Gar Pond: Bicycling Natural Areas in Columbia County Florida

Gar Pond, is yet another of the Florida public lands managed by one of several agencies that is open for us to explore.  It is a shallow lake surrounded by marsh land and home to many types of water birds. 


Eagle Nest in the pine

Spending a few minutes to observe the lake, trees, and flight paths can result in interesting finds. The obvious are the white birds which turn out to be ibis.  A blue heron is fishing on the edge of the pond.  There a vultures in the distance.  Suddenly the pond surface darkens with the shadow of a huge wing span.  Yes, it is a bald eagle. In a moment a second eagle appears and then they reveal the location of their nest with two hatchlings. How special!

Gar Pond from the trail

Gar pond is a natural lake

and the wilderness area is approximately 877 acres which supports hiking, bicycling, fishing, and wildlife viewing.  The property contains a man-made lake and several natural sinks which are visible from the trails. The land was purchased with funds from the Save Our Rivers program and the resulting project contains well over the six miles of advertised looping trails.



A natural sink which filled with water
can be viewed from the trail.

 The routes vary in difficulty as the wind through flat woods and scrub, up and down the sand hills, over roots and fallen saplings, and along the Suwanee River bluffs.  Much of the trail requires some deft bicycle skill; however, there are gentler routes in many places to avoid the harder sections.

Trail through the scrub and pine

Gar Pond is an excellent example of partnership between the Suwannee River Water Management District and Suwannee Bicycle Association. The area also hosts the Florida Trail which traverses the property and rises along the banks of the Suwannee River.

The Florida Trail, hiking, tends to
be a bit narrower than the bicycle trails

On this crisp December afternoon we decided to cycle this hidden but promising area.  We were not disappointed; we were treated to fun bicycling trails, ponds, woods, birds, and a beautiful view of the river. 

The lovely Florida scrub

Falling Creek Park: Columbia County Florida

OK I passed this 'brown sign' several times and was always curious about the destination park.  Yes, you know 'brown sign', designated public park sign. Finally, I dedicated time to visit the park, Falling Creek Falls Park.


The falls at the time of my visit,
It had been some time since a good rain



There had been a few rains this fall but this isn't normally the wet season so the water levels were lower.  However, during normal water levels the creek roars over a 10-foot waterfall and flows under Falling Creek Road through a deep ravine before going underground. http://www.srwmd.state.fl.us/index.aspx?NID=160

An upper tributary that barely moves
it has been dry lately

This area is under joint management between the Suwannee River Water Management District and Columbia County and located on County Road 131 just north of the 441/I10 interchange.   Falling Creek Falls was opened October 2001 after the property was purchased from the Parker & Hogan Families. The county's goal is to protect and preserve the Falls for present and future generations.  Water management is concerned with protecting our precious water supply for Florida's rapidly expanding population.




Falling Creek as it 'falls' to the lower section

Falling Creek Falls was the site of the first settlement in this area and an old store remains on the park property.  According to the informational sign, Falling Creek Falls was settled in the early 1800s by Crackers heading south from neighboring states.  The community boasted a mill, post office, general store, several homes, and a few plantations.  Columbia County's population was about 4000 of which slightly more that half were slaves who worked the plantations.  This might help explain the current demographics with the area.

 

Last standing farm structure
Probably the farm store

 There is a loop trail and a short boardwalk trail.  The boardwalk offers easy access to the falls area providing handicapped and wet weather access.  The falls are impressive, for Florida, an unexpected delight.  However, paddling the Suwanee River where you may find weeping banks has taught me to delight in the unexpected.

A beautiful 3/4 mile trail
winding through the property

The dirt trail is a delightful walk through the flatwoods, pine plantation, and scrub.  This is a short but peaceful stroll where you have time to appreciate the woods and concentrate on nature.

Yes it is Florida with palmetto scrub

Along the trail you may encounter deer, squirrel, toads, hawks, song birds, and gopher tortiose.  Woodpeckers, deer, squirrel, doves, and a hawk greeted us on this adventure. So next time you are in the area plan on spending a little time exploring this treasure.

And gopher holes

Cane Days: A stroll through time at Dudley Farm

How I treasure living history where you can experience a snapshot of another time even if it is sanitized and perhaps a skewed view.  Still better than learning from a history book.

The Barn
An essential farm structure

Each day Dudley Farm Historic State Park offers a step back into Florida farm lifestyle from 1840 to 1940.  To be exact, the park is open Wednesday through Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are reserved for maintenance when modern tools can be used on the property. 

(Sugar) Cane Grinder

Park staff and volunteers walk you through the evolution of Florida farming in this authentic working farm.   The homestead has 18 buildings used by three generations of the Dudley family.  You can tour the family farmhouse with original furnishings and the 1880s kitchen outbuilding.  Consider, no logical person would have a kitchen in their house due to the heat in summer and chance of fire. 

Cold Store

 You will also find a general store, post office, and a functional cane syrup complex. Perhaps the gest part are the staff in period clothing who provide us a glimpse of early Florida life while performing daily chores, raising crops and tending to livestock.


Florida is over-run with vines 
that are often tamed for human use. 


 Each December the park holds a festival to celebrate the farm traditions know as Cane Days.  This is a fun event with special exhibits, craft vendors, food vendors, community awareness, and music.  You guessed it, Bill and I came as musicians from the 1880s.


Dudley family re-enactor


 It was cold Sunday morning when we left White Springs for an hour drive down to Newberry.  Arriving it was still cool but we found a warm front porch at the visitor center to provide period music from the 1880s.  Eventually the air warmed and we figured it was time to head to the farm proper.  This is a short quarter mile walk through the woods as you travel back in time. 



Ms Dottie
Fiber artist and historian



The head ranger asked us to play at the farm house and the back porch, though shady and cool, was the best location.  On the back porch sat Ms Dottie knitting and speaking with the pilgrims, she invited us to sit a spell and play her a few tunes.  Well, two hours flew by as people stopped to chat, ask questions, and listen to the tunes.  Finally, as the sun began to sink and the air chilled again it was time to pack our instruments and depart for home.  My wish is the visitors to the park enjoyed the day half as much as I.

Timeline Tour through Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Ever wonder what is hidden on service roads and in the back woods of a state park?




I am always curious to know the behind the scenes story. One morning in early December while reading the Suwanee Democrat I happened on an announcement for a Timeline Tour through Ichetucknee Springs State Park. Not only did it catch my attention but it necessitated a call to reserve a spot on the tour.



Ranger Sam leading the tour



Saturday morning arrived... cold, quite cold, about 32 degrees. Brrrr. But we suited up and headed out by 8 AM for the 45 minute drive to the park. There are two entrances to the park and the directions were unclear as to which entrance was correct for the tour. You guessed it, we arrived to find a van, one car, and no one around... but it was cold so perhaps they were in the Education Center. Knocking on doors we located a ranger who confirmed we were at the wrong entrance; however, she was taking the van to the correct entrance and “Did we want to ride along?” This was perfect.



Ichtucknee River





Meeting up with the main group Ranger Sam Cole, our interpretive guide, gave a trip overview before we boarded three vans and headed into the woods. The overview included a discussion of area geology and human involvement from 12000 BC to present. Our first stop was the original entrance to the park and a history lesson about how the property had been used for phosphate mining in addition to a local swimming hole. This was a chilly stop so the ranger suggested we limit our walking through the woods but look for signs of phosphate mining: holes, tram beds, reclaimed forest. Back in the vans we traveled through dense woods as we traversed the old tram beds used to haul Phosphate ore from the area to the processing plant.



Notice the three blue objects above...
Tallhassee, Ichetucknee, St. Augustine






Now, at the last stop Ranger Sam informed us the next stop was the Mission de San Martin de Timucua. So we had time to roll back the time clock before arriving at the site of a major mission on the Camino Real, the Kings Road, from St. Augustine to Tallahassee and points west. The mission sat on a knoll above the river not where treasure hunters and historians had explored for many years. Logic indicated the mission had been closer to the river and springs; this assumption was derived from the presence of pottery and artifacts found at the water edge. Not true, the native people probably washed dishes in the spring and thus the presence of historical artifacts.



Mission Spring



In the 1980s archeologists studied the site to determine the actual mission grounds and outlined the perimeter of the church, priest home, lodge house, and Indian village. There was one priest in residence and over the life of the mission, 8-10 years, two different pastors served in the community. Now the community was abandoned and burned around 1580 when there was a native uprising against Spanish control. Fascinating.



Possible Mission Building



On down the road to the original town of Ichetucknee. As with the previous site, not much remains; however, you can find the mill race once the site is explained by the ranger. Now, with a bit of imagination you can see a town with a post office on the rise, a dry goods store, a few businesses, and maybe a house or two. Isn't imagination wonderful?

Ichetucknee Mill Race

 Once again we board the vans for the last leg of this trip, the Education Center, where we will view exhibits, watch a short film, and recap the our morning excursion. We exit the building to realize that finally the air has warmed a bit; it isn't warm but 50 degrees is infinitely preferable to the 32 degrees from earlier in the day. The participants who started at the head springs gate board the vans for a return to their vehicles while Bill and I head to our truck. Let me advise that the next time you read about the Timeline Tour at Ichtucknee Springs State Park... GO!


Site for the Town of Ichetucknee