Gowanderer December 2014 Volume One/Issue One

Abandon the Ordinary December 2014 | Vol 1, Issue 1

OPERATION BLUE PRIDE

BEST DOG BEACHES THE WILD MAN OF THE SANTA FE RIVER December 2014

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Event Information

Saturday, February 14th Southeastern Livestock Pavilion

9:00 - 4:00 Outdoor Expo - open to the public • Exhibitors • Kid’s Play Area • Raffles • Vendors • Seminars • Concessions 5:00 - 9:00 VIP DINNER & LIVE AUCTION - by ticket ONLY

Sunday, February 15th 10:00 - 4:00 Outdoor Expo - open to the public Admission Price per Day: Admission $5.00 (15 and under free) VIP Dinner & Live Auction Price: VIP Table of 8: $500 Individual Burger Meal $25 Sportsman’s Table of 8: $300 Individual Chicken Meal $30 Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

All proceeds to benefit Brothers Keeper 622-3846

www.OcalaExpo.com

Gold Sponsor

Ocala StarBanner

Gold Sponsor

ONLY EVENT OF IT’S KIND

Camping, boating, hunting, fishing, ATV, motorcycle, zip line

Table of contents Abandon the Ordinary

DEPARTMENTS Publisher’s note | 5

Abandon The Ordinary

Tracks | 10

Hitting the Beach With Man’s Best Friend

Happenings | 16

Calendar of Events

Travel Talk | 18

Let’s Make A Deal

Vagabond Voices | 20 Getting Nak-Ed

FEATURES Operation Blue Pride | 6

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Check out our website!

Go Wanderer is a travel resource based out of Central Florida that focuses on sharing travel news and stories from both near and far. Our goal is to provide details on places around the globe that will motivate you to get out there and explore. Travel tips, location information, and stories from wanderers like yourself, are what fuel our web-fire.

Whether you are stepping out into your own backyard, or prepping your backpack for a trip abroad, we hope that you find our site inspiring and helpful while planning your journey.

Go Wanderer Magazine December 2014 Volume 1: Issue 1 Publisher/Editor Jessica Smith jessica@GoWanderer.com Art Director: Heather Lenemier artdept@GoWanderer.com

Follow us on:

Writers: Lindsay Clark Bob Marx Jessica Smith Photography: Jim Abernethy Elizabeth Smyth Lindsay Clark Jessica Smith Christine Shepard Sales: Jessica Smith jessica@GoWanderer.com

COME RIDE WITH US!

MUSTANG MOON EQUINE SOLUTIONS

We offer many fantastic equine activities. http://mustangmoonequinesolutions.blogspot.com/

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December 2014

Go Wanderer Media PO Box 5344 Ocala, Fl. 34478 352-239-0985 info@GoWanderer.com Copyright 2014 Go Wanderer Media.

All rights reserved. No part may be reprinted in whole or in part with out written permission from the publisher.

Unsolicited material will not be returned.

Publisher is not responsible for advertisers’ claims or content of advertisements.

PUBLISHER’s NOTE

y r a n i d r O e h t n o d n a Ab in g? W h et h er

an der W h ere are yowu nwto a doctor ’ s it ’ s ac ro ss to or h ittin g th e ro ad fo r appoint ment th e Key s, w e’ re all a w eeken d in h ere. Th is m ag az in e h ea d in g so mewto p eop le in mot ion , is ded ic ated take ri sk s. I’ ve sp ent a good to an ot h er, p eop le th at y li fe movin g from on e p la ce ment Valley, U ta h , to t in porti on o f m un der th e star s in M onu A ustria , fo r me li fe is n ’ more th an brin gin g from sleep in g rou gh cata co m bs in Vien n a, Th ere is n ot h in g I enjoy re ab out. crouch in g th less I a m on th e move. em w it h th e p eop le I ca ent my ti me full co lo r un n ces h ome an d sh arin g th sp ce n si e av h d an th ose exp erie ad le ad in g h omrine,gs , m an grove tun n els to p adced lele b ra te ro e th on p u d le b ac k I stu m b it h n ew ey es . W it h qu iet spth ere is so m uch adventu re to th e o ff th e A fe w ye ar s ow e th at to sh are Flo ri d a w gett in g to kn w ild caves, it b ec a me clea r ertoer mw as b orn , w it h th e m isdsieronin g in th e S ta te . th rou gh , an d it h in Flo ri d a. Thus G o Wan d d estin at ion s w it h ot h er s w an e an d sh are w p la ces, an d adventu re tr avel es s, ju mp in g inintha hut n si bu ew n a g h n ti at s ar b ea ten p rs . W h et h er itve’ sntstion al soci ety to sp en d th eiorf dFaylo ri d a th at ke ta sk ri e th te ra n co le b p le h ig h ligh ts th e py eoare fa ctor s th at w e In th is is sue wtiegecer sh ark, or stepp in g aw ay frdom e in az ag M er er w ater w it h a an k, th is fi rst is sue o f G o Wan mo st th at fe ar an d un certaintus from th e d estin at ion on th e river b k. Th ese fo lk s kn ow b etter th anbut w e can ’ t let th em reroute don ’ t h old b ac g fo rw ard on th e ro ad o f li fe , rout in e, w it h all fa ce movin r u yo om fr ay aw e w e’ re seek in g. ke th at fi rst cestepup you r b oots , an d ab an don th ta to u yo ge ra u d , I en co r b ags, la W it h th at in atmioinn from th ese p ag es . Pa ck you a little in sp ir ’ s go w an d erin g! ord in ary. L et

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Operation

BLUE PRIDE Written by Jessica Smith Photos by Jim Abernethy

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dark figure slowly emerges through the depths, a shadow moving smoothly closer in the vibrant blue waters off of the southern coast of Florida, not far from the Bahamas. A line of divers in black wetsuits, streaming bubbles to the surface, watches in silent awe as the 14ft tiger shark draws near. Hollywood influence and media frenzy should have these divers clamoring for the boat deck in fear, but they remain calm and still, resting on the sandy ocean floor. Visible dark stripes up the shark’s side glide past under the outstretched fingers of the divers, making contact with the apex predator of the deep. These divers are no strangers to high stakes situations, all of which are veterans of the United States military and bearing the scars to prove it.

Since leaving the dry and war torn landscape of the Middle East, these heroes have taken on the new mission of saving sharks, veterans, and our oceans with Operation Blue Pride.

Brought together in 2012, Operation Blue Pride started out as an idea of co-founders Jim Abernethy and Sue Chen, for a documentary meant to honor our nation’s veterans while casting light on the environmental issues plaguing our oceans.

The film was meant to pay tribute to our wounded warriors, with the hope of turning them into conservationists and spokes people for preservation of sea life, specifically sharks. Along the way an unexpected positive side effect was revealed that would ultimately shape what Operation Blue Pride was all about.

“We discovered that when people with injuries go underwater, including post traumatic stress, the pain is removed,” began Jim Abernethy, co-founder of Operation Blue Pride and shark conservationist, “I thought ‘Oh my gosh, this is a game changer. We can help veterans remove their pain while at the same time taking them underwater’.

We only protect what we love and I thought we can save veterans at the same time we

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save sharks, and that’s exactly what’s happened.”

Having been raised in Florida, Jim fell in love sea turtles and became enamored by the ocean at a young age. With his focus eventually moving to sharks, Jim’s enthusiasm for conservation consumed his free time, prompting him to make his passion his business. A professional photographer and filmmaker, Jim’s work has been featured at National Geographic, Animal

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Planet, BBC Wildlife, IMAX, and more. In an effort to pull attention to the subject of shark preservation, Jim and partner Shawn Heinrichs have produced several films on the subject, most recently Tigress Sharks. This film features Australian supermodel Hannah Fraser dancing underwater surrounded by sharks, and calls on viewers to end the war on sharks.

Eager to change the public’s mind on sharks, Jim seeks to

turn everyone he meets into an ocean enthusiast. According to the Operation Blue Pride documentary, somewhere between 63,000,000 and 273,000,000 sharks are killed each year in a practice known as shark finning. Harvested for their fins, primarily for shark fin soup and Eastern medicine, the sharks’ fins are sliced off and the living shark is then thrown back into the water, immobile, to suffocate on the ocean floor.

It is the mission of Operation

Blue Pride to bring awareness to this practice and ultimately end it for the sake of our seas.

The documentary’s message makes a powerful impact coming from human spokespersons, some of which have lost limbs themselves.

“It’s barbaric and it needs to be stopped,” explained Abernethy, “We’re trying to end the war on sharks for the health of our oceans, while we help veterans remove the pain that they are in.”

Featuring three different wounded warriors, the documentary Operation Blue Pride allows viewers to enter into the world of the modern veteran and the obstacles that greet them upon returning home. Facing both the physical pain from injury and the mental and emotional challenges of post-traumatic stress disorder, these heroes return to the United States to a new life of challenges. Operation Blue Pride reconnects these veterans, allowing them to work together with others who have been through or are facing similar challenges, and unites them with a new goal. Floating weightlessly through an underwater world when diving acts as therapy to these veterans, taking their mind away from everything but the present moment and the world they are exploring around them under the waves.

Forming a supportive team, the veterans and dive experts at Operation Blue Pride come together to strengthen one another under a common purpose, and ultimately begin to heal both their wounds and the sea.

Operation Blue Pride has lived on beyond the documentary

and continues to get veterans dive certified and in the water interacting with ocean life. By the end of the summer of 2014 another 25 veterans were certified by volunteers in Boston, thanks to the law firm of Sullivan and Worcester, who saw the original documentary and felt compelled to contribute.

With branches of Operation Blue Pride popping up around the United States, the movement is growing quickly.

“It’s not important where they get certified,” Jim continued, “What’s important is that they get underwater and relieve the pain they are in. If they are a part of Operation Blue Pride we give them the tools they need in order to do presentations and help us make a huge difference in education.”

Whether it’s releasing research sea turtles back into the water, speaking at events about environmental issues, or getting up close and personal with a shark, the veterans are given the new purpose of marine conservation and become a part of an organization of passionate volunteers, fighting to make a difference. As a 501(c)3 Not for Profit Organization, no one at Operation Blue Pride makes a pay check, and are instead fueled by the desire to make a differ-ence. All donations go straight to funding the project by sponsoring trips, covering dive certification costs, and providing dive gear for the veterans.

WANT TO DIVE IN? You too can have a close encounter with a predator of the deep by joining in on one of Jim Abernathy’s commercial dive tours.

Experience the ocean like never before by diving cageless with great hammerheads, tiger sharks, lemon sharks, and even whale sharks on these multi-day tours in the Bahamas. Jim Abernathy’s Scuba Adventures also offers dive certification courses and tours out of Palm Beach, Florida, for those interested in getting started.

Whatever your skill level, adventure awaits for you under the waves with Scuba Adventures. Check out www. scuba-adventures.com to learn more.

If you are interested in supporting Operation Blue Pride, watching the documentary, or learning more about the non-profit, you can visit www.operationbluepride.org for more information.

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W pe f n v r o e i u t s m o te ome ity. Y xcep e c r e o o i b r re n p e n o nds a frie 1. Fort de Soto Park: St. Petersburg, FL

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ith a little planning ahead, your dog can enjoy a day at the beach with you. It’s important to do your research as most beaches in Florida are not dog friendly and very few allow for off leash fun, but with a little prep and a tank of gas, you and your pup will be splashing through the waves in no time. To help you on your way, here is a run down on a few of the top dog friendly beaches. Now, go jump in!

Topping the list is this wonderful dog beach within Fort de Soto Park. Located near the main pier, it is one of the only off leash dog beaches in the state. Make sure your pooch can handle all the excitement of being free, as there is no fencing and they are required to stay within a specific area. A $5 per car entry fee is well worth the cost, as the entire park itself is very dog friendly. You can even take your pup in a kayak with you! Just off the beach is a fenced in dog park with separate areas

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for small and large dogs. A great feature is a hosing station to get all the sand and salt off before the trip home.

PRO TIP: Sand spurs abound in the dunes, protect your pups paws by making sure to stick to the beautiful white sand of the beach.

2. Smyrna Dunes Park: New Smyrna Beach, FL

With your choice of a smaller quiet beach on the

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Indian River or the larger open waters of the Atlantic, this beach has plenty of room for you and your furry friends. This beach is on leash and $5 per vehicle for up to eight people. The boardwalks to the beach are off limits to dogs after 10:30 am, follow the signs to the sandy paths that lead alongside. After a day in the surf, clean up before heading home at a bathing station that even allows you to shampoo your pup!

PRO TIP: Bring a cart! The path to the beach along the Atlantic is around a mile. Hauling beach chairs and more that distance is quite the chore.

3. Fort Myers, FL: Bonita Beach

While all beaches in the Town of Fort Myers and the City of Sanibel allow on-leash dogs, Bonita Beach Dog Park is a hidden gem for those looking to allow Rover to romp while off leash. This park

1) Lap it up: Don’t forget a water bowl and fresh water. Not all beaches have drinking water available and the dogs will certainly work up a thirst frolicking through the waves. A collapsible silicone bowl is a great option that won’t break or take up much room.

2) Know the Limits: It’s a good idea to throw a few important accessories into the beach bag for the pup along with your normal supplies. A sturdy six foot leash is a necessity, all on-leash beaches prohibit retractable leashes, and many specifically require a six foot lead.

3) Keep it Clean: One can never have too many plastic bags for those ‘gotta go’ moments. Most dog friendly areas provide them, but not all do, or they may have run out. You may be fined for failing to be diligent during poop patrol, so it’s always best to keep a few on hand.

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Checklist ☐ collapsable waterbowl ☐ gallon jug of fresh water ☐ an umbrella for shade ☐ 6 foot leash (some parks require) ☐ doggy bags to clean up messes ☐ towels ☐ a sheet or tarp to protect your car seat cushions

is free, but the facilities are very minimal. The only restroom facilities for the humans in your family are port-a-potties, though there is a new dog showering station available. Bonita beach backs up to mangroves, which entices the dogs run off and play hide and seek, so please make sure your dog is under voice control, it would be very difficult to go in after them!

PRO TIP: Check the tide charts before heading out. If the tide is high, be prepared to wade through calf deep water just to get to the beach area.

Also, the high tide limits the amount of beach space available to play on, which can crowd the dogs into a small area.

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4. Flagler Beach, FL

5. St. Augustine, FL

All beaches in unincorporated Flagler County allow dogs, provided they are on a six foot leash. The only exception is a small, dogfree area around the pier.

Check for signs at each beach access that will give you a heads up if your pup is welcome or not. The county is very strict about their leash laws, and will happily pass out $50 fines to anyone allowing their pooch free rein. They even police the beaches from helicopter, so don’t think you won’t be noticed on a quieter day!

The entire city of St. Augustine is very dog friendly and their beaches are no exception. All beaches allow leashed pets, with Crescent beach being a particularly popular destination. While visiting this historic and beautiful city, taking a break on the beach with your pet is a great idea. Just be sure to check before you enter any of the many State Park beaches, as they all set their own rules. Several do not allow pets at all.

PRO-TIP: This is definitely a beach you want to be sure to pack doggie bags and water. None are available for visitors.

PRO TIP: If you hit the beach at Mantanzas Inlet, and get a little hungry, head to the Mantanzas Inlet Restaurant on the water for munchies where you can bring your pup right up on the deck seating.

Captain Mike’s Lazy River Cruises Celebrating 17 years

Guided boat tours down the Withlacoochee River • Sightseeing • Birdwatching • Sunset/Moonlight • Private Tours

Sunday, Dec 7th — 12 PM to 4 PM FREE Admission 8500 SW Archer Road (SR 24) 3 miles west of I-75, exit 384, Gainesville

troll through the 1856 plantation home decked out in an array of traditional greenery and Victorian finery. Docents in Victorian costume! See the Homestead’s famous “Talking Walls.” Enjoy live holiday music. — Sip some hot cider as you browse a selection of home-baked goodies, and special holiday ornaments.

Friday, Dec 12th — Candlelight Visits

PLEASE CALL FOR RESERVATIONS or if you have 72 hours or more you can email at captmike@netzero.net

352-637-2726 13821 S.W. Hwy 200

www.lazyrivercruises.com

6 PM to 9 PM, Admission $10 donation, under 12 free $7 if purchased at the Homestead Holidays!

Fundraiser for our Visitors’ Center – Music, free refreshments

A Rare Opportunity to see the Homestead at Night Information 352-336-9096 hailedocent@yahoo.com

www.hailehomestead.org

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happenings

DECEMBER OCT. 5 - JANUARY 4

DECEMBER 7

MEGALODON: THE LARGEST SHARK THAT EVER LIVED

DIVAS HALF MARATHON & 5K

Florida Museum of Natural History Gainesville, Fl. Learn about this ancient giant through this interactive exhibit $7 for adults ($6 for Florida residents) $4.5 0 for ages 3-17

St. John’s County Ocean Pier 350 A1A Beach Blvd St. Augustine, Fl 32080 Lace up your running shoes and straighten your tiara, for this diva-centered half marathon and 5K

www.runlikeadiva.com

www.flmnh.ufl.edu

DECEMBER 13

DECEMBER 5 - 6

Gateway Bank 1632 East Silver Springs Blvd.

Ocala, Fl. 34470 5K Run beginning at 9:30 pm just before the start of the Christmas parade. $20 for Adults, $18 Youth 5K

FESTIVAL OF TREES

Tioga Town Center, Noon to 10pm (Friday the 5th) and 10am to 10pm (Satruday the 6th) Newberry, Fl. Weekend long silent auction of decorated trees to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital’s at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital.

Tree Showcase is open to the general public with a $5 suggested donation.

www.giving.ufhealth.org/FOT DECEMBER 6

DUDLEY FAMILY CANE DAY

popular trails for viewing wildlife.

Meets at 9am. Park entry fee of $2.

Reserve your space at www.prairiefriends.org

OCALA REINDEER RUN

DECEMBER 20

www.active.com

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park 4801 Camp Ranch Rd. Gainesville, FL 32641 Meets at 8am in the La Chua Trail parking lot. $5 per person (Cash only) 3.5 mile, half day ranger led hike.

DECEMBER 13

WILDLIFE WALK ON THE LA CHUA TRAIL

La Chua Trail at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park 4801 Camp Ranch Rd, Gainesville, FL 32641 Set out on one of the park’s most

RIM RAMBLE HIKE

Reserve your space at www.prairiefriends.org DECEMBER 20

5K JINGLE BELL RUN FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS FLORIDA-MARION COUNTY

Cross Florida Greenway Park, Baseline Trail

(9am to 3pm) Dudley Farm 18502 W Newberry Rd, Newberry, Fl. 32669 Visit the farm to grind sugar cane and boil cane syrup. Farm tours, blacksmith demonstrations, wood working, and children’s activities.

Admission is $8 per vehicle (up to 8 occupants)

www.friendsofdudleyfarm.org DECEMBER 6 - 7

FAMILY CAMPOUT AT CARNEY ISLAND

Carney Island Recreation and Conservation Area 13275 SE 115th Ave, Ocklawaha, Fl. Fun for the whole family. Kayaking, hiking, crafts, and meals. Children must be at least 8 years old.

Tents and camping gear provided (must bring own sleeping bag). $40 for a family of two, $12 for each additional member.

www.marioncountyfl.org/parks.htm

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DECEMBER 12

HOMESTEAD HOLIDAYS

Haile Homestead Candlelight Visit 8500 SW Archer Rd. Gainesville, Fl. 6pm-9pm, Admission: $10 donation, under 12 free Visit the historic homestead by candlelight

www.hailehomestead.org

4255 SE 58th Ave, Ocala, Fl. 34472 Begins at 7:30 am and benefits the Special Olympics Florida-Marion County. A festive 5K with DJ and special prizes.

Family friendly atmosphere and is sponsored by The Runner’s Pace.

www.active.com

JANUARY JANUARY 9 - 10

U.S. BBQ ASSOCIATION CONTEST 2200 NW 17th Pl., Ocala, Fl. Four category contest, Chili contest, Tailgate Contest, Team Spirit Award, Food Tasting, and overall presentation. Begins Friday the 9th at 5pm and Saturday the 10th at 5pm

www.eventful.com JANUARY 18

APALACHICOLA OYSTER COOK-OFF

Riverfront Park, Downtown Apalachicola. 12-5pm Oyster Cook-Off contest. Register to enter your best recipe and win.

www.oystercookoff.com JANUARY 17 - 18

BROOKSVILLE RAID REENACTMENT (35TH ANNUAL)

2015 Brooksville Raid Reenactment Highway 50 West (at Sand Hill Scout Reservation) The largest Civil War reenactment in Florida.

Over 1500

reenactors, tour Confederate and Union recreated camps and visit the 60+ vendors.

www.brooksvilleraidreenactment.com JANUARY 24 - 25

MANATEE FESTIVAL (30TH ANNUAL)

Valentine Park, Orange City 32763 Games and entertainment fundraiser for Friends of Blue Spring State Park. Adults $8, children 4-10 $2, children under 3 are free, dogs $10

www.themanateefestival.com JANUARY 24 - 25, 30 AND FEBRUARY 1

HOGGETOWNE MEDIEVAL FAIRE

Alachua County Fairgrounds 2900 NE 39th Ave, Gainesville, Fl. 32609 Watch battles and cheer for your favorite competitor as the Lords and Ladies of Hoggetown

bring the Middle Ages to life.

Admission: $17 for adults, $7 for children 5-7.

Children under 5 are free.

www.gvlculturalaffairs.org

FEBRUARY

FEBRUARY 7 - 8

2ND ANNUAL BROOKSVILLE NATIVE AMERICAN FESTIVAL

Florida Classica Park 5360 Lockhart Rd. Brooksville, Fl 34602 Native American Dancing, arts and crafts, primitive skills demonstrations, Native food, and more.

www.brooksvillenativeamericanfest.com FEBRUARY 14

HEART, HOME & HISTORY TOUR

Haile Homestead 8500 SW Archer Rd. Gainesville, Fl. Tour goes from 1-4pm and starts at the Homestead before moving to the Kanapaha Church Cemetery, and concluding at the historic Kanapaha Presbyterian Church.

www.hailehomestead.org FEBRUARY 14 &15

OCALA OUTDOOR EXPO Southeastern Livestock Pavilion Vendors, Exhibits, Raffles, Seminars and more.

Admission $5 (15 and under are free) www.ocalaexpo.com

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TRAVEL TALK

LET’S MAKE Hotel

service, etc.), both business and leisure travelers were hard to come by and hotel owners and their management companies were frantic to fill those beds with paying guests to put the cha-ching back in their registers.

I

t wasn’t all that many years ago that the words ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ could have easily served as the mantra for the hospitality and travel industry. I know. I was there.

The hospitality industry was severely overbuilt, especially in the select service hotel segment (those hotels without a restaurant, bar, room

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Well... sad to say those days of buyer in charge are gone with the wind, with minor exception. All is not lost, however, but it will take more than a plea for mercy or a melodic fable to realize those historic days of economic travel value.

Hopefully I will be able to provide you with some wisdom to

get the most out of your next vacation or weekend getaway.

Let’s explore one of the chief components of leisure travel, hotels, and provide tips you can incorporate into your next booking.

There was a time that if you had a card for just about any lifestyle group, you could land a discount on your next overnight hotel stay. Not so much anymore. Yes, you can still cop a discount on that next room, but you need to understand hotels’ pricing and do your homework..

If you don’t want to have some severe buyer’s remorse next time you lay your head down to sleep, consider these booking tools and recommendations: -Before you book a room on any site check with the local Convention & Visitor’s Bureau

Bookin g e n i Onl

A DEAL

V a l u L E e V A TR Written by Bob Marx

(CVB) in your destination city.

Often they know who is offering special rates, who is not and what hotel(s) will meet your needs.

- Book your hotel (and/or rental car) simultaneously with your airline ticket. Many carriers, both discount and legacy, have travel agreements with hotels of all types in the city you are heading to. And booking in “package” offers monumental savings.

-While the OTA’s (On line travel agencies) such as Travelocity, Expedia, Priceline, HotGuzzi.com etc. offer significant savings on hotel accommodations do NOT forsake the individual hotel web sites before you book. More and more of the national brands such as Marriott, Starwood, Choice, etc. guarantee that their on line rates will meet or beat the OTA sites.

- Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount if you do book direct

with your destination hotel – unlike airlines very often you can reach a knowledgeable and compassionate reservation agent locally or thru the hotel’s 800 number. When you do ask if they honor and provide special rates for AARP, AAA, in-state residents, etc.

- Once again be date flexible with your arrival and departure if at all possible. Rigidity is the dream of every hotel because then you have to accept the rate at the time of booking.

As an example MondayWednesday are prime dates for business travel and they (no big revelation here) pay the highest rates. So will you if you join them.

- Search out hot deals for your next overnight sensation on the major travel sites or compare all of the sites at once thru aggregate sites like Tripmama, Kayak or NameTrips.com

There you have it... a guide to saving some bucks on your next travel adventure. As John Steinbeck so eloquently stated, “ A journey is like a marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.” You can still enjoy the trip but it definitely takes some research, patience and old fashioned shoe leather to get the best value. Have a great trip!

Bob Marx is a marketing/customer satisfaction consultant specializing in the hospitality industry with his own firm, Reed Roberts Marketing based in Lady Lake, Florida. Bob has spent 35 years working in the hotel, airline and destination marketing industries and has written for a number of travel and business publications including Today’s Restaurant News, Palm Beach Business Chronicle, Central California Business and more. Check out www.reedrobertsmarketing.com

VAGABOND VOICES

GETTING NAK-ED:

IN SEARCH OF THE WILD MAN OF THE SANTA FE Written by and photos by Jessica Smith

“T

here’s a difference between nudity and filth,” the elderly man sitting next to me on the wooden bench explained. Surrounded by towering cypress trees and heavy drapes of Spanish moss, I sat and listened, straining to pick up the sound of his gravely whispering voice amongst the hum of swamp bugs and the patter of raindrops on the canopy.

“At first when I came here and saw someone coming, I’d disappear into the woods,” he went on, “and then I learned that canoers and kayakers were pretty good people.”

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Simply Santa Fe Snaking it’s way for 26 miles through hardwood hammocks and floodplain swamp, the Santa Fe river is a day tripper’s dream. With over 3 dozen springs, several of which are excellent swimming holes, the river offers nature lovers a chance to leisurely take in the sights and sounds of the High Springs area.

Perfect for beginners and experienced paddlers alike, this wide and smooth river is home to turtles, alligators, river otters, and a variety of fish and birds. Drifting through Columbia, Suwannee, Gilchirst, and Alachua counties, the river allows paddlers the option of short trips, or overnight journeys downstream.

For John Edward Watts, those first encounters took place nearly thirty years ago on the banks of a much changed Lily Spring.

Known locally as Naked Ed, Watts has been skinny dipping in Lily for 28 years, cementing himself into Santa Fe River folk lore. For him, uninhibited existence on the river is more than recreation, it’s a lifestyle. Over the years he has gone from a visitor, to the official caretaker of the small private spring, keeping it clean of trash and maintaining it’s campgrounds.

Currently constructing his 5th hut, his previous structures have met a variety of demises. Floods, arson, and insurance issues have brought down his structures in the past, but Ed remains and rebuilds, as much of a part of the river as any cypress knee or gator.

Raised across the river in Columbia County, Ed was born with a condition called Osteogenesis imperfecta, or as it is more commonly known, brittle bone disease. This congenital bone disorder vastly increases the likelihood of fractures. Having been brought up in hospital beds and often unable to maneuver to clean himself, Ed had to rely on hospital staff and was raised having never learned to be shy about his body. Being nude was what was normal, and swimming helped to alleviate some of his pain.

“I know what a broke bone is after 70 something of them, might be 80 something of them now,” he shifted, displaying a recently fractured foot, “Osteogenesis imperfecta, most people don’t make it to 50 years old. I’ve got a minor case compared to most people that have the disease. A lot of them never get out of the wheelchair. A lot of them die at 8 or 9 years old because their bones break so bad just moving them around.”

Ed has found that soaking in the cool 72 degree water of Lily Spring is therapeutic to his aches and pains, and makes a habit out of climbing in to cool

off. Visitors are welcome to stop by for a dip as well, so long as they know what they are in for. The only way for the public to reach Lily Spring is by canoe or kayak. Just down stream from Poe Springs Park, paddlers wanting to visit Ed should keep a sharp eye on the left bank for a hand painted wooden sign marking the small creek that heads into Lily. Well mannered campers are welcome (calling ahead is preferred), and there is a bathroom on site. Ed asks for $10 per person per night, and he provides the firewood. Unable to chop it himself, these days he brings it in from High Springs, the closest town.

If you are heading down the Santa Fe, stop in to Lily and say hello. A local legend of sorts, Naked Ed may seem a little intimidating at first, but once you have a seat and get to talking, you’ll realize you may never meet a person more willing to swap stories and reminisce river life. Often touted as “The Wild Man of the Santa Fe”, Ed’s free spirit and warm nature might put you in the Lily Spring frame of mind and inspire you to get Nak-Ed.

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EXPERIENCING THE N

MAJESTIC MA Written by Jessica Smith

T

hrough the cool and clear waters of Crystal River, a famous Florida icon is silently moving back into the area in large numbers, drawing out locals and visitors alike, all hoping to catch a glimpse.

The West Indian Manatee, a beloved symbol of wild Florida, makes it’s winter home along our warm coastal waters. While many of us grow up seeing images of these

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gentle giants in picture books, it is only in Crystal River that visitors can actually swim along side them. With crowded viewing decks and over booked ecotours launching daily, there is no better way to escape the large groups and experience the tranquility of the coast than setting out with Majestic Manatee Tours.

Family owned and operated, Majestic Manatee customizes all of its trips to its clients’ needs.

With every tour being limited to a single private group, guests never have to worry about feeling crowded or rushed. Captained by native Floridian, Cindi Guy, Majestic Manatee prides itself on being an exclusive tour service that delivers its customers a trip that they will remember fondly for the rest of their lives.

ATURE COAST WITH

NATEE TOURS “We have people coming from all over the world specifically to swim with the manatees,” Cindi explained, “It’s a gem right in the backyard of Ocala and Gainesville.”

to people of all ages, even little ones (fitted with life jackets), and those who do not wish to enter the water can still observe manatees up close from the boat.

With manatees being on the endangered and threatened species list, Crystal River, Florida is the only place in all of North America where people can legally swim and interact with them. Working closely with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Cindi guides her guests through passive observation of the manatees, interacting in a way that does not harass or do harm.

With the scenic backdrop of the bay, Cindi has also recently started offering weddings aboard her boat, Calypso. This gorgeous and

intimate setting is the perfect unique venue for nature lovers to share with their friends and family on their special day. For more information about the wedding services or to learn more about the manatee tours, please visit www. majesticmanateetours.com or call 352-795-8687, and book your visit today.

“We’re very educational,” she began, “that’s something that we strive for. I don’t want to just put people in the water.

I like to teach people about the manatees.”

With discussions on habitat, behavior, birth rate, and more, guests are led through the coastal waters of Crystal River on a journey of discovery. All gear and necessary equipment (masks, snorkels, wetsuits, foam noodles, and etc) are provided, leaving nothing for the visitor to do but slip into the water and enjoy the experience. The tours are open

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December 2014