Heading North Two Lane Adventure - 2nd Leg

We started out today from Jekyll Island GA, traveling along US 17 N into Brunswick GA. We traveled along the Marshes of Glynn County. 100 years ago Georgia poet Sydney Lanier immortalized the Georgia marshes in his poem "The Marshes of Glynn."  Check it out sometime! Crossing the causeway today, we saw the marshes that stretch out to the horizon line on either side. This no man's land is a nutrient rich system of bio-degradables that are efficiently recycled by organisms you will never see but who are responsible for the shrimp you had for dinner last night. All along these marshes we saw signs for shell recycling locations. Shucked oyster shell are needed to cultivate and restore oyster beds. Shells need to be returned to the estuary to provide a suitable surface to attract juvenile oysters. More often than not, the shell ends up in driveways and landfills. Recycling your shells will help restore, preserve, and enhance the state's inshore marine habitat. Oysters reefs provide habitat for fish, shrimp, crabs, and other animals. Why is this area called the "Golden Isles." The dreams of the coast’s earliest explorers who traveled from afar and waded ashore in pursuit of glittering treasures and riches.  The color gold prevails here; in the hues of our beautiful beach sands, in the warmth of the summer’s sun, in the shades that paint the vast marsh grasses in winter and in the rich treasures that are experienced here, year round, by residents and visitors. The Golden Isles of Georgia are a group of four barrier islands and the mainland port city of Brunswick on the 100-mile-long coast of the U.S. state of Georgia on the Atlantic Ocean. They include St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons Island, and Historic Brunswick. Since the American Civil War, all the islands have become elite resorts frequented by some of the nation's wealthiest families. New Hope Plantation lies between the west bank of the South Altamaha River and the Coastal highway. This 1,100 acre tract is all that remains of a Crown grant made in 1763 to Henry Laurens. General Laurens obtained control of vast acreages of South Altamaha river lands and named it New Hope Plantation. At one time New Hope included what is now Hofwyl Plantation. Hofwyl was separated from New Hope shortly after 1804 and subsequently acquired by the Brailsford-Dent family who retained it for over 160 years. Hofwyl adjoins the north boundary of New Hope and is now a Georgia State Historic Site. Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation is a beautiful plantation represents the history and culture of Georgia’s rice coast. In the early 1800s, William Brailsford of Charleston carved a rice plantation from marshes along the Altamaha River. The plantation and its inhabitants were part of the genteel low country society that developed during the antebellum period. While many factors made rice cultivation increasingly difficult in the years after the Civil War, the family continued to grow rice until 1913. Not all plantations are part of the old history of the area, the Telfair Plantation is the amazing new equestrian minded community just over the bridge from Savannah, GA. We saw all kinds of animals today, at least as far as roads go! We saw Gopherhill Rd, Parrot Perch Lane, Buck Hill Swamp, and Bull Point. We did see plenty of wildlife management areas. Altamaha Waterfowl Hunting & Management Area consists of 3,154 acres of managed waterfowl impoundments and some 27,000 acres of bottomland hardwoods and cypress-tupelo swamps. Also the Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1962 . It consists of 2,762 acres of saltwater marsh, grassland, mixed deciduous woods, and cropland located on an abandoned military airfield in McIntosh County, Georgia. The land was deeded to a former slave in 1865 by a plantation owner. Black families settled in the area and built houses as well as oyster and crab processing factories. there was the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge lies on both the South Carolina and Georgia sides of the Savannah River just upriver from the city of Savannah, Georgia. The refuge has 28,168 acres including bottomland hardwoods and tidal freshwater marsh. A 3,000 acre fringe area of upland hardwoods exists along the eastern boundary. An additional 3,000 acres are for management of migratory wading birds and waterfowl. These freshwater impoundments were formerly the rice fields of plantations dating back to the mid or late 1700's. Many of the dikes enclosing these pools were originally built during the rice culture era. The refuge is home to a large variety of wildlife including: ducks, geese, wading birds, shorebirds and several endangered and/or threatened species including bald eagles, wood storks, manatees and shortnose sturgeon. The refuge also provides nesting areas for wood ducks, great horned owls, bald eagles, osprey and swallow-tailed kites among others. Saving the best fir last ... the Bear Island Wildlife Area is an undeveloped 12,021-acre in Sea Island in Colleton County, SC. The area is open to the public and is a popular spot for hiking, biking, birding, fishing, and hunting. A wide variety of waterfowl species inhabit the area. The area shuts down periodically for special hunts. Every thing I talked about is on or off US 17. We remained on US 17 N most of the day, we traveled through the Historic City of Midway which features The Midway Museum, which is home to documents, exhibits, and furnishings associated with the Midway Society from the Colonial period through its last meeting in December, 1865. The Midway Museum was Georgia's first colonial museum. We really love these two lane adventures because no big box stores, me get to see small town stores that people really do shop at. We loved the tree lined medians in Richmond Hills. Fort McAllister Historic Park is located on the banks of the Ogeechee River, this scenic park showcases the best-preserved earthwork fortification of the Confederacy. The earthworks were attacked seven times by Union ironclads but did not fall until 1864 -- ending Gen. William T. Sherman’s “March to the Sea.”  You can explore the grounds with cannons, a furnace, bombproof, barracks, palisades and more, while a Civil War museum contains artifacts, and gift shop. Nestled among giant live oaks, Spanish moss and salt marsh, this park is a beautiful location to visit. The n
ationally recognized South Carolina National Heritage Corridor is a grassroots initiative designed to use natural, cultural, and historic resources to provide economic development through tourism.  Conceived and initiated in one rural community, the 240-mile corridor has grown to include 14 counties of western South Carolina. The management of the corridor combines a non-profit partnership board, state agencies, regional boards, local governments and private sector partners to create a network of sponsors that touch every aspect of the 14 corridor countries. As testament to its significance, the South Carolina Heritage Corridor attained federal designation as a national Heritage Area in 1996. Ridgeland SC motto is "old values, new vision." It was founded as a railroad stop at the highest point between Charleston and Savannah, Ridgeland offers the best for visitors and residents alike. For visitors, they have choice shopping, restaurants, and lodging, as well as a growing park system anchored by the Blue Heron Nature Trail. For residents, they offer the small-town feel while remaining centered in a growing region ripe for living and business opportunities. Port Royal Sound is a coastal sound, or inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the Sea Islands region, in Beaufort County South Carolina. It is the estuary of several rivers, the largest of which is the Broad River. We love our fairs and festivals, the Colleton County Rice Festival in Walterboro, South Carolina is an annual event featuring beautiful arts and crafts, fantastic food, spectacular fireworks, great bands and music and other live entertainment. Rice has a history in Colleton County dating back to 1685. During the annual Rice Festival they celebrate the heritage of rice in this community and the beauty of the people and land that continue to bless this great country. We ended our day 1/2 mile off of US 17 N at Lake Aire RV Park. We stopped for the day when it was raining hard. After the rain stopped we enjoyed the family of geese and other water fowl. Stay tuned for more tomorrow.

Heading North Two Lane Adventure - 1st Leg

We started out journey north today on US 98 N. Did you know that there are two large ranches on 98, Iafrate and Larkin Ranch. There is also a Helena Chemical Company. They are one of the nation’s foremost distributors of crop protection and production inputs and services for agricultural, turf & ornamental, forestry, aquatics and vegetation management. In Dade City we picked up US 301 N. Where we saw the Etgle Christmas Tree Farm. For more than 26 years, they have been a holiday tradition for Central Florida families by offering a variety of fresh trees (cut your own, potted, and pre-cut), fresh wreaths, and Christmas cactus. They work all year to provide the most beautiful fresh trees at the best price. You can "select & cut" varieties including Cedar, Sand Pine and Carolina Sapphire. They also offer strawberries that are hydroponically grown, along with u-pick blackberries, blueberries. We also sell fruit plants and fruit trees. Life is about tradition and creating memories, take the time to make some with Ergle Christmas Tree Farm. In Ridge Manor we took FL 50 And headed due East. The Richloam Hiking Trail is just off SR 50 east of Ridge Manor. These trails offers mostly dry hiking, with some wading during rainy seasons. The Richloam Tract of Withlacoochee State Forest offers a wide variety of plant and animal life. Of interest here is a state owned herd of longhorn cattle descended from the original Spanish cows, and one of the state’s top fish hatcheries.The trail passes through cypress floodplains, bayheads, pine-palmetto flatlands, hardwood hammocks and open pine prairies. Ancient live oaks shade the trail in places. There is also a relict experimental eucalyptus plantation from the 1930′s that the loop trail passes through. Wildflowers are abundant in the spring, summer and fall. The trail borders the Withlacoochee River in the southwest and the Little Withlacoochee River in the northern section and crosses numerous streams which drain the tract. Eagles, deer, turkeys, and other wildlife inhabit the area. The Mazak Mine is also located on SR 50. It is a limerock mine and quarry. The Van Fleet State Trail starts on SR 50 and is officially designated as part of Florida's Statewide System of Greenways and Trails and is one of Florida's most rural, paved rail-trails. The Van Fleet State Trail runs through the Green Swamp, the headwaters for some of Florida's most popular paddling destinations--the Withlacoochee (South), Hillsborough and Peace rivers. Landscape views include former citrus lands and cattle ranches. An equestrian trail parallels the length of the paved path. The trail has excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. In Groveland we took FL 19 N. After a bit of driving we remembered this road, we took it once to get to Country Squire MHC in Paisley FL. The Cherry Lake Tree Farm goes on for miles and miles. It is an 1,800 acre wholesale, containerized nursery growing trees, palms and shrubs. Their mission is to beautify our environment for generations to come. We crossed under Florida Turnpike and saw that the traffic was stopped on the northbound lanes. Which is why we love these two lane roads! We traveled through Howey-In-The-Hills. It is a rural village located on the shoreline of Little Lake Harris. With its predominant 1920’s architecture, Howey-in-the-Hills is a town that thrives on tradition with a relaxed country feel. It's nature is forever preserved in the Griffin Waterfront Park as well as the Sara Maude Mason Nature Preserve. Hickory Point Recreational Facility is created as a unique, recreational waterfront park, the 68-acre facility is located near the City of Tavares. It is no average recreational park, the highlight of Hickory Point is its two-story, screened picnic pavilion with first-floor picnic tables and barbecue grills. The second floor features two screened banquet rooms. Also located in Eustis Florida, Trout Lake Nature Center is an interesting wildlife preserve located on 230 acres bordering Trout Lake. Florida's Natural Juice Sectionizing Plant is located along FL 19. We traveled through the town of Umtilla, which has beautiful flower filled medians. We drove on the Florida Black Bear Scenic Highway through the Ocala National Forest and discovered that Florida has a barge canal. The Cross Florida Barge Canal is one mile wide in most places. The canal project was to connect the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean across Florida for barge traffic. Two sections were built, but the project was cancelled. Opponents campaigned against the canal on environmental grounds, and the project halted in 1971. It was officially cancelled in 1991. In 1998, the right-of-way was turned over to the state and became the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, named in honor of Marjorie Harris Carr, who had led opposition to the canal. The planned route of the canal followed the St. Johns River from the Atlantic coast to Palatka, the valley of the Ocklawaha River to the coastal divide, and the Withlacoochee River to the Gulf of Mexico. About 28% of the 107-mile project was built—the cross-country section from the St. Johns River to the Ocklawaha River, part of the route along the Ocklawaha, and a small section at the Gulf of Mexico end up to the dammed Lake Rousseau. Just north of Palatka we turned north east onto US 17 N and saw the Seminole Electric Cooperative Power Generating Station. We found Jaxma Orchid Greenhouse. They sell and distribute Phalaenopsis orchids imported from Masan, South Korea. They carry 400,000 Orchids in inventory. They do wholesale, retail and are also open to the public. We saw horse & rider crossing signs, turtle crossing and terrapin crossing signs. No moose crossing signs, but we did find Moosehaven, also known as the "City of Contentment." Beautifully situated on a wide expanse of the St. Johns River in northeast Florida, the 72-acre campus has been home to members of the Loyal Order of Moose and Women of the Moose since 1922. As a Continuing Care Retirement Community, Moosehaven offers independent living for seniors 65 years of age and older, and promotes an active lifestyle on a campus full of amenities and services. Moosehaven’s LifeCare Center provides all levels of health care. We discovered the Bacardi Rum Bottling plant, but knew we would not get samples, so we did not stop. We crossed into Georgia on US 17 and traveled by Fancy Bluff Bay, over the Atlantic Inter-coastal Waterway onto Jekyll Island. Stay tuned for more of our adventure!

Virtual Two Lane Adventure to Sherkston Shores

Usually I write these adventures as we are driving around, but this is a virtual two lane adventure. Enjoy the ride!

After a long, cold winter we are ready to cross the Peace Bridge and follow Route 1 or Highway 3, which runs a bit more to the north. Our final destination for this two lane adventure is Sherkston Shores Carefree RV Resort. We enjoy the two lanes, so let's take Route 1, also known as Dominion Road.

The first sight is Old Fort Erie, it is a great place to tour, you can easily spend a whole day. Did you know ... it is the site of ancient flint quarries; the first fort was built by the British in 1764 as a base for their troops; it is the site of Canada's bloodiest battle; it was a major crossing point for the Underground Railroad; and it celebrates the 200th Anniversary of the Siege of Fort Erie in August, 2014. Some of the things you can see at the fort are the Monument at Old Fort Erie (it stands over a mass grave that was uncovered during the fort's restoration); the massive Outer Gate; the Ravelin (a large earth mound to protect the inner gates from artillery fire); Sally Ports in the curtain walls; and the Redoubts. Some of the buildings to view include the Soldiers' Barracks; the Officers' Quarters, the Powder Magazines, the Guard Rooms; the Kitchens and Officers' Kitchen.

Along the way you travel through Ridgeway. This area boasts a network of recreation trails including The Friendship Trail through the centre of town, The Lions Nature Trail offering wooded beauty. The Shagbark Trail is a 54-acre nature park with woods and meadows. This park is popular among outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. It feature grasses, wildflowers, birds, butterflies and owls. You can also see the Ridgeway Battlefield site and the Fort Erie Historical Museum.

This time of the year, beaches are a great sight! Especially since there is no snow! The beaches on the north eastern shores of Lake Erie offer some excellent swimming. They are for the most part fine sand, very shallow, warm beautiful clear water and the views are exquisite. To access these beaches you need to travel south off Dominion Road, but well worth it! Crystal Beach/Bay Beach is the jewel in the crown of Fort Erie's Beaches. Sometimes referred to as "Canada's South Coast", its pure sands gradually slope into sparkling clear water. Waverly Beach is a decent sized beach with a pleasant tree shaded park and seating. It is bordered by a breakwater on one side and wall from old ruins on the other. A concrete promenade runs along the shoreline where you might see interesting ruins from an old amusement park known as Erie Beach Amusement Park. Crescent Beach is located in a crescent shaped bay. It offers pure sand bottom waters. Bernard Beach (also known as Thunder Bay Beach) is a small beach located in a beautiful bay with a pure sand bottom all the way out and shallow water sloping gradually. Finally, there is Pleasant Beach. If you like to go where there is lots to do, this is the beach for you! Offering a long stretch of soft sand, with a high dunes at one end. This beach is an awesome sight on a busy day, crowded with bathers, umbrellas, golf carts, people and vehicles tailgating. You can access Sherkston Beach, a private beach from Pleasant Beach. Head north on Pleasant Beach Road, make a left onto Beach Road and another left onto Empire Road. Arrive at our destination, Sherkston Shores, 490 Empire Road, Sherkston, Ontario L0S 1R0.

Someday, take the more northern route along Highway 3 to the same destination. Highway 3 follows the route of the historic Talbot Trail for most of its length. From the northern shore of Lake Erie between Windsor and Fort Erie traveling east. The route deviates in places to bypass towns and to avoid the less than direct trail laid nearly two centuries ago. The eastern section of Highway 3 starts just west of the Peace Bridge and goes west to Sherkston and beyond. The present day road follows the path of the first road built by Colonel Talbot. The Talbot Trail was completed by the end of 1820's. It is amazing how much you can see in a short distance, it is only 32 km from the Peace Bridge to Sherkston Shores!

Memorial Day Means Something To Me

Memorial Day for many is a long weekend, the start of summer, a day of picnics, and all kinds of sales. Wikipedia defines Memorial Day as a US federal holiday wherein the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces are remembered. The holiday, which is celebrated every year on the final Monday of May. It is a day most take the time to pay tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces that have died in our nation’s service.

Of course, like many holidays, Memorial Day means different things to different people. This is merely what it means to me, and what I think about. I’ll be barbequing on Monday as well. I may even be shopping for something. But I’ll have my American flag flying, and I will take the time to pause and think about those that sacrificed for me and my family, and for the rest of us that wouldn’t, couldn’t or can't serve.

I think of the comrades we lost during all wars and conflicts, but especially the members of Task Force Liberty that we lost while we were in Iraq and since we have come home. All the men and women I didn't know, but especially the ones I did. They were husbands, fathers, uncles, and brothers. They were mothers, sisters, nieces and wives. They were sons, daughters, friends, and members of Task Force Liberty. Ninety two servicemen and women never came home from Iraq with us and we have lost several more members since we have come home.

I think about the families that are missing a big part of their lives. The wives without a husband, the children without a mother, the father without a son and fiancé without a fiancé and a future wedding day. These people sacrifice as much as the soldier that gave their lives. Remember them and thank them for their sacrifice too.

Today I read a poem from my neighbor, Theresa Loder. She wrote it during Desert Storm, but the content is very thought provoking this day of remembering our fallen.

I opened the mailbox
And the letter said free
Up in the corner
Where the postage should be

It really hits home
What the words mean to me
And why many of our troops
Are in foreign countries

Their personal lives
Have been put on hold
While the events of their missions
Continue to unfold

I think Memorial Day deserves a notable place on our calendar and in our thoughts. No one deserves our honor more than those service members who surrendered their life for our country. Please remember our fallen comrades with me throughout this long weekend.

Two Lane Florida Adventure to Okeechobee - Day Five, the Trip Home

It is so very interesting how you can travel on the same road and see different things each time! Such is the case today as we head home. On 441 N, we found Arnold's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. It is a non-profit educational-based wildlife care facility.  They are dedicated to bringing people and wildlife together to develop a community awareness of the value of our Florida wildlife.  Their goal is to rescue, rehabilitate, and return recovered animals to their natural habitat. Unfortunately, some have sustained injuries that limit their return to the wild. Arnold's also has a free roaming 1/2 acre butterfly garden. Next we passed by a huge dairy farm, McArthur Dairy. It was started in 1929, with just 20 tan Jersey cows and the help of two friends who were willing to work for food and lodging. Over the years McArthur's perseverance, steadfast integrity and dedication to the highest standards of quality won him the loyalty of families from Vero Beach to the Florida Keys. More than 70 years after its founding, they still produce the finest quality milk products, including Mayfield ice cream. Then we saw Russakis Ranch. It is a family own and operated ranch. Russakis has been in the cattle business since 1993 and purchased this ranch in 2003. The ranch covers part of two counties St. Lucie and Okeechobee. You see a name and recognize it, but you aren't sure why ....  A-1 Florida Sod Farm did that to me. It cultivates and harvests its own sod on FL 60 in Osceola County. It not until we got close to Dean Still Road, did it make sense. Their other sod farm is on Dean Still Road in Hillsborough County. We pass it every time we take the "shortcut" to Kissimmee. If you look on a map, you don't see much on FL 60 between 441 and 98, but you would be wrong! Today we saw two large farms. Mack Farms in Lake Wales was the biggest. Arnold Mack started growing his own watermelons in 1967, after serving in the military. Since then Mack Farms has increased their crops and grows new crop red, white and yellow flesh potatoes, and fingerling potatoes. They also grow seedless watermelons, and sweet onions. The farm is approximately 1800 acres of their own and they lease additional land for proper crop rotation. Along FL 60 is SUMICA. Why the name in capital letters? It stands for Societe Universelle Mining Industrie, Commerce et Agriculture, a French society that had timber rights to the land. The town of SUMICA, established in 1917, thrived on lumbering and turpentine. There was a sawmill, 50 or so houses, a commissary, church, school, and a railroad depot. The town even had it's own currency for the company store. Apparently when the pine forest was gone the commerce was gone and so was SUMICA. The town and all it's inhabitants vanished in 1927, with remnants forming a ghost town today. The SUMICA tract was purchased by Polk County and the South Florida Water Management District (SWFMD) in 1997 as a 4,000 acre wildlife management habitat. There is a two mile trail and three and a half mile looped hiking trail following the old railroad bed raised above the surrounding wet prairies, scrubs and the oak hammock where much of SUMICA was. You can see remnants of the town in concrete piers, old rail bed, bricks, clay floors and shallow wells. You'll also see wildlife, flocks of wild turkeys,sandhill cranes, and that unusual looking falcon, the caracara. We made it back to Zephyrhills safely. There is always more to see and share, but this is it ... Until our next two lane adventure.

Two Lane Florida Adventure to Okeechobee - Day Four

For the last few nights leaving the clubhouse, we have encountered these HUGE Toads! Those of you that know me well, know that I am not a fan of these four legged creatures! These Giant Toads (a.k.a. Marine Toad or Cane Toad) are the largest of the frogs and toads found in Florida. The giant toad is not native to the US. It was originally released in the U.S. in sugar cane fields to help control white grubs. Giant Toads will eat all types of native frogs and toads. Thank God they are only found in the southeastern coastal region, a small area on the southwest coast of Florida! These Giant toads are bigger than your fist and can reach 6-9 inches in body length. Today we enjoyed cheering for our little rubber duckies in the rubber duck race in the pond by the clubhouse. We played a few games of Pegs and Jokers, tied 2 games each for the boys and girls! Enjoyed are participation in the MADD Hatter Parade. Billy, Pattye and myself did not win, but Charlie took second in the patriotic category! Finished out the night with the closing ceremonies and the entertainment of Gerald Goodwin, the "Singing Salesman." My favorite song was "Blue Hairs Driving in My Lane." Tomorrow we will hit the two flea markets and start our two lane adventure back home.

Two Lane Florida Adventure to Okeechobee - Day Two and Three

We are staying the Okeechobee KOA, which is the largest in their portfolio. It features a 20,000 sq foot convention center, its own nine-hole golf course, driving range, putting green, tennis courts, fitness center, indoor or outdoor pool tables, shuffleboard, pétanque, bocce ball, plenty of space to ride your bikes or soak in a pool: one for families, another for kids and a third for adults only. There is refreshments in the kamp store or enjoy a cold one at the Shanty Lounge. In 2014, it received KOA's highest service award, for earning world class service scores from their kamping guests.
Some interesting facts about Lake Okeechobee. Locally referred to as Lake O or The Big Lake is a freshwater lake in the U.S. state of Florida. The name Okeechobee means "big water" in the Seminole Indian language, an appropriate name for a water body whose opposite shore can't be seen from the water's edge. With a surface area of 730 square miles, it is the largest lake in the southeastern United States. Despite its impressive size, the lake is shallow, with an average depth of only 9 feet. Lake Okeechobee and its wetlands are at the center of a much larger watershed, the Greater Everglades, that stretches from the Kissimmee River through the Everglades and finally into Florida Bay. Okeechobee Battlefield is on US 441. On Christmas Day of 1837, the Okeechobee Battlefield was the site of one of the most decisive battles of the Second Seminole War. American Regular Army Infantry and Missouri Volunteers, encountered the largest concentration of Seminole and Miccosukee warriors assembled during the War.  The battle, lasting less than three hours, resulted in American casualties of 26 KIA and 112 wounded, the Indian losses were estimated to have been equally as heavy. Why are the fir hydrants pink in Okeechobee? In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness, the Okeechobee Utility Authority has joined together with other local community organizations for Operation Pink Fire Hydrant. Throughout the community fire hydrants have been painted pink in exchange for a monetary donation to Okeechobee Hospice, Hero’s for Hope or Martha’s House. We played S-A-M-G-O ... It is like B-I-N-G-O, but at a Samboree. Naturally, none of us won! We also took our initiation into the secret society of the Florida Good Sam, Fuzzy Puckers. Can't tell you any more than that! Tomorrow is another fun filled day, stay tuned!