Cedar Key Railroad Trestle Nature Trail
In the 1800's this trail used to be a train track and lead to a trestle. The trail is short but worth checking out for the history and scenery. I found some remains from the trestle and railroad along the way.
The first train arrived in Cedar Key on March 1, 1861 and brought with it a new era of prosperity to this island community. Daily passenger and freight services from Fernandina Beach continued until the early 1880s when Henry Plant's railroad bypassed Cedar Key for the larger port of Tampa. Service to the island gradually declined until the last train departed from Cedar Key on July 7, 1932.
The abandoned rail line was quickly reclaimed by native vegetation and wildlife. When development mushroomed again in the late 1990s it became readily apparent that action was needed to preserve some of the pristine habitat areas. The trail project became a viable solution to that need for preservation. Not only did it create a habitat refuge, it also preserved a small piece of Cedar Key's history.
Cedar Key Museum State Park, Florida
Cedar Key Museum State Park, Cedar Key, Florida
Season 2 Episode 3 - Cedar Key, Ross Prairie
S2 - E2: CEDAR KEY, ROSS PRAIRIE CAMPGROUND
After Disney World we were looking for a quiet place to decompress for several days. We had stayed at Ross Prairie Early on the year and decided it would the perfect place. Cedar Key is quaint village. Reminds you of the way Florida was 50 years ago, no high rises or chain stores or restaurants to be found here.
Who we are and what the channel is about
We are Steve and Lucy traveling around North America in an RV. After spending the past 35 years traveling the world on someone else dime, we decided it was time to get off the airplanes, out of the hotel rooms, slow down and see America. These videos document that journey. :
Campgrounds visited in this video:
Ross Prairie Campground and Trailhead
10660 SW State Rd 200
Dunnellon, FL 34432
$22 per night +$6.70 reservation fee on
Clean park with well space sites. You do get some highway noise form the county highway.
Attractions visited in this video:
Steamers Clam Bar and Grill
420 Dock St
Cedar Key, FL 32625
Cedar Key Railroad Trestle Nature Trail
Grove St
Cedar Key, FL 32625
Shell Mound near Cedar Key, Florida
Shell Mound near Cedar Key, Florida, is an aboriginal shell mound that covers about an acre. There is a nature trail surrounding it, and at one point, there is a nice view that looks out over the estuary & islands.
The mound is estimated to have been started about 6,000 years ago, so it is a very old mound that had long periods of habitation. The main part was constructed, it is estimated, from 2500 BC to 1000 AD.
There are native plants that the aboriginal people would have used, that have been planted around the mound, like Youpon Holly and Coontie.
I was lucky at this visit, that the bugs were not bad. Other visits here, the mosquitoes and deer flies / yellow flies have chased me back in the car before getting out on the trail!
Cedar Key Florida 2 - love this place - YouTube
Cedar Key is only about an hour from Crystal River, another fantastic spot in Florida. Much more to Florida than all the beaches, Miami, and the Keys...But those are great also...
Cedar Key Cemetery
Established in 1886, and still interring.
Cedar Key Cross Country Invitational 100809 Varsity
Cedar Key Cross Country Invitational on Oct. 8 2009. Bradford's Andy Merrill won the varsity boys' race in 18:21 and Ashley Horn of Branford won the varsity girls' race in 22:30. Participating schools were host Cedar Key, Chiefland girls, Branford, Bradford, Seven Rivers Christian, Meadowbrook Academy, St. John Lutheran, Williston.
Cedar Key Florida, Exploring Atsena Otie Key
Little boat ride from Cedar Key out to Atsena Otie Key to explore around. Come across old graveyard and factory ruins.
Filmed with Kodak ZX5
Edited with Windows Movie Maker
Nature Coast State Trail
An overview of the Nature Coast State Trail near Trenton, Florida Produced by Lee Berger Media Productions leebergermedia.com for Bike Florida bikeflorida.org
Vanishing Florida
A preview of the Vanishing Florida documentary. Vanishing Florida is a trip through a Florida less traveled- areas like Cedar Key, Apalachicola, Cross Creek, and Lake Lochloosa. Writer David Warner talks to fishermen, bartenders, historians; and remembers writers Jack Kerouac, John B. MacDonald, and Marjorie Rawlings.
Cross Florida Barge Canal - H. H.. Buckman Lock
Used to lift boats and barges from the level of the St. Johns River to the level of the Rodman Reservoir, about 18 feet above the mean sea level.
The idea of such a canal was first proposed by Philip II of Spain in 1567. It was repeatedly considered over the years but found to be economically unviable. Secretary of War John C. Calhoun once again proposed a canal in 1818 in order to solve the losses due to shipwrecks and piracy. The Florida Railroad, finished on March 1, 1861, served a similar purpose, connecting theAtlantic Ocean at Fernandina to the Gulf of Mexico at Cedar Key. In the 1930s, regional politicians lobbied the federal government to fund canal construction as an economic recovery program, including the creation of the Canal Authority of the State of Florida in May 1933.[3] President Franklin D. Roosevelt allocated $5 million in emergency funds in 1935.[4] Local opponents of the canal protested that the canal would deplete Florida's aquifers, and work was stopped a year later. Work was reauthorized in 1942 as a national defense project, with dams and locks to protect the underground water supply. Support for the project from Washington was sporadic, and funds were never allocated to USACE to actually start construction. Planning was once again given the go-ahead in 1963 with support from president John F. Kennedy, who allocated one million dollars to the project. The next year, Lyndon Johnson set off the explosives that started construction. It was hoped that the canal, along with the St. Johns-Indian River Barge Canal, would provide a quicker and safer route across Florida by 1971. The project was officially cancelled in 1991.
Lake Butler Palatka State Trail
description
Teen dies after fight outside middle school
A 13-year old girl from Attucks Middle School ended up on life support at Texas Children's Hospital two days after a fight off campus.
Kashala Francis' mother, Mamie Jackson, says her daughter told her she was attacked by two girls after school on Thursday, and that another girl later jumped in and kicked her in the head.
Jackson says when her daughter returned home Thursday afternoon, she had a bruise on her face, but insisted she was okay.
Lower Suwannee Refuge Trike Ride
A cold day in January here in Florida, for sure. The temperature was near 45, and it was windy to boot. It turned out to be a great day for a Trike ride in the Lower Suwannee Wildlife Refuge. I saw lots of birds, and an otter crossed the road in front of me.
Florida Keys Bull Shark fishing (under full moon) Heritage Trail & old Henry Flagler Railroad bridge
Bull Shark fishing under a full moon near Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail and the Bahia Honda bridge between Bahia Honda State Park and Spanish Harbor.
I had only planned to film a dusk painted full moon over a very famous scenic spot here in the Florida Keys and then I was going to be on my way. I did not plan on filming anything after dusk, as even under a full moon (one without black cloud cover), I still wouldn’t expect to get great footage without some kind of camera lighting set up. This said, suffice it to say I just don’t film at night, except on very rare occasions. This particular night, unexpectedly, ended up being one of those rare occasions.
I decided to stick around past dusk in hopes that the January full moon would come out from behind thick black cloud cover long enough for me to get some decent footage. In so doing, I came across the gentleman in the video who just happened to hook a “big one” while I was lingering. “Hmmm”… I thought. ...in spite of the low light, this might make some interesting video. So I decided to stick around and film, what we later realized, was about a 4-5 foot bull shark. I know. My filming is quite amateur and the dark lighting doesn’t help; however, for some of you more forgiving souls out there, you may enjoy the footage.
RE THE LOCATION -- THE HERITAGE TRAIL AND THE OLD HENRY FLAGLER RAILROAD BRIDGE:
While the railroad is long gone, the Florida Keys have been left a gift of 23 historic bridges, all at or approaching 100 years old. These are the centerpiece of the Overseas Heritage Trail, making it unlike any other trail in the country. All of these engineering marvels have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Depicted in this video is the bridge located at the one-mile crossing between Bahia Honda Key and the Spanish Harbor Keys which had the deepest water (over 30 feet) and the strongest current along the route. While this difficult point was almost declared the “end of the line,” the engineers settled on using very tall cement piers topped off with trusses. By using trusses instead of deck plates they were able to reduce the number of pilings from 64 to 34.
Today the Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Greenways and Trails is in partnership with the Department of Transportation and Monroe County to build a 106-mile multi-use trail from Key Largo to Key West. Built on the foundation of the Overseas Railroad, this new trail will be an alternative transportation route for locals and visitors alike who enjoy biking, hiking, paddling and fishing. The mission of the OGT is to not only maintain the historic bridges but also to interpret the era in which this amazing “folly” turned “wonder of the world” was built.
Visit the trail’s site or call the Office of Greenways & Trails in Key Largo at 305-853-3571.
Music Credits in order:
Jupiter's Smile -- The 126ers
Walking in Line -- Freedom Trail Studio
Island -- MBB
Yep -- FGB
Crimson Fly -- Huma Huma (my fav)
Up in My Jam -- Kubbi
Trespass -- Gunnar Olsen
Stock Instrumental Music -- BGM
#allaboutthefloridakeys
#bullsharkfishing
#bridgefishinginthefloridakeys
Torreya Challenge Trail / Torreya State Park Bristol, Florida
A tough hike on the Torreya Challenge Trail. This trail is best hiked from October to March because of the heat and humidity. Watch out for red-bugs (chiggers) and ticks.
Flagler's Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad: 100th Anniversary
On Jan. 22, 2012, the Florida Keys & Key West celebrated the centennial anniversary of the completion of Henry Flagler's Over-Sea Railroad with a parade, exhibit opening and other festivities — exactly 100 years after the first train arrived in Key West from the Florida mainland. The centennial parade ended at the Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House, where crowds applauded as a Henry Flagler re-enactor delivered portions of a speech the railroad baron gave 100 years ago. The night before, Keys residents in Flagler-era costumes gathered for a gala ball at the Casa Marina, an oceanfront resort conceived by Flagler in the early 1900s and built to accommodate the Over-Sea Railroad's elite passengers.
John Wayne Trail @ Boylston
A PCT Training Hike
Team Short Stuff: Hiking Suwannee River State Park, FL
One chilly hike on January 3rd-4th through one of the most beautiful areas we have found in the Sunshine State. Be sure to watch it in HD for the full effect!
Suwannee County Florida flipped trailer
Suwannee County Florida Roll over in Dowling Park Florida