[kevin]

B52 that was an AWESOME trip report!! thanks for all that location specific info on tinders! great pics and explanations too.

[crashdive123]

Nice trip and pictures. Be careful out there during hunting season. Some places, like Ocala National Forest, don't allow camping except in the established campgrounds.

[Unswydd]

this was a great trip report and really good pictures. Very clear what you were doing. I admire your intuitiveness.
Good job! I know how good it feels to to these things with just what you find and it's really a great feeling when it works.
I love how you showed so many different tinders that's a good job!
Thanks for sharing that with us!

[B52gundog]

You're welcome everyone.

This was the first time I really paid attention looking for tinder as I walked the woods. Usually I just get to my destination, find some firewood, and use a mini-bic to start a fire. So, it was cool to see that I could pick up a number of different tinder options along the way to start a fire with just a spark (or a coal/ ember). The next challenge will be to do it when it's raining or at least when everything's wet.

Yeah, as far as hunting season goes, it starts this weekend (for general gun). We can hike and camp in the area no problem, but have to wear a blaze orange safety vest.

[SwampRat1]

Dude, I am so jealous. Seriously though, looks like you had a great time out there. the scorpions i have found here are quite large and by the time i talked myself into trying one, it has turned cold and haven't been able to find any. but i'll keep looking.

[Omega]

Great photos! What kind of camera are you packing there? I'm going to be camping at Lithia Springs this weekend. I used to swim in the springs when I was younger but this will be my first time camping there. I'll try to take some photos and keep my eyes out for different tender materials like you were.

[Slade N. Illinois]

Looks like a fun time. Wish I was there!

[B52gundog]

I did have a good time. One interesting thing was pausing and listening to just the noises of nature. I'd hear no man-made noises whatsoever. Only the wind, trees, squirrels, woodpeckers, crows, buzzards, turkeys, owls, frogs, and the rustling of an Armadillo. Very surreal. Then I'd hear a quadrunner from a distance ruin the moment; Or a saw mill, or a passing train from a nearby railroad track...

The scorpions here are good! You should try 'em. :-)

My camera is a Canon PowerShot SD800 IS (~7 megapixels). A small point & shoot camera. I've got a couple of batteries for it and a two 4GB memory cards. The main thing I don't like about it is closeup shots have a fish-eye effect (edges of the picture are rounded).

Yeah, take some pictures. We'd all be interested to see what you find.

[AlpineZone]

Hey great pics B52 and good explanations of your daily activities!

[pocomoonskyeyes]

Excellent post B52!! Just wanted to throw in the reason the water is colored the way it is and tastes that way.The vegetation that falls in the water. It produces tannic acid (which is found in tea) and this may help explain why it tastes the way it does. As long as you are treating it you will be okay. It would have to be a small hole with poisonous plants falling in to hurt you as long as you keep doing what you are. I used to do something similar before anyone even knew what a katadyn is/was. Also those tender shoots in the center of those palmettos is edible... really bland tasting, lighter tasting than a water chestnut even. You should be in an area where there are a lot of greenbriers/catbriers. Locals call them wait a minute vines, sort of a natural barb wire. The tender leaves are also edible. Take an edible plant guide with you and in no time you will know a handful of plants that can keep you alive for a long time. Add a few meat meals from native legal animals and your confidence will absolutely soar. Look for some crawfish in those swamps too, they are really good!!

Very well done informative post!! BTW I didn't notice the "Fisheye" effect, I was only looking at your subject material.