Today, we visited Fort Caroline and Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve, saw some cannons, went on a nature hike, helped clear a felled tree that was blocking the road, and stopped for the night in Macon, GA.
Highlights
Visiting Fort Caroline
FOOOOOORT CAROLIIIIIIIINE! BAH! BAH! BAH!
Finding some cannons
A replica cannon in the style that would have been used at Fort Caroline.
Seeing the Ribault Monument
This is a replica of the marker that the French erected to mark the territory of the settlement at Fort Caroline.
Hiking the ecological preserve
Kelsey said that the wetlands behind these trees looked like photos she has seen of the African savanna.
Getting Junior Ranger badges
The kids have been collecting these Junior Ranger badges when we go to national parks. You get a booklet that has some activities in it, and if you do a certain number of them, you recite the Junior Ranger pledge and one of the rangers gives you a pin like this. The booklets usually require doing something in the park, like exploring the exhibits and doing some hikes to be able to answer the questions.
Helping the locals clear a tree that fell across the only road in or out of Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve
This was the only way in or out of the visitor’s center for Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. A tree had fallen across the road between when we left to go on the hike and when we returned to get our Junior Ranger badges.Cars (including ours!) began to drive around the tree through the dirt, but the dirt was dry and sandy, so it soon got deep ruts. Low to the ground cars, like this one, got stuck and had to be pushed out.The locals showed up with saws and muscle to cut up enough of the tree to allow passage through one lane. Kelsey and Kevin helped.Kelsey cleared the last of the low-lying branches blocking the road.Kevin cutting one of the last large branches blocking the road.
Other photos from today
Dillon practicing his owl impression.Holding down the fort.This is like some kind of frog lizard. A fizzard? A log?Taking a break during the hike.We used the Seek app on our phones to identify different species of plants and animals that we weren’t familiar with.The bark of this tree was really neat. It separated into large sections, which wore away either due to the influence of animals or the weather.Instead of “say cheese” we did “play dead.”The thatching on this structure is similar to the kind that would have been used on buildings in the fort.Heave!This tree fell in the perfect position to make a little bridge over the wetlands.
And now for your moments of zen…
This is the only time I’ve seen a fast food joint encourage people to walk up to the drive thru window. Usually they just yell at you and call you “punk kids” and threaten to call your parents and/or the cops.I’m honestly afraid to know what happens if I press my butt for 5 seconds.Oh no, Mr. Leaf!
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