Barr Hammock Preserve Hike – Take Two

Location: Gainesville, Fl
GPS Coordinates: 29.655667, -82.276076
Date: 3/3/2013
 
It was Sunday afternoon and Julie and I were sitting around the house like a few lazy slugs. Our college aged daughter had just departed after she just made a short pit stop home to do laundry and pick up some items needed for her Spring Break cruise. Why is it that these kids have more exciting lives than their parents?!
The temperature was in the mid 40’s and being two Florida wimps, we were hesitant to do anything outdoors. It was cold, windy and cloudy. However, the Weather Channel assured us that the skies would clear, so we figured we should get off our derriere and do something.
Julie wanted to do a hike that had the chance of being in the sun and giving us the chance to stay warm. So we decided to do the Barr Hammock Hike again. This is the same hike that we had done a few weeks ago, but to mix things up a little we decided to do the loop walking clockwise as opposed to counter clockwise as we had done it previously.  I know, we are wild and crazy. 
The first few miles of the hike was cold, with a brisk (cold) north wind. But as time went on the clouds moved on and it became sunny. Nearing the end of the 6+ miles I actually got warm enough to take off my sweatshirt. I think it had warmed up into the low 50’s.
Being cold, we didn’t see much wildlife today, but there were a few birds here and there. It was good to get outside, but we’re ready for a little warmer weather to make its’ way into the area.
 
The dike on the south end of the prairie. There is  water/wetlands on both sides of the trail. 

When walking this trail, just follow the rules. “Deep mud like pudding”!!??

And interesting weed with purple flowers.

A couple Sandhill Cranes. They didn’t cooperate and had their butts towards the camera. Most of the Sandhill Cranes in the area had already started their migration north. Don’t know if these two are late in leaving or are some that spend the entire year in Florida.

Here are a few pictures of a few warblers we saw along the way. There’s many of these birds darting among the brush that line the trail.

Here is the GPS track of the hike we did today.
Barr Hammock Preserve - Levy Loop Trail #2 at EveryTrail
 
I borrowed (stole!) this picture from Karen’s Blog at “Rving: The USA Is Our Big Backyard”. Julie and I bought a Heartland Edge trailer a few years ago and that is what we use when camping. We’ve never seen another one in a campground during our travels  So, when reading blogs this morning I was surprised to see this picture of an Edge. I guess when the wheels or axles wear out, we can just plop it on a flatbed truck and continue on.

Our Future?                                                                      Our current look, but I guess wheels are optional!