Hello and today’s the last blog this week….and I thought I’d add the last thing to my what’s my blog about: Think and do with a great tour from Longwood to Ocala Florida…..
All pictures today are from Edinburgh—at least my personal ones….the rest are borrowed from on line of the places we’re talking about.
But First:
THE DROUGHTLANDER—FIND YOUR WAY THRU—GUIDE
Start researching all the clothing etc products that Sam is a spokesman for or just doing ads for etc….the boy is getting rich….anyway let us know what you find.
Here’s a start:
‘Outlander’ Actor Sam Heughan Partners With Bear Strength Clothing for My Peak Challenge
there’s been some unhappiness at the lack of sex scenes in Season 2:
do you agree or no: List your reasons yeah or no
If yes what can they do to improve in season 3 (this will include reading the 3rd book)
if not why not (reading book 2 is a pre-rec for this one.
here’s a starter: https://www.inverse.com/article/18104-outlander-season-3-needs-more-sex
Do some research on the actual battle of Culloden and see how accurate the show is….there’s all manner of books and of course on line…..give me a report….oh and start with this:
https://www.yahoo.com/tv/outlander-finale-sam-heughan-caitriona-balfe-talk-culloden-023006675.html
We start in Longwood.
If coming from I-4 exit 434/Longwood and go East turn left at 426–at the light just past the railroad tracks
If coming from 17-92 turn left on 434 then right on 426 the light just before the rail road tracks.
Turn left at the first light and pull into the parking lot first on the left.
You can get out and walk about the building
THE LONGWOOD INN. http://www.peaceriverghosttracker.com/subPages2/longwoodVillageInn30610.htm
in 1965 it was used to film the movie “Johnny tiger” with Robert Taylor, Chad Everett and Linda Scott. In 1969, the Central Florida Society of Historic Preservation selected Longwood as the nucleus of its historic restoration wit Longwood Hotel as it hub.
In 1972 It became the Longwood Village Inn. If you look into the front door you can see the lobby in what is now a business office complex.
Return to your car
Turn right at the light on 426 and then right on 434 (next light)
Continue on 434 under I-4 and take the first right at the next light
Markham Woods Road
It ends on Markham Road–turn left
this road ends to at Longwood Markham Road–turn right
Continue until it ends at light on 46
Go to light beyond river 46A and go north–right
It ends at 44–turn left
We’re heading to
EUSTIS: population 19,129.–It is centrally located and has a large population of retirees. Located on a large lake it has good fishing, and a community college as well as the Eustis Memorial Library felt to be one of the best in Lake county.
Once you’re in Eustis 44 also becomes East Orange Ave
Continue on to Diedrich Street and turn Left
On your left at 117 is the
Dream Spinner Bed and Breakfast: This northern style, two story-white clapboard farmhouse was built in 1881 and included 3 bedroom, palor and a home office, to the rear connected by a breezeway, was a kitchen and servant quarters. At the time it was built it was outside the city which was called “Pendryville”
The house was built by Moses J. Taylor a Conneticut-born school teacher and later Colonel in the Civil War, live in Tallahassee where he met his wife and his 3 children were born and then on to Washington, DC where another son was born. He was one of the Founding fathers of the town and worked as a real estate developer and citrus grower.
In 1988 the house which had remained basically the same over the years was restored and updated and the kitchen and servant quarters were incorporated into the main dwelling making it a 3,500 sq. foot dwelling.
In 1993 it was purchased by a Mt. Dora couple and converted into a Bed and Breakfast (Dream Spinner) which opened in 1994 and it was listed on the National Register in 1996.
Return to E. Orange/44 and turn left west
Back in 1881 Pendryville was a small settlement on Lake Eustis and eventually the town became Lake Eustis too, then the Lake was dropped in 1883 when it was incorporated.
turn right on Waterman Way
Hospital is on your right
WATERMAN HOSPITAL: Now one of the Florida Hospital chain of hospitals
The original hospital was on the site of the Ocklawaka House Hotel (1880s). The present hospital is large and well provided for as most of the SDA Church’s hospitals are.
The first post office and the first school (Oliva Pendry as teacher) were both located at this hotel.
The name Waterman comes from Frank Waterman, the head of the Waterman Fountain Pen Company in New York. He stayed in Eustis during the winter and bought the Ocklawaka hotel and enlarged it in the 1920s renaming it The Fountain Inn which lasted until the depression caused it’s close. He then gave the building to the city for a hospital.
Continue on Waterman which is one way north….Route 19
it eventually goes into a two way highway above town
almost immediately after this joining you will see CR452 forking off to the left—take 452
Seminoles once hunted on the lake shore here and the lake was originally named Sinufke for an Indian leader It was not until after the Seminole war that it was renamed for Col. Abraham Eustis, respected for his strict disclipine of his troops which was felt to have been a factor in winning over the Indians.
Continue on 452
Fort Mason: was located in this area. A minor outpost in the Second Seminole War (which is what took place in this area—there were actually 3 before fighting with the Indians ended), it became more important during the steamboat era. During this time the waterways were the best transportation and orange growers sent there fruit from Lake Eustis along Haines Creek, to Lake Griffin, then down the treacherous Ockawaha to the St. Johns and on to Jacksonville. The trip was slow, arduous and subject to always changing water levels. After the rail roads started coming into the area the Fort went into a decline.
During the 1940s Eustis was known as “The Orange Juice Capital of the World.” In 1998 there was a major med fly scare with all manner of effort to control any major damage to the trees. Over the years bees were brought in by professional keeper to fertilize the plants. These bees were brought from California and when the season was over they were then moved on to Michigan’s apple orchards. But eventually bad weather and urban sprawl doomed the areas’ citrus.
Continuing on 452
Now the road leaves the former orange belt and goes into the Central Valley once part of a wetland connecting several major lakes, called Emeralda Marsh which is part of a conservation area administered by the state.
turn west (left) onto Goose Prairie Road 3 miles past Ft. Mason
Although it is not a spectacular drive, on your way you may discover large flocks of ring-necked ducks as well as sand hill cranes and other waterfowl. You may also see some bald eagles, wood storks, limpkins and snowy egrets….
Follow it 4 miles
After the restoration of the marsh in 1993 the ponds were stocked with bass.
Continue a few miles to Emerald Isle road (it becomes that after a sharp right turn)
But this didn’t turn out well for the restoration
Follow Emerald Isle Road for 4 miles through the Marsh
and two more miles back to CR452—watch your road signs as road turns several times but keeps the same name
The bass that were put in the area didn’t reproduce and the fish when examined were found to have high female hormones in the males and vise versa. One thought was that the reclaimed farmland had high levels of DDT—and it was further found that near by Lake Griffin ha a low (less than 5%) alligator hatching as well as high death rates of turtles and snakes.
Back on CR452 continue north along the Mout Dora Ridge
Until CR452 ends at CR 42
Turn west (left) on CR 42
In a few miles you make a gradual descent into the Ockawaha River. Originally these lowlands had huge life oaks, but plantation owners had their slaves cut the and planted sugar cane instead.
This is just part of the tour….I will continue it for you until you ha
and a bit of Scotland to change the pace.
