Last week I went for a 15-mile hike in Thonotosassa, FL, and, I've gotta say, the scenery looked kinda like it always does. Green with palms. Well, there was a bunch of leaf litter from oaks which were looking a little lean from dropping leaves but that was the only difference from the usual. The … Continue reading Autumn Hike
Anton bought a boat. It's a shark of a slope, less than 20 feet long with a single mast, built in the 90's. It came with a new outboard engine which had been only used for about 6 total hours by a previous owner who didn't have time to sail due to health reasons. Meet … Continue reading Maiden Voyage
Anton and I had originally wanted to go to Weeki Wachee Springs State Park and kayak downriver and then back, but we learned that the park might be busy that time of year because it had a water park and about the fee per person to use the kayak launch. So we took the vaguely … Continue reading Rogers Park Kayak Launch
A while back, if you recall, the little black Jeep that had been my first car was totaled. My brother and nephew were off adventuring in it across the US in it at the time -- neither were hurt, thank God -- and the trusty little Jeep limped them back all the way to Florida … Continue reading Detailing the Jeep
Anton and I took a short breather and went to Little Manatee State Park, just south of Tampa. Blue skies. Mild morning temperatures. Hallmark Florida springtime. Notes: Duckweed. Anton took a course where he had to go hiking and find identify plant types for assignments. He's super proud of being able to spot duckweed anywhere … Continue reading Little Manatee River State Park
One Friday night after final exams in graduate school, I had a plan. I planned to write for several hours before bed (which I rarely did during the week because I have a habit of losing track of time when I write), get some decent sleep, wake up to run 5 miles at first light, … Continue reading Hey, Writer, Have You Done This?
To help our nieces and nephews get out of the house for a bit (in a safe way), Anton and I took my sister and her kids to a Myakka River State Park. He and I each have a family annual entrance pass to the Florida State Parks (meaning our pass gets us in as … Continue reading Gone for a Hike
For "Jeepy" was a Jolly Good Fellow My first car when I was 18 was a black 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee Sport. A boxy little thing with more rust than paint, which was so bad that we joked it was a grey-and-rust colored Jeep instead of black. My brother Anton and I swapped cars when … Continue reading Small Adventures Here and There
This summer my brother Anton executed a solo crosscountry road trip from Florida to California, and back again. After seeing all the photos and video footage he collected, I'm super jealous (dude, take me with you next time!). Instead of regaling you with accounts of his national park travels, you can watch the fun 3-minute … Continue reading National Park Adventures
My college history professor once said "among every set of siblings there's at least one who, if had power, would try to take over the world" (not sure if she was serious). My siblings and I don't fall under this category (95% sure) but we certainly aren't lacking for loud personalities. I can only imagine how we look to … Continue reading Which Aunt/Uncle Are You?
Duri Rolvsson 