I'm Matt Benson, a Florida-based graphic designer and photographer who enjoys going outside and writing about it. This is where I document those adventures.
Captain Erika Ritter remembers the Ocklawaha River before the destruction, when the springs ran clear and the stripers spawned in the swift, cool waters. I joined her aboard the Anhinga Spirit, her 24-foot pontoon boat, to explore hidden springs, revisit family memories, and discuss what the river’s future might hold.
Read MoreJenny and I journey through the Middle Ocklawaha River, uncovering Florida’s wild beauty and the history that lingers around every bend. Paddling its waters becomes a lesson in surrender—moving with the river’s rhythm as it carries echoes of the past.
Read MoreIt was the 4:15 a.m. alarm that finally succeeded in yanking me from the silence. I rolled out of bed and onto my feet.
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