#3 - An ITF Tournament

Adventure #3 in my goal to try/experience 42 new things was attending an ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation) tournament.  I'll keep my opinions to myself concerning the calls by the judges (so that will make this post short), but seeing some of the varying degrees of black belts do their patterns was amazing.  Pure quality - the kicks and leaps were fantastic. 

#2 - Coconut Point Sanctuary

Adventure #2 in my goal to try 42 new things was visiting Coconut Point Sanctuary in Melbourne Beach, FL.  It's a 62-acre preservation area lying between the Atlantic Ocean and Indian River Lagoon and is just across the road from what historians now believe to be the possible/probable landing site of Ponce de Leon in 1513.

Although we've driven by here numerous times, this is one sanctuary my family has never hiked.  I always laugh using the word "hike" for this area of Florida.  The trails are certainly not what one would generally think of when it comes to "hiking."  Regardless, Coconut Point Sanctuary has a .75-mile trail that's quite easy and pleasant to navigate.

I didn't purposefully intend to visit this sanctuary.  My family actually planned to explore a nearby museum that turned out to be closed for the day as our homeschool field trip for the month.  Remembering this was nearby, I suggested we stop even though we weren't dressed for the occasion.

I very much enjoyed the lovely trail despite the plethora of mosquitoes and mucky conditions from recent heavy rains.  We had the trail to ourselves and stopped to enjoy the beauty of the lagoon from an observation point.

Unfortunately, we weren't able to complete the entire trail due to the very end portion being flooded.  There's a wide variety of wildlife to be spotted at any given time, but we only encountered a black racer (snake) and several butterflies.

#1 - Romanian Pancakes

Adventure #1 in my goal to try 42 new things was trying Romanian Pancakes (recipe from Taste of Romania  by Nicolae Klepper).  As part of his homeschool geography lessons, my 7th grader has been doing a study of the country and I thought this recipe sounded like something we'd all enjoy.  Romania is a country I don't forsee myself ever visiting, so this was an easy way to "experience" it a bit.  

I wish I could say I liked these, but I cannot.  (My kids didn't care for them either.)  These are like a crepe, so don't let the word "pancake" fool you.  Sadly, they were too sweet and left an unpleasant aftertaste.  I tried it, didn't like it, and so be it.