Seventy degrees and sunny on a Sunday–oh, happy day! After weeks of cold weather, where I’ve been hibernating in my home, yesterday was a delightful day. I couldn’t talk my children into going for a hike, and my husband turned me down for what he called a much needed run. Frustrated with my family, I searched for local hiking trails in my new town and was surprised to find a National Seashore Park within walking distance from my home. With walking and bike trails, camping spots, picnic areas, and boat ramps, how could I have not known?

Since moving to this quaint, little town on the Gulf Coast, I’ve gone on many walks and bike rides along the beaches and downtown, yet I had never ventured in the direction of this park. Needless to say, I loved every bit of it! Complete with wildlife viewing areas (where I got to see turtles and an alligator sunbathing), nature surrounded me. My dog and I walked briskly for an hour and forty minutes, and we still didn’t see everything the park has to offer. I can’t wait to go back with a kayak.

When I’m out in nature, my creative juices always seem to flow. If you’ve read my Alissia Roswell Series, you’ll notice a wide variety of natural environs, and that’s because it’s a part of who I am. From the rainforests in Costa Rica to the swamps in South Georgia, I love being surrounded by nature. I’ve done many things in my life, yet I can’t recall most conversations or people’s names; however, I can clearly imagine snakes, alligators, sloths, monkeys, spiders, and other wildlife in great detail. Not only can I picture them, but I can recall smells and sounds as well. Those are the memories that stay with me, and those are the things I love to write about–although, I like to add some extra touches of creativity 🙂

Now the temperatures are dropping again, and rain is in the forecast. Yesterday was a rare gem in the winter season, and now it’s back to hibernating. Like most southerners, I don’t go outside on my own initiative if it’s cold. And by cold, I mean below 63 degrees. I’ve lived in the North and suffered cold winters, and I DID NOT enjoy them!

I’ll leave you with an old post I typed about a backpacking trip to Cumberland Island. My daughter even posted a video.