By: Brian Brijbag
It’s no secret that days surround ing the winter holidays are some of the busiest on the road. Many people are out more during the fes tive season than the rest of the year to visit friends and family, do some holiday shopping, and go to holidayrelated gatherings. While there are many things to look forward to, it’s important to keep vehicle safety in mind.
Driving under the influence is more common during this time of year because of all the festivities. The executive director of FLHSMV stated that during the holiday season of 2020, drunk driving was the cause of 1,169 accidents.
The added holiday-related stress and excitement may make reaching for our phones or multitasking behind the wheel tempting, but distracted driving is a crucial problem affect ing drivers today. According to the NHTSA, distracted driving was the reason for 3,142 deaths in 2020.
It is common in Florida, even during the winter months, to have fun with family and friends by spending time out on the water. Although boating can be an escape from the business on land, it is still important to take boating safety into account. USCG Boating states that most boating fa talities occur in December with the lead cause being alcohol use. Also, most non-fatal boating accidents occur because of inattention, much like driving a car. Boating and land vehicles have their differences, but many safety precautions remain the same.
The rise in the amount of vehicle ac cidents, on land or water, during the holidays shouldn’t stop you from cel ebrating this time of year. There are many simple precautions to consider that will keep you and others safe. These include planning ahead, plac ing your phone and other potential distractions where you cannot reach them while driving, and paying atten tion to your surroundings. No matter
what type of vehicle you decide to drive, we hope you keep safety in mind as you enjoy all that this festive season brings.
Works Cited: Distracted driving. NHTSA. (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2022, from https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driv ing/distracted-driving
Florida Highway Patrol reminds driv ers to drive sober or get pulled over this holiday season. Florida Depart ment of Highway Safety and Mo tor Vehicles. (2021, December 17). Retrieved November 22, 2022, from https://www.flhsmv.gov/2021/12/15/ florida-highway-patrol-remindsdrivers-to-drive-sober-or-get-pulledover-this-holiday-season/
United States Coast Guard | Boating Safety. (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2022, from https://uscgboating. org/library/accident-statistics/Recre ational-Boating-Statistics-2021.pdf
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Hooked on Heroes is a wonderful non-profit Page 8 – Suwannee River Rest & Adventures Life is an Adventure and the Suwannee River Rest certainly provides a great home base for all of your adventures on the Suwannee River! Florida’s last wild river is amazing and so was the B.O.W.’s stay at Suwannee River Rest.
B.O.W. takes a journey up and down the Suwannee River with Captain Cas. Cruising the river with Captain Cas was amazing! He grew on the river and was happy to show us around; including visiting Cypress trees so old, they date back to Biblical times.
There is so much to do at Port Cove R.V. Resort! You can sit back and enjoy the onsite amenities or go chase adventure and explore the treasures along the St. Johns River!
Salt Springs Recreation Area is one the recreational jewels of the Ocala National Forest, with a spectacular natural mineral spring that gives the area its name. Plenty of outdoor activities keep campers and dayuse visitors busy, including swimming in the springs, fishing, snorkeling, hiking and boating.
This historical village is nestled within a charming, moss-draped oak hammock in western Volusia County, which illustrates life in rural Florida in the bygone days of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The beautiful Chassohowitzka River made for a wonderful day of exploring for the B.O.W. crew. Take a look and then plan a trip for yourself, friends, and family!
The owners of the Suwannee River Rest were nice enough to invite the B.O.W. Crew to Branford, for a couple nights stay, at their beautiful luxury lodge, on the incredible-wild Su wannee River. Upon arrival, we instantly loved the splendid staircase that leads up to the main floor of the elevated cottage. Once up the stairs, a quick 180 degree turn gives you a wonderful view of the river, from the cottage’s elevated position. But, no need to stop at the top of the stairs, because once you head through the screen door, the large screened in porch provides a much better lookout point, with plenty of comfortable seating and tables (we were told many guests choose to sleep on the porch).
From the porch there are two sliding glass doors that lead into the cottage; one goes directly into the master bed room and the other is really a sliding glass wall that opens up the porch to the entire living area of the cot tage. The cottage’s main living area is very well appointed with charming furniture, light fixtures, and artwork (much of the artwork was done by the owners). The main living area also boasts a large fireplace. Just past the living area is the open concept luxury kitchen complete with every thing you need for cooking, except the food. Both upstairs bedrooms are well appointed, as well and both bathrooms are stocked with every thing most would need too. There is a complete downstairs area, full
of games, sitting areas, and outdoor equipment for use by guests staying at the S.R.R. It was easy for us to see why the S.R.R. stays booked up and also why they maintain such a high rating. The team of folks who keep up the S.R.R. have a high stan dard for themselves, the cottage, and the property. We at B.O.W. are very thankful for the invitation and look forward to returning in the future for the next installation of Captain Cas’ adventure properties, the Hatch Bend Hideaway, a very cool R.V. property that is designed for a more “back to nature” R.V. experience.
Captain Cas and his family have been on the Suwannee for a long time, in fact, Captain Cas’ first visit came when his grandpa brought him there
at 1 year old. A little early to start fishing and exploring the river solo but, the river has been a part of his entire life. Captain Cas’ mother and father operate the day to day of the cottage and are extremely welcom ing. If you have the pleasure of Mrs. Cascaddan (B.J.) checking you in and showing you around, on your arrival to the cottage, take advantage of her wealth of knowledge about the history of the Hatch Bend area. She was nice enough to give us a brief oral history of the area that had us extremely intrigued. There are many books in the cottage and after listening to B.J. tell us about the area, we dove into reading more on our own. The Suwan nee River is a fascinating place and the Suwannee River Rest is a great
home base for your adventures on the wild river! Have fun on your trip there and be sure to tell the Cascaddans that B.O.W. says hello.
A word from the folks at the Su wannee River Rest: Life’s an Adventure and the Suwan nee River Rest should certainly be on your list!
The S.R.R. is a family owned vacation home right on the historic Suwannee River, owned by Steve Cascaddan (Capt. Cas) & Krista Studly, operated by Bob & BJ Cascaddan.
Since 1966, the Cascaddan family has had many fun adventures here at the Suwannee River Rest, and we love shar ing these adventures with the many families that visit each year. The ad ventures offered include visiting and snorkeling the many nearby natural springs, fishing the many species in the river, or bay scalloping the nearby Gulf of Mexico.
Located in Branford, FL, on the Su wannee River, in the historic area of Hatch Bend, in Lafayette County, this three bedroom, three bath luxury lodge is an ideal location for a weekend or week-long vacation. The upstairs has two king bedrooms and two full baths as well as a spacious living area with a gas fireplace and a completely new modern kitchen.
Amenities Include: Wi-Fi, Indoor Fireplace, TV, Washing Machine, Dryer, Iron, Laptop-Friendly Workspace, Air Conditioning, Dock, El evator, (2) Canoes with Personal Safety Equipment, Blow-Up Paddle Boards, Children’s Books and Toys, Fireplace, Grill(s), Outdoor Fire Pit, Wood, Lighter Fluid, All Kitchen Amenities, Outdoor Shower, and Free Parking on Premises. Book your stay online at airbnb.com (The Suwannee River Rest & Adven tures), where Captain Cas is a Superhost and has 100% 5 Star reviews!
S.E. RiverSide East Drive Branford, Florida 32008 +1 (407) 468-1019
captcassuwanneeriverrest@gmail.com
American Picnics and Better Off Wet Charters have teamed up to offer unique and customizable on the water picnic cruises and sunset cruises! American Picnics has created a time-capsule into another era with their Luxury Picnics and are sure to bring elegance and charm to your special day. Combine this extraordinary picnic experience with a comfortable cruise along Florida’s Nature Coast and a beautiful West coast sunset, to have an unforgettable day. All trips are customizable, be sure to let us know your thoughts. Swimming, island exploration, and fishing are available for those who want to maximize their day of adventure, on the water.
Call today to start planning your amazing American Picnic! americanpicnics.com
Captain Cas grew up in Florida, an avid surfer, fisherman, boater, and adven turer. He spent much of his childhood on the Suwannee and Santa Fe Rivers and at the many springs located along the wa terways. The Suwannee River is said to be Florida’s last wild river. There aren’t any channel markers, buoys, or navigational aids and if you are unsure about your vessel’s fuel usage, then you better bring extra, because the river doesn’t have any marinas or hardly any fueling spots to speak of. The B.O.W.’ Crew was on the boat with Capt. Cas today, so while we definitely took note of his instruc tion, we knew we were fine being with him. Capt. Cas offers river tours, springs tours, and fishing guide service to his guests at the Suwannee River Rest, a luxury cottage located on the banks of the Suwannee River.
The headwaters of the Suwannee River are found in the Okefenokee Swamp, in Fargo Georgia. The river runs southwestward into the Flor ida Panhandle, before dropping in elevation through limestone layers into a rare Florida whitewater rapid. Past the rapid, the Suwannee turns west near the town of White Springs, Florida, then connects to the con fluences of the Alapaha River and Withlacoochee River. The confluences of these three rivers form the south ern borderline of Hamilton County, Florida. The Suwannee then bends southward, near the town of Ellaville, followed by Luraville, then joins to gether with the Santa Fe River from the east, south of the town of Bran ford. The river ends and drains into the Gulf of Mexico on the outskirts of Suwannee. Some of the springs located on the river, that Capt. Cas
took us to, on our trip, are the Little River Springs, Troy Springs, Rock Bluff Spring, and a few other smaller springs. Every time we see a Florida spring producing the exquisite 72 degree perfectly clear water that holds back the tannic dark waters of a river, we are in awe. All the springs Capt. Cas took us to created the same jawdropping awe for us over and over. Our favorite spring we visited on our tour with Capt. Cas has to be the Rock Bluff Spring. It is a hard choice if forced to make one but Rock Bluff takes you back hundreds if not thousands of years, with the ancient Cypress trees that are literally ev erywhere in any direction you look. The “Twin Sisters” greet you on your port side, when entering by boat and “The Mayor of Rock Bluff” stands tall to your starboard. Once you come in by boat, the spring becomes visible
but is sectioned off by a line so boats don’t interfere with swimmers. You can see the fresh, crystal clear water pouring out from its cracked mouth and a thriving myriad of underwater creatures everywhere you look. Capt. Cas says his grandchildren call Rock Bluff his “secret spring”, because if you were just traveling on the river, you’d probably pass by its entrance without even noticing.
Not to be put aside completely by Rock Bluff, the Little River Spring is equally as breathtaking and it also has a gorgeous park built all around it. But, Little River Spring doesn’t give you the “secret spring” vibe that Rock Bluff Spring does. What Little River Spring lacks in secretness it makes up for completely in beauty and also ac cessibility. And, if you are a diver, who isn’t afraid of some tight spaces, this spring may be a great place for you
to visit. While there, on our trip, we saw at least seven divers, some play ing around in the crevasses around the spring itself and some who had ventured into the cave system, lead ing out under the rock to the river. We highly recommend that anyone near this area take the time to visit Little River Spring!
Our day with Capt. Cas on the Suwannee and Santa Fe Rivers was amazing. He has a thorough knowl
edge of the area and tons of stories to go with each of the springs and stops along the journey. I have to get to the title now... “From Cufflinks to Cutoffs” is a phrase I picked up from Capt. Cas and told him I was going to “steal” and add to my own cache of clever sayings. The Suwannee River, like many watery destinations, has folks from all walks of life; rich, poor, big, small, fat, skinny, and every other category folks get lumped into. And,
the one thing they all have in common is a love for being on and around the water. No matter whether said folks are working on Wall Street or WalMart, you can be sure they are on the river and at the springs to have a good time. That being said, if I ever see someone wearing cufflinks on the water…I’m going to be sure to try and trade them off em’ for some cutoffs!
Upon arrival at Port Cove, we were welcomed warmly by the attentive staff, given our RV spot, and instruction on where to launch our boat and park the boat trailer. The R.V. Park was easy to navigate into, with the B.O.W. rig, and we had no problems launching our 26 foot Panga at the boat ramp. As always, we enjoy conversation with the folks who own and or work at the places we stay, for our destination trips. The folks at Port Cove were amazing; telling us about how the owners had poured so much effort into making Port Cove as beautiful as it is. We also got a brief history and understanding about the islands just off the beach from Port Cove, Drayton Island and Hog Island. The restaurant next door to Port Cove, Idle Awhile wasn’t yet opened (will be at the time of publishing this article) so, the Port Cove Crew was nice enough to give us
some places nearby, we could get to by boat. Our start to our stay at Port Cove was amazing, and we couldn’t wait for the next day’s adventures. From the docks of the Port Cove Ma rina, there is certainly plenty to do by boat. The vast expanse that is the St Johns River, gives anyone with a boat many possibilities for explora tion, fishing, and adventure. Even if you are visiting without a boat, the area offers many attractions (check the Port Cove website for plenty of information). We are of the opinion, a person could spend a lifetime ex ploring the many nooks and crannies of the St Johns River and never soak it all in. There are so many towns, cities, islands, and springs available to explore it could leave a person wondering where to start. We chose to start our second day there, explor ing the banks of Lake George, Dray ton Island, and Hog Island. We were
blessed with good weather, although a bit chilly by Floridian standards, and more wildlife than we could shake a stick at. We were truly taken back by the number of Bald Eagles we saw, including a pair that like to hang on the dock pilings at Port Cove. Over the few day stay we had at Port Cove we explored springs, creeks, islands, and little towns on the river; ate good food and had fun chatting it up with the other RVers sitting out by the water’s edge, at the park. Thanks so much for the warm welcome and great hospitality from everyone there.
Better Off Wet Visits the Beautiful Port Cove RV Resort and Marina
word from the owners of Port Cove:
After owning and operating a land scaping company for almost 30 years, we were looking for a new challenge, not because we didn’t love what we had built, because we did enjoy all aspects of the business; more so we wanted to use our talents of beauti fying landscapes to create a breath taking and relaxing destination for our guests. We wanted to do it for our own gratification, but also for the enjoyment of seeing our guests taking in the views and tranquility of our little piece of paradise. We knew “WE FOUND THE PERFECT SPOT”. What makes us different?
Port Cove RV Resort and Marina offered that opportunity with “the perfect spot” on the St Johns River; we knew we had found something special. Bringing this old gem back
to life and keeping the Old Florida charm was our main focus. With large Oak trees and towering Sable palms draped in Spanish moss you will feel the stress disappear. At Port Cove Resort we want you to sit back and relax!
St. Johns River offers the world’s best freshwater fishing. With 1000’s of natural springs, it will keep you busy exploring these Old Florida treasures. We are centrally located 1-1.5 hrs from Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Ocala and St. Augustine. Contact Port Cove today to book your stay!
Port Cove RV Resort
107 Port Cove Landing Road, Georgetown, Florida 32139 386-524-4265
Email: portcoveresort@gmail.com
Salt Springs Recreation Area – A Jewel of the Ocala National Forest
Salt Springs Recreation Area is one the recreational jewels of the Ocala National Forest, with a spectacular natural mineral spring that gives the area its name. Plenty of outdoor activities keep campers and day-use visitors busy, includ ing swimming in the springs, fish ing, snorkeling, hiking and boating. Salt Springs is located between the St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers, 35 miles east of Ocala, Florida. The na tional forest spans four counties and 383,000 acres. It is the southernmost and oldest national forest east of the Mississippi River, and protects the world’s largest, contiguous sand pine
scrub forest.
Salt Springs is the largest camp ground in the Ocala National Forest and the only one with full hookups for RVs. The facility offers spacious campsites for RVs and trailers, as well as a designated tent-only area, which is a short walk from the park ing area. Sites are nicely shaded and well away from the busy day-use area. The recreation area and campground are located in the community of Salt Springs, which has a gas station, gro cery store, several restaurants, bait and tackle shops, a post office, Laun dromat and visitor center.
The semi-tropical region gives the
campground a mixture of pines and palms, with lush greenery and warm temperatures. Within the recreation area, a natural spring rises from cracks deep within the earth. The presence of potassium, magnesium and sodium salts give the waters a slight salinity - hence the name Salt Springs.
The natural springs, nearby Lake George and many surrounding rivers and streams provide ample opportu nity for water recreation. Anglers can try a good fishing spot on Salt Springs Run, downstream of the swimming area, boat ramp and marina. Boat rentals are nearby. For those who wish to explore on land, the facility has basketball courts and a horse shoe pit. Hikers have easy access to the Bear Swamp Trail and a segment of the 1,400-mile Florida National Scenic Trail.
The above text is from: www.recre ation.gov Please, visit the site to book your stay or help plan your trip to Salt Springs.
Parramore’s Fish Camp is in Astor, Florida on the banks of Morrison Creek. Never heard of Astor? Well, you are probably not alone. Many Flo ridians we at B.O.W. talk to, cling to the coast of Florida as if the center of the State was an uninhabited wasteland. But, that couldn’t be any further from the truth. While I love Florida’s beautiful coastlines, salt marshes, and tidal creeks, I also love Florida’s interior; although for completely different reasons. Parramore’s is nestled in a jungle of Cypress, Oak, Pine, and Palm trees right on the water, approximately 100 miles South of Jack sonville, by way of the St. Johns River. If you love being on the water, fishing, or just some good ol’ peace and quiet, I’m sure you feel the same way about Par ramore’s as we did…you’ll love it.
We arrived to Parramore’s after hours but, Kimzey was nice enough to leave us a map to our RV spot, under a painted rock out front of the office. She also noti fied a gentleman who ended up helping guide us back to our spot from his golf cart, you gotta love southern hospitality! Kimzey, along with her husband Jordan are the owners of Parramore’s and are both very helpful and personal. They have owned Parramore’s for 5 years and are constantly at work improving every facet of the place. Parramore’s has many nice cabin options, as well, if you are not an RV’er. We loved the Catfish Cabin because of its incredible view! They have a boat ramp available for guests to use, large dock, and many covered slips as well. All of the R.V. spots are flat, level, and have full hook-ups. The abundance of wildlife all around you at Parramore’s is great for watching while barbecuing, having a drink, or with a fishing rod in your hand. We loved our stay at Parra more’s and are sure you will to. Thanks so much to everyone there for making our stay a great one.
Parramore’s Fish Camp & RV Resort
Parramore’s Fish Camp & RV Resort ame nities include: Covered Boat Stalls, Fish ing Docks, Laundry Room, Camp Store, Sparkling Pool, Tennis Court, Basketball Court, Playground, Picnic Pavilion (can be rented to guests for private parties), and Open Deck Overlooking Morrison Creek (can be rented to guests for private parties). Reach out to Parramore’s for more infor mation or to book your stay: 1675 South Camp Moon Road, Astor, Florida 32102 TEL: 386.749.2721 E-MAIL: reservations@parramorescamp.com
Where is that? This is the most common question we got when telling folks about our stay in this wonderful community in Lake County, Florida. There wasn’t much of fight, when folks asked the question, because if not for our recent stay at Parramore’s Fish Camp, in Astor, we would have been asking the same thing. But, as you can read in the previous article, we loved Parramore’s Fish Camp and we love As tor too! Astor’s rich history and seemingly undisturbed beauty make it a wonderful water lover’s destination now and in the years past.
Astor got its name from its founder, William Astor, grandson of the mil lionaire John Jacob Astor, who purchased 13,000 acres in March of 1874, established a town and gave it the name Manhattan; the town’s name changed to Astor in 1884.
The Astor area riverfront grew during the steamboat era in late 1870, so William Astor built a railroad from Astor Landing to Lake Eustis that connected with regional lines.
William Astor’s son Jon Jacob Astor IV inherited the estate in 1894, but the boom era was over.
When Astor IV was lost on the Ti tanic in 1912, his son inherited the land but had no interest in it, and the area settled into becoming a premier hideaway for those seeking outdoor recreation, hunting and fishing and for those seeking something special and unique.
By 1558 the Spanish documented the beginnings of the settlement at Volu sia, seven years before St. Augustine was founded and Indian mounds served as the foundations of some of its early buildings.
In 1774 the American naturalist and author, William Bartram visited with the Seminole Indians; and, during his travels in the southern colonies, stopped for a while at the Spalding store at Volusia while studying all the plants and fauna in Florida that he could find.
When the county was created in 1845, Volusia was its largest town; and, al though it is a small unincorporated town today, most people in Florida are not aware of its importance in history.
Barberville was established in 1882 by James D. Barber who helped to capi talize on the fact that the area was on the proposed route of the Jacksonville, Tampa, and Key West Railroad. Gone now are the river ferries and the Lake George Lighthouse (burned down in 1971) but the rich heritage of the As tor area and the Central Florida region are preserved today at the Barberville Pioneer Settlement.
In 1886 when the first train rolled in, this northwestern-most community in Volusia County was still unnamed.
The conductor of the train asked the first five men that he met for their names; and, when all five answered Pierson, he declared the town’s name to be Piersonville.
Peter and Nels Pierson, and their three cousins had come to Florida in 1876, hoping to expand a fern growing busi ness they had previously operated near Boston.
Citrus crops and commercial fishing competed with fern crops for leadership as the area’s economic base.
Today, Pierson is the “Fern Capital of the World”.
Emporia (adjacent to Pierson) enjoyed a boom period from 1880 through 1920 when tourists staying at the Emporia Hotel decided to build their own two-story “painted houses”.
Economics in Emporia came from a saw mill, turpentine still, orange groves, a packing house, and cattle ranching.
Some text for this article from the As tor Area Chamber of Commerce: www. astorareachamber.com
Better Off Wet magazine is a FREE quarterly magazine full of articles, information and photographs about life on the water. Designed to educate, inform and entertain readers, every issue will contain:
Better Off Wet Magazine is full of articles, information and photographs about life on the water. Designed to educate, inform and entertain readers, every issue will contain:
after Christina’s first few attempts, she the frog. Once frog is gigged, depending on your set up, you can either place the frog in mesh bag or through an aluminum frog chute with bag attached underneath. The frog chute makes the gigging by foot. Ok, so you’ve gigged frog... Now you have to put him in your bag or frog chute. It’s easy to think that your catch is dead, but lot of the time they are waiting to come off the gig... so, they can make run for it. Be careful taking them gig 30 or more frogs, you can easily feed nice size family. But, remember… like most other things life… Just because concept simple; it doesn’t mean will necessarily be easy. Gigging
first few, you will be pro. Christina missed quite few frogs the beginning of our trip, but once she perfected the steps, she closed the night out that you can get the frogs easier. But, the longer the pole…the more inaccurate it may be. So, ask the experts your local bait tackle shop what they suggest for the right length pole that best the proper attire for the occasion. Frogs have oth er predators out there hunting them, well: be on the lookout for snakes and gators. Be aware of your surroundings at all times, by watching where your feet and hands are located. It’s best to have spot light and set of eyes for spotting frogs, look out for those snakes and gators mentioned and of fer any assistance you may need bagging the catch. Special thanks Jeff Treece for taking Better Off
Better Off Wet is all about life on the water! Whether you are fishing, boating, swimming, diving, relaxing at the beach, floating in the pool, or working (yes, even working) on the water, we at Better Off Wet believe it is time well spent! Better Off Wet Magazine will be delivered to thousands of folks electronically, every month. With each issue containing a variety of water lifestyle topics, Better Off Wet Magazine is sure to be a valuable resource to advertisers. Please, reach out to us to find out more.
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While on the way to visit De Leon Springs, our attention was grabbed by the beautiful antique river boat out front of what we now know to be the Barberville Pioneer Settlement. Not being picky or anything but, we at Better Off Wet are normally in search of cool water related places, to tell our readers about...after all we are a water lifestyle magazine. But, as it turns out this pioneer settlement was definitely water related; being as the Astor Bridge Tender’s House is the building where the river boat that we saw sits next to, and is also now the office for the Barberville Pioneer Settlement. These are the first 2 things you see entering the property, which makes perfect sense to us, since the entire population around the area, at the time, were by proxy, if nothing else “water people”. The Astor Bridge Tenders House was built in 1926 and moved to the Settlement in 1983. The river boat we saw and admired so much or Pastime Touring Boat as the Settlement calls it, was built in 1910 and has been at the Settlement since 1998.
We spent the better part of a couple hours “oohing” and “aahing” at all of the ex tremely cool artifacts located in the many structures brought to the Barberville Pio neer Settlement site, which makes up a what is now a wonderful historical vil lage. It is almost impossible to not place yourself back into the past, when visiting this unique place, or at least not for the B.O.W. Crew. We were going on and on the entire visit about the “what if’s” of living in a remote river area a couple hundred years ago. The general consensus is that even for all the craziness of the world today, we have it very good now. Just imagining a modern American family living in a one bedroom cabin (like in the Settlement), cooking on a wood burning stove, washing clothes on a board, making music to entertain themselves at night, and knowing that there will never be any Wi-Fi to come, brought much laughter to us. And frankly, after writing it would make for great entertainment, in our opinion. To the B.O.W. Crew, Barberville Pioneer Settlement was worth the stop and price of admission for sure! Next time you are in the area, make sure to stop and check it out for yourself.
A word from the folks at Barberville Pio neer Settlement: Here at the Barberville Pioneer Settle ment a dedicated program of preserv ing artifacts, buildings and local history is ongoing. The Settlement has been a good steward of local and regional his tory for thirty-eight years. Many young adults, that now have children of their own, have fond memories of visiting the Settlement during field trips when they were in elementary school. The tradition continues today as school children from all over Florida grace our hallways and pathways almost daily.
Our annual special events are also a tra dition for both locals and tourists alike. The Fall Country Jamboree was also es tablished in 1976. This is the largest and most famous of all of our events, attract ing visitors from all walks of life and all over the world. Featuring folk music, a juried arts and crafts show, corn boil, sugarcane boil, living history demonstra tions and much more.
Operating hours are: Thursday - Sunday 10 am - 3 pm 1776 Lightfoot Lane Barberville, Florida 32105 Phone: 386-749-2959 www.pioneersettlement.org
From its headwaters to the Gulf, this awe-inspiring Florida gem is sure to take your breath away. B.O.W. recently acquired a small skiff, which we haven’t had the opportunity to take out on the water, until this month. So, hav ing been to the Chassahowitzka before on a larger boat; we thought what better place to explore a little deeper in the new skiff than the Chaz. And, boy o boy were we glad we did. There are many creeks, canals, and cuts available for any explorer in a smaller vessel.
There are a couple of places to launch your vessel(s) on the Chaz. The Chas sahowitzka River Boat Launch may be the easiest. They charge 10 bucks, if you have a trailer and 5 bucks if you don’t have one. On this day though, we headed into the river from the Gulf, by way of the channel, in Chassahowitzka Bay. We have launched B.O.W.’s 26 foot Panga from the boat launch, but make sure to watch the tides, if you choose to launch bigger boats there. Also, know that there are many opportunities to run up on “Mr.
Rock” in the Chaz. Simply put, be aware and pay attention! This is good advice on any vessel and any waterway, but as I’ve been told the Chaz is notorious for taking its shots at beautiful boats. Our day on the Chaz in the new little skiff was amazing and without issue. We watched tons of birds in flight, on the water, and on land, including a few Bald Eagles. We witnessed Dolphin running schools of fish up on the rocky shoals creating a buffet for themselves. We were testing out the trolling motor in one of
the small canals off of the river, when a Momma Manatee got in front of us, al most guiding us away from a small hole, on bottom and to our port, where we saw her baby hanging out. The water is so clear, on the Chaz, unless you have your eyes closed, you will see tons of God’s awesome creations and creatures, as well. If, you are anywhere near the Nature Coast of Florida and love water and wild life, make sure to take the time to check out the Chassahowitzka River.
A brief history of the Chassahowit zka area, from myfwc.com: Thousands of years before Europeans ar rived; Native Americans hunted, fished, and gathered wild plants along Florida’s Gulf coast. Evidence of several Native American campsites has been found within Chassahowitzka on the same high and dry ground used as camps by 20th century hunters. The swamp was likely as inhospitable for Native Americans as it is for modern Floridians. Within Chassa howitzka is Indian Bend, a Weeden Island (A.D. 300 - A.D. 1300) burial mound excavated at the turn of the century by C.B. Moore. Indian Bend yielded primary and secondary burials as well as checkstamped pottery.
Although no encampments or other sites have been found, the Seminole Indians were known to have been in the area dur ing the Second Seminole War (1835-42). They gave the region the name Chassa howitzka, meaning “pumpkin hanging place.” The pumpkin referred to was a small climbing variety that is now rare and perhaps even extinct.
In 1985 land for Chassahowitzka was purchased from the Lykes Brothers and the Turner Corporation as part of Flori da’s Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) program. In 1988, another 150 acres was added to compensate for the loss of red-cockaded woodpecker habitat in Marion County. The Seville and Annut teliga Hammock tracts east of Highway 19 were purchased in 1998 and provide an upland buffer for coastal lands as well as a geographic link to the Withlacoochee State Forest. In 2000, the FWC approved purchase of an additional 720 acres.
This month, the BOW crew visited some amazing places along some of our rivers here in Florida. Each location was just as gorgeous as the next. These waterways have so much history and raw beauty. They each have their own unique characteristics that make them magnificent. However, every river we visited all had one thing in common: flooding.
As you probably already read in this issue, the Suwannee River is the last remaining “wild” river in Florida. Those who have the privilege of hav ing a house or cabin on that river are proud that it has kept its natural setting, free of marinas and big commerce. If there is anything to describe that river in my mind, it would be serene. You are simply surrounded by nature everywhere you look. The Suwannee River also has a major vari ance in flood levels. We were able to see just how high those waters go. Many of the homes sit far back on their properties away from the bank and some, we were told, are just waiting, preparing for the day when the lower level of their home floods. St. Johns does not have the same history however it was much higher than normal when we visited due to the after effects of Hurricane Ian. Many parts of Astor were still under water and some businesses were completely shut down because of it. We often saw homes where sandbags did no justice and people walking in rain boots just to get to and from their mailbox.
If you live in Florida, near a waterway of any kind, you usually have to have flood insurance on your home. You get it, never really assuming you would have to deal with flooding in your lifetime but you always know the threat is there. Many people don’t really understand how dangerous flooding can be. After Hurricane Ian, the flooding in many areas is really what caused the most damage and is still wreaking havoc today. With the rising water levels comes bacteria, diseases, loss of electricity, lack of clean water, and the list goes on.
So what keeps us from drowning when the water levels get so high? You can only tread water so long before your body starts to grow weary and give up. Thankfully, God sent us a boat to save us… that boat came in the form of a baby, Jesus Christ. This Christmas season, remember to celebrate knowing that you never have to worry about the flooding in life. Jesus is our boat and he came to save the world!
(The colored bands on the pole in this image show the Suwannee River’s high water marks at the Branford Boat Ramp during times of flooding.)
