Travels in early September took us north for stops in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Maine for visits with family, friends, college buddies and a Celebration of Life. A short week in Massachusetts brough me to Hyannis, Marthas Vineyard, and Fenway Park.

Beach time in Hyannis

Marths Vineyard

Fenway Park

Sunrise at Portland Head Light

Back in Florida – time for some exercise – first a day hikes at Carl Duval Moore State Forest and Park is located in Putnam County. Carl Duval Moore State Forest is one of the smallest State Forests (336 acres) but still maintains a variety of ecosystems, including sandhill, mesic flatwoods, wet flatwoods, and flatwoods lake. The Forest has two portions – in the north, The Up and Down Lake Trail has interpretive tree identification signs along the route. The trail also provides two areas from which to view the forest’s most notable natural feature, Up and Down Lake, a typical flatwoods lake. The south portion of the Forest is home to the Hardesty Lake Trail a straightforward out and back.

Finally, a visit to Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area. Split Oak has more than nine miles of marked trails which wind through a variety of natural communities and features short spur trails to scenic overlooks. I followed the 5.4-mile Split Oak Loop the forests premier trail.

Next up a trip to Hawaii, Singapore, and a 28-day cruise through Indonesia and around Australia and New Zealand – it all starts on the 11th of November.