New tile, biking, & hiking the La Chua Trail

With the remodel progressing smoothly, Andrew and I found that we had a lot less "house stuff" to worry about this weekend than in the past several weeks. The only remodel-related thing we've done all weekend was picking up the new kitchen tile on Saturday morning. Here's a photo of some of the porcelain tiles for our new kitchen countertop and backsplash. Pictured is a sheet of 1x1" mosaic accent tiles, one of the 4x4" bullnose trim tiles, and one piece of sink molding that will form the front edge of the counter. We are both very happy with the soft-washed pale blue color.


The plumbing and electrical inspections should be completed on Tuesday, and then things will really get moving. The drywall guy, cabinet installers, and tile setter will be called in next. The almost-daily FedEx and UPS deliveries have slowed way down, and the only things left to order are the subway tile for the bathroom, and a faucet for the console sink. Oh, and a medicine cabinet, but I'm still looking online, hoping to find the perfect one.

Andrew and I were able to get in a 30-mile bike ride on Saturday afternoon for the first time in weeks. We rode the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail, and took a side trip up to the Overlook for a great view of Paynes Prairie.

Today, we hiked the La Chua Trail, starting from Boulware Springs State Park, just a few miles from Andrew's house. There really are bison on Paynes Prairie, though I have never managed to see any. There are also lots and lots of alligators.

The weather started out great: 78 degrees, sunny, and windy. Perfect weather for a hike.

This is some sort of water control device. You can tell from this photo just how low the water is, and how relatively dry it has been around here this winter.

We saw dozens of Big-Boy gators basking in shallow water and along the canal and lake banks.

Here's one especially big guy, right along the path. Say, "cheese!" That's it, big fella!

We also saw this gorgeous Great Blue Heron in a small water hole just next to the trail. He obliged us by alighting right on the path, where this photo was snapped!

Meanwhile, we could hear sandhill cranes everywhere, but at first only managed to see them flying overhead.

We finally found where they were hanging out, at a big watering hole near the wildlife viewing deck.

We admired the great view from atop the deck, but noticed dark black clouds building to the west across the Prairie.

The rain won, in the end. We raced back to the car the last 1/4 mile or so, and drove home dripping wet!