Nature/Forgotten Coast or The Big Bend - Part Two

Eastpoint, FL    Coastline RV Resort   Sept. 13-19. 2020

Our view of the bay across from us that flows into the larger Gulf of Mexico.

..."Eastpoint serves as the heart of Franklin County’s commercial oyster industry. This genuine fishing community is home to rustic seafood houses and weather-worn docks, where oystermen haul their heavy burlap bags of freshly harvested Apalachicola Bay oysters to be washed, shucked, packed and transported across the country. It’s quite a sight to behold for visitors of all ages."... Mom and dad decided that this town for sure reminds them of the Florida of their youth...No fancy high rises or food/coffee franchises, just mom and pop family restaurants and bars that have been here; it seems forever. Many of the campers at our RV park spend much of their day on the long dock across the street fishing shoulder to shoulder. Nope, not much social distancing here...families and/or friends coming in together or making friends here. We are friendly with everyone, but keep our social distance as much as we are able.

We haven't been able to go to many of these Eastpoint restaurants because they aren't dog friendly, even on their screened in porches. The Red Pirate was the exception to this rule. 

They were very nice to me and mom shared her delicious chicken as well...dad kept his oysters to himself.

Almost next to our RV park is a state park called Tate’s Hell State Forest  “Local legend attributes the forest's unusual name to Cebe Tate, a local homesteader who became lost in the woods in the mid 1870s. He had ventured into the woods with his hunting dog in order to shoot a panther that had attacked his livestock. The legend is often recounted with Tate becoming separated from his dogs and lost for seven days and seven nights before coming to a clearing near Carrabelle, where he lived only long enough to say to a passerby "My name is Cebe Tate, and I just came from Hell" before collapsing.”

From what mom researched it’s wonderful park for outdoor enthusiasts who like to hunt, fish, primitive camp and such. 

“…The natural resources found on Tate's Hell State Forest are very diverse due to the unique and various natural community types. At one time Tate's Hell State Forest supported at least 12 major community types, which included wet flatwoods, wet prairie, seepage slope, baygall, floodplain forest, floodplain swamp, basin swamp, upland hardwood forest, sandhill, pine ridges, dense titi thickets and scrub….” 

"Tate's Hell State Forest is home to several stands of dwarf cypress, also known as "miniature" or "hat-rack" cypress. Although some of the trees are over 150 years old, none are taller than about 15 feet. The Ralph G. Kendrick Boardwalk offers an observation tower overlooking one of the areas where these dwarf cypress trees grow most prolifically." M & D decided that it probably wasn’t the best forest for us to visit; particularly with all the wetlands (which usually come with mosquitoes who just love dad)…

The other forest somewhat close to us is the Apalachicola National Forest. It was far enough away from us that we decided to skip it as well.

We visited Carrabelle twice to see if we missed anything...The second time stopping to check out the 1895 Crooked River Lighthouse, but not climbing it or visiting the museum. 

At first we were going to the Farmer's Market at the lighthouse today, but after seeing how badly they seem to be doing social distancing in this area, we decided to pass. 

In Carabelle we saw lots of higher, newer style condos and homes around the many marinas in this town and along the waterfront coming into town. Unless we didn't know where to go??? We didn't see many restaurants, gifts or trinket stores here. Their claim to fame is that they had one of the larger grocery stores around the Nature Coast. When dad went in to find more puppy food for me, he said there wasn't a lot of choices or many of any one item...

Carrabelle ..."Located east of Apalachicola on the Gulf of Mexico, the fishing village of Carrabelle would blend nicely into the Florida Keys or even Cape Cod. Carrabelle's port offers safe harbor to pleasure boats and fishing vessels." Carabelle does have it's own tiny beach, but for bigger ones it seems one must take a private boat or plane to Dog Island across from Carabelle or drive to St George Island, north of here.

Since this visit is mom and dad's third visit here, they said that they would consider returning to camp on St George Island maybe in late May or October, but otherwise, they don't see us returning here. Too many places, yet to be explored...