#4 on my favorite Florida camping list

I’ve been using my travel trailer around Florida since the beginning of January and to be totally honest, I LOVE IT. Check out more of my camping stories on my Camping Page but for now, I’ll spill the beans on a state park in the panhandle area of Florida.

This is Falling Waters State Park in Chipley, Florida. To keep this short, I’m going to list three things I liked about it, and three things I didn’t like.

#1 – I love that my dogs were allowed on the trails. There’s an area near the 2-acre lake that has a beach, they weren’t allowed there but letting them have access to the wooded-trails was a real nice treat for them and for me!

#2 – Quiet. This park has a small number of camping sites so that means less people who are noisy. I enjoyed the peace of all the folks here adhering to the idea that we’re all out here to enjoy nature, and respecting that for each other.

#3 – Not far from home base. I launch all my trips from Tallahassee, Florida and this park is under 2 hours away. Not to bad for a weekend getaway!

https://www.smugmug.com/app/organize/Falling-Waters-State-Park/i-5ppNr4k

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Now for the things I didn’t enjoy. I don’t really like being negative but for me, at this park, the negatives outweigh the positives. Here are the drawbacks I didn’t like.

#1 – Unlevel sites. I can’t recall any camper/trailer that wasn’t using leveling blocks (except for the paved sites, generally only for the handicapped campers). In fact, my site was so unlevel, it took me the better part of an hour and a half to find the right ground to maneuver my trailer. It was a headache, almost enough that I was going to drive back up to the entrance and ask for another site. I used all the leveling blocks I own, and still the trailer jack was extended to its limit.

#2 – One of the men’s showers. Thankfully I tried both showers during my stay because the one I used first couldn’t decide if it wanted to stay hot or not. I had the hot/cold handle all the way to the hottest side, yet the shower would intermittently turn cool, then hot, then cool again, then warm, then hot, etc. Talk about a shower almost not worth taking!

#3 – When I camp I need something to do or see. Something like the beaches and wildlife at St. Andrews (click here for a recap) or the beautiful water at Alexander Springs (click here for a few pics). Unfortunately, and I hate to say this, but Falling Waters was kind of boring. I walked my dogs, took some night time photos, so that was fun.

https://www.smugmug.com/app/organize/Falling-Waters-State-Park/i-PgGQ8r5

But the waterfall (at least in February) was basically a trickle. Underwhelming is the best way I can describe it. The butterfly garden was in disrepair, not to mention there weren’t any butterflies. The waterfall, like I said, was not something you’d write home about. It was just kind of… boring. Did I say that already?

https://www.smugmug.com/app/organize/Falling-Waters-State-Park/i-S2cD7FC

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https://www.smugmug.com/app/organize/Falling-Waters-State-Park/i-DPw6h2n

To sum up, Falling Waters State Park is a great place if you’re looking to get away for a few days and aren’t looking for major nature explorations. If you need just a quiet place to recharge, this would be a good spot for you. Otherwise, I can’t recommend it based on the rough sites and the only draw being the single, small waterfall. So far I’ve only been to two Florida state parks and two recreational areas. That’s why this park falls at #4 on the list.

If you have more input or something I may have missed at Falling Water State Park, please share in the comments below!

-Out of the Wilderness

Reaction to TobyMac & Sheryl Crow “Promised Land”

My sister introduced me to this song recently and I was totally fine listening to it 4 times in a row. Yeah, I’m that type of annoying. But hey, the song is THAT good. I think most would call it a Christian song but I love the creative way it speaks of the Creator without even mentioning His name. It reminds me of how I think of nature. I’ve never heard a tree say God’s name. A rushing river isn’t speaking about Jesus. A pair of pelicans coasting over the surface of the ocean not uttering any words about God at all.

And yet when I see the tree, or hear the river, or follow the pelicans, all I think is “God. Creator. Majesty. Awe.”

This song from Toby is just like that. In these lyrics, you might not hear God’s name, but your heart just might be craving the Creator. It might recognize His majesty. You might be in awe.

On a lighter note, the subtle use to the banjo is perfection. As is the carryover of the background choir at 2:15. Lastly, as if it needs to be said, it’s hard to go wrong with a Sheryl Crow duet. She’s pretty awesome.

Could this be Toby’s best song ever? Right now, it’s hard for me to think otherwise.

-Out of the Wilderness

2022 Super Bowl – things I can’t forget about everything else besides the game

When did commercials stop being really great?

Why was 50 Cent hanging upside down at the start of his portion of the halftime show?

I don’t remember rap in the 90s being as boring as it was during the halftime performance.

I think movie promos and website commercials are the downfall of the memorable Super Bowl ads we’ve come to expect.

How does someone do anything productive during the Super Bowl? I mean, you can’t even leave to use the restroom without missing the game or missing the commercials.

Beyond Meat breakfast sausage patties are pretty great.

Publix’s vegan sub sandwich is also pretty great.

Publix at 1130am looked like the mall on Christmas Eve. SO CROWDED.

Why is the Space Force flag in line ahead of the Coast Guard flag?

If I could have lunch with any living legend, it would be Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Showing the rich elite stars in their private booths at the game, why do we think they know what if feels like to be a middle class American? (This is as political as I’ll get today :))

Halftime show reinforces the notion that the best halftime shows ever were U2 after 9/11, and Prince performing in the rain.

I know I said these would all be about stuff unrelated to the game, but Stafford’s no-look pass should be remembered forever.

Self portraits and how Hanson’s “MMMBop” probably saved my life

I rarely take photos of myself. I’ve always loved being BEHIND a camera, sure… but not in front of it. When I’m in videos on YouTube something, I have to fight from becoming “Speechless.” It’s embarrassing. Even with photos, only once in a blue moon will I take pics of myself. Then this happened.

I was camping at a state park in the Florida panhandle when I snapped that shot, good enough for a “Yearbook,” don’t you think? OK, maybe not. But then why take only one when you can take a gazillion? Here are the few from that silly self portrait session that turned out not totally “Weird.”

Anyways, I went back to the forest much later that night to take some astrophotography images. It was dark, quiet, and, hey I’m just a “man from Milwaukee” Florida, so it was scary, too. I’m almost sure I heard a bear whispering, “I Will Come To You” as it crunched the leaves and sticks under it’s big paws. If I heard a growl or a howl, I would’ve “Runaway Run” as fast as I could. I could only think of one thing that would “Save Me,” so I started singing.

“MMMbop beep bop, bop doo wop, bitty bah bop!”

Here I was in the “Middle of Nowhere” singing Hanson’s beloved song from the 90s to keep predators from mauling me. I was thinking that if the sound of my voice didn’t scare them off, the quality of my singing definitely would! I’m pretty bad, but hey, “Where’s the Love?” Any encouraging words can be left in the comments below.

Meanwhile, I think these night photos are good enough to be in a “Yearbook.” Check them out.

“You Never Know” when one of your favorite bands might end up saving your life one day. It was late one night taking star photos for me “This Time Around.” Meanwhile, there’s a bear or a raccoon or a coyote, thinking I’ll be “With You In Your Dreams.” Yikes! Thank you for the music that night Hanson!

Thanks for mmmbopping by…

-Out of the Wilderness

KIA’s Robo Pup Commercial – The Music, the Actor, and More!

KIA’s marketing department knows you can’t go wrong with a cute dog. Even if that dog runs on batteries just like the car in one of their recent ads. Check it out…

KIA might have a design flaw or two in their new logo (more on that here), but this ad is a big win. The dog is just adorable!

The Music. Backing this electric slide of an ad is Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” Here’s the full track…

The Actor. The actor who is adopted by the e-dog is Sam Page. He’s a veteran in the acting world, appearing shows like House of Cards, Mad Men, and The Bold Type. Check out a lot more of his resumé on IMDB and be sure to be a follower on his Instagram @SamPage.

What are your favorite things about this KIA commercial, as well as your least favorite? Drop your comments below and thanks for dropping in…

-Out of the Wilderness