Tag Archives: hiking

I Love Oscar

Posted on by Run DMT
8

With summer quickly approaching in the Sunshine State, our short-lived camping days are coming to a close.  Wanting to squeeze in one more camping trip before the heat hits us, we pitched our tent at Oscar Scherer in Osprey, FL for a few days over Spring Break. 

 

Although we knew we wanted to go camping over Spring Break, we booked this trip last minute.  Finding a park to meet our criteria was no easy task.  The perfect campground for us needed to offer a playground close to our campsite, clean restroom facilities relatively close to our campsite, hiking trails and water activities such as canoeing and swimming.

 

Since many websites have claimed Oscaer Scherer to be a great family campground, I’ve had my eye on Oscar for some time.  Then, a few weeks ago, the St. Petersburg Times listed it as one of “Florida’s best family-friendly campgrounds”.    After camping at Oscar Scherer for a couple of nights over Spring Break, I would agree with the St. Pete Times declaration.

 

With an abundance Sabal Palms, Saw Palmettos and mangroves, the landscape certainly contained more subtropical foliage than the northern Florida parks we usually camp it, however, Oscar Scherer is still beautiful in its own right.  Once a ranch for turpentine from the Slash Pines, the Scrubby Flatwoods now serve as a protected home to a wide variety of birds and other wildlife.  Cardinals and Scrub Jays frequently visited our campsite.  While canoeing, we watched a hungry Pileated Woodpecker tear into a tree to find his lunch.  Also in from our canoe, we spotted an Osprey and a Blue Heron.

 

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The park offers several trails and a hands-on educational nature center, which are in close proximity to the campground.  Lake Osprey, a beach-like swimming spot, is a short walking distance to the campground, although the weather was too cold for us to test the waters.

 

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Several wooded campsites follow the brackish river that flows through the park.  Thankfully, the abundance of Saw Palmettos created a safety barrier for my curious children.  

 

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The palmettos also served as partitions between sites.  Some may find the campsites a bit narrow, but our 11′x11′ tent fit quite comfortably on our little site with room to spare.

 

Even though our campsite was only a few short steps to the playground, we discovered two other playgrounds during our little excursions.  While hiking, we encountered a Mourning Dove and many caterpillars.  

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We also stumbled upon the remains of an old railroad line that now serves as The Legacy Trail (Rails to Trails) in Sarasota County.  These tracks once carried the Ringling Circus.  

 

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Perfect weather and ideal campgrounds made for a wonderful camping trip.  Oscar Scherer can certainly wear the title as a family-friendly campground.  I enjoyed our stay there so much that I’m already planning a return camping trip!

 

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A Crummy Camping Trip

Posted on by Run DMT
3

My good friend, John, always tells me, “Denise, you’re not a true camper until you camp in the rain.”

 

This past weekend, I learned that I am NOT a real camper and I will avoid camping in the rain again.  I have discovered that I am truly a fair weather camper.  Next time the forecast calls for 70% chance of rain, this camper will cancel.

 

There was simply not enough beer to drown my sorrows miserable attitude while camping.  As much as I love hanging out with my friends, I was so bored.  The rain limited our hiking excursions and prevented me from squeezing in any runs.

 

When the rain finally slowed on Saturday, we went for a quick hike along the river basin, the Ravine Ridge.  That was certainly the highlight of our trip! 

 

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As far as campgrounds go, I was not impressed with Mike Roess Gold Head Branch.  Although the park offered oversized campsites, which could easily accommodate two or even three tents, the rain caused us to huddle under a canopy most of the time.  Of course, that is no reflection on the park, just my own poor planning.  However, these oversized campsites lacked shade and had there been any sun, we still would have been huddled under the canopies.

 

I’ve been pretty spoiled on previous camping trips to Hillsborough River and O’Leno.  I’ve come to appreciate a playground near our campsite and well-attended to restrooms.

A Camping We Will Go

Posted on by Run DMT
18

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We had a fabulous time camping with our friends at Hillsborough River State Park this past weekend.  I didn’t lose any children.  I dodged an allergy attack.  I even avoided being attacked by a wild boar or rabid raccoon or pecked to death by a hungry hawk.

 

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Unfortunately, an asthma attack was unavoidable for my poor little Emmalynn and like fine neglectful parents, we forgot her nebulizer.  Luckily, the campground was only about 30 minutes away from home and since Allan had to restock his beer, he found it in his heart to swing home to grab her “cloud machine”.

 

With each camping trip, my family and I are becoming old camping pros.  We were far more organized for this trip than past trips.  I honestly don’t know how we pulled it off!  We arrived at the site around 1:30 with plenty of time to pitch the tent and get settled.  Even our good friends, Erika and John were amazed with our efficiency. 

 

Maybe it was the combination of Zyrtec and beer or the fact my youngest is growing up, but I felt so relaxed.  Since we added Emmalynn’s potty chair as one of the essential items for the trip, she peed on the potty and stayed dry throughout the day and night.  But most importantly, my little Houdini didn’t perform any disappearing acts by wandering off into the woods and she minded the camping rules. 

 

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Even Allana seemed to understand the rules a bit better for our third family camping trip.  Perhaps it was the threat of staying in the car the entire time that helped modify her behavior.

 

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Somehow, even the weather seemed to cooperate, with warm sunny days and cool evenings.  It was the perfect weather for camping.

 

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On Saturday, after Allan returned with the much needed nebulizer and beer, we hiked on a short mile or so trail along the Hillsborough River.  We spotted a turtle, an armadillo and a huge golden orb spider.  I gave each of the children paper bags to collect items while on our hike and after the hike, they made gorgeous collages with the items they collected.

 

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When we returned home on Sunday, we picked up a hitchhiker on the way.  We discovered this little lady hanging out on ceiling of my car.

 

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I really enjoy camping but I truly cherish the memories we create for our children.  These are the simple times that they will look back upon with delight and want to replicate for their children.

 

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