Micanopy, FL to Palatka, FL

 2 Chicas and the Tale of the Indian Chief

A trip to Micanopy is like walking back in time. First stop for 2 Chicas is the Micanopy Historical Society Museum, which is located in the Thrasher Warehouse on the main road, Cholokka Boulevard.

2 Chicas arrive at the museum in record time and waltz in only to be greeted by a Girl Scout Display. Chica 2 muses that she could wiggle into the exhibited uniform. Yes you could Chica 2, but the uniform would be in tatters!

Our laughter caught the attention of the lone resident in the building, and we were soon to discover a rare jewel in this docent.

A friendly voice asked where we were from and where we were headed. The voice soon went into sharing great stories about the area, the people, the original inhabitants, and how Hollywood even came to town.

She had to be a great storyteller, because Chica 2 actually sat quietly and listened without any tomfoolery. As we were transported back in time, we heard how the Timucuan Indians hunted, fished and lived on this very beautiful, but totally wild land about 7,000 years ago.

Then came the Spaniards with their cattle, pigs, citrus, and diseases.  We all know the rest of that sad story.

She also shared that the Seminole Indians, who were really Creeks and other Indians from Georgia and Alabama, protected runaway slaves and invited the slaves into their tribes.

The Seminoles and the slaves lived happily together until they were relocated to Oklahoma via Arkansas through a treaty in the mid-1800s. Some of the Seminoles were forced down further to the south to the Everglades.

Her last tale was of Julius Rosenwald, the President of Sears Roebuck from 1908 – 1924.  After doing a little touring in the South, he was greatly disturbed with the lack of schools for Black Americans.

He partnered with Booker T. Washington to build 6 schools for Blacks in Alabama. He then formed the Rosenwald Rural Building Program and built thousands of schools throughout the south, including one in Micanopy.

The neatest thing about this place besides the wonderful artifacts is the intriguing volunteer Patsy Crass. If you’re lucky, you will have your own personal audience with Mrs. Crass! Movies such as Cross Creek and Doc Hollywood were filmed right here in Micanopy!

After hearing such lively stories, don’t forget to go through the entire museum. Now it’s time to be teleported back into the present and on to our next adventure.  What an absolutely delightful visit.

While you’re in Micanopy, go down on their main strip and check out the many antique shops. Each building has a story and you know who can tell you all about it! Grab an ice cream cone and enjoy this itty bitty hidden treasure!

2 Chicas See a Fire in the Hole!

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is Florida’s first state preserve and boy is it big. 2 Chicas arrived at the park just to luck up on Fire Fest, a celebration of the controlled burn.

Controlled burns, as we learned, help rangers control overgrowth and are instrumental in preventing wild fires. 

Chica 2 squealed when she saw the Smokey the Bear refrigerator magnet. “Oh my! I just love him!”  Leave it to Chica 2 to be in love with a fictional character; a bear no less. She ran over and took a picture with the large stuffed Smokey the Bear. 

After stopping in the Visitor’s Center, 2 Chicas saw that the wild bison that live in the park were spotted just a few days earlier by a hiker.

Chica 2, having had and enjoyed a bison burger, was excited to think she may come face to face with a potential meal.  I wonder if she has that same fantasy when we are out boating – wanna wrestle with a shark Chica 2?

Chica 1 can only hope Chica 2 is joking about wrestling with a bison. This is the wild, not television Chica 2! Outside the visitor’s center were a number of different stations set up concerning controlled burns and the types of native plants found in the area. Chica 2 enjoyed the displays even if it was all too quickly and went skipping down the sidewalk towards the observation tower. I guess that means it is time to go! 

Down the path and up the stairs and to the overlook we go! Chica 1 made up a little song to distract her from the uphill climb. Chica 2 was already at the top, show off!  Looking out over the prairie is so beautiful and grounding.

We were just two girls in this big old world, gazing out on acres of God’s stunning creation. Puts everything in perspective - life is more than hustling for money and things. Come on Chica 2, let’s go take a hike around the lake.

The Lake Trail is s .75 mile walk over to Lake Wauberg. Chica 2 started singing songs from the Lion King as we walked to the lake. “It’s the Circle of Lake – Of oooohhh Lake Wauberg “ - it looks so peaceful.

The kayakers barely made ripples on the water. Chica 1 had to hold Chica 2 from jumping into the lake. Sh was going to swim out and hijack the kayak. Only Chica 2!

You never know what types of microorganisms are hovering below the surface of the water. Saved her pitiful life yet again.  We walked over to the boardwalk and looked across the lake. What a perfect ending to a fun one day excursion.  Check out Paynes Prairie State Park; hopefully you’ll have better luck than we did and see wild horses or bison on your hike!

2 Chicas Deep in a Hole in Palatka

2 Chicas arrived in Palatka to see the beautiful Ravine Gardens State Park. We were interested to find out that Palatka has a lot of history dating back as far as forever.

If you have time, check out the historic districts in town. We drove through the North Historic District and enjoyed looking at the stately mansions and beautiful, yet simple churches. But we came for the ravine.

Over at Ravine Gardens State Park, 2 Chicas are looking down the hole, or should we say “ravine”. This gorge is the result of water erosion from the St. Johns River. How in the world did this steep gulch develop so far away from the river? Never mind, this mini-valley has quite a jungle growing down in it.

Chica 2 immediately did her Tarzan call and just about frightened every animal and human in the place. It really sounds more like a sick cat?

Early in the 1930s, the ravine was turned into a beautiful garden courtesy of the federal Works Program. As 2 Chicas drove through the 1.8 mile path around the gardens, it was evident that we would have to park and descend into the deep.

2 reminded Chica 1 that there had to be a movie filmed here at one time because the area looked familiar. As we descended to go across the suspension bridge, she said maybe it was one of the Freddy movie or The Thing. Please stop Chica 2, we’re the only ones out here – we hope!  Chica 2 let out a low, pitched scream, seems we are not alone after all.  A friendly hiker appears from around the bend and gives a friendly wave.

As we approach the suspension bridge, Chica 1 is amazed at the solitude in the park. We saw a few joggers and couples walking their dogs, but there was a quiet here that permeated the air.

Climbing back up was a bit more effort. Breathless but happy, we walked over to a display board to learn more about the indigenous people who once lived here.

The Timucuan Indians, the original Floridian Native Americans, settled along the St John’s River using the ravines as a source for fresh water. By the mid-1700s, these very same Indians had died from warfare and European diseases. Well that story was pretty depressing. The Creeks migrated to Florida from surrounding areas and settled in the Palatka area. 

William Bartram, famed botanist, documented being welcomed by the Creeks in Palatka with a feast of watermelon and oranges.

Chica 2 said this must have been the first vegetarian meal served in the country; at the very least, the first vegetarian meal eaten by a Brit in the US. 2 Chicas decided to go down to the lovely pond area and reflect. Tee hee hee

The formal gardens are very nice, but not spectacular. There is a pergola area with three fountains and a large obelisk that is at the entrance/exit of the park.

The rangers say the park is at its peak beauty in the spring when the azaleas are in bloom. There are two suspension bridges, a number of overlook areas and trails, playgrounds, and fitness areas. Ravine Gardens State Park is certainly not your average hole!

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