Shannon Carnevale
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My "One Word" for 2015

1/13/2015

 
Have you heard of the #oneword movement? I just found out about it last night but my word came to mind immediately. So immediate that my husband's coworker had not even finished his sentence before I knew what it would be. 
So what is One Word? 
In a short explanation, it is the idea that by focusing on one word you can inspire yourself to change your life ... one word at a time. The book and experiment have a religious base to them but if you aren't religious I think it is still a powerful idea. It's simple really. Envision the kind of person you want to be. Think about the traits and characteristics that person may have and then, pick a word. That's it. One word to describe your ideal you. 
Look at your word every day. Whenever faced with a choice, consider your one word prior to choosing a path. When it feels weird or unnatural, try to focus on your word and give it a go. Change isn't easy and it isn't fast. The idea is that by committing to a word to view the world and your choices through, you can escape the promises and resolutions that may break easily. You're not committing to a certain thing or change, just a change in the way you view choices and the world. 
This may not be the way you view the One Word experiment and that is okay. This is how I've interpreted the project and look forward to the idea of changing a little bit at a time to become a better me. For 2015, my word is 
Explore
This year, we had made a resolution to go camping at least 12 times. Explore takes it to the next level. Explore, to me, means that given the chance to try something new, I'll take it. Try new camping areas, go out on a limb with work projects, try to write a book, visit new locations, and be open to new ideas.
I'm excited for 2015. It will be a great year and my one word will ensure there are ups and downs. The experiences may not always be positive but at least they will be something new. I love the idea that new opportunities are always just around the corner, if only you are willing to see them. 
If you already love the One Word project, or just heard about it by reading here, what is your 'one word' for 2015?

Happy Canoe Year!

1/6/2015

 
Canoe loaded on top of a car with a girl smiling.Our awesome friend Kaitlin, visiting from CA, ready to go paddling!
Happy Canoe Year! This year, we've made a New Year's resolution to go camping at least 12 times, but not necessarily once a month.
This past weekend, we started to work on that commitment with a Happy Canoe Year Camping Extravaganza. 
Over three days, we canoed approximately 40 miles on the Suwanee River in North Central Florida. The weather was a bit dreary but cool and bug-less; a scenario camping enthusiasts in Florida dream of. We put in just south of US 41 in White Springs and pulled out at Suwannee River State Park.
The river was high, but not particularly quick and the epitome of serene. Most of the boat ramps were closed to canoes and other vessels due to 'dangerous conditions' but I don't really understand their reasoning. Now, I'd like to say, I am not one to go against park rangers' advice any time I feel like they're wrong. For this trip, I made an exception as the Water Management District and the River Camp Hosts all said the conditions were perfect for everyone but those new to canoeing and we are definitely not new to wonderful world of canoe camping! The river level at White Springs was 59.3 ft above sea level,
according to the Water Management District's gauge.

Picture
The river camps are a lot nicer than I was expecting but we hadn't planned on staying in one the first night. We were hoping to find a pleasant spot along on a sand bank for the night. That was not in the cards, so we found ourselves at the Woods Ferry River Camp. We reserved a platform site the week prior, just in case, but preferred the primitive side of the camp area. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to get any photos of the established River Camps.
The second night, we found a glorious sand bank to camp on. The only thing that could have improved the night was a starry sky and North Florida was decidedly cloudy that evening. A campfire on the sand, great friends to laugh with, and delicious food to eat. It was an excellent trip that I hope we'll repeat soon.


Does this trip sound like one you'd like to take? There are some things you should keep in mind if you are new to this section of Florida, river camping, or camping on Water Management District property.
  1. River camping is a perfect mix of backpacking and car camping. You'll feel remote, like you would 'packing in, but you can carry more creature comforts with you. Just be sure to put everything important in a dry bag (think: stove, tent, sleeping bag, clothes, toilet paper, etc).
  2. You'll need a permit or a reservation to camp. The permit can be applied for directly from the Water Management District and is relatively easy to get. The river camps have a reservation system you need to use. This is most important if you'll be venturing out on a busy weekend like holidays and school breaks. 
  3. The river camps sell ice and some sell firewood. Ice is $2-$4/five pound bag and firewood $4-$6/bundle. Like the camping reservations, these may be hard to come by during busy times. I suggest bringing your own ice and firewood, when possible.
  4. There are not a lot of areas 'along the river' to camp. In this area, the Suwannee has steep banks and few public boat or canoe launches to pull up to and camp. In fact, it was challenging at times to find areas for the ladies to go to the restroom due to the steep banks. Always remember to only pull off on public property and to follow Leave No Trace guidelines when doing your 'business'.
  5. Always keep something warm in a dry bag for the off-chance you fall in the water or are splashed heavily by your canoe partner!
This trip is one I'm sure we'll be taking over and over again in the future, it was that wonderful.
If you know of anyone interested in going river camping on the Suwannee, please consider sharing this post and recommendations with them. 

Or, if you think the recommendations made here are something you'd like to keep for future reference, consider pinning the image to the right.
Tips for River Camping on the Suwannee River in North Central Florida from www.ShannonCarnevale.com #Camping #Canoeing
Like this post? Pin the above image to share with others!

    The
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    I'm Shannon.
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