Monday, September 6, 2010

Escaping from the Swamp Witch

A few days ago, I decided to blow off a morning of school work and spend a little time exploring with hubby. With our cameras in tow, we set off to take some fabulous pictures of old buildings and city scenes. As we were having lunch, I mentioned that I wanted to go to Orlando soon to search for a skirt I saw in Tampa that wasn't available in my size. Being the spontaneous couple that we are, hubby suggested that we go to Orlando right then and there. I am never one to turn down a shopping trip, so I quickly agreed and within minutes we were on the interstate. We had only gone a few miles when hubby suggested that we make a quick little detour on a particular exit because he was certain there were some good photographs to be made in that location. Being that I was giddy with excitement and my thoughts were spinning with all of the things I wanted to buy in Orlando, I agreed, thinking "This will only take a few minutes and then we'll be back on the road." After we exited, I quickly noticed that we were not in the city anymore. I had no idea where we were, and the surroundings were looking too much like "The Hills Have Eyes" for my comfort. Hubby assured me that this road connected to a road that led to Orlando (isn't this how it always goes in scary movies?). After a while, we came upon a park. We decided to get out and explore a bit, take some pictures, then continue on our way to Orlando.

{We found a deserted playground, so naturally we had to spend some time playing.}


{I'm pretty sure you're never too old to swing.}

The woods looked lovely, so we decided it wouldn't hurt to follow one of the trails out a bit and take some photos. It was much too hot for any animals to be out and about, but we enjoyed a gorgeous view of the river flowing below us. (Well, for a few minutes anyway. The suspension bridge starting swaying and I had to get off immediately. You never know when those things will just collapse, right?)

{View of the river from the bridge}

Without really realizing it, we ventured farther and farther into the woods. A swarm of insects found me to be a rather tasty meal for them, so I declared that I was over the woods and ready to go shopping. But the trail did not seem to lead us back to the start point...instead we were going deeper and deeper into the woods. At this point, I started to get a little freaked out. I was being consumed by mosquitoes, it was 100 degrees, and there were no other signs of human life. We started to pass landmarks that looked eerily like ones we had already passed. Hmmm...isn't this what happened to those kids in the Blair Witch Project? Certain that we were about to become supper for some swamp witch, we ran through the woods in the hopes that we would see a sign or map somewhere.

{While making our escape, we interrupted two grasshoppers having a romantic moment.}

At long last, we ran upon a sign pointing us back to the area where we had parked our car. Grateful to have escaped from the Swamp Witch, we stopped at a country gas station to reward ourselves with grape sodas. I'm pretty sure one of the customers in the store was a meth cooker...it was a very weird place. We never did make it to Orlando that day. I ended up ordering the skirt online, and all was right with the world again.

6 confessions:

Same Sweet Girl: Memoir of a Southern Belle said...

Awww!!! I love that swing picture! So pretty!!!! :)

Lindsey said...

Love the pictures!

Michelle {lovely little things} said...

Love the playground pics, what fun!

Jennifer said...

What fun! I just love that view from the bridge photo! The trees are so pretty and green!!

Carol {Everyday Delights} said...

Fun!

Unknown said...

Gracious Greetings Southern Belle, from the Swamp Witch of Socastee, South Carolina.. I thought you had run into me, or found my canal and swamp here In SC.. in your travels and I was hoping I hadn't scared such a beautiful Southern Belle, I hope you will come visit me one day.. I'm a Southern Swamp Witch.. I'll have sweet tea, Tarot cards and Love Spells waiting for you..
Love,
Jennifer "SwampWitch" Johnson