Princess Place Preserve 2/28

In 1791 the King of Spain offered a 1100 acre land grant to Francisco Pellicer. Henry Mason Cutting purchased the property in 1886. Using local materials including cedar and palm tree trunk and pink coquina the Adirondack camp-style lodge was constructed in 1887. The complex included servants quarters, a caretakers house, tennis courts, stables, boathouse, pool house and the first in-ground concrete swimming pool in Florida. Cutting died in 1892 leaving a widow, Angela Mills Cutting and 2 small children. Angela later married an exiled Russian prince, a member of the Russian Royal Family. After the Prince died in 1949, the Princess used the lodge as her primary residence. For this reason it became known as the Princess Estate. In 1954 the Princess sold the property to Lewis and Angela Wadsworth, one of the founding families of Flagler County. Flagler County purchased the property in 1993 as a preserve. The property is located about an hour south of St Augustine on Pellicer Creek. There are equestrian and hiking trails all over the property as well as historic buildings that have been restored.

 

Key West 3/6/2024

 

Drove into Key West and rode our bikes around on a day there were no cruise ships in port. 

Obligatory Southernmost Point photo !!

Huge, old Banya tree.

Cocktails ... of course !

Key Lime pie while waiting for the sunset.

BEAUTIFUL !!

Bahia Honda 3/4 to 3/10

     

Sight was tight ... but we were in the Keys !

Excellent park job by David ... with excellent directions by Chellie !!

  By the early 20^th century, Henry Morrison Flagler had already achieved great wealth and acclaim by financing the development of Florida’s wild and remote east coast. His new dream was to connect the isolated city of Key West to mainland Florida. The Over the Sea Railway would span 126 miles of open water using the islands of the Florida Keys as stepping stones. The Bahia Honda Bridge was built between 1909 and 1912. It was one of the most challenging sections due to the deep channels.

The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 destroyed 40 miles of train tracks in the upper keys and the Florida East Coast Railroad – already approaching bankruptcy – couldn’t afford to rebuild. The state purchased what remained of the old railroad beds and bridges, using them as the foundation for the Overseas Highway.

As personal vehicles began replacing railroads, access to the Florida Keys had to change. The railroad bridge was transformed in 1938 to become part of the Overseas Highway. The railroad structure was too narrow for two lanes of traffic, so the new highway had to be built on top of the truss spans. The highway bridge was known for its unique design, exciting ride and breathtaking view. The old bridge trail follows the path that was once the highway. 

Hiked from the campsite.

View from the top of the old bridge.

View of the old bridge and new bridge from the water.

Cocktails and sunsets from the old bridge.

Ready for one of many beach days. Weather was wonderful. 80 and sunny !!

Historic St. Augustine

After the English overran and burned St Augustine in 1702 the Spanish built a wall around the city. Beginning in 1739 the people entered St Augustine through a wooden gate. These stone pillars were constructed in 1808 as part of a major upgrade of the town's walled defenses.

 

 

Lions guard the entrance to Lions bridge below.

Flagler college occupies the building that was once Ponce De Leon Hotel.

Oldest wooden schoolhouse in St Augustine.

Fort Castillo de San Marcos

In 1565, Spain established St Augustine to protect it's Gulf Stream shipping route and anchor it's claim to La Florida (roughly today's Florida and parts of surrounding states). By the early 1600s British colonies encroaching from the north threatened the city. The Spanish built nine wooden forts before constructing the stone fort that stands today, preserved as part of Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. From its first stones to its later massive walls, Castillo de San Marcos was constructed between 1672 and 1695. Once completed, this structure never fell in battle. This was an amazing structure and a great lesson in history for both of us.