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.