Osceola National Forest – Camping and Recreation

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Osceola National Forest covers nearly 200,000 acres of land and is located northeast of Lake City, Florida and is bisected by Interstate 10. Osceola is a “Flat-woods” forest composed of low pine ridges with Cypress and Bay Swamps riddling the area. The forest was named after, and in honor of the well-known Seminole Indian warrior, Osceola and became a national forest in 1931 by Herbert Hoover’s Presidential proclamation. The area helps to protect Pinhook Swamp, the Southern end of the Okefenokee Swamp.

Camping

There are camping sites on the area to suit most tastes. Ocean Pond Campground, Cobb Camp and Hog Pen Landing are the three main camping sites, but there are other designated hunt camps. All three of these camping areas are located just south of I-10, or about an hour west of Jacksonville, Florida. This trip was planned on short notice and ocean Pond camp was full, so we stayed at Cobb camp this time around.

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Cobb camp has quite a few sites, and I don’t recall ever seeing the campground full. There is a Civil War re-enactment event that happens at the nearby Olustee Battlefield in February every year, and the campground is in more demand during that week. Things pick up again during the early weeks of deer hunting season, and again in the Spring for turkey hunting season, which happens to coincide with Spring Break season. We camped during this busy period and were still able to get the camping sites we wanted at Cobb. The Cobb Camp sites range from sitting beside the main forest road, to sites further back into the trees. During hunting seasons, camping anywhere other than marked sites is prohibited. During non-hunting seasons you can camp anywhere in the forest that is not closed to public access.

Two of the campgrounds sit directly on the shores of Ocean Pond, a 1760 acre natural lake. The largest is the main “Ocean Pond Campground” that offers 67 campsites, with 19 offering electric hook-ups and some sites sitting waterfront. The Ocean Pond camp also offers shower and toilet facilities. A dump station is provided near the entrance, but the sites themselves do not have sewer hookups. Ocean Pond camp sites range from $8 to $18 per night. The other is “Hog Pen Landing”. This campground does not offer hook-ups or amenities, and spaces are quite limited.

Fishing and boating are allowed in the lake. I fished ocean Pond once before and didn’t do very well, but I’m not going to pass judgement based on one day of poor fishing, so I say have at it! The campground and lake offer great scenery, to include large old cypress trees with their Spanish moss dangling like jewelry above the water.

Trails

Approximately twenty-three miles of the National Scenic Trail meanders through Osceola National Forest, so if nature watching is your game, this might be a great place to go! There are miles and miles of 4 x 4 trails that can be used by licensed and unlicensed vehicles alike. There are some rules for off-road vehicles, such as no late night trail riding, and you must remain on numbered roads but otherwise you are free to explore. The forest service offers trail maps, but I’ve tried to save you the goose chase. You can find Osceola trail maps in the “Links” section below.

The basic WMA map will not provide you all of the info you need to navigate the four wheeling trails, so if you have a poor sense of direction or just like to have an insurance policy, take the trail maps along for the ride. Also be aware that there are some deep mud/water holes along the way, and trees do sometimes fall across the trails. There is also a very real chance you will encounter other riders coming in the opposite direction. On this trip I came head on with a side by side on a blind curve and had to take it into the palmettos to miss them. Caution is encouraged even on familiar trails!

Many of the deeper holes seem to be where swampy areas surrounded by pine and palmetto flats cross the Osceola Forest trails. During wet seasons the water in some of these spots can be several feet deep, without considering the depth of the mud at the bottom. It is not uncommon to see a second trail bypassing some of these deeper holes. In other cases, you either go through, or go back. Your choice! I’ve seen an Exterra 4 x 4 club and a Jeep 4 x 4 club out riding the trails more than once, most of them sporting snorkel kits on their trucks. If you are going to make a serious run at the trails in a vehicle and don’t intend to backtrack, I would say the snorkels are a good addition to your equipment. During some times of the year the area is bone dry, so just pay attention to what the weather, be prepared, and go have fun!

Wildlife

The area offers a wide array of wildlife for your viewing pleasure. Alligators are an ever-present possibility in any Florida body of water, so be smart and be aware. Never feed wildlife! Black bear populations are on the increase in Florida. Years ago I never saw bears in Osceola, but over the last three years I have seen bears on three occasions.

The most recent sighting was a mother with two cubs, and is featured in one of our previous blogs. Check it out! The “no feeding” rule goes double for bears. Feeding a bear is likely to eventually end in the bear’s death when it becomes a “nuisance bear.” Florida held a bear hunt a few years ago as an effort at population control, but activists were successful in their efforts to have the next planned hunt cancelled before it occurred. No matter your position on hunting, the growing bear population and the likelihood of more human/bear interactions will mean the issue will have to be addressed at some point. Your guess is as good as mine on how the issue will ultimately be addressed. Personally, I suspect that the bear hunt will return in some form.

Keep an eye out for trees with white-painted rings around them. These are known nesting sites for the Red Cockaded Woodpecker. I see these large woodpeckers frequently in Osceola, and if you don’t see them, you are likely to hear the rather loud sound created by their pecking on trees. Once you know the sound of that and their call, you’ll always know when Red Cokaded woodpeckers are around. You may also be able to catch sight of endangered Gopher Tortoises, Eastern Indigo Snakes, or Florida Panthers. You can see a baby Gopher Turtle in one of our other blogs. Check it out if you have time. Don’t touch these animals if you do see them. They are protected for a reason. The forest is also home to more common animals such as skunks, coyotes, foxes, opossums, wild turkey and squirrels. Bobcat tracks were in abundance during this trip. Watch for snakes! I have personally seen some very large Timber Rattlers, Copper Heads and Water Moccasins in the area, along with an assortment of non-venomous species.

IMG_20190316_120516419 — Bobcats on the prowl!

Feral hogs are becoming more common in Osceola Forest. Prior to about 3 years ago, I had only seen hog sign in one area. Now I see it in most areas I frequent, and each year the sign becomes more abundant and obvious. The amount of damage a few feral hogs can do is amazing and sad at the same time.

IMG_20170210_095931_833 — Feral Hog Damage in another North Florida Wildlife Management Area.

Fishing-Boating-Kayaking

IMG_20190317_113538943 — Ocean Pond boat ramp.

There is of course Ocean Pond. The pond holds many species of fresh water fish, to include Large Mouth Bass, catfish, and several popular pan fish. The Ocean Pond campground offers a boat ramp for campers, as does Hog Pen Landing. This camp does not have amenities. Cobb Camp has a couple of small ponds nestled in among the campsites which hold a few fish. I saw a few bass along the edges of the pond as I explored the area. I’ll be taking a rod and reel with me next time I go!

Hunting

As stated earlier, the area hosts hunts from September through March. During these times camping is allowed only at designated campgrounds. Throughout the remainder of the year camping is allowed anywhere in the National Forest open to public access. When camping during hunting periods, be cautious, and personally I advise that if you are going to be using the trails even as a non-hunter, I would wear brightly colored clothing. Blaze orange would be ideal.

Foraging

Unlike most state parks, foraging in a National Park is allowed, but only for personal use. Please don’t ruin it for others by trying to forage for products to sell. There have been issues in Florida with people collecting Saw Palmetto berries by the truckload to sell to vitamin makers and the like. Taking wild forage on this scale creates a hardship on animals such as deer and bears that rely heavily on these foods for their basic survival.

As previously stated the forest area is expansive, and offers a number of different habitat types to explore. There are hardwoods scattered here and there, often along the edges of the more swampy areas, as well as cypress bogs, pine woods, and a few large planted food plots.

IMG_20190315_121653423 — A strip of flooded mixed woods amongst the pine.

As with almost anywhere, there are both mushrooms and greens to forage. The most recent trip was a bit mushroom deprived. We found a few both nothing highly prized.

IMG_20190316_153628000 — Clam Shell Mushroom

Greens such as Bull Thistle, Smilax, False Hawksbeard and Japonica were plentiful. I introduced several family members to Bull Thistle stalk, sautéed with salt and pepper, and they loved it! I gathered up a nice serving of Smilax for my own consumption and gave it a quick steam on the grill with some salt, pepper and butter. Again, they were very tasty!

IMG_20190317_112608340 — Bull Thistle. Wear heavy leather gloves and use a long blade!

IMG_20190315_104346301 — Peeling the stalk. It’s a lot like celery,

IMG_20190315_104839146 — Grilling it up! It can be eaten raw though.

IMG_20190317_100223748 — Smilax. I love this stuff. As good or better than asparagus in my book.

Biking/Hiking/Horseback

While the trails in the forest do not appear to have been designed with biking in mind, there is nothing preventing a person from using the forest roads to bike. The main forest roads are “improved” with limestone gravel. The unimproved roads would be a tough bike ride during wet periods given that there is more flooded road than dry during those times. The Ocean Pond campground has paved roads perfectly suitable for more leisurely family type rides around the immediate camping area and entry road.

IMG_20190317_113601780 — The other side.

You could hike the 4×4 off-road trails, but bring tall waterproof snake boots and wear long pants in case you have to bust brush to get around deep spots. Throughout much of the year you are likely to need them.The Western portion of the forest offers approximately 50 miles of equestrian trails.

Osceola offers a wide array of activities for outdoors enthusiasts, is in easy reach of historical sites and the city of Jacksonville. Go out and give it a try!

Links:

Osceola National Forest Camping Reservations: https://floridastateforests.reserveamerica.com/

https://.myfwc.com/hunting/wma-brochures/

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd573704.pdf

Off-Road Vehicle Guide Book: https://www.freshfromflorida.com/content/download/31616/769009/Florida_OHV_Guidebook_2017.pdf

Where to Ride Guidebook: https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Recreation/Off-Highway-Vehicles-OHV/Where-to-Ride#nationalf

1991 Coleman Pop-up Camper Remodel

So… sometimes I have a tendency to get deeper into a project than might actually be required to solve the problem at hand. Recently I’ve gone that direction with our Coleman pop-up camper. The camper needed one new bed-rail slider when I bought it and the other rail worked okay but had a slight bend that needed to be bent back into position in order to slide comfortably into the receiving guide rail when stowing the beds. The dealer rigged the broken rail so that the bed could be set up and returned to the stowed position for travel, though not smoothly or easily. I used it that way for about three years, then when it fell apart I fashioned a home-made replacement that worked reasonably well for another year’s worth of camping. I’ve always intended to replace that damaged rail with a new unit and to bend the other rail closer to where it should be while I was at it, and about two months ago that little project finally rose to the upper end of my to-do list.

The bed rails were a simple project since I already knew how the system operated. Luckily there are still parts and parts manuals available for this and many other older pop-ups, so I was able to buy a brand new slide assembly complete with all installation hardware. Upon closer inspection it was clear that the rivets on the bent but functioning bed rail assembly were starting to loosen, so I replaced those while I had the bed separated from the camper.

I had to bend the aluminum on this side to get it off of the wheel so the rail would slide more smoothly. Removing those two pins at the top and bottom of the rail are the key to removing the slide rail from the guide rail.

IMG_20190107_160726634 — As you can see, no rail on this side. You can still see metal shavings from the two home-spun solutions the dealer and I came up with.

As one might imagine, time, temperature and our wonderful Florida humidity have all taken a toll on the interior of the camper. It was usable, and far from a piece of junk, but the particle board had disintegrated around many of the cabinet screws and the interior looked dated and tired. Several of the screw holes holding the long piano hinge into the stove cabinet base were completely stripped, and I really need this piece to function properly for the sake of easy set-up and take-down.

Demo

I started by removing all of the screws to the bases of the cabinets, bench seats, etc. Then I removed the screws holding the benches to the walls, as well as the screws holding the countertop to the long storage cabinet on the left in the picture below. Next, I removed the piano hinge screws that attached the stove and sink cabinet to the base section. The other side of the hinge is riveted to the upper metal cabinet, and since I planned to repaint and use the cabinet, I left the hinge attached on that side. I removed this section of cabinet in one piece. Later I separated the stove, sink and faucet into their individual pieces so that I could make a new countertop and paint the various parts.

IMG_20190107_161955661 — You can see the original bench layout in the picture. Notice the long wall extending into the floor space. It is now even with the front of the cabinets.

IMG_20190218_124339678 — You can see some of the peeling on this cabinet door.

The Floor

I pulled the old linoleum up, which was easy. Much of the paper backing remained on the floor. Trying to remove this from the strand board would have probably created more issues than leaving it, so I didn’t attempt to do so given most of the surface was really smooth with the paper remaining on. The corner areas and a few edges near the walls were a different story. Moisture had affected those areas over time and the paper backing came up with the rest, leaving exposed particle board.

IMG_20190218_124942681 — That’s a stylish floor!

There’s one of the ugly corners I was talking about. Leaving brackets on the wall when possible made it easy to line everything back up.

IMG_20190218_175652850 — The floor turned out pretty well after painting.

I picked up two boxes of light grey oak vinyl planks at a local store while on a camping trip several months ago thinking maybe I would use it for something at some point. When I decided to do the camper it was clear I didn’t have enough to do the whole camper floor so I bought more of the same brand on-line thinking it looked like a product of sufficient quality for a project like this. The planks went down easily, and the glue seemed sticky enough to do the job. Looks great right?

IMG_20190223_181403803 — Looked good at this point.

Then it happened… before I was even finished installing the furniture a few edges and corners were lifting. At that point with a planned trip coming up soon and rain in the forecast, I had to correct the issue or have a mess on my hands so I spent a little more money on higher quality planks from a major retailer and had a little do-over party. Good times! I installed the new planks over the first planks with the seams overlapping to lock the old ones in and it worked out great! Moral of this story is: READ REVIEWS BEFORE YOU PURCHASE! I didn’t and it wasn’t until the stuff started coming up that I did so and saw that most people who bought this product seemed to be having the same experience no matter what surface they laid the planks over.

Making the new pieces of cabinetry was relatively easy given that I had all of the factory parts to use as templates. Using 1/2 inch sanded and primed plywood I made sure to trace out each new cabinet door from the original doors rather than tracing new patterns from whatever new door I had just cut. I hoped to avoid amplifying any deviations by doing it this way.

IMG_20190223_145311845 — Everything getting a coat of primer and quality paint.

IMG_20190223_112511183 — New countertop not yet sanded or painted.

IMG_20190223_112506457 — New base top for stove and sink cabinet.

I used the original cabinet hinges and other hardware, but did have to pick up a few new screws, as it appeared rust had done a few of them in. I was never a fan of the factory floor plan and thought I had an idea that would open the space up, but that would still allow us to use the bench area as a bed should we need to sleep five. I left the furniture wall brackets up where I could, which made putting the furniture back in really easy. Luckily I was able to design the new benches in such a way as to allow the use of the factory bench frames and front panels. We have never used the folding table that came with the camper, so I removed it from the equation. It was probably the piece of furniture in the worst shape. I plan to make a new top for it, and if we ever need it we can take it along.

IMG_20190303_105155870 — Mock-up of the folding bench base section.

I only had to design and build one piece of the furniture from scratch. I needed something that would fold down to form the base for the couch cushions, make a bed, and to act as the couch seat, arm, and back. I came up with what I thought was a cool idea, and it actually worked out well. What do you think? You saw it here first. Call me Coleman. Call me…

IMG_20190303_163512527 — Folded down for travel or bed set-up.

IMG_20190303_165438448 — Folded up to act as couch.

IMG_20190303_165114307 — I bought a new piano hinge much like the factory hinge used on the stove and sink cabinet.

I am really happy with how this piece of the project turned out. It really opens things up when the camper is in use, and can be set up as a couch, a bed, or a lounger of sorts, while fitting like a factory piece when it comes to take-down and travel.

IMG_20190303_165520487 — The new couch in the open position.

IMG_20190303_170752841 — Lounger anyone?

IMG_20190303_165320046 — A bed when needed.

The cabinet doors were pretty simple to install using the same holes in the cabinets and drilling new holes in the new cabinet doors. Be sure to either screw them in by hand or set your drill at the lowest setting so as to not strip the holes out. I set my cordless 20 volt drill on 1 and 1 1/2 and it worked great. None of the screw holes stripped.

IMG_20190224_114416852 — New countertop for the sink and stove.

IMG_20190309_124629922 — Bottom view of water faucet. Center feed is city water. The other goes to the reserve water tank.

IMG_20190223_182343045 — This is the piece the long piano hinge screws into. The screw holes were in terrible shape on the factory piece. I shortened the side panel since I turned the bench sideways against the wall. Now the floor is wide open when couch is set up.

IMG_20190224_114429957 — The vinyl was already coming up here, but you can’t tell in the picture.

My factory stove lid was peeling and rusting in spots, so I removed it from the cabinet, stripped the paint, sanded and primed with high build primer. I wasn’t worried about taking all of the deep pitting off but I do want a reasonably smooth, durable surface. I spray painted the lid ivory-white then coated with a moderate coat of a heavy urethane that you may have seen on some restaurant tables. I’m hoping it makes the surface as durable as we need it to be. We often sit things on the lid, so I know spray paint alone would be ruined in no time. I forgot to take a picture before I closed up the camper, but maybe I’ll get one later and update this blog. It turned out well. Sorry!

IMG_20190309_121512733 — This is with the new vinyl planks. Similar color but thicker and more color and grain variation.

IMG_20190309_121527455 — The wall paint was something I picked up along the line and just happened to work out for this project.

I have done a few maintenance tasks on the camper previously. Those included taking off the front panel to tighten the chain (watch for wasp nests if you do this!), replacing the tires and rims, lubricating the lift system, and fixing the leaking corner caps. I still need to repaint the roof, which will also require removing the AC unit and gasket so that I can get to the entire roof surface. If you need to know how to do any of the other tasks I just named on these Coleman campers, shoot me a question. Happy to help if I can.

In all, this interior remodeling project didn’t take up too much time. I probably spent about 4 weekend days, sun-up to sun-down working on it. Outside of the issue with the floor, I couldn’t be happier with the rest. This pop-up should now last my family throughout the rest of my camping years, and hopefully will continue on with them when I am past my camping prime!

Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park – Camping With the Family

Hanna Park is a 400 + acre city park in Duval County on Florida’s northeast coast. The park lies just South of Mayport Naval Station in Atlantic Beach, Florida. Atlantic Beach is part of the incorporated city of Jacksonville. Hanna Park is a rare treasure. A piece of mature, accessible oceanfront coastal hammock that has a little something for just about anyone who loves the outdoors.

Camping

Hanna Park offers a beautiful campground that showcases great old Live Oaks, Sweet Gums, Palm trees, and many other coastal species. The campground has full camping hook-ups for tents and RV’s and other smaller campers. Some spots are more desirable than others. Checking the park map before you go helps, and while you camp for the first time be sure to look around for spots you might like to try in the future. The kids love meeting new friends around camp.

There are showers and restrooms but user be warned, they are kind of gross. They were probably fantastic in 1562 when installed by a small group of French Huguenots, but since then they have gone way downhill. Ok, I may be exaggerating on their age a little. Some of the trees and palmettos inside Hanna Park may have been around since the French landed in the area we now call Jacksonville, but pretty sure the French weren’t calling it Hanna park and the third tree on the left was the restroom. So bottom line, if you’ll need to use the facilities, bring shower shoes and some sanitizer! They do at least hose the restrooms down. Seriously… they hose them down. The campground has a small store where you can pick up a few basics and rent equipment.

You’ll see lots of beautiful mature oaks, palms and other majestic trees.

07CF8B9E-CCD1-4183-901C-D0959D54F001 — Mature trees in the campground itself.

4458B97F-3BBF-446C-A05D-1B810FF78A09 — One of many beautiful old oaks in the park.

85D67B6D-9F55-426B-A2A4-8116D2212ECA — The sea fog looked cool wafting through the campground lights.

The campground provides easy access to all of the following activities.

Biking

Bring your own or rent one in the camp store. If you are going to ride the trails, a mountain bike is recommended. The technical trails are challenging, and you will need a bike that is up to the challenge.

Hanna Park has biking opportunities for all skill levels. Whether you enjoy a leisurely ride down the hard-pack sand on the beach at low tide, riding the paved roads throughout the park, or the more technical mountain bike trails, there is something at Hanna Park for you. The mountain bike trails are marked with skill level and the direction of travel. With people riding the courses at speed, you definitely don’t want to be traveling in the wrong direction. Helmets are required for youth and advised for all.

25F238D2-096F-4F73-A146-2836D997FDC4 — Nice spot to stop and smell the roses.

E65261CF-3AC4-4A86-8F93-52F34EFE0F18 — Headed up the road to the lake and the next trailhead.

256AF585-9D91-40A3-8882-8941D3017FE2 — Plenty of paved roads if trails aren’t your thing.

59D7DA71-026A-4E31-8105-79B13D00CDB9 — Another cool old oak tree.

88650EF1-845F-4612-946D-7C7904AA13CE — Can you find this “Hanna” sign carved into a tree on one of the bike trails? Let us know if you do!

07B15A35-CB13-4BF0-B672-133E7A2B2A2C — The red trail is technical!

Hiking

Hannah Park offers great hiking trails that are intertwined with the bike trails, but separate from them. Unless someone is riding where they shouldn’t be, you are unlikely to run up against bikers when using the hiking trails. The hike around the Wellness Trail is approximately 6 miles.

This time of year is great because the mosquitoes are minimal, and the temperatures are relatively mild. This year has been an exception with mid to upper 70’s on NewYear’s Eve and New Year’s Day. If you’re going to be in the woods or campground, take precautions to protect yourself from ticks and be sure to check yourself occasionally, especially before bedding down for the day. Michelle and I both found one each on our legs. Hers was from camp, and I believe mine was from the trails.

Fishing

Hanna Park has several fresh water lakes, as well as the beach itself. You can catch an array of fresh and salt water species. Personally I wouldn’t recommend eating the fish from the lake. You can fish either salt or fresh water, but be sure that you obtain a Florida Fishing license if you are a non-resident, or if you are a resident who will be fishing from a boat, kayak, etc. If you’re lucky you might catch a glimpse or two of the otter I saw this weekend!

Kayaking and Canoeing

Rentals are available or you can bring your own. No motors allowed! The lakes hold a few alligators, but as far as I know of there have never been any issues involving the gators at Hanna and humans. Just keep your distance and don’t feed them if you do see them.

Wildlife

You’re not likely to see large mammals such as deer or pigs here, but there are a lot of raccoons and squirrels. A raccoon walked directly into our seating area as we sat by the fire on New Year’s Eve. There has been a recent increase in coyote sightings around the beaches and Hanna Park. As with many other areas facing an increase in coyote populations, vigilance is required to ensure people and pets remain safe. Be smart and don’t feed wildlife. The park provides food and shelter for birds of many kinds. We saw a big group of birds roosting on the small island in the middle of the lake.

69A835C4-99ED-4368-9F6D-AA63BDC40A65 — Birds roosting on island in the sea fog.

Invasive Species

Be aware of the dangers of spreading invasive species. The park asks that you not move firewood from areas outside the region, or that has been elsewhere. Firewood is available for purchase on-site if you want to purchase it there. There is information available in the campground about specific pests of concern and tips on helping prevent the spread of invasive species.

Fungal Finds

We’ve had a few wet weeks, and the first couple of days of the trip brought heavy sea fog, so there were of course plenty of fungi to be found in the campground and along the trails.

4BE32874-BDDF-4214-90D2-F733EA6E0897 — Oyster mushrooms on Magnolia cone.

1D7B247F-2B96-4DEF-834F-5E5B5135581F — Lycoperdon – Puffball Mushrooms

66093980-9A9E-44C4-8A0C-E38B5F1155BF — Pisolithus tintorius – aka “Dog Turd” fungus, aka “Dye Maker’s Puffball”

8746A844-29F5-4017-AFDD-65B6F806DF1B — Dog turd… I wonder why they call it that?

1CFBEEB3-1198-4F5A-A35E-CA29B8822418 — Clathrus columnatus Stinkhorn in egg form.

8DAD211B-9481-4C5F-8643-3F62633A4328 — You can see the columns developing inside the “egg.”

6E3AA38E-4E13-4808-B030-C7DD9592EA09 — Beautiful edible Pleurotus mushrooms.

336BB68B-E630-468E-8309-D9F90CD43D7A — Oysters from the underside.

86A468F4-9243-4BE0-9018-3A629F74CC7C — Oysters growing in a rosette.

F9C5DD79-4436-4F07-A036-11E72768A362 — May be a hygrocybe of some kind. Honestly not sure.

832D1BBB-2C99-41F6-9087-73BBAAF860FA — Mushroom, possibly Tramates lactinea, exuding water droplets.

5E03D6CE-95EE-4634-B425-7606FB79071A — Nice shot of Pleurotus – aka oyster mushroom and mycelium on wood.

15781662-F09E-446D-99F7-B17CDC4C7A73 — Spongipellis pachyodon – considered inedible. New mushroom hunters often think this is Lion’s Mane or some other edible toothed mushroom. This mushroom actually has a pore surface that quickly break down to look like teeth.

00355396-D6A0-4771-B1E7-7D0E4686544C — Pachyodon being attacked by slime mold. Slime mold for the win.

Play Areas and Public use Facilities

The kids will enjoy playing in the small campground parks or taking a cool splash at the water park during summer months! There are water cannons, jets that shoot up from the ground, and several other cool things for the kids to play with when the weather is warm.

4840F8F6-013B-43A2-BA40-6EF083094EC1 — The water park is all shut down this time of the year. Looks like it has truly gone to the birds! Can you see the large vulture in this picture?

B15C4FA2-5B32-4D70-B020-EF47A0FB8A70 — Now can you see it?

BFEBED93-B2EC-44FA-AF5C-4BE3FCDD3DC7 — Main campground park.

05FBA3CE-AFD9-49C6-A987-31DBF9CD23DA — Indoor gathering area. May need permit. Call park for details on this and other sheltered areas.

8F9EBA44-7356-4C3E-95B5-87E037C50F1E — Lots of outdoor picnic areas and open space around lake.

The Beach

0BA19224-CABE-4966-9471-0F62F6133243 — Heavy sea fog rolled in all day.

1D35195A-1B69-47C9-8C38-A2E4B715AF8B — Shells were plentiful Sunday up above this tide line.

The beach at Hanna Park is beautiful. The sand is clean, and on days when the wind and waves work together to uncover them, Hanna’s beaches provide some of the best shelling around. Sharks teeth are plentiful, with large specimens being found on occasion. Are you one of those people who says they can’t find shark’s teeth? Believe me; you can! They are there by the thousands. If you believe you will find them, you will. If you believe it is impossible, then I’ll come behind and find them for you!

Surfing

Hanna Park holds one of North Florida’s premier surf spots, know as the “Poles”. Thanks to the way our St. John’s River jetties build the sand up around the inlet, the Poles provide what most locals describe as the best break in our area. The jetties offer great wind protection on good days, making the form of the waves that much better. If you are a surfer, bring your board and join me at the Poles!

502E6E29-3933-426D-BC8A-5AF59E5B0321 — Surf Gators!

We hope you’ve enjoyed this review of Hanna Park. Let us know how your experience goes there!

Resources

Hanna Park Trail Map – http://www.coj.net/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation-and-community-programming/docs/preservation-(1)/kathryn-abbey-hanna-park-trails-maps.aspx

Florida Invasive Species Lists – https://www.fleppc.org/list/list.htm

Freshwater Fishing Regulations http://www.eregulations.com/florida/fishing/freshwater/

Florida Freshwater Fishing Regulations http://www.eregulations.com/florida/fishing/saltwater/

Mayport Poles Surf Report & Forecast – Surfline
https://www.surfline.com/surf-report/mayport-poles/5842041f4e65fad

Park Information – http://www.coj.net/departments/parks,-recreation-and-community-services/recreation-and-community-programming/kathryn-abbey-hanna-park.aspx

Park Information – http://www.coj.net/getattachment/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Recreation-and-Community-Programming/Oceanfront-Parks/Kathryn-Abbey-Hanna-Park/Hanna-Park-Brochure-2-Apr-2018.pdf.aspx?lang=en-U

Mushroom Forage and Sightseeing Near Middleburg Florida

It’s been raining hard the past few days, and we have the mushrooms to show for it! There were too many types of mushrooms and other forage to share at once, so I’ll go over some of the best. It needs to be very wet for Exidia recisa, or the Jelly Roll fungus to be noticed in the woods. A trained eye might find it when it’s dry, but it wouldn’t be easy. Several fungi are bundled into the common name of Jelly Roll. Exidia recisa is brownish to amber in color and looks like small ear like appendages when wet. They can grow closely together but don’t usually joining into one large mass. The fungus can be found on oak and possibly other hardwoods in Florida. This is an edible fungus though reportedly without a great deal of flavor of its own. The mushroom expands impressively when wet, so it can absorb whatever flavors or liquids it is cooked in. You’ll look for this fungus on fallen wood when the ground is wet.

Yellow staining milk cap

IMG_20181215_103705085 — Notice the milky yellow latex?

Milk caps are mushrooms that exude a latex when cut or damaged. Many are quite tasty, but some are toxic or too bitter to be edible by all but the most desperate. The taste and color of the latex are significant clues to edibility in this group of mushrooms. This yellow staining milk cap is one of the toxic milk caps. We won’t be eating it!

Deer Moss

This is a lichen, not a mushroom but is edible when processed correctly. Processing involves boiling and disposing of used water multiple times. If you needed carbs badly enough, you could get them from this. These are reported to be slow growers, and some that I saw were as tall as six or seven inches.

Cortinarius (Cort)

Not and edible mushroom, but beautiful just the same. There are said to be over 2000 types of cortinarius. Some are said to be lethal, and as a general rule many foragers don’t eat cortinarius of any kind.

Lactifluus paradoxus

IMG_20181215_105750121 — I love the colors of paradoxus.

These are beautiful mushrooms. They boast a number of different colors, often showing several colors on one mushroom. Blues, greens, greys, pinks, peach and salmon are all commonly seen. The salmon colored gills are distinctive. These are edible but require care to get back home in one piece. They are delicate and break into pieces easily.

Baby Gopher Tortoise

IMG_20181215_110726162 — If I head, nobody will see me!

No, this isn’t forage, but it is too cute and rare not to share! Saw this little one twice in a week’s time. Tiny little thing. Probably just dug one of its first of many tunnels in its hopefully long lifetime. These are endangered so look but leave them be when you see them. Take one of these for a pet, and it may be one of the costliest pets you ever get!

Lentinus

This is the most beautiful lentinus I have ever seen! Not generally eaten, but beautiful to look at. Shiitake mushrooms are a part of this group, and they ARE eaten.

Russula (Possibly Murrill’s hixonii, a rare mushroom)

The hixonnii russula were first noted around Newnan’s Lake just outside Gaineville, Florida. I camped there frequently while attending school. They are described by mycologist Arlene Bessette as “rare and beautiful.” The “Pepto” pink is a giveaway, as is their large size. Bessette reports that they smell like cake when drying. They may be found frequently in some areas, but overall are considered threatened. I find them in several areas from about 25 miles northeast of Gainesville to Pumpkin Hill Preserve southwest of Fernandina, Florida.

Coral Mushrooms

You really must know these well to chance eating them, and I don’t know them well. I saw a lot of them, so I wish I was able to make a positively ID.

Turkey Tail Mushroom – Tramatese versicolor

IMG_20181215_112834445 — Look for white pores. If they aren’t white, it isn’t Turkey Tail.

We’ve written about this wonderful mushroom before. It has compounds which are currently used in the treatment of cancer and is said to be medicinal by many. Full disclosure, I know of no scientific studies that support that assertion and have read posts by experts saying the same. Don’t shoot the messenger. In the absence of proof that they do help, I don’t know of any that say they can’t help if you want to give them a try! I’ve made tea with them and found it quite enjoyable. You can find preparation methods online.

Clathrus columnatus, Stinkhorn

Columns just busting out of egg sack.

One fully emerged, and one just breaking through.

The first person to give these a common name didn’t need much creativity. They truly stink! They produce a smelly substance that stinks, which attracts flies, who carry the mushroom spores on their feet to new and exciting places. This particular variety looks really cool. These start out in an egg form underground before bursting from the sack to extend above ground. If you can find them in egg form, some are said to be edible. You can just see one busting out of its egg in the photo.

Amanita persicina

IMG_20181215_181315908 — Motherload of Amanita Persicina. Hundreds of them.

This is a local variety of Amanita mushroom that is related to the Fly Agaric known in northern regions. It is the red mushroom with white spots on the cap that you see in so many pictures. Our local variety comes in shades from red to nearly tan when old. It is important to understand; the Amanita group contains some of the deadliest mushrooms known! When people imagine deadly mushrooms, they are often thinking about an Amanita even if they don’t know it. If you are not an expert, leave anything in the Amanita group alone! That being said, for the experts this is one of the Amanita mushrooms is toxic but tat can be prepared so as to be made relatively safe for consumption. I say relatively because this is also one of those mushrooms that reportedly sends some into an altered state of consciousness. The experience is reportedly not something to be taken lightly, and can include fits of projectile vomiting, sweats, and other less than pleasant physical symptoms. Some reportedly experience little to no physical effects, so I guess to quote Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry, the question is “Do you feel lucky?” Not me! I’m guessing law enforcement would have something to say once you began processing for that purpose. If you are a binge tv watcher, this mushroom also plays a role in the Amazon series “Fortitude.” Great series if you haven’t seen it!

Please follow us on our blog, as well as Facebook and Instagram @ outdoorfamilyfunandforaging

Thanks!

Referenced Arelenne Bessette et.al. “Mushrooms of the Southeast”

Pine Island Florida

Great news! We made it to our first wedding anniversary! I know, that shouldn’t be such a big deal, but these days it seems like maybe it is. I tend to agree with a former co-worker that the first year of any long-term endeavor is a bit special, and marriage is certainly no exception. Having loved the solitude we found on the water in the Keys, Michelle and I decided that we wanted to go somewhere a bit off the beaten path and a bit less expensive to celebrate our first anniversary in hopes of finding a similar yet unique experience.

While we considered several locations, including going back to the same home where we were married in Tavernier, Florida in the Florida Keys, we eventually settled on St. James City on Pine Island in southwest Florida. We enjoy getting in the boat and finding places where it is just us and Mother Nature. Pine Island appeared to offer just that kind of experience. It is of course tough to completely escape the sights and sounds of our city lives, but we sure like to try!

Pine Island is just north of Sanibel Island on Florida’s southwest coast, with access to the same fishing and boating areas but fewer people to compete with in town. If seeing Sanibel itself is your goal, then Pine Island may not be the ideal place for you. You can get to Sanibel by boat if you like, but the trip by road would be pretty long. We took my 16 ft. bass boat across the bay to the where the Sanibel Bridge meets the island one day just to do it, and the trip only took a few minutes. Unfortunately, it was getting too windy that day to make a run around the island to see the famous Sanibel beaches, so we went back to the mangroves near the house and spent the rest of our day there. With less wind it would have been easy to make the run.

The length of Pine Island can be driven in about a half hour or so. There are a few boat ramps on the island that are available for public use. Each has its own hours of operation so be sure to check those out in advance if you visit the island. We stayed in St. James City at the southern end of the island. The one public boat ramp in St. James offers 24 hour a day launching and loading. There is a fee for use of the boat ramp that can be paid at a fee box. The boat ramp is monitored by camera to help encourage those who don’t do well with the honor system, so be warned if that is you!

We rented a recently upgraded double-wide mobile home on a canal which also had a new boat lift. Many of the neighborhoods are composed mostly of mobile homes, so unless you are willing to spend top dollar, be prepared for that. Ours was very comfortable, and for $99 per night I have zero complaints!

The scenery on the water around Pine Island was amazing. We were able to motor out about 100 yards or so from our dock before turning north into the preserve and trolling the beautiful mangroves. We did take some longer trips, but it was windy for much of our week there so most of the time we kept close to home base in the calm water of the mangroves. One of the great things about the island is that you can pretty much always find a spot on the downwind side of some cover to fish. Just getting inside the mangroves helps immensely.

IMG_20180518_181457285 — Pelicans looking for a handout.

We managed to catch a variety of nice fish, and even cooked a few up at the house. Some of the best fishing we found was within eyesight of our own dock! Save yourself some searching and pick up a nautical map that shows depths and local fishing spots. The maps aren’t exactly cheap but can be helpful when visiting new water. We had dolphins and manatees swim directly under our boat while cruising in and out of the canal. The water was so clear in the canal that we saw one of the dolphins rolling over under the boat and looking up at us as it passed below. It was a new experience for me, and I see dolphins all the time at home. The sunsets were second to none! One of the few things we took pictures of that week.

IMG_20180518_200519131 — Pine Island Sound

IMG_20180518_200838824_HDR — Sunset over Pine Island Sound

IMG_20180521_201804046 — Mangrove sunset

IMG_20180521_202425696_HDR — Colorful sunset in the mangroves

IMG_20180521_201823844 — Purple mangrove sunset

Restaurant Reviews

Low Key Tiki
3135 Stringfellow Rd, Saint James City, FL 33956

Menu – http://www.lowkeytiki.com/

We really enjoyed our time at Low Key Tiki (LKT). The atmosphere was laid back as one might expect given its name. The food was fresh and tasty, and the service was friendly. Michelle and I tried the Po-boy and fries. They came with a sauce on them which was ok, but both of us ordered with sauce on the side when we went back. The sauce was good, but we wanted to maintain some of the shrimp’s crispiness. Obviously, they were good enough that we had them twice!

Woody’s Waterside Island Rum & Grille • 3051 Stringfellow Road • St. James City, FL 33956 • 239-283-5555

Menu – http://woodyswaterside.com/waterside-menu.html

A.K.A. The Drunkenmost Point – Being at the southern end of Pine Island, this is one of their claims to fame.

Our Selections:

Here we tried the most amazing Blue Crab balls we’ve ever tasted. Don’t blame me for the name of the dish and get those dirty jokes out of your mind! Think of crab cakes about the size of a healthy hush puppy. They were exactly as we fans of crab cakes like them to be… more crab than bread crumbs! We also had the Coconut Fried Shrimp and they were crisp and delicious. The Mandarin Orange Sauce was a great accompaniment. The second time around we ordered the appetizers once more, but I also ordered the pulled pork sandwich, which was fantastic. Woody’s was the closest place to our home away from home, at only about 3 blocks. We loved the place! We recommend you stop by and say hi to the staff at Woody’s when you visit Pine Island. We think you’ll be glad you did!

Saltwater Smokehouse

Menu – http://nebula.wsimg.com/ab421adf330ddeba807f9c480c608dfb?AccessKeyId=DF7F2D2E2BCA45BA76B8&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

This place will offer you much more than the appearance would suggest. The building is a small blue building with a dusty parking lot on the side of the main road running North/South across the island. You might not stop if somebody didn’t give you the heads-up. Heads-up!

Our Selections:

Surprise, we ordered Coconut Shrimp again as we so often do, and they did not disappoint. The BBQ was good, as were the sides of slaw and fries. I ordered a brisket sandwich plate and we really don’t remember what Michelle had there because the real star of the meal turned out to be the dessert! Although there are no desserts printed on the menu, they were offering a special of Apple Pie topped with vanilla ice cream, which was topped with candied bacon. Sound crazy to you? It was amazing!!!! We regretted only getting one to split between us. Do over?

Pine Island Getaway Cafe
5281 Doug Taylor Circle, St James City, FL 33956
(239) 283-3602

Menu – https://www.facebook.com/Pine-Island-Getaway-Cafe-1021500157986400/

If you are looking for a great breakfast stop, this is your place! It is off the beaten path and it is small, but the line that forms soon after opening tells you that it is known and loved by the locals. We stopped by twice.

Our Selections:
Michelle is a pastry lover, so she was on cloud nine! She tried the chocolate croissants one day, and we both had a breakfast sandwich on a fresh roll on our second trip. The bread was so fresh and crusty I just wanted more! Most of the items are limited availability, so get there early for the best selection. Once they are gone for the day, that’s that!

No doubt there are quite a few other great places to try on Pine island, and if we get to go back to stay in Matlacha on the north end of the island, we’ll try to let you know!

Cary State Forest and Campground

Recently Jake and I spent a weekend at Cary State Forest and Wildlife Management Area. We’ve been to Cary before, but hadn’t really been all that impressed. At first glance, you might feel the same. Driving through the main roads, which are mostly sand, you’re likely to think the place is just young pine flat woods and scrub. This year, we found out that is not the case. One just needs to know where to look to find some beautiful woods. While it is true that the area is mostly pine and cypress bottoms, it is the transition zones between the mature pine and swampy areas that we really enjoyed. The cypress bottoms here are not as thick as I have seen in other swamps, and can be walked when dry. This was the case on the weekend we recently spent there. Find some of those transition areas between the two types of woods and you won’t be sorry. I found that once I knew what to look for we were able to find great spots that were open and provided great views. These woods were different from any we normally spend time in, and we really enjoyed the novelty. As with most places off the beaten path, protect yourself from biting insects such as ticks and mosquitos and watch for venomous snakes.

IMG_20181104_095213695 — During rainy periods this would be a swamp bottom. 8 inches short on rain, and you can walk it.

IMG_20181104_102355591 — More of the bottoms.

IMG_20181104_100830245 — View of transition area. The pines got larger a little further in.

IMG_20181104_100837832 — View of transition area. We really loved this spot. You could have walked quite a distance through the pines. There were game trails crossing in all directions here.

There is always a possibility that you will see wildlife when you visit a forest. There is a healthy population of feral hogs at Cary, as well as deer, turkey, gopher turtles, etc. Watch for sows with piglets, as they can be very aggressive. The area hosts management hunts through the fall and spring but remains open to other uses. If you are hiking or spending time in the woods during hunt periods, it would be wise to wear some hunter orange. You can find some cool plants on your walk, like the Sundew carnivorous plants I there.

IMG_20181104_060728 — Little piggies running the road.

IMG_20181027_111806071 — Fox tracks in the mud.

Cary Sundew — Beautiful Sundew specimen. One of Florida’s carnivorous plants.

Although we weren’t camping, Jake and I did check out the campground facilities, and everything appeared to be brand new. There are full shower and restroom facilities, along with powered and primitive campsites. Although I don’t recall reading anywhere that walk-up sites are available at the Cary campground, there was signage on some of the sites stating that they were walk-up sites available. All the camp sites were spacious relative to other camps I have seen and were well spaced offering a good deal of separation from the few fellow campers inhabiting the seven available spots. That weekend it looked like only two or three were taken. There is also a dump station on site.

Primative Campsite — Primitive camp site.

Hook-up campsite — Site with full hook-up. Brand new concrete pads.

Michelle found a page on the web that talked about a little girl who haunts the forest and hangs out at the camp. Jake and I had to go check that out! Jake found her sitting on the bench in front of the restrooms. She seemed nice. Pretty sure all that stuff about her killing people is nonsense. Or is it…

Chicken of the Woods (Southern Style) Laetiporus…cincinnatus and gilbertsonii var. pallidus

Okay, so this week I’m going to talk about what has become one of my favorite finds in the woods. Once you know what you’re looking for, you’ll see them from quite a distance, and if you’re like me you’ll get a big smile on your face when you do!

At least two varieties occur in my area:

Laetiporus cincinnatus which usually grows at or near the roots of Live Oaks and causes butt or root rot.
Laetiporus gilbertsonii var. pallidus is said to be pale pinkish orange to nearly white and is considered common on dead oaks in the Gulf states. They typically grow higher on the tree in the form of overlapping shelves or brackets. These mushrooms also cause a brown rot. When I’ve found them, I’m pretty sure they have been on dead or dying Live Oaks. Dead oaks? For what it is worth I have seen what I believe to be examples of each within a mile or two of one another near my home in Northeast Florida.

The common name for this group of mushrooms is “Chicken of the Woods” and as mentioned above they seem to grow primarily on Live Oaks in Florida. Our Florida varieties of Chicken of the Woods can go from light yellow, to a much deeper yellow with hints of orange. The inside of the mushroom is white and has a stringy texture like chicken breast when cooked. I know people say lots of things taste like chicken, but seriously… these taste like chicken! I think Chicken of the Woods could make the most convincing vegetarian chicken tacos one could hope for. Unfortunately, mass production would be an issue, so I wouldn’t go out anytime soon looking for “COW” taco specials at your local eatery. Of course, if you are a forager and your local fast food place is a park, forest or property that allows collection, while holding the right trees, then get you some!

COW — The Chicken of the Woods from the pictures below getting the wok treatment.

The inner part of the mushroom closest to the tree can become tough or dry in age with a brittle, mealy texture. The outer edge of the mushroom is where the good stuff is found, so if you find them focus your efforts there! Of course, how much you can harvest from that outer edge depends on the size of the whole specimen, and they can get big. Many pounds of big. You’ll feel the difference between the inner portion of the mushroom and the outer edge when you find one for yourself. If you take only the soft outer edge with a sharp knife, you may be able to come back later for seconds if the conditions remain conducive for growth. If you don’t frequent an area often and you see one I vote for taking it if you are allowed, because if you don’t get it something else probably will. I can say with great confidence that you aren’t the only one in the woods that is looking to capitalize on this delicious resource. The mushrooms will become infested with maggots and/or beetles when the weather conditions are poor for mushroom growth, and I sometimes find these mushrooms with the outer two or three inches of the edges eaten away by squirrels when they are fresh. Squirrels giving us lessons in sustainability? Maybe. I don’t mind sharing with the squirrels, but I hate seeing great food go entirely to the bugs!

IMG_20181004_160027828 — It was growing at base of dead live oak and is a rosette, so should be cincinnatus.

IMG_20181004_160019793 — Nearly this entire mushroom was soft enough to eat!

IMG_20181004_135353426_HDR — Notice two different colors of the Chicken of the Woods in this picture. Not all of the other mushrooms in the basket were edible, or desirable if technically edible.

David Arora states in Mushrooms Demystified that the Chicken of the Wood mushroom is one of the “foolproof four” – an unmistakable mushroom. I have his book and use it for reference, but I don’t know if I’d go that far because there are multiple varieties of chicken, and anything can happen. Then again, I don’t have my own book nor his years on knowledge about mushrooms, so… These are quite distinctive mushrooms so once you have identified them correctly once, you’ll probably be good to go.

According to Kuo on mushroomsexpert.com the group of mushrooms known as Chicken of the Woods are now known to contain at least five different varieties which can act as parasites on living trees or saprobes feeding on decomposing trees. Like bounty hunters in the old west, they’ll take them dead or alive. These mushrooms produce various forms of brown rot, and if you see it on your trees there is not much you can do but monitor the tree for safety hazards. I think you should assume that eventually large branches or possibly the whole tree will become unstable. Your own environmental situation will have to be considered when assessing safety concerns. If you decide that you can allow your tree to die a natural death, enjoy your harvests to come!

There are also northern varieties of Chicken of the Woods that look a bit different from our Florida varieties and I have zero personal experience with them, so I can’t really offer much on those. If you live in the Northeast I have seen it mentioned that you should be wary of Chicken mushrooms growing on conifers. If you live up there, I recommend doing research on that variety so that you recognize it when you see it.

Be safe and as with any edible wild plant or mushroom, eat only a small amount the first time you try. Only try mushrooms or other wild edibles you have researched and feel 100% confident on ID of, and always be sure that you have your specimen identified by an expert before you try it yourself. Even better if you can see them eat it themselves and live to tell you how it was! Occasionally people do show sensitivity to southern varieties of Chicken of the Woods. If you aren’t sensitive, you’re in for a treat! If you live in my area, and see what looks like Chicken of the Woods on your trees, I am happy to check it out for you!

Enjoy your hunt for Chicken of the Woods!

Reference:

Arora D. 1986. Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi (2nd edition). Berkeley: Ten Speed Press. ISBN 0-89815-169-4.

Kuo, M. (2017, November). The genus Laetiporus. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/laetiporus.htm