Along the Ray

Along the Ray

An alien from a different plane wandering the universe in a tiny camper

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hikes Views from today’s hike on Moonshine Creek trail https://alongtheray.com/views-from-todays-hike-on-moonshine-creek-trail Let’s try something new — come join me along a short hike on Moonshine Creek trail. It’s in the San Felasco Hammock Preserve near Gainesville, Aug-05-2022 16:24:00 -0400 Along the Ray August 5, 2022
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Views from today’s hike on Moonshine Creek trail

Let’s try something new — come join me along a short hike on Moonshine Creek trail. It’s in the San Felasco Hammock Preserve near Gainesville, Florida.

This a favorite quick hike of mine that meanders a couple miles in a hardwood forest for total (and blissful) immersion with nature.

Got yer water and a cap? Away we go!

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Edible American Beautyberries greet me on the way in (supposedly crushing their leaves creates a natural mosquito repellant)

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A trail blaze marking the way - what a glorious sight!

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A fallen tree cleared way for the sun to break through here and it’s now overgrowing this part of the trail. Butterflies love it.

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Exposed roots add character (and trippy hikes)

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Lovely light play dancing in the breeze

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A few years ago this tree explosively snapped in half. When you see this it’s usually from a lightening strike or powerful winds.

This always reminds me of when I was camped near Wheeler, Oregon a few years ago and a tornado tore through overnight. The next morning you could see the trail it carved through a forest of tall trees snapped in half like toothpicks. Fascinating and terrifying.

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What lurks within? As beautiful as this looks, be wary - this is where alligators and snakes can pop out at ya. A past lesson I unexpectedly learned when an alligator and snake simultaneously scurried away when I came too close on another trail. Zowie.

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Natural bridge across a swamp. I love walking across these.

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Mirrors of trees

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Hmm. Who is reflecting what?

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I’m not sure what these are but they look like a community of fairy homes.

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A twig blazing its own path.

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Chainsawed remnants of a fallen tree that was blocking the trail. Lots around here due to summer rainstorms and flooding weakening root systems. 60-70 years old this tree appears to be.

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Bay of ferns - a favorite crossing of mine.

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Stair of roots — it goes quite a bit further, making fer good exercise.

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This bridge comes up a bit short thanks to recent floods

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A beautiful grand ole Juniper always welcomes with arms and roots to give a big hug. Appearances are deceiving here - it’s at least 200 feet tall.

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Fallen trail markers are pretty common around here as you can tell by now. This is the part of the trail that becomes a side creek after torrential rains.

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Ah, here is Moonshine creek as it winds through. It’s named for an old illegal moonshine distillery that was nearby. I’ve found pieces of jars n such now and then. Some days I swear I can smell the ghost of alcohol in the air.

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We’re near the end… This is where I take my shoes off and soak my feet in wondrously cool waters so I’ll be taking my leave here.

I hope you enjoyed our hike.

Thank you for joining me along the Ray.” It was fun having you along and I look forward to more. : )

#hikes

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https://alongtheray.com Along the Ray

An alien from a different plane wandering the universe in a tiny camper

Along the Ray

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