Enjoy the Outdoors. Love the Planet.
All about Nature, about the outdoors<>I love it, photograph it and protect it.
Yes, the Chiefs are an NFL Dynasty
The “D word” came out repeatedly last night after the Kansas City Chiefs bested the 49’er in Super Bowl LVIII. It was an overtime thriller with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs coming away with the 25-22 victory.
Can you say “Dynasty”, boys and girls? Is it hyperbole to put that tag on the Reid and Mahomes-led team now that they’ve got three Super Bowls in the bag? That’s 3 out of the last 5, including back-to-back wins for the last two Super contests.
Well, I think it’s not. Not hyperbole. What the Chiefs have done is remarkable. It’s more than that. It’s extraordinary and it’s elevated Mahomes into the Stratosphere of NFL quarterbacks.
There was no shortage of post-game articles and broadcasts where Mr. Mahomes was mentioned along with Brady and Montana. And while it’s justified based on what he’s been able to do in the last five years, he’s going to have to continue to perform at that Herculean level to justify a lot of the talk I’ve heard in the 24 hours since he tossed that last TD pass to Mecole Hardman to put the Chiefs’ third NFL title in the bag.
It’s good to remember in this context that Brady retired with seven Super Bowl wins under his belt and Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw each had four. And Montana was 4 for 4, something I’m 100% sure will never happen again. Yeah, that Dynasty descriptor surely fit the 49’ers in the Joe Montana-Jerry Rice era.
I think it’s worth mentioning another salient fact in the context of this back-to-back and 3 out of 5 talk: the Chiefs played in 4 of the last 5 Super Bowls and the only team to beat them in that remarkable stretch was the Buccaneers. Brady and the Bucs spanked ’em, 31-9 in Super Bowl LV, a feat no other team had been able to pull off against the Chiefs in that illustrious five-year span. And that gave TB 12 his seventh and final Super Bowl ring.
Mahomes is only 28 and there’s no doubt that–barring serious injury–he will continue gathering trophies and accolades as he continues on with his Hall of Fame career.
And that Dynasty stuff? Yeah, it fits. It’s not just hype or happy hour chatter from Chiefs fans. And to what lofty heights will Patrick, Andy Reid and Kansas City’s remarkable team ascend as we go forward?
Well, we’re about to find out…
“Bulldog Ben” Basile
© 2024 Ben Lawrence Basile
Happy New Year to one and all!
Boy 2023 had some moments, didn’t it?! Some of those were fabulous, some were horrible.
In other words, it was pretty much like every other year.
If you’re among those who say that the horrible parts were/are scarier than most years, you’re not wrong. Certainly not in my estimation.
Well, in just a few moments, we’re going to get just a tiny sampling of what 2024 might be like. And then, we get to go on another one of those fabulous and horrible, twelve month journeys together.
What will it hold for us? I have no clue, of course! But we’re going to find out together.
I hope it’s a wonderful year for you and yours. And for us all.
“Bulldog Ben” Basile
© 2023 Ben Lawrence Basile
Good News about the Indian River Lagoon
There is good news coming out of Tallahassee about Florida’s Indian River Lagoon this week. The IRL is the home of the most diverse estuary in North America and it could use some help. And help is on the way.
The new funding is substantial, $100 million, to be precise and will fund 21 separate priority water quality projects which will benefit this vital ecosystem for years to come.
I’ve spent many, many an hour all throughout Titusville and Greater Brevard and am delighted to see this funding come to pass. It’s by far the best thing to happen to the lagoon and the Spacecoast region in general in many years.
If you’d like to know more about the help coming soon to the Indian River Lagoon, following this link from Orlando’s CBS affiliate would be a good place to start.
“Bulldog Ben” Basile
The Circle of Life
I’ll always remember the morning in spring when I woke up to see a half-dozen vultures congregated in the street a few feet in front of our yard. This was in the time of Covid, most likely in 2021.
I couldn’t quite see what the party was all about, but within a minute or two, the feast had moved into our front yard and I could see that the wake was dining on some medium-sized creature, a possum, I was thinking.
This went on for about an hour before the party broke up. It was a busy day and so what was a spectacle in the morning was pretty well forgotten by lunchtime.
I didn’t give it anymore thought until the next morning when I went out to throw the recycling into the bin and discovered about half a skeleton of the hapless menu item who had provided breakfast for that ravenous flock the day before. I’m no expert, but it seemed to confirm my thought that it was a possum. Because there wasn’t too much left besides an ivory skull, I’ll never know for sure but I know for certain that vultures are really efficient when it comes to their role in keeping the circle of life in motion. The remains of the creature they feasted on looked as though they had been lying, undiscovered, in the woods for months but I knew for a fact that Peter Possum’s heart had been beating 24 hours before I found him in my yard.
I reflected on that for a moment and have from time-to-time since and it shined a bright light on something we modern folk don’t think about much. Everything in our world has a life span. We humans certainly do. None of us knows how long we’ve got, and life can–and often does–come to a screeching halt. I suspect that my possum friend was creamed by a neighbor’s car before he was gnawed on by Vic Vulture & friends.
And in that moment, I think I had a clearer picture into how the Circle of Life works. Especially outside of that overly-sanitized and highly-idealized picture of life that lives somewhere in the recesses of this modern, suburban man’s brain. And for a moment, I had a sense that all was well in Mother Nature’s Realm.
“Bulldog Ben” Basile
© 2023 Ben Lawrence Basile
It’s World Ranger Day Today
It’s World Ranger Day today, as in Park Ranger and I think that’s a fabulous thing! That’s Park Ranger Wood of the Florida State Parks System. He’s the dedicated professional who confirmed for me that there is indeed a common border between Wekiva Springs State Park and adjoining Kelly Park in the Orange County System.
Park Rangers do a lot of good things for the park systems of which they are essential parts and for us who appreciate and use the lovely parks they staff and care for.
If you see a Park Ranger in any park system in the near future, thank him or her for the fine work they do. And make sure you take time to get into some of the amazing parks you can find all over. Our National Parks system is amazing and in Florida–where I’ve been for the last 62 years–the parks are first rate all the way.
Get outdoors, friends. You’ll be glad you did. And if you do, you can rest assured that there will be plenty of Rangers and other park staff working behind the scenes to make your stay all it can be. Thank him or her for the fine work they do every day of the year.
More info about World Ranger Day can be found here.
“Bulldog Ben” Basile
© 2023 Ben Lawrence Basile
Camping Story with a Happy Ending
A story out of Michigan earlier this month caught my attention. I tend to pay close attention to just about anything relating to camping and outdoor stuff in general. And because there was a larger story about families and tragedy–near tragedy, in this case–wrapped around the story which took place in State Park with a family on a camping trip, it seemed doubly-news worthy to this outdoor enthusiast.
I’m not sure that it garnered very much attention from folks who–like me–live here in the Southeastern US and so I’m passing it along today.
The Niemi family was camping in Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Their eight year old son, Nante, had gone off to collect firewood in the early afternoon and promptly got lost.
Before long, search and rescue teams comprised of over 150 Rangers, Law Enforcement professionals and volunteers joined the family’s search but were unable to find Nante by the time the sun rose the next morning. And when morning broke on the second day, they still had not been able to find him.
This story made quite an impression on me and I invite you to take a closer look and see it through to the end. Suffice it to say, it was the best story I’d discovered on the internet all month.
“Bulldog Ben” Basile
© 2023 Ben Lawrence Basile
Spring Has Sprung!
As you most likely know, today is the first day of Spring. It’s been really warm here in Central Florida so it’s not feeling like a huge deal to me at the moment.
Now, it’s true that we have seen a few cooler days here in the last week or so, but in general, it seems like Ol’ Man Winter decided to just chill in his own neighborhood rather than come over here much to say hello.
I did get in three camping adventures over the winter, and the temps were pretty balmy each time. I only had to bundle up to get my zzz’s in one of those trips. (More about those trips coming soon.)
So whether or not the weather was appropriately chilly in your neck of the woods, I hope the advent of Spring is a very pleasant and comfortable event for you and yours.
Today it’s just a tad chilly in these parts, and I’m fine with that. Even so, I’m quite sure that Spring’s coming this time portends lots of pleasant and productive days and conditions that are just right for all the outdoor fun that so many of us enjoy. Not only here in the Sunshine State but in every corner of Gaia’s verdant, beautiful domain.
“Bulldog Ben” Basile
© 2023 Ben Lawrence Basile
Photo credit Ben Lawrence Basile
A Taste of Florida
A friend and I had occasion to visit A Taste of Florida in Lake Alfred this week and we’re glad we stopped in. The food was fresh and delicious, the wait at peak lunch time wasn’t bad and the uber-Florida ambience there was totally charming.
My friend had the Chicken Salad Sandwich, I opted for the Florida Club. Both were fabulous and we topped it off with their yummy Strawberry Shortcake, with the luscious berries direct from Plant City. We took it with the cake, not the biscuit, of course! The way it should be!
All silly strawberry snobbery aside, the place is first-rate and authentic to boot. I’ve lived in Florida for over 60 years and I know the real thing when I see it. And when I taste it.
I recommend A Taste of Florida without reservation. The pleasant staff, the fresh and tasty menu and the charming setting all make this eatery a perfect choice for you anytime you’re in Lake Alfred or anywhere in the heart of Polk County.
“Bulldog Ben” Basile
© 2022 Ben Lawrence Basile
Photo credit Ben Lawrence Basile
What should a camping space feel like?
Last month I had a chance to pitch my tent in another one of our Florida State Parks. That would be Colt Creek State Park a little north of Lakeland, Florida. Lakeland is where I’m living these days and Colt Creek is by far the closest park to me. Lake Kissimmee State Park–a real fave of mine–would be the next closest but I wanted to try something new and get more familiar with the part of the Sunshine State where I’m living now.
It was a good trip for the most part. I found a part of the design concept for this park to be a little odd but found the park to be a decent spot to camp in spite of something I’ve never seen at any other park. And it made for a less-than-optimal camping experience, truth be told.
What I’m referring to is that all sites have a well-defined grassy area at the front of their lot covered with… I hate to let these words escape my lips, covered with grass! Yes, a charming mini-front yard for every camper! How novel!
Let me enlarge on this a bit: many of the parks in the Florida State Park system where I’ve camped–and I’ve been to an even dozen of them now–have a very authentic nature-y vibe that is–for this puppy–absolutely essential to having a good camping experience. I like it best when I’m so completely surrounded by trees and other green stuff that I can nap in my camping recliner and be shaded for just about the whole day. I like, I crave, the feeling that I’m completely surrounded, covered over even, with Mother Nature’s beauty.
But at Colt Creek I felt like I had pitched my tent in a friend’s yard, so off-putting was this unusual design element. And it was every space. There were lovely trees and lots of other natural stuff all around you but as far as your lot was concerned, the overall feeling was more like weekending in a suburban neighborhood.
To look at a larger issue that comes into play here, it’s one more thing that highlights the fact that accommodating RV’s is what drives the process of planning pretty much any park. And tent campers are, frankly, an afterthought. And essentially putting a flawless, well-manicured “lawn” in front of every space is probably a great thing to many if not most RV’ers. When you consider that many of them are essentially hauling a mid-sized apartment around from park to park, pitch signs emblazoned with the family name out front and literally throw down a carpet when they set up, the suburban feel at this particular park may be a very good thing to most folks. But it was very off-putting for this camper.
A stay in a State Park should not be like staying in the kinds of RV parks where snow birds live for the entire winter. And in every other park I’ve taken in, it’s not. (By the way, I’ve camped in every kind of park and Wildlife Management Area you can think of. I’m referring specifically to the facilities in our Florida State Park System in this piece.)
Colt Creek does have a separate space to accommodate tent campers, six sites in all. I generally like that. There are plenty of parks where this enhances the camping experience for us “real campers” who don’t live in air conditioned, aluminum mini-houses on our trips. But we all had our own “front yard” too in our part of the park; there was no escape for anybody!
Mayor Frederick Park at Turkey Lake is a good example of a park where a dedicated portion of the park for tent campers works well. That gem is in the City of Orlando Park System and I love it. It’s as bucolic and nature-y as any park I’ve been to and it’s pretty much the opposite of what I experienced at Colt Creek. I’m way overdue for a trip back to that lovely spot on the shore of Turkey Lake. We tent campers do have to haul our gear a very long way there but it’s worth it.
Here’s a photo from about seven years ago or so when I pitched my tent there. A quick side note, it’s a bit of a surprise that this park with the strong Nature vibe I crave is only about five minutes from Universal Studios.
I know this may come over to many as just a rant. But camping sites in State Parks shouldn’t make you wonder when the next HOA meeting is gonna happen! Really.
Guess it’s time for this camper to head back to Moss Park or the Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area. No neatly-manicured lawns, nor treeless lots in those wildly-untrimmed, deliciously-overgrown, authentic Florida spaces!
“Bulldog Ben” Basile
© 2023 Ben Lawrence Basile
Photo credits Ben Lawrence Basile
One small way to help our oceans
I got my license plate today for my “new” used car. I’ve gotten quite a few specialty tags here in Florida in years past, they’re pretty common. I’m quite pleased with this new one.
I’ve wanted for years to get a specialized plate that shows my support for beaches, natural spaces or trees and such.
It was hard to make a final choice but I went with the “Protect Our Oceans” tag. I’m loving it! The additional fee for that one goes to the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation; Guy is also the artist who designed the plate, as he’s an accomplished artist and illustrator in addition to being one of our most visible advocates for caring for our oceans.
If you’re here in Florida you can get specialized plates and support any one of many nonprofits. Quite a few of them are focused on the environment. Another choice: you can show your school spirit for the Florida University that you attended or support. We have more specialty tags here than any other State. The series honoring our Nation’s veterans are very much in demand.
To me, my new plate was certainly worth a few extra dollars.
Don’t be surprised if you pass a black PT Cruiser with the tag you see in the banner photo anytime soon heading towards Cocoa Beach or Clearwater! Or any one of a thousand different natural spots and beaches that you can find all over the Sunshine State!
“Beachdog Ben” Basile
© 2022 Ben Lawrence Basile
Photo credit Ben Lawrence Basile
Enjoy the Outdoors. Love the Planet. 
Recent Comments