Entrance to Circle B Bar Reserve

After a damp squib of a July 4th weekend ( yes, it rained for a good deal of the weekend) we felt in need of some fresh air and relaxation.   In other words, to get out and see some more of our county’s beautiful areas.

This time we headed south through Winter Haven to the Circle B Bar Reserve on Lake Hancock.  It is relatively easy to get to, being about 30 minutes drive from Winter Haven, and the Reserve  can also be reached by using the Polk Parkway.

Once through the main entrance, you drive down a long avenue of grand old and gnarled oak trees. draped in Spanish Moss and resurrection ferns.

fallen down during a storm

Driving down the avenue  we met a family of wild pigs and piglets trotting from one side of  the road into the undergrowth on the other side.   That was quite an introduction to the wildlife that we hoped to see today.

Continuing on to the parking area at the main Educational center, which provides information and educational eco-tours to many of the schools in the area,  we left the car,  and took one of the informative leaflets at the start of the trails.  The leaflets show a map of the various trails you can take, and the type of habitat that you will walking through.  Incidentally, sturdy and comfortable walking shoes are recommended for this trip, as well as a camera and insect repellent.

We noticed several families picnicking at the tables and shelters provided, and obviously enjoying the peace and quiet.  No pets are allowed in the reserve; they can be disruptive to the wildlife, and the alligators in the lake make it unsafe for dogs.

Setting off down the trail marked Shady Oak, we walked peacefully along the path;  soon we reached damper areas where it was a good thing that we wore sturdy footwear.  Remember we had had a wet weekend, so water was standing in puddles along the low areas of the trail.   Most of the trails are about half to three-quarters of a mile in distance, and level; therefore they are suitable for both walkers and cyclists.

The first half  of the trail is through open prairie and standing oaks, and quietly walking along the grassy path, we saw a family of wild turkeys. We stood watching them as they stalked through  the tall grasses, with their family of three chicks scurrying busily around the parents, who were murmuring softly to the chicks to keep them close.  After about 5 minutes they had wandered away from us and into the undergrowth, and we continued along the trail.    The open grassland transitioned into a more heavily wooded area, with large oaks draped in Spanish moss alongside the path.  Birds were trilling in the treetops, although we couldn’t see or identify them.  There are bald eagles, ospreys and woodpeckers to be observed.   The trails are well marked, and where they split off in other directions, there are information boards showing what you might expect to see on any particular path.   We continued on from the Shady Oak Trail into the Alligator Trail which took us along the margins of Lake Hancock.   Often when walking in areas like these , one speculates on how the Native Americans and Early settlers coped with the terrain and the problems.   The Alligator Trail is about seven-tenths of a mile long, and the lake is visible all the way

The lake is home to large numbers of wading birds, from the great Blue Heron to the small glossy Ibis, and the path is close enough to the margins of reeds and water plants to see many of these birds.

The lake is also home to numerous alligators;  we met one of the ecological scientists along our path, who told us that at the last count, there were over 4,000 alligators found.  In fact, we noticed they were pretty easy to spot, either just offshore or laying up in the reed beds.    For the record, the distance between the eyes usually indicates the length of the alligator; for instance if the distance between the eyes is about 6 inches ( do not try to measure this!!) the length of the ‘gator will be about 6 feet.  We did see one that we estimated to be about 15 feet in length, although unfortunately it was too far out to photograph.

Walking this path felt slightly like being  in early primeval conditions; there were strange noises off to the sides, rustlings in the undergrowth, the “crawks” of the herons as they flew away from our disturbance, deep throated gruntings – now what was making that noise?

Again, it is necessary to be aware of your surroundings – across the path from the lake is a swampy area, with shrubs, tree roots and moss obscuring the banks – something was moving in the undergrowth; fawny brown in colour, smallish, about the size of a muntjac deer, or a small dog.  We waited , holding our breath, to see what was rooting down amongst the roots and grasses.  Finally the creature emerged into into a little clearer view – wait!  it wasn’t just one, there were  two or three of them, and they were baby wild piglets.   Eventually momma hog came into view and they moved deeper into the swampy undergrowth and we lost sight of them.  Their grunting continued as we walked further along our path.

Deep amongst the moss draped trees and flowering grasses were butterflies flitting from bush to bush.   Can anyone identify this one;  I think it’s one of the Skipper varieties, but I can’t be positive.  We saw lots of the Swallowtail types, and many other varieties fluttering in the warm moist air.

We also sighted lots of ospreys and bald eagles perched in the tops of  dead trees with the results of their fishing expeditions.  Obviously the reserve is home to many varieties of birds, and the information boards at the start of each trial will give you identification information

The Circle B Bar reserve was originally a cattle ranch, and was acquired in 2000 by Polk County and the South West Water Management District, primarily to protect the valuable water and wildlife resources.   The Reserve is on the northwest shore of Lake Hancock, and covers 1,267 acres .  Lake Hancock is often referred to as the headwaters of the Peace River which flows 105 miles from Polk County to Charlotte Harbour and the Gulf of Mexico.    Due to its herbaceous and forested landscape, the Reserve supports a wide variety of mammal and bird species.

Tips to make your trip more enjoyable;  if you have binoculars, bring them;  also carry some drinking water; it can get quite warm hiking these trails, even though they are not difficult or overly long.     Take your time; do not rush this experience.  There is a lot to observe on the trails.  Finally do be careful when walking near  water, especially with small children.

It’s a rare and unusual occurrence for me to take a Saturday morning away from the business but this past weekend was very special.  Colin, my husband , is a very  committed member of our local Kiwanis group and has spent a lot of time and energy arranging a Kiwanis Golf Tournament.    So I felt it was only right to arrange for a team from Premier.   Four of us ladies met at Providence , the golf course that was hosting the tournament, and collected our Goody bags and our carts.   After a little time spent stretching our muscles , loosening up our shoulders, we were off!!      The first hole is always the awkward one,  especially since we were being followed by a mens foursome, and we knew they were watching and waiting for us to whiffle our shots, or worse, hit the balls into the lake!   As it happened it wasn’t too bad, and we were away pretty sharply.

Waiting for the off!

We continued throughout the first 9 holes , although none of us came close to the “Hole in One ” prize, but we did get the Womens Longest Drive !

There were a couple of times when we may have lost a ball or two, and certainly the beverage cart was essential to our well-being, as each of us had forgotten to include energy bars in our golf bags………….

However, apart from having to change golf carts –   we had one that wouldn’t go up the hills -  we managed to complete the course with much laughter and fun, and some sunburned shoulders.  The tournament was on the hottest day of the year to date!

The four of us collapsed into the restaurant at the end of the day to have dinner and to hear the results.  Well, we knew we weren’t in with much of a chance, competing as we did against mens teams, all of whom obviously played a great deal of golf regularly.    No-one managed to get the Hole in One prize of Ten Thousand Dollars, which had to be won on a par 3 hole of at least 163 yards, although one golfer managed to get just a foot away from the pin.   That would have been something to really celebrate!!!

Still, Premier Home Management did get the Womens Longest Drive prize, and we watched with pleasure as the Winning team, “Virgin on the Riduclus!” took first prize.

The story behind this particular team is something a bit special too!.  It was a team put together by a friend of Colin’s, ( Ian,  who works for Virgin  Atlantic), all of whom had flown over with Virgin  especially to support the Tournament.

Arthur H, Ian’s father, who is 76, won the prize for Closest to the Pin.  Arthur is in the middle of the photo below in the dark shirt.

The Winning Team with Colin and Marilyn

Collecting their prizes

The two major sponsors of the tournament were Virgin Atlantic and C. J. Services of Haines City.   Premier Home Management provided chilled face wipes at Hole # 12 for all the participants to freshen up, and cool down in the heat.

Raffle prizes were presented after the main prize-giving, and many of the attendees were fortunate enough to have their numbers called.  There was also an auction of a Flat Screen TV as well as a one day Golf  School at the David Leadbetter Academy.

The best part of the whole day was learning that the Tournament and all the hard work by the  Kiwanis members has raised over two and a half thousand dollars for the terminally ill and underprivileged children in the local area.

Once, many years ago,  we managed to get down to Titusville to watch one of the Night Flights of the Space Shuttle. There have been very few experiences since then to rival it.

The long wait for the countdown, the murmurs of other people who are waiting just like you, dark shadows moving around you while all eyes are on the launch pad  far off in the distance, radios pressed to ears, listening for the latest news, and hoping and praying that there will be no last minute stand-down.

When the start of the 10 second countdown commences, eyes and ears strain to see and hear the first of the blast-off;  people craning to get their first glimpse, fingers on camera shutters ready to go………….9,  8,  7,  6,  5 .…………. now the time is getting so close, you can  feel the tension…………….you can feel everyone willing it to be a safe lift off………

.4, 3, 2,

ONE!!!

and a tremendous cheer erupts at the same time as the fiery steam billows out of the ground, and the shuttle lifts off.  Going so slowly at first, then gaining speed as it lifts away from the launch pad.  Trailing a huge cloud of orange vapour behind it like a cloak, and speeding up , up into the night sky.   Our eyes are blinded by the vision, cameras are clicking as the shuttle passes in front of the moon, and onwards, and  then comes the roar; the noise of the blast off – we didn’t expect that!   The sheer volume of sound compresses the chest,  pulses through the body, feels as though you can’t breathe for a moment  and makes you feel as though the earth itself is trembling.   We clap our hands in sheer delight and relief that everything has gone smoothly; we turn to people around us and express our amazement and awe at the sight and sound we have just experienced; we watch till we can’t see the Space Shuttle any longer…….. then everyone drifts away to their vehicles and moves on with their lives.

No matter how many times I watch the Space Shuttle take off from Kennedy, that one experience will never leave my memory, and this morning I watched another Space Shuttle take off with its crew bound for the International Space Station.   A Space Station that we could see with the naked eye in the dark hours of this morning!.   Our TV was on, showing the countdown, as it has so many times before, and we watched the incredible sight of the  lift off, then rushed outside into the dark, to see the sky lightening from the blast, then the sight of the Space Shuttle lifting about the tree line to speed across the dark skies.  We watched it till it had gone over the horizon, and walked back indoors to a hot cup of coffee.  Yes, we did take more photos, and yes, we did wish, briefly, that we had been really there at the Cape to witness this wonderful sight.

You have to admire those crew members who board this amazing piece of machinery for the ride; there are never any guarantees of safety on this ride!   STS 131 is carrying a full complement of seven crew to the International Space Station.

Discovery and Crew Delivering Science Hardware to Station
Commander Alan Poindexter is leading the STS-131 mission to the International Space Station aboard space shuttle Discovery. Joining Poindexter are Pilot Jim Dutton and Mission Specialists Rick Mastracchio, Clay Anderson, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson and Naoko Yamazaki of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

Discovery is carrying a multi-purpose logistics module filled with science racks for the laboratories aboard the station. The mission has three planned spacewalks, with work to include replacing an ammonia tank assembly, retrieving a Japanese experiment from the station’s exterior, and switching out a rate gyro assembly on the S0 segment of the station’s truss structure.

STS-131 is the 33rd shuttle mission to the station.

Team Applauds Beautiful Launch for Discovery

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 08:21:27 AM EDT

During a postlaunch news conference at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the 6:21 a.m. EDT liftoff of space shuttle Discovery was hailed as a great success.

Calling the launch, “a great start to a great mission,” Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations, said the successful liftoff was a tribute to the team at Kennedy that got the vehicle ready to fly.

Mike Moses, chair of the Mission Management Team, said it was, “a spectacular launch and picture-perfect countdown.” He outlined a few minor technical issues that were recorded, but that the spacecraft and crew were ready to start an action-packed mission.

Expressing his happiness that they were able to launch on the first attempt, Pete Nickolenko, STS-131 launch director, said he was proud of the teams that make such a difficult job look so easy.

Also on hand was Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency President Keiji Tachikawa, who noted that this will be the first time two Japanese astronauts will be in space at the same time, as Discovery’s Mission Specialist Naoko Yamazaki joins Expedition 23 crew member Soichi Noguchi for the STS-131 mission.

Discovery and crew will spend 13 days in space on their mission to the International Space Station.

With only three more  Space Shuttle missions planned,  this was the last mission planned for a night-time take off, and what a fantastic sight for those of us who were fortunate enough to either be there to be able to watch it from our homes.    My thoughts go to those brave astronauts and I make the same comment I made all those years ago, when I saw my first live launch;  Good Luck and God Bless!

This is our Jilly

We are the proud and loving owners of  a  Jack Russell terrier called Jilly.  She is affectionate and stubborn and totally frustrating when she is chasing squirrels or searching our garage for mice that may have some in out of the winter cold.  However, she is an important member of our family and spends her days with me in the office and her evenings  curled up on the sofa with us.

So for this very reason, we cannot possibly conceive of putting her in a kennel if we want to go away.  Therefore, for us to take a vacation means finding accommodation that will take our pet.

There are a  few pointers to safely and comfortably taking your pet on vacation with you.  Firstly make sure that the place where you want to stay is happy about your dog or cat.  Some accommodations have restrictions on weight or size, or even breed restrictions.

Most of us who intend to have our pet with us already know that our beloved dog or cat is house-trained and fully vaccinated, but the owner of the accommodation might need to be reassured on that count.  It’s also useful to check for local pet stores in the area where you are going so that you can get Fido’s special treats, or Kitty’s toy mice, should you happen to need them.   Here are a few pointers that may help to keep you and your pet safe and comfortable on your vacation.

Hey, we're coming too!

1. Firstly you should assess your pet’s traveling capabilities. Very old or very young pets can be affected greatly by the experience of a long trip. If your pet has any illness or injury make sure to be informed about his or her condition and whether it will complicate during travel by asking your vetinarian.
2. You should also talk with your vet about where you will be traveling, how and for how long. Be sure to ascertain about any ticks, fleas or heartworms that can harm your pet at any of the places that you plan to go. If your pet has any problems while traveling such as motion sickness ask your vet about treatments or medication he could prescribe.
3. Ask your vet if your pet has all the necessary up to date vaccinations and obtain a health and rabies certificate. This is especially important if you will be traveling by plane since airports require that you have the certificate issued no earlier than 10 days before you take off.
4. Make sure to buy the appropriate crate for your pet’s travels, this includes: sturdiness, plentiful ventilation, a door that securely locks, an interior free of affliction possibilities and above all plenty of space to move around. You should also get one that can be grabbed easily from the outside where the animal can’t harm.
5. Put tags on your pet that have all the current information such as owner’s name, a phone number, an address and proof of vaccination. As an extra security measure you might want to get your pet micro chipped which will make it very easy to find him or her in case you become separated.
6. Before you depart make sure to clip your pet’s nails so that he or will be easier to restrain as well as diminish the prospect of causing unwanted damage. If your pet has fleas or ticks make sure to apply the proper treatments so that he or she doesn’t infest their new environments.
7. For the worst case scenario in which you and your pet become separated you should come with a list of helpful information regarding him or her as well as a recent photograph. Among the information included you should have the breed, call name, age, coat type, color, characteristic markings and microchip number.
8. You should always have plenty of fresh water at your side. Don’t introduce food to your pet that is very different from what you ordinarily feed him to avoid any complications. If you can’t find your dog’s brand of food you should introduce him or her to a new type gradually and be attentive to any changes due to diet.
9. You should bring with you a strong leash, sheets for your dog to lay as to make sure he is not sitting on furniture or bedding, plenty of pet food that may not be available, lots of water, your pets food and water bowl and make sure to wash them regularly, and toys for them to play with for some stimulation.
10. You might also want to bring with you tweezers for removing unwanted creatures or objects, baby wipes to clean them off, waste removal bags, first aid kit (especially if you’re traveling somewhere remote), a flashlight for walks out in the dark, comfortable bedding, disinfectant spray may come in handy and also carpet cleaning items.

This list might at first glance seem like a lot of things to worry about, but traveling with children requires very similar needs to be filled.  OK, perhaps not the rabies certificate or the pet crate but…………….

One of the fun things to do with your dog are the walks together;  this is Jilly on Fort de Soto beach; she actually dislikes getting wet, so rather than running into the sea, she ran alongside the little ripples of breaking waves, barking madly.  Cleverly, I thought, I rolled up my trousers, and went into the sea to my knees, beckoning and calling for her to come in with me.  No chance!  so when I had had enough I turned to look out to sea.

There was  a huge splash, and the back of my trousers were soaked through.  Jilly had launched herself into the sea, well beyond her depth and now was panic stricken and swimming wildly towards me.  After that she reverted to running along the sand.  No way was she going to do that again.!

Fort De Soto is on the Gulf Coast of Florida and is an interesting place, not just because it has a full length dog beach, and a dog park.  The dog park is fully fenced, and has two sections, one for small dogs and the other side is for larger dogs whose boisterous play may scare some of the smaller or elderly dogs.

There is also an actual fort, a beach for humans to swim and sunbathe , a fishing pier, cycle hire, canoe hire and picnic areas, as well as walks through the woods .  The best time to visit Fort De Soto is early in the year;  as the weather warms up it can become rather crowded, and during the height of the summer it may even be too warm for you and your pet.

There are many dog friendly parks in the Central Florida area;  Orlando, Kissimmee, Winter Park, Wekiva Springs and other towns in the area, have Off-leash parks for pets and their owners.  As well as the dog parks, there are many outdoor restaurants and cafes where you can sit and eat or drink with your pet.  That’s the pleasure of having a  sunny and warm climate.   We always carry a bottle of water with us as it can get very warm when out walking.  Celebration in Florida is a great place to walk our dog;  there is a good long walk around the lake, there’s a Farmer’s Market to visit on Sundays, tables and chairs outside most of the restaurants and coffee shops, and lots of other people with the same idea, so socialised dogs  are very welcome.

Many of our smaller towns and cities welcome your pet and have specialised pet shops where you can buy  clothes, bakery goods, jewelled collars  and so on – all for your dog or cat.

Cannonball!!

As you can see, we enjoy our time with  Jilly, and we know how important that pleasure  is to other pet lovers, so if you decide to visit Central Florida call us – we have pet friendly vacation rental homes waiting to give you and your family pet  a vacation that’s not to be sniffed at !

After a most successful Goofy Challenge this year, when more than 55,000 runners set off over the two days, it’s now time to register for the 2011 event.

And they're off!

The Goofy Challenge is one of the premier events in the marathon runners calendar. Held each year by Disney, the event attracts runners from all walks of life, from the amateur athlete to top marathon runners.

This year’s event was held on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th January, during one of the coldest spells in Central Florida‘s weather for the past decade.   Volunteer helpers, race marshalls and spectators lined the route to cheer on the brave competitors running in below freezing temperatures with sleet, snow and rain.  The weather did take its toll, although the half marathon had just over 17,000 runners complete the course.  The winner of the men’s half marathon finished in 1 hour 7 minutes 2 seconds, and the women’s leader completed the race in just about 1 hour 20 minutes.

A friend of ours, Toni,  who was staying in one of Premier Home Management‘s vacation homes finished her half marathon in just under 2 hours. After returning to her home and relaxing, her preparations began for the full marathon on the next day.

Her start time on Sunday was 5.50 a.m. in an air temperature of 26 degrees. She managed to complete the race in just about 4 hours – while the leaders finished in 2 hours 22 minutes 8 seconds for Adriano Bastos and 2 hours 51 minutes 20 seconds for Lisa Mizutani. Over 16,000 runners completed the course.

Well doing the Goofy Challenge is a challenge in its self, but looking for good accommodation can be more of a challenge! But that’s where Premier Homes are brilliant – as they took the stress out of this for me!

I stayed at Windsor Hills, which was only about a 15 min drive from Epcot, so I didn’t have to leave my resort hotel at 3am to get to the start….. The accommodation was spotless and extremely well kitted out with a wonderful power shower, a tv in all rooms, a full equipped kitchen – just in case you don’t want to travel the 2 mins to the vast array of restaurants. The apartment also had a washer and dryer – which came in very useful for dealing with smelly running kit!

All in all I can only sing the praises of Marilyn and her team, they provided me with a great base to complete this challenge and I would certainly go back to them again even if I wasn’t doing the Goofy!

Thanks, Toni

The final race of the weekend, completed the most magical 26.2 miles on Earth.  The course takes runners through all four Walt Disney World®

Running the Disney Marathon in Orlando, Florida

Theme Parks starting at Epcot®, continuing on to the Magic Kingdom® Park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ and then back to Epcot® for an exhilarating finish.  The post race celebrations were less well attended this year due to the inclement weather.

For those of you who are so inclined, the Application forms are now open for next year’s Goofy Challenge.

Next year’s Challenge dates are below, if you are a runner, you’ll need to know this.

Before you run off we wanted to tell you all about the 2011 WALT DISNEY WORLD® Marathon Weekend presented by CIGNA, Thursday, January 6 – Sunday, January 9, 2011.  You’ll want to be here for a weekend of races that are as magical as they are memorable; from Disney’s Health & Fitness Expo to the final mile of the marathon, complete with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy medals.  We know you love running, now imagine a run where every mile is filled with Disney fun.  You’d be, well, goofy to miss it!

Toni, who stayed in one of our vacation homes, was so pleased that she was able to bring her family with her for support – it made all the difference between staying in an hotel by herself and having friends and family living in the vacation home with her. Everyone was able to enjoy themselves in their own way and their own time.

If you’re coming next year for the Disney Goofy Challenge, do let us know. We’ll cheer you on!