Torreya

Saturday we drove north to Bristol, Fl to visit Torreya State Park. It is a unique part of Florida, that is home to a hilly region in a relatively flat state. It is also home to a rare species of the Torreya tree that only grows on the bluffs of the Apalachicola River. The historical house that sits in the park, The Gregory House, was holding a history day, with re-enactors and music.

The Gregory House

                                                 

Backyard of the House, that overlooks the river

View from the bluff overlooking the river

Reading hiking forums online, they rated the park excellent for the varied terrain and sights. We decided to try one of the 7 mile loops around the park. The first part of the trail had a lot of historical markers, showing old confederate gun emplacements and  powder magazines. The emplacements did not see action during the civil war, as the North did not try to come up the Apalachicola River.

Zachary was walking in front of me when he nearly got a face-full from this spider.

Zachary wanted to be sure we captured the scale of the size of this thing.

I told Zachary this would make a good profile picture for him...

Or night terrors, whichever.

It really was a gorgeous hike, the terrain seem to change with every bend of the trail, up and down ridges and ravines all the way. I couldn't stop taking pictures along the way of course.