Stephen Foster State Park. Time for a hike.

We moved off the coast to the banks of the Suwannee River.  The park is named for Stephen Foster who is sometimes called "the father of American music" was a composer and songwriter.  He wrote more than 200 songs like "Oh! Susanna", "Camptown Races", "Old Folks at Home" ("Suwanee River"), "My Old Kentucky Home", "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair", and "Beautiful Dreamer".  Of course, Old Folks Home was the reason this park got his name. 

​There are two interesting structures at the park, a mansion/museum with exhibits about Foster's most famous songs, and the park's 97-bell carillon that will play Foster's music. Sadly, both were closed while we were here.​

We have been here a couple of days relaxing and taking walks around the park.

It is a pretty park with lots of huge oaks with Spanish moss hanging all over.

Today, we take a hike or at least a more ambitious walk depending on how you look at it. Knowing that chiggers and ticks are present, we sprayed ourselves with deet and tucked in our long pants into our socks.

The hike will be on a portion of the Florida Trail.  I have mentioned this trail in other posts.  We have stood at both ends of the trail.  It starts down in the Everglades and ends at Fort Pickens.  This will be our first opportunity to hike a portion but only a short part.  The whole trail is over 1500 miles long. ​

Look at the post and the markings.  These are high water marks on that year.  Wow!  We are glad the river is down, and calm compared to what it would have been when flooding over its banks.

Much of the trail overlooks the Suwannee River.​

It was a fun hike and was 4 miles round trip.