Florida Panhandle Meets Snow: Capturing the Unexpected
Published 2 months ago • 2 min read
Volume 3, Issue 3 • January 28, 2025
What's up, fellow wanderer? It was a pretty wild week for us. We left the Texas campground and headed toward Florida, ready for warm sunshine and blue skies. We planned overnight stops at casinos in Louisiana and Mississippi to check those states off our lower 48 list.
After a "thrilling" drive through Houston, we stayed at Delta Downs in Louisiana after learning about it from some new friends we met in Texas. We rode the bike to breakfast and watched the horses warming up for the races before leaving for Mississippi.
In Mississippi, we stayed at the Island View Casino Resort. The casino required us to get a parking pass (which was free), and we decided to sign up for memberships after learning it came with $20 in free play AND a $20 meal credit! In a rare twist of luck, I managed to walk away with $24.81. But the show's real star was the delicious dinner of steamed crab legs and shrimp!
Trail Tales & Travel Highlights
Winter camping...in Florida!
To say that Florida was unprepared for the arctic blast that hit this week is a mild understatement.
The overnight lows ranged from 12°-22° overnight, so when the snow hit on Tuesday, it stayed longer than expected, with the daytime highs barely over freezing for the next few days.
If I had a nickel for every time Jody said, "This is bullsh!t" I could afford my favorite lunch at Taco Bell.
I don't think our solar panels would get much sun...even if it were shining!
After about 3 days of it, our water got low enough to freeze, propane ran low, and the snow that covered the solar panels made charging the batteries a challenge. It wasn't a hard sell when I suggested moving to an RV park to have water and electricity. We found River's Edge RV Campground in Holt, FL, near Crestview on the Gulf Coast, and moved there for a couple of days to thaw out and regroup.
Postcards from the Road
Despite all the challenges of snow in Florida, it was a sight to see! And I got to photograph snow this year, which was unexpected. 😂
Here are a few tips for capturing the beauty of snowy landscapes:
Tip 1: Snow can trick your camera into underexposing the scene, making it look gray instead of white. You can adjust your exposure compensation to brighten the snow and bring out its proper brightness.
Tip 2: Look for elements that contrast the snow, such as dark trees, colorful clothing, or wildlife. This helps create dynamic and visually striking compositions.
Tip 3: Get close to highlight the unique patterns in snowdrifts, frost on branches, or the sparkle of fresh snow in sunlight. Use a macro lens or zoom in to emphasize these delicate details.
Adventure Awaits 🗺️ 📷 🥾
As we head further east into Florida, we are looking forward to the warmer temps and getting outside to explore. We will be in central Florida for a few weeks, and I will be headed to the refuges in the area for some wildlife photography! I am excited and can't wait to share more with you as it unfolds!
“To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles.” – Mary Davis
