Riverbanks Adventure Forum

Exploring Florida’s Botanical Wonders: A Guide to the most Spectacular Botanical Sights in the state!

// April 23rd, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Florida, Florida History, Product Reviews

Botanical Wonders

The Monday meeting of the Florida Trail Association – Pinellas Chapter was a full house at Bill Jackson’s Sporting Goods as the crowd gathered to meet with and see Florida Hiking Expert and award winning author, Sandra Friend’s, presentation on her latest book, Exploring Florida’s Botanical Wonders.

The audience was captivated by the pictures of the wondrous flowers in the presentation as Sandy took us on a journey from the western most edge of the panhandle, down the Florida Peninsula, into the wilds of the Everglades, and then out to the Florida Keys. The diversity of flora in Florida is only surpassed by California and Hawaii in the fifty states.

Botanical Wonders leads you to the Largest Oak Tree in Florida, to the soggy bogs that produce fields of rare Carnivorous plants, to where the ancient Giant Cypress trees are hidden, to the special Gardens that boast the largest diversity of passion flowers and palm trees, past the exotic Kapok tree, and to the rare endangered Torreya Trees. The state of Florida boasts eighty-one distinct biological communities more than 4,200 unique plants recognized by botanists. The state contains several world-renowned hot spots for flora, including the Apalachicola River valley, the Lake Wales Ridge, the Big Cypress Swamp, and the Everglades.  Sandra includes engaging descriptions of the 250 selected plant communities, as well as directions to and pertinent information about each location. This book ranges from both natural areas as well as public botanical gardens, and is truely a guide for nature lovers of all ages.

It is truly a treasure to have all of this wondrous information compiled in one place!

James E Grey Preserve, New Port Richey's Best Kept Secret

// June 7th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Fishing, Florida, Florida Canoe Trail, Florida History, Hiking, Kayaking

Pavilion at James E Grey Preserve

James E Grey preserve is not easy to find but worth the hunt!  This preserve lies at the west end of a Plathe Road off Rowan Road. When you turn west onto this road, there will be a “No Outlet Sign. Not only does the road end, you must drive through an open gate that gives it the appearance of a private drive. You will have every inclination to turn around..but don’t!  Once you follow this drive the 80 acre preserve encompassing the Pithlachascotee (Cotee)
River is an oasis of old Florida Wilderness in the middle of suburban Pasco County.
At the trail head there is some parking, a pavilion, fishing dock and canoe put-in. On hot summer days I have seen teens use this area as a swimming hole diving off the Oak Tree Branches that reach over the river. Although this is not recommended. Like any other natural part of Florida, there are gators and water snakes that live in the tanic waters.

Kayaking the 'Cotee River

The park is the end of a Florida Canoe Trail that runs from Frances Park 4.5 mile down the river. The river runs slow but has many hairpin turns that will be challenging for the beginner but navigable. This section is very scenic with practically no development along the shores of the river.  Visitors can also kayak through the canals of the preserve, which has natural Florida ecosystems, hardwood hammock uplands and swamps.

Boardwalk at James E. Grey Preserve

The City of New Port Richey recently (2007) built a 1/2 mile board walk with a fishing pier that runs along the river. This section is classified as one of Florida’s Great Birding Trails.  Actually, the brown Birding Trail Signs on Rowan Road are the only indication that a park is back here.  The Park information sign boasts that 140 different species of birds has been spotted here.
The trails continues around the park and back to a picnic area that has restroom facilities, three tin roofed pavilions with grills and picnic tables, and a large parking area. There is a total of 2 miles of trails in the park for hiking and birding.

This is also a fun place for GEOCaching. I will not tell you which caches are here..but the coordinates of the park are: Lat. 28 deg 14 min N, Long. 82 deg 42 min W.   Here is my hint: Bring children…there will be some crawling in the dirt!

Hiking Trail at James E. Grey Preserve

History: The Preserve is named after James E. Grey, a Pasco County Pioneer that died in 1985.   Mr. Grey was the first male child born in the City of New Port Richey after it was established in 1915.  He was considered a small hometown hero as the first Quarterback of the Football Team at Gulf  High School and, later, the Captain at the local volunteer Fire Department.

Wildflowers, James E Gray Preserve

"Totch" – A Life in the Everglades

// June 2nd, 2009 // No Comments » // Adventures, Camping, Everglades, Florida, Florida History

Totch a Life in the Everglades

Loren “Totch” G. Brown. His father was a skilled fisherman, hunter and gatherer. Totch learned to live off the sea and the land and survival was second nature to him.  Totch’s family lived off the land for many years in the Everglades traveling from one small island to the next. His father was skilled at building shelters and tools.  His mother was a trooper at keeping up camp and caring for small children in this harsh environment.  Sleeping under mosquito nets was second nature to them. Totch tells the tales of the early Everglades before development occurred in Collier County and before it became a National Park.  Not comfortable with civilian life, Totch still made his living skinning gators and selling them.  He spent many months outwitting the Forrest Rangers to hold on to his livelihood.  True stories written in Totch’s natural style and interesting reading for those interested in survival in the Wetlands.    I found this book both educational and intriguing. The stories and photos give a real life view of what life was like in the last frontier of Florida.

About the Author: Barbara is the owner of  an on-line store Riverbanks  Outdoor Store for several years and has frequently engaged in outdoor sports for years including camping, mountain biking, whitewater rating, kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking.    Barbara also hosts a blog Riverbanks Adventure Forum that focuses on product reviews and adventure vacations.