Weeki Wachee Preserve

My first hike at Weeki Wachee and it did not fail to impress! Due to mining excavation at the preserve, the lakes are man-made and very deep. The rock and stone near the banks are visible through the water but further out is an abyss. There are a couple of areas where you can jump off into the water from a small cliff but the website indicates no swimming allowed. Not knowing where the bottom of the lakes reside kept me from jumping in! I have to admit, staring at the deep waters into a dark abyss made me a little nervous. I quite enjoy being able to touch my feet to the ground or at least see it below me. Nonetheless, the sight was beautiful and serene! I could have sat on the bank for hours relaxing and taking in the view.

Not long into the trail we were caught in the rain and took shelter under a couple of trees. The kid in me took over with memories of playing in the rain so I didn't mind the short break in our hike. The company I was with made it quite enjoyable as well.

We stumbled upon a few campsites with abandoned tents and supplies that indicated someone attempted to make the spot a temporary home. It always makes me wonder at the stories behind

these abandoned sites and I use these as inspiration to write short stories. It feeds the imagination and keeps the creative juices flowing.

I was hoping to see a fox or two on the trails but they kept their distance. We did see a couple burrows but no foxes at home. Unfortunately we didn't get to see too much wildlife in comparison to other trails but we did get to see a bald eagle perched in the top of a tree we passed. That was a first time treat for me!

We were on the trail for quite a while but the time seemed to fly by. The sights were amazing and beautiful! There are quite a few trails and we didn't go on all of them but this is definitely a hiking

destination I will frequent in the future. Kayaking and swimming near the springs would be beautiful. The only feature that made this hike more mesmerizing than its views was the company I got to share it with.