Today we decided to try the north trail.  While biking on the access road I made the comment to Maren that last night I had a dream about deer.  30 seconds later we saw our first doe bounding across the access road.  Within minutes we saw our second.  During this trip we saw a total of 4 white tails.  Until today we had not seen any.  This does not mean that they were not there just that they are difficult to spot, especially if they are still.  Unfortunately I was not able to access the camera in time to snap a few pics.  What follows are some other pics of today’s trip.

	Maren and I near a group of cattle.  As we proceeded to follow the trail north they too decided to follow us a short distance all the while serenading us with “song”.
	Maren  noticed some blackberries growing.  Before you knew it we were both grazing alongside the cattle.  Wow!!, this one tastes funny.   They (the berries less anyone get confused) are sweet/sour.  Probably a bit early since most were not quite ready for picking.  These berries have a grouping of 5 shiny, scalloped leaves.
	Another find of Maren’s.  A black snake on the north side canal overpass.  We had spotted a couple of snakes.  All well out of the way.

If you "double click" on any of the maps you will be taken to Microsoft’s website for satellite mapping and be able to get a better perspective of the location.

Note:  as the weather gets hotter it will become important to pack water.  We had "some" for today’s temps, but in the months of 90+F more would have been required.

	Today we decided to finish the south trail.  This trail is far more interesting from a naturalist perspective than is the north trail.  We had earlier started the south trail but did not follow it to the end so we will start with where we had left off.  This would be were the trail takes a turn to the west as noted by the "pushpin" in the map to the left.
	This is a "benchmark", which is another way of saying a survey mark.  What is interesting is that these occur all over the US.  They are usually anchored in concrete and are a permanent part of the landscape.  This is where we started the south trail for today.
	Note that Maren is sporting a feather which she found along the way.
	Enter the first hammock.
	And the second hammock. This is truly an amazing grouping of oaks and natural vegetation.
	Upon exiting the hammock we were confronted with part of the St. Johns River basin.  I believe that a large part of this area would be under water if it were not for the current dry spell.
	Finding water.  Not potable!!!!!
	A rest area.  Maybe someone can explain why it should be necessary to break bottles and therefore pepper the area with shards of glass?  So if your coming here be very careful or at least have two spare inner tubes per person.  We were lucky.  From here it would be about a 6 mile walk dragging bikes to where the cars were parked.
	The "dungsters".  I was "encouraged" to get these pictures.

Before Starting I should point out that Maren and I were informed that starting next week, “spring” turkey season starts (shotguns only).  Be sure to wear your Thanksgiving’s best for the North trail.  It would be a hoot!  The south trail is “no hunting” so you should be safe, except from your spouse.

	The red push pin marks the end of the North trail on Lake Winder.  The “hiking/bike path parallels the “horizontal” canal.  It is all grass, cows and other things of cows.
	Starting from where I left off last trip.  This time going all the way to the end.
	At this point we are now on the leg shown in the map at the top.
	I did not have a bike.  I rode on Maren’s handle bars.  Pretty smart eh?
	Looking back.  Canal/swale to the left.  So far no snakes and I would like to keep it that way.
	At lake Winder.  Looking south.  Sort of soft and boggy.
	Watch out!!!!!.  Dung beetles.  And you thought your job was crap.  Trying to get this stuff to roll up hill is tough.
	“I really think we will win first prize with this one.  It is perfectly spherical.” I was glad to get out of this place.  By tomorrow it would have been as big as the moon.
	Where are you going?  Get back out here and help.
	Maren giving cow calls.  Looks like the one on the left is about to fall down.  Hey!!!, anyone for cow tipping?

Lilly in Black Ink (Sunny Side Up)
 

I get nervous when they start eying live prey, especially when it is me.

And so as the 2008 Olympics close on the other side of the world, so does this day end in the Florida Wetlands as shown in this sequence of stills from a Wetlands sunset.