Rainbow Springs State Park Hike

Around Rainbow Springs

The weather has been really pleasant around here lately and so, in an attempt to make the most of it I have been hiking. Today I went out with some of my family to Rainbow Springs State Park to hike the trails that head out the back of the park. I have been going to Rainbow Springs for what feels like my whole life, and had never explored these trails till today.

There is a series of trails, made up of three different paths, the yellow, the blue, and the white. The yellow trail goes in a loop of about 2.2 miles (I can only go by what the park ranger told us, as they were out of trail maps today). From the yellow trail, you can branch a sort ways down to the river on the blue trail, or continue on out on the white trail which goes further (how much further I can't say, due to the lack of maps!). We took the yellow trail loop, and did the quick walk to the river and back on the blue trail. It was a very  nice day and we all enjoyed it.

It was hard for me to even upload this blurry photo. It burns!

You'll notice here how blurry my pictures are. I HATE this. Really. I am by no means any kind of professional photographer, but I want my pictures to be nice, especially since I often write about the place I go and sell them to magazines. They have to be print worthy or I am SOL. My little green water proof Fugi camera has taken some really wonderful pictures over the years. Check this one out....

Beautiful: taken at Salt Springs Recreation Area

...and I did nothing to alter this photo. That was straight out of the Fugi! Unfortunately, a camera can only take so much abuse, and now my camera is retaining water behind the lens, and the autofocus is pretty much shot making most of my pictures come out blurry. Imagine my frustration. I know some people say, "put the camera down and just be in the moment where you are," but for me I feel like I just see things better through a camera, and if I am not taking pictures and sharing it with people (via blog or magazine articles) then it's not nearly as fun for me at all.
So, with money I have gotten back from selling my textbooks online from last semester, I have bought (or rather ordered) a new camera to take along on my adventures! It's the Pentax Option WG-2 which you can learn about below if you'd like.  

I actually saw this camera being used in a documentary during Shark Week on the Discovery Channel. If its good enough for them then it is good enough for me! I am really excited about the macro function and of course the 1080p HD. Next weekend I am making my annual trip to swim with the manatees in Crystal River with  my sister Claire. I am hoping that the camera arrives before I head over so that I can use it to bring you back some images of manatees up close. I have been pretty boring lately (or maybe it just feels that way, I don't know), and I am hoping with this new set of "eyes", I'll be more inspired to get out and explore things. Hope you all had a great weekend. Drop me a line in the comments box and share your adventures!