Camping a Spirtual Experience

Camping is a spiritual experience for many. When you real the bible stores of prophets, and spiritual seers, you find that many camped, and many went into mountains to gain spiritual uplift, inspiration and guidance.

When looking for the right campsite for that uplift, be sure to find a site wtih a view, a view that attracts your thoughts, such as a lake view, a particular tree that stands out, a view of a meadow, whatever. You will know what is attractive to your sight, and thoughts. Make sure you have a flat surface to avoid water runoff or water puddles should rain come. Make sure you have a cleared space for your cooking area, sleeping area, sitting area, and clothes line area. If you have a comfortable campsite, your spiritual inspiration will be more likely to come about, and  you will be happy to be out and about.

Tent life should also be comfortable and orderly. Make sure you have your shoes, or hiking boots near your sleeping bag or cot, since shoes are great storage compartments during the night. One shoe can hold your flashlight, and the other shoe can hold your glasses, car keys, wallet, pocket knife, and anything else that is small. I know from experience that we campers get up in the middle of the night and use the park restrooms, or nearby latrine or cathole. Camping food is good, and we tend to eat late into the night, or drink that good camping coffee. So having spare batteries for your flashlight is a good idea too, if the batteries are used. Of course a lantern works too for guiding you in the dark to the toilet. I often use my Treo light to get by, since it produces a strong light.

Remember in the bible, Moses went up into a mountain to listen to God giving him the 10 commandments. Remember, Jesus went up into a mountain to get inspiration for the Sermon on the Mount and expressed that divine message to his disciples. The Lords Prayer came to us from Jesus spiritual uplift in nature.

Everytime I am in the forest, on a camping trip, or camping by the sea, I get inspired, and get to thinking about God’s creation, and all the goodness in it. You see, my God is Good, and nature is good, although, we see nature in acts of unkindness, with our mortal eyes. I like to look out at the kingdom of God as God would. How do I do that. I go to the verse in Genesis 1, in which God “saw everything that he had made, and behold it was very good.” That is anchored in my thought as I experience nature.

The act of photosynthesis, or plants making our air that we breath, inspires me, and I see that as an act of divine goodness. Everything about photosynthesis is healthy, natural, and represents life. It is a beautiful act of harmony. Trees need carbon dioxide, for their breathing, and we need what the trees make: oxygen. This natural air supply, and air production, give the forest a healthy place for us to be in. I often talk about photosynthesis, because too me, it is one of most incredible processes in nature. Each part of the plant, such as the roots, bark, trunk, branches, and leaves as well as the soil, sun, and atmosphere, take part in this process in a harmonious operation of goodness.

Nature is Good.

Remember our Florida state parks

Around Tallahassee, Florida, there is an abundance of nature. There are state parks, with forests, lakes, rivers, and sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. Florida is a state with an abundance of state parks and recreational areas. There are 161 state parks in florida with 700,000 acres and 100 miles of beach front. Florida is among the nation’s leads the nation in number of parks. We have nature, and plenty of it. This is the nature I grew up in as a resident of Florida for most of my life.

July 13th is a special day in our state’s park system. Admission that day is free. The state is encouraging individuals, children, and families to get out into nature. This is a state, and national attempt to contribute towards the reduction of that nature deficit disorder which seems to be crippling many of our children and young people who spend hours a day indoors and on the computer. Hey, I am a computer geek too, but I love the outdoors too. I get my love of nature from my childhood roamings through nature.

You see, as a child, I had a forest in back of the home, that I often played in, hiked in, ran in, made forts in. My buddies and I made plenty of forts in the woods back there. We made our own trails. We even made little fires for fun, and fished in the little creek that ran through the woods in back of my Milton, Florida, home. I just about memorized the trees, paths, interesting land formations, and route of the creek. Even today, I have the forest all mapped out in my thoughts. I remember those moments of solitude, and those moments of hanging out with friends back there, and the team work involved in making forts, and having our own special club. The things we did, hahaha. Boys will be boys. Those were the days before the widespread use of computers, in the seventies. Yeah, those wonderful seventies.

Prior to that, we lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and we had an arroyo not far from the house. Along the dried up arroyo, there were streaks of bamboo forests, and open land. I am my friends played there, had rock fights from one side of the arroyo to the other, wrestled in the arroyo, made sand trails, hiked as far as we could toward the Sandia Mountains. Yes, nature was all around us. I also learned the ways of the high desert trees, bushes, wind, cliffs, arroyos, and the southwestern sky.

Now, in my Tallahassee home, my back yard is beside a green zone on Little Lake Jackson. We have deer, fox, rabbits, lizards, snakes, alligators, and different bird species. Nature is alive here as in almost every place I lived throughout my life.

When I was a kid, dad took me camping in the New Mexico mountains, and when living in California, during the first eight years of my life, dad took me into Yosemite, Sequoia, Big Bear and other parks and forests, and taught me how to climb mountain rocks, how to walk across mountain streams, how to set up camp. Dad also loved nature.

Where will I be July 13th? I will be in one of Florida’s state parks, reuniting again, as always, with nature, along with my wife and son. We will be out there smelling the green of the trees, hearing the sounds of the creatures, hiking the paths of the park, swimming in the lakes or rivers, bicycling around the park, canoeing. Wow, so many things we can do. Outdoor recreation is almost unlimited. Free admission.

To be in our Florida’s state parks

Around Tallahassee, Florida, there is an abundance of nature. There are state parks, with forests, lakes, rivers, and sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. Florida is a state with an abundance of state parks and recreational areas. There are 161 state parks in florida with 700,000 acres and 100 miles of beach front. Florida is among the nation’s leads the nation in number of parks. We have nature, and plenty of it. This is the nature I grew up in as a resident of Florida for most of my life.

July 13th is a special day in our state’s park system. Admission that day is free. The state is encouraging individuals, children, and families to get out into nature. This is a state, and national attempt to contribute towards the reduction of that nature deficit disorder which seems to be crippling many of our children and young people who spend hours a day indoors and on the computer. Hey, I am a computer geek too, but I love the outdoors too. I get my love of nature from my childhood roamings through nature.

You see, as a child, I had a forest in back of the home, that I often played in, hiked in, ran in, made forts in. My buddies and I made plenty of forts in the woods back there. We made our own trails. We even made little fires for fun, and fished in the little creek that ran through the woods in back of my Milton, Florida, home. I just about memorized the trees, paths, interesting land formations, and route of the creek. Even today, I have the forest all mapped out in my thoughts. I remember those moments of solitude, and those moments of hanging out with friends back there, and the team work involved in making forts, and having our own special club. The things we did, hahaha. Boys will be boys. Those were the days before the widespread use of computers, in the seventies. Yeah, those wonderful seventies.

Prior to that, we lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and we had an arroyo not far from the house. Along the dried up arroyo, there were streaks of bamboo forests, and open land. I am my friends played there, had rock fights from one side of the arroyo to the other, wrestled in the arroyo, made sand trails, hiked as far as we could toward the Sandia Mountains. Yes, nature was all around us. I also learned the ways of the high desert trees, bushes, wind, cliffs, arroyos, and the southwestern sky.

Now, in my Tallahassee home, my back yard is beside a green zone on Little Lake Jackson. We have deer, fox, rabbits, lizards, snakes, alligators, and different bird species. Nature is alive here as in almost every place I lived throughout my life.

When I was a kid, dad took me camping in the New Mexico mountains, and when living in California, during the first eight years of my life, dad took me into Yosemite, Sequoia, Big Bear and other parks and forests, and taught me how to climb mountain rocks, how to walk across mountain streams, how to set up camp. Dad also loved nature.

Where will I be July 13th? I will be in one of Florida’s state parks, reuniting again, as always, with nature, along with my wife and son. We will be out there smelling the green of the trees, hearing the sounds of the creatures, hiking the paths of the park, swimming in the lakes or rivers, bicycling around the park, canoeing. Wow, so many things we can do. Outdoor recreation is almost unlimited. Free admission.

Those Lovely Trees

So Divine, so Majestic. Those trees, those lovely trees that dot the community inside and out in and around Tallahassee, Florida. This is the number one reason why I and many others live in this area, because of the trees. These trees are protected by local ordinance, and are one everpresent fact about this community. We have many tree canopy roads, that are an established feature in the Tallahassee community. The trees relate to the regions’ history, the lumber industry of the past, and they identify the neighborhoods. Newer neighborhoods have smaller, younger trees, usually, and established neighborhoods have big, older trees, usually. Each tree tells its unique story, and is its own character within a big book of nature. A tree standing for years on someone’s front yard, has watched over a lot of history going on at that residence.

Why my adoration of trees. I have always felt at home around trees. I daily commune among the trees of my backyard, and often visit the forests of the regions many parks and forests. The trees tell my story, my love of nature, and fondness for the simplicity of life among the tall giants that watch over us. I often feel like the trees are divine messenger to us, telling us how to behave. I try to listen to their messages, while in deep contemplation of their presense. I delight in the joy the trees bring me. They are my best non-human friends within the ecosystems I inhabit and visit.

After long hours of toil, I feel comforted among the trees. Some of my favorite moments are camping with family and friends in the woods, making a campfire, hiking on the trails, and just being there in nature away from the office, the hustle and bustle of work life.

Maybe there are others reading this who share the same fascination, and longing to be among the trees. I would love to hear from you, and your tree tales.

My Leon County Florida Backyard View

My home sweet home. In the picture you see what I see looking out from the back of my house in northwest Leon County, Florida, just outside of Tallahassee.

It is not the greenest appearance of nature since the picture was just taken, here in December. Most of my life I have had nature scenes similar to this in the back of my home. I feel blest to have experience nature up close. Photosynthesis is working right before my eyes and I am breathing good air. Deer, rabbits, fox, turtles are some of the inhabitants out in that green zone separating my home from Little Lake Jackson.

I don’t usually pass a day without admiring this forested area and expanse of privacy. Other neighbors have a simillar view, a view that I hope they admire and rejoice in as much as I do.

My love of flora came from my early beginnings, those first 9 years
of my life in southern California. Dad often took me camping in Sequoia National Park, Yosemite National Park and elsewhere. Dad took me out rock hunting in nature to find rocks for his awesome Japanese Garden that he built in our California backyard. During that time, I also was active in Cub Scouts, (and later Boy Scouts). When we moved to New Mexico, where I lived for 2 years until age 11 or 12, I joined the boy scouts, and went camping almost twice a month. Dad also, took me hiking, rock hunting, and taught me about rocks. We explored abandoned ghost towns that were sitting in isolated regions of New Mexico. I spent much time in the outdoors with dad, growing up.

Then there was Grandpa Fach. He owned a canyon outside of Albuquerque, over 300 acres I believe. He used to take me on mountain hikes and taught me about the flora and fauna of his canyon. He was a naturalist among many other things. He kept a record of the number of bird varieties showing up in the canyon.

To this day, I am the happiest man on earth when I am in the presense of trees, green nature around me, (and maybe some rocks to go with it).

My Favorite Recreational Activity

Here we are, all set up at a campsite, and drinking coffee (or hot chocolate). Camping in the state parks near Tallahassee, Florida, elsewhere in Florida, and in parks outside this state, is my world of fun, relaxation, getting away, and adventure. I make new observations of an ecosystem each time I go camping, and find a new fact about nature. I experience the surprise, freshness, and eternal cycling of nature. There are many ecosystems, and they all are important, they all serve a purpose, and are beautiful in their own unique manner. We usually visit different state parks and stay in different camp grounds each time we pack our gear and head out to the outdoors.

It is even more fun exploring nature with a child, a family member, a friend. Stories are shared around the campfire, delicious meals are cooked, hikes take place. Each meal is different, and different tools are used to prepare the meal it seems, or at least the method of cooking or preparing the meal changes, advances, and gets better with practice, as cooking is a different experience outdoors in nature.

A hike is a good way to connect with nature, and others. It is a very good way to mingle with others, get to know and learn about others better, and share the observations of nature. My son looks forward to exploring ecosystems with me. We recently hiked in an wetland ecosystem and studies the sights, sounds, and wonders of a wetland. We have been to the mountains of north Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee on several occasions, and ran, played, photographed nature, and felt the elements of nature together. We went on a hike down into an area with a waterfall. That was a fun little hike. Got to hear the sounds of water falling, and see the speed in which water falls. We have explored gulf coast ecosystems, wooded pine forest ecosystems, praire basin ecosystems, and more.

Each campsite offers a different array of plants. I am fond of trees, and the greens displayed, the apearance of the trees around the site. Trees are my favorite element of nature, and I can’t imagine nature without them. Too me, the trees make the experience most comfortable, the way it should be.

We have new camping and hiking discoveries coming up, and although we have a busy, if not overly hectic schedule, yet we take time to be ourselves, and appreciate the simplicity of earth, and go on camping trips together.

Camping at Paynes Praire State Park

What is more fun than camping, and especially for a couple sunny and cool autumn days at beautiful Paynes Praire State Park near Gainesville, Florida, one of 161 state parks in Florida, all well maintained by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

We set up our camp among the many upland oaks, palms, and palmettos in the woods. We were very private with all the green surrounding us and separating us for the most part from otther campers. Just how I like it. We immediately created a good fire after buying wood at the gate. Wood was going fast. We managed to have enough for the two days we were camping there.

We drove to the visitor center on the other end of the park, and looked out at the praire, as far as the eyes can see almost. Yes, a real Florida praire, but probably not the kind of praire that you would see in the west.

The information we read at the visitor center stated that there are 31 bison on the park’ praire. There are also wild horses, wild cows and wild boar. The horses and cows are descendants of the animals brought over by the Spaniards during the era of New World exploration.

I did not spot bison or cows at the lookout tower,which my son and I had fun climbing, but as we hiked out into the praire, we saw three black horses. They were so majestic looking, so pure. I wanted to see how close I could get to these shiny, black hoofed animals, so I calmly walked to within about 100 feet of two of the horses which stood close together side by side wagging there thick hairy tails. The third horse was further in the distance but as I started approaching the couple, the distant horse ran up to them and stopped. It was as if that horse was the protecting parent. The horses did not appear to be afraid of me or mind my presence. However, they stared at me in what appeared to be fascination. I tried walking closer to them. My son stayed way back in the distance, somewhat scared to approach the wildlife. As I started getting closer, the third horse who was the more distant horse earlier, started walking toward me. I stopped and hesitated to go closer. The horse stopped, and I decided to turn around and head back toward where I came from.

That day I saw the most beautiful horses.

The camping loop offers some more secluded, private campsites for tents only. Overall, there was a balance of tents and RVs in the camp ground loop.

This state park is unique for its praire basin ecosystem,with its abundant diversity of grasses and other plant types. The basis is partly wet through out the year, and is a winter harboring ground for many northern birds. The camp ground is in the upland woods beside a big lake.

This is the first time I ever visited Paynes Praire, and I am happy I did.

Florida offers so much biodiversity and many different ecosystems. With so much human expansion and development in Florida, there is also much nature for everyone to experience.     

                                                      

Weekend Camping in Seminole State Park

Again, another weekend past, and another camping trip has ended. It is so much fun setting up camp, exploring nature, cooking over an open fire, and meeting other campers.

This was another a series of campouts with the Scouts. We went to Seminole State Park in southwest Georgia on the enormous Lake Seminole. Georgia, as well as Florida has many state parks. Florida has 161, and although, I don’t know how many Georgia has, it must be close. Seminole State Park has probably, according to a forest ranger, the region’s largest stand of Longleaf Pines.

If you know much about pines, the Longleaf pine is not in abundance like other pines, since it has historically been harvested for its productive value. Longleaf pines grow with more space among the trees, whereas with other pines that are in more abundance, such as the Slash pine, and the Lolloby pine, the spacing among the trees is smaller. This is an important factor in ecosystems. Certain wildlife flourish in the greater space amoung the Longleaf pines. Certain turtle and snake species need the space between pines. The ranger explained it so well. When you visit state parks, do not hesitate to ask rangers questions. They are in the park day after day, and are usually a knowledge base of information.

We went on a hike through a wetland, and read the signs along the nature trail explaining the importance of wetlands in filtering the water supply and in preserving wildlife habitats.

Our campsite was right beside the lake, with a fantastic view. The park is so open and with many views, but with many trees too. The park system maintains clean and spacious bathrooms with shower facilities. There is a place to purchase firewood, so you don’t have to bring your own, or take from nature. The parks are always clean. What impressed me a lot about Seminole State Park, is that each campsite is big. I have been to many other parks where the campsites are much smaller.

Our next camping trip is to Paynes Praire near Gainesville, Florida. Then, we go to Manatee State Park in Florida. Then, off to camping on the Gulf of Mexico at St Andrews State Park in northwest Florida.

As always, after a camping trip, I  come back home refreshed, more appreciative of nature, and always with new knowledge of ecosystems. Nature is always an interesting teacher, and always teaches with examples.

I am very grateful that my son is learning about ecosystems, photosynthesis, biomes, flora and fauna, habitats at his elementary school. Our society places so much emphasis in other directions it seems, so I am always happy when we have opportunities to learn nature, from nature, and how to preserve nature. The state park system is a great project of preserving the little bit of natural land that is left. This is one big reason why I like living in Tallahassee, Florida. We are so close to parks like Seminole State Park, which is only a little over an hour from Tallahassee.

Kenneth Fach in Tallahassee 850-339-5753  http://KennethFach.wordpress.com