A Hidden Treasure Right In My Own Backyard

Have you ever discovered a hidden treasure right in your own backyard? Well I did just that yesterday. OK, so it wasn't my backyard, instead it was across the street from my apartment complex, but do we really need to get technical? So, I had seen a small path by the entrance to my complex and many people riding their bikes and walking in and out of there, so I thought I would check it out. What I discovered was a wonderful, peaceful paved path that led into a nature preserve.


Now I was thinking, "OK, maybe this will be a nice 1 mile walk and I'll be done with it." Oh no, to my amazement, this little nature preserve was not so little. If you walk the entire thing, you will be on a 10 mile hike. The preserve is named the Robinson Preserve.


It has paved paths, shell covered paths, and if you are really daring, a path that is barely there. There is also a tower in the middle that you can climb up and see for miles. The tower overlooks a Bald Eagle preserve as well.






There are several small off shoots from the main path that take you out to the water on small piers. There is even a few places where there are picnic tables to rest or to fuel up for the remainder of your trip.




One of the trails, named the Tern Trail, is .48 miles out along the Gulf which overlooks the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This trail I nicknamed the "expert" trail as there really wasn't much of a trail and you constantly had to look out for roots that may trip you and tree branches that may poke you in the face.



There was a slight odor as well walking along this path as it lay about 4 feet from the water. It reminded me a lot of trekking through the woods of the Lemieux "compound". But in all of the years of going through the 150 plus acres that we have, I never remember coming across dead Horseshoe Crabs or rotten coconuts.

While hiking on this particular trail, I couldn't help to think what a prime spot it would be to kill and bury a body and no one would ever know. Funny how thoughts such as that come into one's head while on a peaceful hike. I chalked it up to dehydration as I had prepared for a mile walk, not a 10 mile one.

All in all it was a great discovery and I will for sure be headed back. Perhaps this time on bike though. Here are a few more pictures I took along the way.







**Side note** Upon waking the day after this adventure, my back, butt and legs reminded me very much of my age and the fact that I am completely out of shape. But it was still worth it for the beauty and peace I obtained.