pulled out the sketchbook and here are some sketches.

To learn the history of Dade’s Battle click here.

Here is a “slain” soldier lying in the scrub.

During my two mile hike today found these guys popping out of the ground.

I took advantage of free entry into Florida State Parks Saturday and got to eight parks… and sketched away. I also got a lot of Swampy photos some of which can be found over at Swampy’s Florida.

To the right is a sketch I drew at Crystal River Archaeological State Park.

Next are fish lingering over the spring boils at Rainbow Springs State Park.

The turtles are from Homosassa Springs State Park.

I took about a two mile hike at the Lake Panasoffkee Conservation Area near Wildwood. Below is a sketch I wrapped up as a storm started in.

I headed over to Cocoa Beach to participate in ‘Hands Across the Sand’. My #1 reason was because I know tourism is far more important to our commerce and quality of the state than having oil platforms dotting our shores of Florida.  I should mention I’m not nutty and flat out disagree with other reasons the hundreds of people got together Saturday. Above is a sketch of a few in the very long string of people at the beach.

Parking near Lori Wilson Park gave me a chance to take their nature trail and do the sketch above.

Afterward I attended ‘Jeannie Day’ not far from where ‘Hands Across the Beach’ was. That is better covered at ‘Swampy’s Florida’. To the left is a sketch of the organizer, Ray Osbourne.

I then shimmied over to Titusville for a shake at the Moonlight Drive-In and a stop to say Hello to Lauralee Thompson at Dixie Crossroads. Then lots of stops for lots of photos including to a few parks. The sketch above was drawn as the sun set behind a cabbage palm.

Headed over to Silver River State Park about 5 miles. Above is a sketch from across the Silver River at the boat landing at the end of the River Trail.

After that I took the Fort King Military Trail. Below is a sketch from that I added color to.

At the boat launch all these little children were squealing about seeing a turtle. The softshell poked more of his head out and part of his body. He was a huge sucker. I pointed out to the little folks that the turtle was about the size of a little red head there and he was probably hiding under the launch to keep away from hungry gators. Their eyes got all big and scampered back so they might spot the shy critter again. Below is as much of the turtle I could get in a photo.

There’s more about this hike at Swampy’s Florida.

My newest Florida illustration! Prints available soon!

We wrapped up our work in Glades County by attending the annual Florida Trail southeast regional conference that was held at the Fisheating Creek Campground. Woke up to dragon flies hovering outside the place we were staying. So I sketched as they hovered.

I went to the edge of the creek where the canoes are launched and sketch the drawing below.

Sandra and I made our way through Palm Beach County to visit a few parks in the area. We started off at Serenoa Glade Park. The posey below is from there.

From there we visited Sugar Sand Park. The sketch to the right is of a very rare plant sprouting from a sabal palm. We also stopped at Blazing Star Preserve.

The film above was shot at Grassy Water Preserve. Below is the sketch I made.

On the way home we saw this was the weather we encountered.