Reynold's Sawmill laid bare?

[Robert Sobczak]

It's hard to hide after a wildfire ...

In this case, the old cement footers
from the old saw mill show up in plain view.

See for yourself at Go Hydrology! 

[Kim Gass]

I found a history of the area here. It is a fascinating read.

http://www.nps.gov/bicy/historyculture/upload/African%20Americans%2...

[Swamp Hunter]

Nice picture. My friend who lives on the Loop Road told me his family owned the Reynolds Saw Mill. I dont know much about it but he showed me some old pictures. 

 

I walked the old Gator Hook Trail yesterday. You only have to walk out about a hundred yards or so and see the cypress railroad ties still on the ground at the end of the elevated section. It would make another nice pic.

[Swamp Hunter]

Its a good link.  Its odd that no one remembers injuries from snakebite but I would imagine they killed every snake they encountered on sight..

 

I had a close encounter yesterday. My eyes were fixated on a fat Moccasin laying on the bank when I caught movement at my feet where another moccassin lie in wait ready to bite. Luckily I caught the second snake out of the corner of my eye and was able to jump out of the way. Those things give me the creeps and it took a few seconds for me to gain my composure.

 

Remember Moccassins are often found in groups and that is not the first time this has happened to me. I once jumped away from one and landed on another.  Back in the day we would kill them but they are now protected along with the sawmill remains.  They say a Florida Panther never attacked anyone but I read a story where a panther ate a black night watchman that worked for the same logging company in Central Florida.  Creepy.  It was a very dangerous job.

[Robert Sobczak]

It's an interesting spot for sure, and yes -- those rail ties you saw -- are a remnant of the track that ran back to the mill. Thanks for the link, too, Kim, up top! 

[Swamp Hunter]

If you walk a few miles in, along the old tram back to the large cypress, you will find huge tree trunks lying on the ground. I wish I had a picture. It appears they were not interested in the Bald Cypress tree tops with branches, even though they were huge, and discarded them. Some are large enough to make a canoe. What a waste.

 

Im trying to mark the Gator Hook Trail all the way to connect with the Florida Trail. This is a pet project of mine for 30 years long before it was an official hiking trail. I work alone and hope to finish it before I die lol. I worked all day yesterday. Its a lot of work because most of the ties are buried and grown over but Im making steady progress. I notice the further out I mark, unknown hikers are following my ribbons helping make the new trail..

[Connie Mier]

Great read, really enjoyed it. It conjured up many thoughts about the hard life of the workers, Zola Neale Hurston's book "Their Eyes were Watching God", the wildlife or scarcity of the wildlife, and of course the godawful destruction of the cypress forests. The massive onslaught people, and the tree felling and railroad laying must have scared off whatever snakes, gators and panthers lived there in the first place.

[Robert Sobczak]

That does sound like an adventure ... whoa!

[Robert Sobczak]

I should read that book.  Thanks for the tip.

[Swamp Hunter]

I found what appeared to be the old loggers camp with a working deep sulphur well pump, with pots and pans scattered about, back in the 80's. I used to fill my canteen for the long walk back. That was the days before GPS and would you believe it I lost it and cant find it!  I have not been able to find it since but I keep trying. I have pictures dated 1990. I posted them here somewhere. Im sure I am very close.

Its amazing how you can be so close yet so far away. Its easy to lose something. I know a fellow that set down his rifle and lost it and another who walked away from his ATC and lost it too. He had to walk back. I guess it doesnt happen as much today with GPS technology and designated trails. Lesson learned: Dont ever set anything down and walk away, not even for a minute, unless you have a waypoint.

[Robert Sobczak]

Funny, of course unless it happens to you.  Once you get nervous too it's easy to get off course (in more ways than one.)