I Know What Silence Sounds Like

From my active weeks in Sebastian, I returned to another favorite spot for two weeks of camping -- Princess Place Preserve. Since I visited last year, I won't reiterate the history, but suffice to say that I was quite pleased to find it as scenic and secluded as I'd hoped. A repeat visit also brought me out of the gate a few times to enjoy local spots that didn't make my 2017 agenda. 

The one shocking element was the weather! During the first week, I had three nights in the thirties, with the coldest morning at 34 degrees. Getting out of my sleeping bag to hit the porta potty at that temp is what separates the women from the boys. The following week, two days of thunderstorms and strong winds hit, and I'll admit to one night of sleep in the Element passenger seat. 

Aside from a number of lengthy walks through the Preserve, and numerous bike rides along the Palm Coast pathways from the St. Joe's Canal to the ocean, I enjoyed a museum, Portuguese cuisine, and a number of good books. With the exception of weekends when people come to tour the house, kayak, fish or walk the grounds, Princess Place is incredibly peaceful. On weekdays, there were a handful of people camping, and I only saw them if I made the effort. At sunrise, I listened to the birds singing, and at dusk, watched herds of deer. Relaxing by the fire with a view of the creek was a frequent meditation.