Steve’s birthday was the 14th. Bastille Day! I knew most of Steve’s family before I had ever met him. His Brother was the first one in the family that I met. He was dating (later married) a good friend of mine. He had joined the Navy out of high school. But when he was home, I would see him fairly often. We bantered and bickered endlessly. I liked the Brother immediately. This friendly fire never stopped until just before the Brother passed away in 2008.
While the Brother was on a Med[iterranean] cruise in his little boat, the aircraft carrier Saratoga, the friend and I went on a trip of our own…San Francisco, Hawaii, and Las Vegas with a group of over 200 folks from OES. I took lots of pictures. Mom wanted to see them. I had met Mom in a hospital room as we were both visitors a couple of years earlier. So, she invited my friend and me over for dinner one night. I now met Dad #2 and his sister Auntie, who was visiting from New Jersey.
Mom and I clicked immediately. Within a few days, I went with her to visit Gramma (her mother). In a conversation, she mentioned that Steve was to have a birthday on July 14. Being the history crazy that I am, I said, “Oh, Bastille Day!” I had not yet met Steve. But, I knew his birthday. (Short story…long).
I had not yet Steve, but knew Mom, Dad #2, Gramma, Brother, Auntie (and her dog) and, of course, my friend who would be his sister-in-law.
(When I finally met Steve—June 14, 1969--I was on a date with another guy…but that’s another story)
It has become a custom in this household that on one’s birthday and our anniversary—instead of giving gifts (when one is in one’s sixties, one does not need much—just more stuff to which one needs to get rid) we have started to do something special or go someplace special. We have a driving trip out West planned for later this year. We have, therefore, decided that that would be our special “to do” for both our birthdays. But, still it was his birthday, so we could do something different.
As one might be able to tell, we are big fans of Florida State Parks. Although, because of budget constraints, the fees have gone up dramatically, the parks are still a wonderful value. His choice was a park to which we had not yet visited—O’Leno just north of High Springs was his choice.
The motto for Florida State Parks is “…the Real Florida.” O’Leno was one of Florida’s first state parks. The town and area have a rich history. It was a boomtown until the railroad by-passed it in the late 1800’s. The original name was Keno…soon turned to Leno. The name of the park “O’Leno” is a contraction of Old and Leno.
Its sister park is River Rise Preserve is a whisker up the road—hiking trails connect the two. The two areas have a combined acreage of over 6,000 acres. Camping—youth, family, group, equestrian, cabins (bring your own linen). Trails—hiking, biking and equestrian. Canoeing and kayaking (rentals available) on the Santa Fe River. Swimming (both in the River and by trail to Sweetwater Lake). Picnicking.
Thirty-four miles of equestrian trails. Hiking trails range from a little over ½ mile to several miles. Most of the trails can be classified as “walking” trails. They are wide and easy. There are a few more difficult. It was a hot day so we did not walk very far. We are looking forward to revisiting in the fall to follow some of the many trails.
The Santa Fe River is a swamp feed river. This means that the water is consistently brownish—kind of like tea—from the tannic acid produced from the leaves of the bordering tress—many of which are cypress. It is not dirty or polluted—just brown. One of the trails brings one to a “natural land bridge” whereby the river flows underground for a little over three miles. It resurfaces and continues on its way.
Speaking of bridges…there is a walking suspension bridge over the river which connects some of the trails. This was really cool to cross and recross. It kind of bounces as one walks over it. It was built by the CCC in the 1930’s. The CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) is also responsible for much of the clearing of trials and general construction. It was a CCC camp.
The CCC was one the many work stimulus organizations started in the ‘30s to put people into jobs. It was made up of unskilled boys 18-24…55% from rural/45%, urban. Also, some service veterans were eligible. Only 11% had completed high school.
Conservation projects were performed from 300 possible types of work projects within ten approved general classifications: Structural Improvements, Transportation, Erosion Control, Flood Control, Forest Culture, Forest Protection, Landscape and Recreation, Range, Wildlife, and Miscellaneous—surveying and mosquite control, etc. The fruits of the toil of a quarter of a million young men can still be seen today. Food and shelter plus a small income—a portion was sent home to the families—gave these men great insentive to be a part of this program—deemed one of the most successful of the era.
There is a small museum and a bronze statue in the park dedicated to the work of these men. There are also remnants of the grist mill (some of the wheels and turnings) that once made the town properous. One can see in the river portions of the dam constructed to change the flow so that the mills would work.
One thing we found while investigating one of the campgrounds was a doe grazing behind one of the campers. When I hit the button to open my window, it startled her just enough for her to mosey away. So, we did a second circuit of the campground. She was back. I was able to get out of the car and walk toward her before she turned and went back into the woods. She did not bolt, but just kind of moseyed.
It was a fun day. We went out for dinner at a little place on the Withacoochee River—one of Steve’s favorite places..food is plain, simple and good. And the price—cheap, cheap, cheap. Great value. (The Front Porch in Dunnellon).
He was a cheap date!
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