Eliza: Settling In

Well, I have been in my “new digs” for about two weeks now and finally feeling better adjusted to the environment, people, and places.

I’ve also been experiencing some camera issues, but managed to download a few of my recent photos from little local excursions.

I have visited Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, located off of Highway A1A. It is a lovely park. Part of the property is located on the Intercoastal Waterway. You can sit on a bench and watch the boat traffic moving up and down the waterway or gaze across to the various islands that are uninhabited except for birds and various other creatures.

Then, I also visited Bulow Woods, another favorite of mine, only the trails were very damp and there were a ton of mossies (mosquitos) eager to feast on my blood. Most of the East Coast of Florida has experienced recent flood advisories and this area was affected by the high water. The trail and bridge crossing of Cedar Creek was underwater and parts of the main trail were filled with puddles and mud.

Another park I visited a couple of times already is Princess Place Preserve. It is a Flagler County Park and is open every day. The park has several walking trails and equestrian trails, as well as camping and picnic sites. I didn’t get any photos from there due to an issue with the camera’s scan card. Still I enjoyed walking about three miles through the dense canopy of live oaks, Palmetto palms, and other hardwood trees. I intend to go back and test how well some of the trails dry out in the cooler and drier “winter” season.

Palm Coast has grown tremendously since I last lived in this area. New housing developments have cropped up like mushrooms hither and yon. The traffic has increased in volume, too, but being retired I can pick and choose when to go out and work around the surges in traffic.

Here’s a few more photos I was fortunate to get. Please excuse the quality. I admit to being out of practice!

The weather was quite dismal when I took these first photos. There was a huge rainstorm the next day. Now we’re having bluebird skies and sweet puffy clouds so I’ll have to get out a couple more times later this week.

I hope everyone is doing well despite the recent geopolitical developments in the world.

My attitude is improving. I didn’t realize what a strain I had been under by living in SE Florida. Perhaps other people would (and do) thrive there, but I prefer some space and lots of alone time. I can have more of that here in North Central Florida. I am certainly sleeping better. The cooler weather is a real blessing and the steamy summer heat and humidity is behind us.

Greetings from Florida!

Eliza

P.S. I neglected to mention that the colors of everything seemed brighter, more intense, vivid (English is so limited!). The green of the grasses were especially vivid, almost glowing. Am I seeing with new eyes now?

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