I have funding set up for my trip in case you want to assist:

https://www.gofundme.com/6yxzhfr8?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=email&utm_content=campaign_link_t&utm_campaign=welcome

Please feel free to ignore–someone recommended I try it to help with the trip and I set it up but feel tacky doing it and haven’t gotten anything anyway so may shut it down…but ….Sorry…..

A knight who can trace his lineage back beyond Charlemagne. I first met him atop a mountain near Jerusalem, praying to God, asking his forgiveness for the Saracen blood spilt by his sword.   A Knights Tale

Horse/Colt Small BRASS VINTAGE

$19.75

https://www.etsy.com/listing/242181687/horsecolt-small-brass-vintage?ref=shop_home_listings

AND FOR ALL MY OUTLANDER CO-FANS

Check out the two worlds of OUTLANDER:  http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/outlander-torn-between-two-worlds-season-two-premi-234977

and Why OUTLANDER’s FIRST KISS (not the wedding but the first one you see on the wedding night) is among the most satisfying on TV:

http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/02/most-satisfying-tv-kisses

No lying knight or lying priest ever prospered in any age, but especially not in the dark ones. Men prospered then only in following an openly declared purpose, and preaching candidly beloved and trusted creeds. John Ruskin

Knight Chess Piece CIGARETTE LIGHTER VINTAGE Brown

$32.59

https://www.etsy.com/listing/242177193/knight-chess-piece-cigarette-lighter?ref=shop_home_listings

VOLUSIA COUNTY

THE PAST

When most people think of Daytona Beach and it’s beaches, bikinis, race cars, bikers and spring break—which is many of the reasons those of us in Florida tend to avoid that side of the county–and go where there’s less glitz and speed and more hiking, biking, paddling even horseback riding.

Like the rest of North America our early settlers were Indians—probably as long as 12,000 year ago–The Timucuans (not the Seminoles who came after the first Europeans) were some of those original people and you can see all that is left of the tribe that was pushed out of Florida but the later Indian and European arrivals at

Hontoon Island State Park/near Deland https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Hontoon-Island

Blue Springs State Park/Orange City

In additional to Indians and manatees (in the winter time) there is also the historic Louis P.  Thursby House which was built over a century ago by one of the early settlers and developers.

https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Blue-Spring

Canaveral National Seashore     

Within it’s boundaries are about 100 Native American sites including one of the largest remaining Native American mounds (composed from years of their discarded refuse, mainly shells of oysters,  clams, scallops and other marine life debris) in the US.  It also contains the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline (24 miles) on Florida’s eastern seaboard.  Here you might even see the protected gopher tortoises,

  https://www.nps.gov/cana/index.htm

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge       http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island/   

Knight without fear and without reproach. Richard Harris Barham

Then came the Spanish and while they settled further north Hernando de Soto did wander thru the state in 1546.

Deleon Springs State Park/Deleon Springs

Locals believe that Ponce marched over the DeLand Ridge, a low sandy area that defines the St. Johns valley.  There’s no evidence to this affect but….Anyway the spring is large and great for a swim or a rented canoe.  There’s also a 1 1/2 story tall mill wheel–in fact there have been similar mills in this area since the Spanish era.  Auduborn painted here a guest of a planter who had a mill in the area.  All these owners and builders have left debris from their mills which are also displayed now.  Oh and the current mill has souvenirs, a bakery and a restaurant

https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/De-Leon-Springs

The Seminoles arrived in the 18th century and stayed on into the 1830’s when their burning some Sugar Mills that had pushed away from the coast began the 2nd Seminole War—  You can see some of the ruins for these mills at

                                      Port Orange/Sugar Mills Garden   

A lovely garden which in addition to the ruins also have assorted dinosaurs from a long gone park that was here in the more recent times:     

                             http://www.volusia.org/services/community-services/parks-recreation-and-culture/parks-and-trails/park-facilities-and-locations/historical-parks/sugar-mill-gardens.stml

New Smyrna Beach/Sugar Mill Ruins Park

This small park just off a main road is large in its beautiful ruins and its many historical artifacts including the boiling pots and other items found in the area.

http://www.volusia.org/services/community-services/parks-recreation-and-culture/parks-and-trails/park-facilities-and-locations/historical-parks/sugar-mill-ruins.stml

“Be without fear in the face of your enemies.

From the Spanish to the English and back again…Florida was passed about in negotiation for places they’d rather have and eventually became part of the United States in 1845.

Eldora/Ghost town

A site along Mosquito Lagoon it was a village in the 19th century with several industries including the usual citrus groves…there is no road here but there is a trail.  Pioneers were said to stop here for supplies and the residents had business in lumber, pecans, even Spanish moss which was used to stuff furniture.  A main land rail road seems to have put a nail in the town’s coffin and there’s just the remains of a dock and a couple of renovated building to remind one of what was.

http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/fl/eldora.html

DeBary Hall/DeBary

Built in 1871 this historical home was built for and resided in for periods of his visits to Florida by a Count that became a Champagne Spokesperson which made his fortune and once in Florida he became a mover and shaker in the area setting up a steamboat company that moved goods into the area and produce and lumber out as well as bringing in the ever increasing number of settlers and the future of Florida the tourist.  The house is now fully restored and well worth a visit.

http://debaryhall.com/

French Knight: You don’t frighten us, English pig dogs! Go and boil your bottoms, you sons of a silly person! I blow my nose at you, so-called “Arthur King,” you and all your silly English K-n-i-g-g-i-t-s.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Want to learn more about the area’s history:  Take the Deland Historic Plaques Walk:  http://visitwestvolusia.com/images/content/historicwalksplaques.pdf

and the Historic Mural Walk     http://mainstreetdeland.org/attractions.cfm/mode/details/id/23570/deland-mural-walk

Any man who would be a knight and follow a king, follow me! Arthur/Excalibar

https://www.etsy.com/listing/240501342/monk-with-bluebird-vintage-figurine?ref=shop_home_listings

“Sir, if you be Gawain, it seems a great wonder—
A man so well-meaning, and mannerly disposed,
And cannot act in company as courtesy bids,
And if one takes the trouble to teach him, ‘tis all in vain.
That lesson learned lately is lightly forgot,
Though I painted it as plain as my poor wit allowed.”
“What lesson, dear lady?” he asked all alarmed;
“I have been much to blame, if your story be true.”
“Yet my counsel was of kissing,” came her answer then,
“Where favor has been found, freely to claim
As accords with the conduct of courteous knights.”
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

All pictures are from Volusia Co.

Sources:

ADVENTURE GUIDE TO ORLANDO AND CENTRAL FLORIA/Jim & Cynthia Turnstall

BEST BACKROADS OF FLORIDA/Douglas Waitley

SCENIC DRIVING FLORIDA/Jan Godown