The Shark and The Remora
In biology, mutualism is an interaction between species that is beneficial to both. A well-known example is that of remoras and sharks. Remoras are fish whose dorsal fin has adapted into a sucker-like organ that it uses to attach to sharks. In exchange for a free ride, remoras remove parasites from their cartilaginous hosts.
An example of mutualism occured recently when a reader and co-worker stopped by my office after reading the last issue to tell me she was so inspired that she was going home to clean and declutter that very evening! Knowing I was a catalyst for her gave me encouragment and motivation to continue writing.
In the last issue, I mentioned having done most of my exploring in North Florida with my friend Cyndi. This is true if I include only my two-legged friends. Otherwise, my dog Doolin and I have covered many more miles together. In eight years, he's never once had other plans or chosen to work on projects around the house instead. Therefore, I'm dedicating this issue to my faithful and mutualistic companion, Doolin.
Adventures with Doolin
One of the first outdoor adventures Doolin and I shared was a kayaking trip down Coldwater Creek. It's shallow, slow moving and has lots of sand bars -- perfect for paddling with a puppy. Since then, we've paddled, camped, and hiked in many locales throughout the Southeast. He's even ambled among tourists in the historic districts of St. Augustine and the French Quarter in New Orleans. Most recently, he joined me on a romp through the Twin Rivers State Forest.
State Forests aren't as heavily used as other natural areas in Florida which means they're rarely congested and often poorly marked. This one was no exception. Partof the trail follows along the towering bluffs of the Suwannee River where we lunched on its limestone banks. After lunch I swam out to the middle and Doolin followed me (see photo above). He doesn't like it when I swim alone and this habit came in handy earlier this summer...
We'd been to the beach and stopped by the Wakulla River to rinse off in the freshwater. I swam out to the bridge pilings and was floating on my back, taking note of all the things that live on the underside of a bridge, when I thought I heard someone calling my name. The sound was muffled by the water, but there was an insistency to it that made me look up right away. When I did, I saw the top of a head. It was the head of my girlfriend's son, who doesn't swim and had wandered out one step too far. Fortunately, I wasn't far away and neither was Doolin. While I pushed him towards the surface, he grabbed onto Doolin's back and between the two of us, we got him safely to shore.
There's still plenty of time to safely enjoy this beautiful fall weather. If the largest whitewater rapids in Florida, limestone bluffs, miles of wooded trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing floats your kayak, contact us at The Green Globe for an experience you won't soon forget.
Alcohol Anyone?
The first fuel station in Florida to offer E85 (85% ethanol, 15% unleaded gasoline) is along my route to and from work. I was encouraged by my first visit because I wasn't alone. (It was the first time I'd actually been happy about waiting in line.) The gentleman ahead of me, however, didn't see the tank as half full. He was upset that the State hadn't made it mandatory for all State Employees to start using ethanol in their vehicles, but with only one E85 station in the entire State, that's not a very viable alternative.
State worker or not, if you want to help the environment, save a little cash (E85 is currently $1.99/gallon), and improve your engine's performance, then have a shot of E85. If you're not sure if your vehicle can use it, check your owner's manual or the fuel filler door. Or, if you're shopping for a new, greener vehicle you might find this handy: www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/.
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