#expore – Carpe Diem with Caye

As the world hunkers down to try to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus, many travel restrictions are in place around the world. I decided about a week ago to postpone my bucket list travel trip to Egypt. In the meantime, unless there is a “shelter in place” for our area, I have decided to get out of the house to a local park where there is fresh air and no need to maintain a distance of three to six feet between myself and others, as there really are not that many people out and about right now.

I traveled to Ravine State Park in Palatka, Florida, which is a beautiful state park with large suspension bridges along a 2.5 mile loop wooded trail. This place is very interesting, as it is elevated in some spots beyond our usual “sea level” flat trails here in Florida. Although this place has had some damages from recent hurricanes, it is known for its display of azaleas and LOTS of them. At this time of year in 2020, most of the azaleas have already bloomed, but I saw an occasional bloom peaking out among isolated branches. A spot of color on an otherwise green branch here and there gave me pause and reminded me that all things are temporary, including this Covid-19 virus. It will run its course eventually, and eventually life will return essentially to normal for the most part. I am not sure what this will do to our economy or way of life long term, but I do know that the Covid-19 will eventually run its course. In the meantime, I will get out to local travel places, now that even Disney has shut down, to find inspiration…….find inspiration in nature and revisit places I have visited already again in my mind……