Her smile broadened as she read my card ... "Gypsy Spirit Enterprises ... I'm a Sea Gypsy!" Her Rebel is currently her only means of transportation as a Park Ranger, but her dream is of a boat and an island in the Pacific. Just looking at her, with the beaded peacock feathers in her hair, brought to mind Robert Jordan's description of the Atha'an Miere (Sea Folk) Windfinders! |
I knew the moment I saw her riding skirts, that I had found a kindred spirit! As I pulled Rosie up to share the parking space with her Rebel, Ashley was preparing to leave Fort Island Gulf Beach. Skye and I have been trying to figure out riding skirts for years ... and here she was with silk skirts, gathered up into a pirate buckle to keep the excess out of her chain! I was so excited when she said I could photograph her that I almost forgot to put Rosie's kickstand down!
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Disappointed in the Pow Wow in Port Richey on Saturday, the gorgeous day Sunday invited us to ride out to Brooksville to check out the Pow Wow there! Shady Hills Road runs north from Route 52 between the SunCoast Parkway and Route 41, and reminds me alot of the roads back home with its twists and turns. Right about where the Parkway crosses over, there's a little sign for a park entrance, and I thought I'd take a quick peek. Right! ... and discover the Central Pasco and Gulf Railroad, www.cpgrr.org, open for rides, by donation. This park calls for a definite return with a day to spend! Along the way I saw mention made of primitive camping areas also. As I neared Brooksville on Highway 50, there were welcome signs directing me to the Native American Festival ... and into Beef O'Brady's parking lot? Down a path, across a small bridge, the restaurant had provided a field for use as dance grounds! The first of what plans to be an annual event, this Pow Wow was relatively small and more of an exhibition than a competition. There was a lot of focus put on education; the symbology painted on the horses, and the etiology of the dances. Click on pictures to enlarge.
Permission was granted to take photographs. The past couple of weeks have been unnaturally cold here in Florida, especially this far down the state! Rosie has spent most of her time huddled under her canopy since making our way home after the tempest on January 11th!
This weekend was forcasted to be beautiful! I woke early listening to rain, rolled over and finally got up a couple hours later. It was wet and warming up. The radio had been broadcasting advertisements about two Pow Wows, one just up the road and one in Brooksville. It was a good excuse to finally visit the flea market here, and very close to home if the weather turned miserable. The flea market was as impressive as the Pow Wow was not. Driving past the entrance on Highway 19 gives no indication at how big it really is! I looked in at the Pow Wow for a few minutes from the fenceline, then spent a couple hours wandering through the maze, checking out what the vendors had to offer! The sun decided to show itself, warming things us nicely! Still too early to head home, yet late enough to stay close. The Werner Boyce Salt Springs State Park covers quite a fair amount of territory. The main entrance is an easy walk from the campground where I live, taking just a nibble at one edge of the park. Rosie and I had visited the Scenic Drive entrance last week. Skye and I had taken a quick walk through one of the trails on Veteran's Day. Today, with my camera, I took more time, taking each of the open trails. The trail to the eagle viewing area was mostly closed, to keep from disturbing nesting birds. There is quite a nice picnic area by the kayak launch, and the Cauldron Springs trail offers nice views of the water as well. The parks we visit have their own section by state under the section title "The Road to Oz". My photos are posted there. Each of the Salt Springs entrances has its own slide show. Sit back and enjoy! |
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I've been riding now for over 40 years, beginning in the dirt on a Honda SL-70 when I was 12. I always leaned more toward trials riding than racing, but also loved riding the tracks (flat track and motocross) with the guys I came up with when they'd practice (on a Honda Elsinore 125). Our motto then was "If you don't go down you're not riding hard enough!" ... not finding your limits. Archives
February 2018
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