2015-02-15: Geocaching St Augustine, Green Cove Springs, and Palatka

A few days ago was the first anniversary of my first date with Candy. So we decided to spend the weekend up in St Augustine. Unfortunately, today was the day to head back home to Orlando. Instead of the direct I-95 to I-4 drive, we decided to take the scenic route. Even though she grew up in St Augustine, Candy didn't recall ever going west of I-95. So west it was!

We took State Road 16 westbound over to County Road 13 where we found our first cache on the pier at Outback Crab Shack. It was right on the banks of Six Mile Creek. It was a nice view of the river.

The cache was located down at the end of the pier.

From there we continued on SR-16 crossed the St Johns River over to Green Cove Springs. There was a virtual geocache at the springs. The city has built a circular walkway around the spring which flows out to the side. From there the water flows down and drains into the St Johns River.

We then followed US-17 south to Palatka where we found four more caches before heading home through the Ocala National Forest.

2015-02-08: Geocaching and Hiking in Gemini Springs Park Pt2

So today we drove back up to Gemini Springs Park in DeBary, FL to finish finding the remaining caches in the park. During the previous visit, we hiked the nature trails to the east. This time we hiked the paved trails to the south and west. A little bit longer a walk and found a total of 15 caches found. Another good day in the outdoors.

2015-02-07: Geocaching Power Trail in the Ocala National Forest

Today we took another drive up to the Ocala National Forest. This is practically a never ending place to go caching because before you can find them all, they get archived and replaced with new caches due to several events held up here throughout the year. We don't have the opportunity to spend much time up here, so we don't come even close to getting them all!

Anyway, today was a day for the quick (hopefully! some can be challenging) power run along the roadside. Not a day for photo opps, just some park and grabs. But we did manage to find 35 more caches in about 2 hours time up here.

And as usual when leaving the ONF, we stopped at Beef O'Brady's in Umatilla to eat. Not a whole lot of choices in Umatilla anyway.

See ya next time...

2015-02-01: Hiking the Florida Trail thru the Ocala National Forest

What a great day! We met up with YankaBucs and MsYB up in the Ocala National Forest to go Geocaching and hiking along a section of the Florida Trail. Leaving one car at the trail crossing along side Forest Road 599, we drove the other car around and up to State Road 40 where the Florida Trail crosses again. This way we wouldn't have to backtrack.

The hike was approximately 4 miles long, varying slightly between a couple GPS's, phones, and step trackers. Could be the walking in circles at each cache location while trying to find them. This section of the Florida Trail was an easy hike with some minor bushwhacking, again when leaving the trail at the cache locations.

All in all it was a good day finding 21 caches, getting some fresh air and sunshine, and a little bit of cardio exercise. Leaving south out of the ONF, we stopped at Beef O'Brady's in Umatilla for some lunch.

I think they need a new sign.

2015-01-31: Geocaching and Hiking in Gemini Springs Park

Welcome back and thank you for joining us on another of our adventures. We have a long hike planned for tomorrow, but still wanted to get out and enjoy another beautiful Florida winter day.

Staying closer to home, we made a short drive up the road to Gemini Springs Park in DeBary, FL. Gemini Springs is a 210 acre county park located in Volusia County. We found seven geocaches located along the mile long nature trail and throughout the park.

It was a nice relaxing stroll by the springs and through the old Florida landscape of hiking trail along the banks of Mullet Lake.

At this spot below, we ventured off the hiking trail towards the swampy marsh you see beyond the trees to grab a Geocache. As I approached and got close to the cache, I saw a gator sunning on the edge about 40' away. I took a few steps to the side to try and get a better photo through the trees, when I startled him and he launched into the water and swam away.

One of the cache containers called Farmer Brown

That was all for today. We'll see you back again tomorrow and I'll tell you about our long hike in the ONF.