We finally got out and hiked the Yearling trail located in the Ocala national forest. It was where the town that inspired Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings book The Yearling was located. They also filmed some of the movie out there too. But all of it is long since gone. After only about 100 years of occupation by humans the area was left to the elements in 1935. In 1933 the Author stayed with the last two living residents and was so inspired by their isolated and different way of life she wrote her book. So we set out to find the home stead of that last resident. Calvin Long. I borrowed these pictures for you.
 |
| Calvin Long |
 |
Rawlings
|
When we got to the trail head they were out of maps to take along with us and we didn't really study the large map on the sign. We just set out. So when we came to the first fork in the road we stayed straight when we should have turned and ended up going around the trail backwards.
 |
| Chris trying to decide which way to go. |
When we got half way around we decided to turn back to find a bathroom. If only we knew we were exactly half way and could have kept going and it would have circled back. Oops. We never got to find that homestead. But it was a nice walk. The dog was not happy with it. There were a lot of stickers and he has sensitive feet. We ended up carrying him most of the way. When he insisted on walking he would get a sticker in his foot and we would have to stop and pick them out. It was awful for him. He was crying real tears. He wanted so much to run wild and be like a real hound dog. But like I said we carried him most of the way. I think it was a little embarrassing for him.
 |
along the trail
|
There had been a fire and you could see that most of the trees were burned on the bottoms. But it was still just like the sign had said, an island in a sea of palmettos. Apparently there are areas of fertile and moist land in the middle of a desert scrub area. The town was suppose to be located in an area known as Pat's island it was so named after the mail man. . So when we finally got to the patch of trees we knew we were close. We found the old family cemetery up on a hill surrounded by a picket fence. It was very peaceful. I would hope that the ancestors that, I have who have a grave yard I've never seen but I imagine to be similar to this, is taken care of by the odd passer by. I am told it is located on waste land in Palatka somewhere but am not sure exactly where. Some day hopefully I'll be able to hike out and see it.
 |
| confederate soldier. A Long. |
 |
| died 1909 |
It was perfect hiking weather, dry and not too hot. And the sky was just as blue as it is in all these pictures. We also got to see the cistern (reservoir used to hold rain water) that the family got it's water from. It was full of dirt and weeds and looked as though it hadn't been used since 1900. We made quite a bit of noise in case there were in bears in the area so we didn't see too many wild things, a snake and a few hawks, but we did see a lot of deer scat on the trail and what we thought was possibly bear or maybe wild hog scat.
Basically we did make a few discoveries and it was good to get out and see Florida the way it's first settlers and Native Americans must have seen it. Some times it is intirely necessary to get away from the rush of everyday life and be one with nature.
 |
| Chris and Reese's on the trail |
Looks like a nice day, if you can walk that much. Kim
ReplyDelete