Florida Islands

John Muir at Cedar Key

reweidman50 Cedar Key, Florida History, Florida Islands , , ,

 

According to the Florida Historical Marker: “John Muir, noted naturalist and conservation leader, spent several months in Florida in 1867. He arrived at Cedar Key in October, seven weeks after setting out from Indiana on a ‘thousand-mile walk to the Gulf.’ Muir’s journal account of his adventure, which was published in 1916, two years after his death, includes interesting glimpses of the quality of life in the post-Civil War south. ‘The traces of war,’ he wrote, ‘are not only apparent on the broken fields, mills, and woods ruthlessly slaughtered, but also on the countenances of the people.’ Florida deeply impressed the twenty-nine year old Muir. He remembered the ‘watery and vine-tied’ land where ‘the streams are still young,’ which he had seen and sampled on his way from Fernandina. It was while recovering from a bout with malaria in Cedar Key that Muir first expressed his belief that nature was valuable for its own sake, not only because it was useful for man. This principle guided John Muir throughout his life. In early 1868, he left Cedar Key and eventually settled in California, where he helped establish the Yosemite National Park and, in 1892, the Sierra Club, which became one of our nation’s best known environmental organizations.”

Photo Credit: John Muir. ca 1870. Black & white photonegative, 3 x 5 in. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, accessed 21 May 2019.

Hike #48: Flat Island Preserve, Leesburg

reweidman50 52 Hike Challenge, Florida Islands, Uncategorized , , ,


Hike #48: 52 Hike Challenge: Flat Island Preserve, Leesburg. I arrived early at the 2,300-acre Flat Island Preserve in the Okahumpka Marsh and was the first one there and (briefly) had the whole island to myself. The trail system here is well maintained (and marked) by the Florida Trail Association. Don’t miss a chance to check out the scenic boardwalk. I will be back! Distance: 3.7 miles.

Cayo Costa State Park

reweidman50 Florida Beaches, Florida Islands, Florida Parks, Florida State Parks, Uncategorized , , , , , , ,


We spent an adventurous weekend exploring one of the most remote state parks in Florida: Cayo Costa State Park, which is located four nautical miles west of Pine Island. In fact, the only way to reach Cayo Costa Island is via Tropic Star ferry or private boat. We had a pleasant ride aboard the Tropic Star and enjoyed talking with Captain Bruce. It took about 55 minutes to reach the island, where we checked in and purchased some firewood and bags of ice. Then a tram (which runs on the top of the hour between 9 AM and 4 PM) took us about a mile across the island to the campground. We camped at campsite #6, which was spacious and a short distance away from the beach access and restrooms. Note that there is no electricity on the island, but potable water and cold showers can be found at the restrooms. So logistically speaking, you must plan out your meals and bring plenty of supplies, since the gift shop on the other side of the island only stocks snacks, sodas and water bottles (along with Klondike bars!). After pitching our tent, we strolled to the amazing, practically deserted white-sand beach and caught a beautiful sunset. At night, we sat around the campfire and then headed along the Cemetery Trail with just our flashlights to guide us to the Pioneer Cemetery. Real creepy and very cool! There are just a handful of graves here and one of the most notable is that of Captain Peter Nelson, who died on September 7, 1919, at the age of 80 years and whose inscription reads, “After life’s fitful fever/he sleeps well.” The next morning we woke up before sunrise and strolled down the deserted beach for a little shell collecting (we also came across the gulf calico crab pictured above). Then I explored some of the miles of hiking trails in the center of the island. Oh yeah, as we set about cleaning up our campsite, we noticed a four-foot snake with a black head slithering out from underneath our tent! The park ranger later told us we had witnessed a rather harmless eastern coachwhip snake. Good times! Bottom line: Cayo Costa State Park is a great campground, one of the best we’ve experienced during our Florida travels, but make sure you are totally prepared for this rustic adventure!

 

Honeymoon Island State Park

reweidman50 Florida Beaches, Florida Islands, Florida Parks, Uncategorized , , , , ,


Ideally located just west of Dunedin and north of Clearwater Beach (take U.S. 19 to S.R. 586 and travel west for five miles), Honeymoon Island State Park features 4 miles of white-sand beach, a pet beach area, concessions, picnic areas, playground and two nature trails: Osprey Trail and Pelican Cove Trail. In addition, a 20-minute ferry ride (fee) takes you over to Caladesi Island State Park.

Hike #8: Osprey Trail & Beach Walk, Honeymoon Island

reweidman50 52 Hike Challenge, Florida Hiking Trails, Florida Islands, Uncategorized , , , , ,


Hike #8, 52 Hike Challenge: Osprey Trail and Beach Walk, Honeymoon Island State Park. We walked along the Osprey Trail until we came upon an impassable flooded area. However, during our brief hike, we spotted an osprey soaring overhead, as well as two osprey nests. Did not see any gopher tortoises or eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, both of which make the pine flatwoods portion of the island their home. We will return another time to finish this trail. I also walked along the beach, which was very scenic. I spotted many shorebirds. Distance: 3 miles.