On Rendezvous with Wildlife, Noticing Things, and Being Alone

A really great thing about the way I live and travel is that I allow myself the freedom to go as I please and to stay as I please as well. I have fallen in love with this place. It happened when I first came and it happened each return. I love being here. When I leave, I come back. As far as a physical location goes, I want to call this home.

I’ve lived different places for various lengths of time. I enjoy the changes and variety a lot. I don’t think of home as simply a place. I’ve lived places that don’t feel like home. I’ve lived places that I knew were temporary. Everything is temporary actually. I’ve known when it would be short term. I’ve known when I like a place and want to stay. I’ve known when I liked being someplace and would be happy to leave and return or not.

I was just talking with some rangers and volunteers at the ranger station about Wisconsin. Some had just been or were headed there for a visit. I mentioned how much I loved it and how I spent a month there last Summer. I had no idea, when I first entered WI then, that I’d be exploring it so much. There is still more to see there, though I am quite happy I got to a lot of different parts of it.

Last night I was walking the beach and my attention was drawn to this post with a light. (I’m not sure the name of this … pretty sure it has an official term.) I looked at it and did think it would make a pretty picture and then wondered to myself, is there anything there to take a picture of? Yes. I immediately noticed a bird perched on it. We’d had rain storms and it was wet looking. It looked like an eagle! *A hawk! I keep referring to it as an eagle. I love seeing hawks. I've rarely seen eagles. I'm leaving eagle because I want to since that is what I kept saying and thinking until I realized I meant hawk now.* Do eagles go to the beach? I took some pictures. I got closer. It flew to another one of those posts with a light on it and this confirmed for me that it was an eagle. I was appreciative I had looked and seen this. I love eagles and view them as a positive sign to see them. I’d seen another recently on a fence along with two other, smaller and different kinds of birds. Loved seeing that, too.

That wasn’t all that happened though. Then I saw a fin come out of the water nearby the post with the light that the eagle was on. Dolphins! Swimming in that way that reminds me of a wheel in water, circular and up and down. I was now so thankful I had looked and that this was unfolding as it was. You can see in this picture the bird by the light and the dolphins as a speck there in the water.

The bird is perched and the dolphins are to the right, sort of centered in the picture.

Here, the dolphins are on the left about above the '.I" of www.InspiredTrekker.com below.

I walked back to the campground I’m staying at. I’m at a beach campground. There is no better place for me to be right now. I love it.

Did you know that those white crabs like to run the soft sandy beach at night? Did you know they sound like mice scurrying when they do? I’ve heard mice carrying things. This crab sound is like a mouse just on its own, not carrying anything. I usually listened to music but last night, on my way back and just toward the end of my walk, I took my earbuds out to hear. I heard the ocean waves breathing and felt the breeze. As I reached the boardwalk to get back to the campsites I noticed a deer looking right at me from the grass nearby. We looked at each other. Do you know the sounds of a deer sort of snorting? Softer than a horse. Harsher than a dog. It ran off and I later heard that sound. Recently, another night, I turned my phone flashlight on and had a similar encounter with a deer near the walk there. It was startled by my light and made that sound(I want to say it chortled) and we both jumped a bit and it ran off. That’s when I figured out it was a deer. It’s really cool to see them by the beach.

Hearing the sounds last night, I thought about how I usually walk and listen to music and how much I enjoy doing so. I love the rhythm and the way it feels to walk like this. I briefly thought about the sounds I was missing by doing so and I stopped myself because I wasn’t missing anything. I loved listening to the music. I knew the ocean sounds were there. I just chose to tune into something else. I wasn’t missing anything. When I’m feeling happy doing whatever I am doing, I’m there. I’m fully there. I’m not thinking about all the other things I could be doing or all the other things I love to do and that I’m not doing right then. I’m there. I have preferences. I know I love being at the beach lately and I feel there has been tremendous benefit from spending so much time at it. There has been benefit in tuning into it as well as tuning it out.

I see butterflies pretty much every day. Gopher tortoises are out and about and far faster than one might imagine if familiar with the idea that they might be slow. They aren’t. I’ve seen a baby sea turtle and I’ve seen the sign for where there are eggs so we can look and not get too close. I’ve seen darker crabs in the water and along the shore.  I've seen horseshoe crabs and stingrays. I've seen lots of creatures I don't know the names of. I’ve seen cardinals and other birds. I’ve seen cats other than the one I live with. I’ve seen dogs, too of course.

There are lizards, however, I haven’t seen them as often. I’m excited because the new site I just moved to today has a tree! I am very excited about this because not only do we get a bit of shade even in the daylight, animals like trees! And my cat likes to watch them. Perfect!

As I was walking last night and noticing these things, I was thankful because I know that things like this are everywhere. There are all sorts of opportunities for us to rendezvous with what we like and want to and it’s just a matter of paying attention to them and being receptive of noticing.

I’ve written about traveling solo and the connections and in the moment experiences I’ve had that have been so much fun. This is the same thing. That quick view of the dolphins rising and then submerging is exciting. It’s brief, even if I watched them cross the water so saw it repeatedly. It’s a tiny bit of my walk and my day. It’s also the thing that brings such satisfaction to the walk and a bit of a thrill. I know the water has lots of dolphins yet I don’t always see them. I know those moments are everywhere throughout each day yet I don’t always meet up with them and recognize it.

I’ve been spending a lot of time alone lately. I see people when I go out and I’ve been staying at a campground more than ever before and enjoying it. I like being alone. I like being in fun company. I like being around animals and nature. I adore the beach. I am not feeling lonely in the slightest. I’m not missing anything. My days are satisfying yet if you ask me what I’m doing, I somewhat short for words. I’m enjoying myself. No matter what I’m experiencing, or how I am feeling, at the end of the day, I’m really enjoying myself. That really is all that matters to me.

Come Rain or Shine: Some Perks of Rain as an RVer

I'm parked in a lot filled with stores and restaurants in a very heavy rain storm. A drive was appealing so I've headed down a road I'd been curious about for a while. What better time to explore than in a downpour? Obviously this is a popular opinion as you can see by the view from my dashboard:

There was more traffic in the intersections and town areas. There were also trucks which are fairly common to see, carrying trees from the forest along here. 

I thought I was heading North and it turns out it was South! Anyhow there are many benefits to the rain from my perspective. You really can't rain on my parade in the proverbial sense because I love it. Aside from the hydration for the land and such, here are some of the reasons I appreciate it as an RVer: 

1. It washes the RV! Especially the sand from being by the beach, or the dirt or leaves or what have you when in other places. 
2. It's a great way to check for leaks. No need to freak out if you find water inside at a window or fan vent. Make sure they are fully closed tightly because the wind and rain can make its way in if they aren't. 
3. It cleans the under body to drive in the rain and have the water splash up.
4. It's likely cool enough to cook in the daytime. 
5. It's cozy and comfortable inside and I can watch the drops moving along the windows and hear the various sounds of it hitting the fiberglass and metal and glass and other parts, all creating unique and beautiful sounds. 

I mentioned recently that from the warm location point of view, it's a pleasant change to have a stormy day amongst the usual sunshine. Part of why I enjoy it is because it is different than the norm. There's so much about the rain I love and throw in these wonderful claps of thunder and brilliant flashes of lightning and what a great time it makes for! 

As I've sat here, I've heard some funny sounds from people dashing in and out of their cars. I also fixed lunch for myself. It'd been a long time since I'd had a burrito and this was easy: tortilla, cheese, pinto beans, mild sauce. One cast iron skillet and a few minutes later, I was set. Yum! 

The forecast suggests the storms will continue for hours. Come rain or shine, you know I'll enjoy it! 

One Pot Meal: Chili Mac and Cheese with Vegetables

I recently got a campsite at one of my favorite state parks. That night, I decided I would use a bunch of the foods I had and, upon considering what was on hand, I had an idea to make chili with mac and cheese. A quick search online where I found a recipe of just that gave me further satisfaction with the idea and a rough guide for how to prepare it. I also decided to add some vegetables to it. I only took pictures after I made it and will simply say it was very tasty and I would make it again! It’s a great option for a camping trip as everything can be made in one pot. 

Here’s what I used:

1.5 teaspoons butter

one vidalia onion, chopped

1/2 pound ground turkey 

taco seasoning (I used up what I had, probably 1-2 teaspoons) 

one can of black beans, drained

30 ounces of water

1/2 cup or so of frozen mixed vegetables 

one box of mac and cheese 

one 3 quart pot

one paring knife

one slotted spoon 

a 30 ounce tumbler for the water

Here’s what I did: 

1. Brown the meat with the butter, chopped onion, and taco seasoning. 
2. Add the black beans. 
3. Add the water and frozen mixed vegetables. Bring to a boil.
4. Add the pasta from the macaroni and cheese and cook until the pasta is ready, usually 7-9 minutes. 
5. Turn it off and stir in the cheese packet. 

Mine ended up a bit more like a soup, however, I loved it like that and just used a slotted spoon to drain it when I put it on a tortilla with an added slice of cheese. I’d totally add more cheese in the future. It would work to use pasta and cheese, not the boxed mac and cheese, for even more flavor as well. This made multiple meals for one person and I’d say could feed at least four people with these measurements. I froze some for a later day, too. Delicious! 

The tortilla was good with it, however, I ate it plain, too and liked it just as well. 

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park in Palm Coast, FL

When I was registering for my visit at Anastasia State Park, I was given a BOGO ticket for the nearby (about 30 minutes south) Washington Oaks Gardens State Park as well. This was awesome! I had previously driven by it and opted not to go in. On my last day's stay, I drove down with just over an hour before closing to check the park out. I am so glad I did!

First of all, this park is much bigger than I thought and I actually only visited the garden side, not knowing until I was leaving that I could cross the street to the beach side. I know for the next time and would love to visit again, perhaps for an event even, and I definitely feel this park is worth the entry fee either way. 

It was the honor system upon entering and no ranger was there. I decided to drive around the park, to get a sense of things and decide how to proceed. I'm also glad I did that. I saw there are trails and there is a large picnic area. What I was most interested in was the formal gardens so that is where I focused. 

The park was given to the state by Louise Young and had been her home, along with some family, prior. There is a distant relation to George Washington. The visitors center along the path of the historic gardens area is the old home. One section has information set up like a mini exhibit and the other is set like a living room may have been back when she lived there complete with an old fashioned TV playing a likely dated movie about the grounds(it was Florida nature related, at least.) I looked at the old books on the shelves, recognizing that my family had some of the same series. There are also bathrooms here. I like how they made use of the house like this. 

It was nearing sunset and I followed the map and read the various markers. What a lovely place to have lived. An interesting thing was that, as I made mental connections, something seemed familiar... then I saw an old photo and I knew it! This woman is featured in a book I read when I was younger. I hadn't heard of the gardens back then and it began to come together more. Louise Young became a millionaire by 19 in the early 1900s with her business. A photo I saw here was like the one on the cover of the book. I was more familiar with her story and this place than I'd remembered. 

The gardens and property are nice. The history and things that were done here were cool. From art to citrus production and more, it seems like it was a lively and charming place to dwell. 

They were setting up for an event the next day. Alas, I had just the right amount of time to visit the gardens and do the self guided tour and then leave by closing(8:15 that night.) One could easily spend hours here, if walking the beach and the trails, packing a lunch, touring the gardens and visiting the shop which was closed when I was there. 

I'd recommend it and I'd go back! 

A Favorite Place

I'm so thankful for this grey day. As I lay here, listening to the sounds of the wind through the trees and with a sense of how it feels to have it brush upon me, I'm once again appreciating the contrast. So many warm and sunny days abound here and I absolutely love it. I love the sunlight and the warmth and the ease at which I feel being in it. I have found a place that is so easy to feel good and be happy at. 


It's raining now and being in the RV when it rains is lovely. The sounds of it hitting various parts, the relief from the heat and humidity, plus the added bonus of a wash to remove the sand and make the exterior sparkly clean is all enjoyable. 

I posted the above picture today on IG with this:

"So where have you been and what have you been up to the past 5+ months?"

"Oh, here, there, traveling and exploring. Mostly, I've been at the beach. "

And it's true. I can be content anywhere and I can especially be content at the beach. Even someone who loves traveling and new and different places and experiences can have favorites and this is one of mine. In fact, I've hardly been in woods in comparison as the beach is just so enticing. It has been and continues to be. 

Depending on where along the coast I am (traveling mostly along the Central to Northern coast of Florida these months), there have been noticeable variances. I've shared about this throughout my posts and I continue to like the similarities and differences I find. The textures, the objects and creatures, and what have you. The beach is a lovely match to me when I'm already happy and feeling good and a place I go to realign with happiness and feeling good if I'm out of sync with that. It's truly one of my favorite places. 

I want to open this post to comments because I would love to hear from people where their favorite place to be is. Where are you happy to return to and happy to be? What is your favorite place? 

There are some thoughts and things we can think of that immediately evoke good feelings. Beach

walking, for me, is top notch. I love it. 

Raw Feeding a Cat: Making Raw Cat Food in My RV

I recently made a batch of raw cat food and took some pictures to show how I do it. 

First, when we've been in an area where I can find it, I have bought premade frozen raw cat food. My cat likes the Bravo burgers which are easy and convenient to feed. Thaw a burger and feed about half of one a day(for my cat; it depends on age, size, weight, appetite.) She also sometimes eats Primal's nuggets. Same deal except you take out however many nuggets from a bag full of them. In this respect, Bravo is a bit easier. 

I wrote about feeding freeze dried and dehydrated foods here as well. In sticks and bricks or if you have a set address you can schedule it to, I recommend Darwin's Pet which is shipped directly to you every however often, according to how much your cat eats and how you want to schedule it. My cat liked the turkey food they made and I would purchase it for her again. I also have a premix to add to raw meat and make fresh food for her myself. On the road, making fresh raw cat food with the premix is a pretty simple thing to do. Here's how I do it:  

 

Here's what I use:

a bowl 

a spoon

freezer bags

food scissors  

water

raw chicken 

premix 

I don't always make a full batch at once so I just follow the directions and alter the amounts as needed. I eyeball it since I've got enough cooking and baking experience to confidently do so. 

1) I put the premix into the bowl and add water. Sometimes I whisk it but a spoon seems to do fine. 

2.) In this instance, I bought chicken breasts that needed to be cut so I cut it directly into the bowl. You can use different kinds of meat, my cat just loves chicken. 

3.) I stir it all together and add a bit more water if it seems thick. Cats generally stay hydrated by the food they eat.

4.) I then portion a day's worth of food into each bag. I freeze them and either keep one day's in the fridge or keep the bowl with a meal or day's worth in the fridge because my cat will gladly eat from it. I actually like to make this before feeding her so she can have a meal and lick the bowl clean. :) She displays such happiness and satisfaction after eating it and I have less to scrub off the bowl! 

5.) I usually take a bag out of the freezer and place it in the fridge to thaw overnight. That's all there is to it!

A little tip, your cat may be inclined to take the food out of the bowl or off the dish to eat this. My cat tends to do that and I feed her on my fiberglass floor so it is easy to clean the floor after. Some people feed on towels or a place mat that is also easy to wipe down. I recommend feeding from a flat dish if possible. 

The premix I used here is called Better in the Raw. I find it easy to use for single meals or making a batch like this and my cat likes it. She really likes another brand called Feline Instincts as well. I have bags of both currently and would recommend either. If you're interested in trying Feline Instincts, I think you need to go right to their website to buy it and, if I recall correctly, it's made in Florida. If you're interested in trying the Better in the Raw or some other raw options, feel free to check out the link on my website to my Amazon store where you can shop as usual and I get a bit of extra cash from you doing so at no additional cost to you and check back at my other cat posts for more on traveling with a cat if you like, too. 

Write It On Your Heart

that every day is the best day in the year.

He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.

Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in. Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense.

This new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays.

~Emerson

Anastasia State Park Once Again and the Southeast Intracoastal Waterway Park

I returned to Anastasia State Park as I wanted to stay at the beach more and one day had the impulse to drive there to see if the one site I saw open online truly was available. It was! I got a walk up site in a new area I hadn't stayed in before. Perfect. Like at Tomoka, I started with one night and then returned to add more the next day. 

At my campsite.

I did a load of laundry for $3. Awesome. I love how they state the cost and time right on the machines. I wish laundromats would do this, too. Some state more info than others. 

Really tiny Portuguese Man-o-war and a four legged purple starfish! 

There is wifi at the beach so I drove there to use it some (my site was a far walk otherwise) and also walked the beach as usual. 

This gull had a good catch!

Another crab.

I have come to especially love pelicans. They are so amazing to watch and such large birds! 

Portuguese Man-o-war which is apparently not a jellyfish. Their colors can be really beautiful. I wouldn't touch it though! 

I cleaned the RV again including vacuuming which made it feel so nice inside. I will be sharing some tips for beach going in the near future as I've certainly learned some things, especially for dealing with sand. 

My cat was out in her tent more than once and a neighbor gifted her with a handmade toy on HER BIRTHDAY! What perfect timing! 

One of the things I really like about this park is that there are three dump stations in one so that multiple RVs can use it at once. I really like that. Very easy. 

I think this is the coquina site...

I also stopped to see the coquina site at the park. I'm not sure if I missed it or what. I walked through and probably right by but it looked rather different than the pictures in the pamphlets. Oh well. I think this picture is actually it, to the right especially. 

This is down by the picnic area and beach parking. 

The rangers at this park are all very nice. I was thrilled when I came back one afternoon after food shopping and the ranger gave me a big smile and wave to let me through. I just lit up at that. She was the one who I had paid for more days with. I've interacted with several of the rangers here and they were all top notch. Another cool bonus was this stay I was given a BOGO for admission to another nearby state park (not one with camping, though I'd love to camp at it if they add it!) A post on that is coming soon! 

This stay was wonderful with a good mix of nature, comfort, and the joy of having unlimited power for my computer and whatever else. It was really nice. I woke up on my last morning and knew I was ready to go. Still, I'd return to this park yet again. 

Not too far south of here is the Southeast Intracoastal Waterway Park which I've also enjoyed multiple visits to. There is a little dock to walk out on where you can see the nearby fort and there is a nice pathway to walk around with some benches here and there to stop at. I liked walking it and learned from one of the informative posts throughout that mink live in Florida and they swim. Go figure! I've wondered now if what I may have thought was a river otter was a mink at some point. There is a small body of water plus some picnic tables here, too. While there were some others visiting at times, even at the busiest times I was here, it was pleasant and a nice little spot to chill and enjoy. 

Easy One Pot Meal Featuring Vidalia Onion

I visited Vidalia, Georgia and the Onion Museum in the early days of my full-time traveling and greatly enjoyed it. Having not grown up eating onion much at all, liking the sweet Vidalia onion and adding it to my kitchen has been fun. As they are a seasonal crop, I recently bought a fresh three pound bag on sale for $1.99 and got right to using them. That evening I created this for dinner. The measurements are guesstimates I'm confident of as I didn't measure anything and would say this makes one to two servings. It would work as a side dish or main meal and you could leave the turkey out or add crumbled tofu instead to make it vegetarian. A bit of sprinkled cheese may also be a nice addition. 

1/4 pound ground turkey 

1 Vidalia onion, chopped

4 mini sweet peppers, cut into rounds 

a handful of grape tomatoes

1+ teaspoon butter

1+ teaspoon robust EVOO 

1/2 cup shredded crispy lettuce 

1/2 cup broccoli florets

Sautée the broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, and onion in butter until about half way cooked. Add the meat and EVOO and cook together until the meat is cooked, stirring as needed. 

Put 1/2 of crispy shredded lettuce into a bowl and put the sautéed mix on top. Mix together. 

Eat and enjoy! 

This is about half of the cooked ingredients with the measurements I put in the recipe. I mixed it together more and the crisp lettuce added a refreshing crunch. Yum!