Simply A Wednesday

This past Wednesday was one of those simple Wednesdays. A Wednesday is a hiking day. A friend of mine always used to refer to a day off as a Wednesday. Back when we both worked together we would often take Wednesdays. It has been a while since we have taken a Wednesday. He still works at the same employer, I have long since moved on. Our Wednesday adventures have been classic in their own right. We’ve traveled all over central Florida hitting up the best of hiking opportunities.

It seems though that we always end up somewhere in the Wekiva River basin. Our most frequent Wednesday spot seems to be Wekiva Springs State Park. 

My friend is definitely a local expert. He knows these trails better than the back of his hand. He never carries a map. He knows the layout of this park better than anyone I have ever met. He hikes this park frequently. To him it is a wilderness paradise in the midst of Orlando sprawl. 

Our hike was simple. After grabbing a quick lunch we head to the park. Hiking in Florida is nice. Hiking on a December day is even better. These hikes as I have said are simple. We typically bring a few snacks and some water. There is nothing electronic with us on this hike. No cameras.  The cell phone in my pack is turned off.  I am often guilty of bringing a camera, but on these hikes at Wekiva I typically do not. Wekiva is like home turf, there is really no need for a camera. I have seen most the features, yet I still love this place. For me Wekiva defines place in this region. Many of my first outdoor experiences have been associated with this natural treasure. 

Today our hike takes us on a few of the trails, yet our hike is truly customized for my friend always finds ways to mix up the hike. We even managed to hike over to Kelly Park. Once inside the park we were amazed that we were the only visitors. The spring head is beautiful, though it is no longer completely natural. The natural beauty of this place though overshadows the boardwalks and the other manmade features. We sit here for a while and take in the view. The view is so much more enjoyable when there is a lack of people jumping in the water and tubers yelling at each other. As we sit near the cave we can imagine that this particular location must have been a favorite to the native people of this region. 

We encounter some wildlife while hiking. We found two gopher tortoises chomping on grass. Numerous turkey were spotted at a trail intersection. We also see some deer.  Fox squirrels were another notable species. 

These days are rewarding. I suppose these days are rewarding because of the simplicity of the experience. There is nothing like walking. When you walk in the outdoors you find that you really discover who you are. It is so easy to go through the motions when in the presence of the modern landscape. In nature though you simply live. Living simply is difficult in today’s setting. Nature though always makes things easy, she whispers the answers to this wild journey in our ears, yet most of us sadly do not listen.