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Throughout life’s journey there are people who make a huge impact on our lives, mine is no exception. Parents, teachers, coaches, friends, and sometimes mere acquaintances have left a mark that is so indelible that our lives are changed forever. Tonight I prepare to say farewell to one of those people.

I’ve known Betty Jo for over forty years. A longtime Tallahassee native she spent her days raising a family of four children in a loving home along with her husband R Guy. Not only did she raise her four children but she raised a whole lot more. Her home was always open to her children’s friends as well as to her very large extended family and to others who would often drop by for a meal or to share conversation. I was fortunate to have fallen into this group. As a family friend I enjoyed many a great meal at her table. Her southern charm, hospitality and love of the Lord were some of the wonderful memories that I have from back then. She was a wonderful mother to her kids and wife to her husband. Kids were drawn to her home and she treated us as if we were her own. Everyone felt welcome and safe there. It was one of those places that as life took us in different directions none of us ever forgot.

Fast forward about 30 years and she and I crossed paths once again. This time I officially became part of her family as I was blessed to have married one of her daughters, BR. Now widowed and having moved from the old home I had once known, she now lived by herself in a beautiful country home near Lake Talquin, on the west side of Tallahassee. Again as before her home was always open to family and friends and for the past 10 years we have enjoyed some incredible times there. Her children now had children and grandchildren of their own and who we once called “Mrs. Revell” was now affectionately known as “Nana!” Our friendship grew and I loved Nana as if she were my own mother. She was always good to me and I to her. More than a Mother in Law she was a good friend. We had a great relationship. I admired and respected her. Throughout my life I have oft heard people complain about the relationship (or lack thereof) with their mother-in law. I was never privy to that sort of relationship because she and I have always gotten along great. When I stop and think of why my wife is so wonderful I don’t have to dwell on that question long because the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Her mom is a wonderful lady and so is my wife and I admire and respect both of them tremendously.

Occasionally I would work on Nana’s house and she would make us a great lunch and we would sit and eat and talk about all sorts of things. The family, our country, old Tallahassee, and any other topic we felt needed discussing. I cherish those conversations because those who have come before us are a wealth of knowledge and I have always soaked it up like a sponge. These conversations I shared with Nana were no different. Talk to her during lunch and then ponder what she said for the rest of the day. Twas good stuff. I have learnt a lot throughout my life by talking to my elders and listening closely to what they said. I learnt a lot from Nana as she and I knew many of the same people, went to the same High School, we just had a lot in common.

Her large kitchen was a place where magic occurred! So many wonderful dinners and suppers we have enjoyed there! So many wonderful meals enjoyed at her antique dining room table that I many times put the leaf into to accomodate large family gatherings, only to remove it after dinner and stow it away for next time. For the past 10 years we have eaten there just about every week or two! In the fall of the year I’d take my cast net and catch a few mullet from the gulf, always keeping a few medium sized “Nana Mullet” because that was the size she liked, and oh yea fry ’em a little hard because that was how she liked ’em! Every now and then I’d get her to eat a little red roe which either you love or you hate, but she was from the old school and she would eat it. On special occasions the girls and Nana would drink some champagne while making some type of over the top incredible meal in her kitchen, always under Nana’s watchful eye! The turkeys and hams were cut to Nana’s specifications, her dressing was made the old fashioned Nana way and always turned out delicious! Two weeks ago my wife secured Nana’s recipe for marinara sauce after she made a dinner of pasta shells in Nana’s kitchen and Nana gave her the recipe. Surprisingly BR said the recipe was simple to make however it rivals any marinara sauce served in the finest Italian restaurants. Its truly that good (and I ain’t kidding)!

Whenever Nana ventured out to dinner somewhere she was always surrounded by her children and grandchildren like the secret service around a president! She was closely guarded and her every need attended to. She was loved by her family like no other. Everyone looked out for Nana!

Family reunions were a whole other topic. Nana became the Matriarch of the Liberty County Revell clan. Everyone knew Nana and she was loved by all of her family close and extended. Sitting at the table with Nana we’d watch as family members would line up to check on Nana and to share a quick story with her, glad to see her there during the annual event. Nana was the star of the show and everyone knew it.

However, time has passed by as it always does and the years have finally caught up with our Sweet Nana. What we thought would be a brief two day hospital stay last week has turned into a nightmare for Nana’s loved ones. Tonight is night seven of a 24 hour vigil her daughters are keeping to make sure Nana wants for nothing. The Doctors have told the family that all has been done that can be done and that Nana’s days are short. Nana is now 90 years old, Nana is tired, her body worn out. She’s run her race, she has done her job and done it well. Her time is near. The family crushed. Family and friends now line Nana’s bedside sharing choked up stories and saying their final goodbyes to a lady who has meant so much to so many. The young people who shared her home, beach house and dinner table so many years ago stop by to see Nana one more time. Voices crack and eyes water as they realize that this wonderful chapter in their own lives is now coming to a close. This is not just another old person dying, this situation is devastating. She meant so very much to so very many, this chapter in all of our lives is ending.

For me, I am being supportive, doing anything I can to make this situation a little easier to bear for anyone who needs it. Its all I know to do. Coffee, I’m on it. Food, whatcha want? Today holding hands with family members circling Nana’s bedside the Preacher asked me to lead a prayer, I did the best I could but it is hard when your throat is locked up and the words won’t come. I did the best I could. For seven long days now I have been choked up inside, unable to focus my thoughts and unable to speak without having to clear my throat. I’m about to lose yet another loved one who has meant so much to me. I know it is life’s process, I get that. No one lives forever, we all have our appointed hour. But this one hurts and it hurts bad. I oft wonder what is wrong with me, why do I hurt this bad? I’m 60 years old now. I spent 36 years as a street cop, 22 of those years on a SWAT team. I have seen death up close hundreds of times, I have done some unimaginable things to save human life, sometimes with success, most of the time without. Why can’t these experiences toughen me up and prevent me from hurting so bad? For the life of me I do not know. Maybe it is because I have never lost our Sweet Nana before. Soon I’ll go home and I’ll climb into bed and try to go to sleep. I’ll toss and turn and then read a little bit, finally from exhaustion I’ll fall asleep. Another restless night. And tomorrow I’ll again walk to the ICU and check on our Sweet Nana and pray to God for Mercy.

Along with asking for Mercy I’ll Thank God for our Sweet Nana. I’ll thank him for my relationship with her, for being my wife’s mother, for doing such an outstanding job of making my wife and for allowing me to be a part of the wonderful family she raised. I’ll Thank God for her friendship, for the wonderful relationship that she and I had that apparently a lot of folks do not enjoy. I’ll Thank God for all she did for so many, for touching the lives of so many young people in a caring and positive way. I will Thank God for sharing her family and her life with me. I’ll Thank God for the influence she has had on my life, for her strength, her caring and for her love, for the example she has set for us all, and for the time God has given us to spend with such a sweet soul. For so much of what she did has made me the man I am today.

Nana, Thank You. I am going to miss you more than you know. You have had a tremendous impact on my life. You were one of the good ones. You were always there, you were solid, you never changed. You loved and you were loved. You Nana are what life is all about. Our lives are about about to change big time. Its no secret, we all know it. The life we knew with you is about to end, things will never be the way they were before. Never. It is sad. It is true.

Where do we go from here? I do not know. I am being supportive. We will take it one day at a time. The young will grow old, the old will grow older. Time will push on. Who will I catch mullet for? Who’s table will we gather around on holidays, birthdays, or just any days? Who will I blow the truck horn for when I pass by your house (“two toots for Nana”)? Who will we rally around at family reunions? Life as we know it is about to change but one thing is certain…we are much better people for having had you in our lives. You will be missed.

Our Sweet Nana, we are going to miss you. Thanks for being who you were and for all you did. You were truly one of a kind. We Love You Nana.

After lunch I met with Mark Wheeler at the range to sight in a couple of new MOS pistol sights. “MOS” stands for Modular Optics System, also known as Reflex Optics. It is an optical sight that attaches to the top of the pistol slide near the rear sort of like small scope. It has buttons on the side of it which you can turn the sight on or off and adjust the brightness of the illuminated reticle inside the sight. The sights can also be activated by a “shake awake” system in which the sights “turn on” when the gun is handled. The illuminated reticle inside the sights were bright, one was red and one was green. Optic sights are becoming more popular with competitive shooters as well as home defense and target shooting. These Optical Sights allow for faster target acquisition, faster target transition, and improved accuracy. I have spoken to Police Officers who have been through the new MOS Pistol training and they are sold on the new technology. They have spent days learning and training with these new sights, have qualified with them and now carry them on the street. I’ve been told that the key to these new sights is to focus on the target and bring the reticle up and through your peripherial vision you pick up the illuminated reticle and when it gets on the target you pull the trigger. With the traditional iron sights you focus on the front sight, not the target. Totally different than anything I have shot before. Although I have seen and read about these new sights I have never shot one until today. They are quickly becoming increasingly popular with the law enforcement community and I can see why. They are quick and accurate. I can see where many shooters would want to venture away from the standard “iron” sights and outfit their pistols with this new technology. Having spent 36 years as a law enforcement Officer and 22 of those years on a SWAT Team I’m not convinced that these new sights are right for me. I will explain more later.

Today was an interesting and educational day for sure. Although I have seen and read about these new sights this is the first time I have shot with them. I liked them and I know with time and practice I would become proficient with them. The Officers I know who are carrying them on the street speak highly of them. They are the future. However, I have some concerns about them. As I mentioned above I have been a cop for a long time. In a perfect world these sights will be great but this ain’t no perfect world. What happens when they fill with rain? What will happen when the battery goes dead when you need it most or when it shorts out. What happens when an Officer is fighting on the ground or crawling in a ditch and this sight fills with mud and dirt? What happens when an Officer doesn’t maintain his equipment like he should and the sights fill with dust and grease and whatever else falls into it? What happens when an Officer is shot and the sight fills with blood? These are real concerns and again…this is not a perfect world. If it can go wrong it will at the most inopportune time. These will be bugs that will have to be worked out. I’m not a cop anymore, I’m out of the game. I haven’t attended transition training, been qualified or taken classes to teach me about these sights. I haven’t read policies pertaining to these sights and have no idea what the rules on maintaining them will be. I can only hope that the Officers who carry them will maintain their sights and maintain their proficiency with them. I like them, I really do. I enjoyed shooting with them today and if I were younger I would challenge myself to be the best shot I could be with them. However my ship has sailed. I’m an old iron sight guy and always will be. Best wishes to all of you who transition to these new sights. I’m sure in the future we will see more and more Officers carrying MOS sights. We can only pray that whatever sights they choose to carry that God will keep them safe.

We were recently blessed to have been given the opportunity to travel to Coolidge, Georgia in pursuit of the wily Bobwhite Quail. The Plantation that we visited was Boggy Pond which is renowned for it’s southern hospitality and world class wing shooting!

The Plantation is an established hunting venue that has developed a reputation as being a highly sought after wing shooting plantation visited repeatedly by those who enjoy the challenge of a first class shoot!

The Plantation is headquartered on the banks of Boggy Pond and sports several guest houses that have been moved to this location and refurbished. The houses are very comfortable and afford visitors a clean and comfortable place to stay, numerous bed and bathrooms along with central air and heating.

The guest houses and the dining room are very well furnished but one of the most impressive additions to these buildings is the artwork that hangs on the walls. Paintings and photos of dogs and upland gamebirds adorn the walls and instill excitement for guests looking forward to a day in the field!

Comfortable accommodations and world class wing shooting aren’t the only attractions at Boggy Pond. Guests are treated to incredible old style southern dining at Boggy Pond. The dining hall is located near the cabins and the pond. The food is prepared by a team of ladies who are masters and cooking good southern food! Fried Chicken, fried quail, cubed steaks, fried pork chops, biscuits, lima beans, corn, potatoes and gravy are just a few of the delicacies that are served here. The food is like your grandma use to make and most folks haven’t eaten like this in a long time!

Boggy Pond is an incredible venue for outstanding wing shooting and southern hospitality. The accommodations are first class, birds are plentiful and the food is over the top! The dogs are very well trained and love to work. To watch these dogs hunt is very impressive. Their noses are amazing, the dogs along with their Handler Josh work together as a team to locate, flush and retrieve the birds. Not only did we shoot quail but we shot several Chuckers which are larger than quail and just as good to eat! We were blessed to have had this opportunity and look forward to another hunting adventure at Boggy Pond!

We were recently blessed to enjoy a week snow skiing in Vail Colorado. Although there are 3 primary ways to get on or off the mountain we chose to use a community called “Lionshead” to access the mountain. Like most Colorado towns Vail sports a interesting history as to how it came to be. Originally occupied by Ute Indians they were driven out in the 1800’s by white settlers heading west in search of gold and other minerals discovered in the west. Vail Valley then became a sheep ranch which thrived until Vail became a training venue for the 10th Mountain Division of the US Army during WWII. A handful of soldiers who trained there came back after the war and created the ski resort. Being avid skiers the Soldiers had a vision of turning Vail into a ski destination. What those soldiers envisioned has transpired into a world renowned ski destination, a billion dollar industry headquartered in Vail. If only those warriors could see it now….

Below are some photos taken during our visit. This place is incredible, these photos do not begin to describe the vastness and the beauty of this place.

We were blessed to have had the opportunity to spend a wonderful week skiing in Vail, Colorado. To have seen and skied it there is no question why this is the premier ski destination that it has become. Just as enjoyable as the skiing is the history of this valley and the beautiful mountains that surround it. The vision of a handful of Soldiers that liked to ski and who were training there with the 10th Mountain Division became a reality when they returned from the war (one very seriously injured) and pursued their dream. If only they could see it today!

I hope you enjoyed this blog and use this information to plan a trip to this incredible place! I hope it inspires you to get out and enjoy this beautiful world and like the Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division to pursue your own dreams!

The photos in the blog were taken with a GoPro Hero 8 Black camera. (Copyright2022/BlackwaterImages.com).

After watching the first half of the Georgia vs Michigan football game, I got up off the couch and grabbed my gear and headed off to Cascades Park in downtown Tallahassee in an effort to create a few New Years Eve fireworks photos. Rain was still falling as I drove to the park as I had told myself I wouldn’t stand in the rain nor would I stand in a group of people. Earlier in the day I had scoped out what I had thought would be a good vantage point to take photos while we were riding thru the park in the early morning hours heading down to Wakulla County.

Fortunately the rain let up and I parked at the pool parking lot at Myers Park and walked into the park. The crowd was not bad but the event was well attended.

I had an idea of where the fireworks would be launched and where the crowd gathered around the amphitheater would best see them.

I chose a hillside next to a railroad trestle as my best vantage point. Having never photographed fireworks at this park before it was only a guess as to where they would be launched for the best view for the crowd!

I set up a tripod and affixed the camera to it. Fireworks have always been challenging for me but with a 2sec exposure setting I hoped for the best!

Soon the show began with a “bang!” It was a fast and furious show with little downtime between launches!

The crowd was really into it and seemed to enjoy the show!

There were a lot of kids in the crowd who like me enjoyed it!

As with a lot of fireworks shows the smoke lingers in the air and effects the quality of the show. Although it was a hot and humid night the smoke quickly dissipated and was not a factor!

Kudos to those who sponsored and put on this wonderful show! Those who attended did not leave disappointed! After the show I packed up and walked back to the truck and headed home early enough to watch the end of the Georgia Bulldogs victory over the Michigan Wolverines.

So ends a really crazy year. Although I could complain about things I won’t. The year was good to me and I am very thankful God has seen me thru it and out the other side. Looking forward to a fresh beginning in 2022.

May God Bless you and your family!

Dale Green was a Sergeant with the Tallahassee Police Department. He was a father, a husband, a son, and a friend to many. He was also the Sniper Team Leader of our Tactical Unit. Dale was good at everything he did and he was a very accomplished Police Officer. He was highly respected by those he worked with and by the community he served. Unfortunately Dale was shot and killed in the line of duty on November 13, 2002 by a home invasion robber who had forced his way into the southwest Tallahassee home of two women to rob them of drugs. The suspect robbed the wrong house. One of the women was able to get to a phone and call Police. Dale quickly arrived and confronted the robber in the front yard as he was fleeing. It was there that Dale lost his life. Several hours later the robber was arrested after a lengthy vehicle chase and more shots being fired. Dale now rests in a small rural cemetery in Wakulla County, Florida. The robber spends the remainder of his life in a Florida prison. Those of us who knew and loved Dale push on.

While visiting the Officer Down Memorial Page online earlier this year a message had been left by a lady in North Georgia who had written that her seven year old son had been swimming in the Toccoa River near Copperhill, Tennessee near a railroad trestle in July and had found a Dale Green memorial bracelet on the bottom of the river between two rocks. The water had weathered the bracelet however the inscription could still be read. The mother and her son (Isaac) left a message on Dale’s Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP) explaining the find and wanting to return the bracelet to Dale’s widow Deb. Having read this post I thought about how bizarre it was for one of Dale’s memorial bracelets to end up on the rocky bottom of a Tennessee river only to be discovered by a 7 year old boy who had the heart to want to return the bracelet to Deb.

(Link to Dale Green’s Officer Down Memorial page) https://www.odmp.org/officer/16454-sergeant-daniel-dale-green

After several attempts I located this family on Facebook and contacted Isaac’s mom. I thanked them for finding the bracelet and making an attempt to return it. I explained that this was more than a mere coincidence. What are the chances, right? I went on to tell her about Dale, the kind of man and Officer he was and how he was killed. I told her that Dale would want Issac to keep that bracelet and let it serve as a reminder to always do the right thing. I encouraged Issac to “be like Dale” in all that he does.

I soon received a message from Issac’s mom who told me that she would build a plaque to put the bracelet on and she will proudly display it on the wall in Issac’s bedroom. She went on to tell me that Issac admires law enforcement Officers which confirmed my belief that this was more than mere coincidence. I asked her what size shirt Issac wears and she told me, I told her I’d send him a shirt. As I began to share the story of the bracelet with family and friends they too were amazed by the story, many suggesting that it was more of a “God thing” than just mere coincidence or a lucky find on the rocky bottom of a Tennessee river.

I called my good friend Jeff Mahoney who is the Tactical Team Leader and explained the situation and asked him if I could get a Team T Shirt to send to a seven year old boy. Jeff too was impressed with the story and suggested that the Team would gladly provide more than just a T Shirt. He contacted Eric Robinson and explained the situation to him and E Rob went to work! Within a few days E Rob had collected challenge coins, patches, a shirt, decals, and other items to include a very nice “Tactical Team” poster which had been signed by the entire Team as well as the City Manager, Assistant City Manager and Police Chief! Mark Wheeler and Jay Etheridge provided additional gifts. Again, everyone who heard the story was impressed not only with the find but with the good heart of a seven year old boy who only wanted to return the bracelet because it was the right thing to do.

With all of these items collected from a very caring group of people they were mailed to Isaac in North Georgia. Two days later the box arrived. I soon received a message from Issac’s mom that he had received the items and that he was ecstatic!

His mom produced a video of the entire story from the day the bracelet was discovered in the river to the day Isaac opened the box. The video was very well done and very informative. It pretty much filled in the gaps of how and where and answered most unanswered questions.

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bolyz15SUI

If anyone thinks that maybe this was just mere coincidence…a rainbow was photographed overhead on the clear and sunny day when Isaac discovered the bracelet.

Isaac’s mom was contacted by Deb Green which brought this story full circle.

Dale was taken from us 19 long years ago but his memory remains with us and he is still having a positive impact on his community. We miss him and were blessed to have known him. He made us better people. Please take a minute and think of him. Be like Dale.

After months of planning to kayak down the Suwanee River the trip finally developed and for three days in December just before Christmas we had an incredible adventure! Rick Ashton, Jay and Jacob Etheridge and I loaded up on Sunday morning before daylight and headed to the river. Upon launching Jake suggested we make an effort to locate a Florida Skunk Ape since the river swamp has been rumored to harbor the beasts. We agreed to keep an eye out and get a photo if at all possible!

Our trip began at White Springs, Florida. We drove two trucks and four kayaks to White Springs boat landing on the Suwanee River and the paddling commenced.

The time was mid-December and the forecast was cold and rainy, perfect for a river trip! The plan on day 1 was to start mid-morning, launch from the White Springs/Stephen Foster State Park landing and paddle downstream to our first stop which was Woods Ferry River Camp approximately 9 miles. Although I have crossed over the river hundreds of time by car I have never been on or in the river. Words alone cannot describe the beauty of the Suwanee River.

As we began to paddle the beauty of this river became apparent to us. Surrounded by old growth Live Oaks and Cypress trees growing from and thru beautiful limestone formations which lined a large portion of the river.

After a short eleven mile paddle we came to our first camp which was the Wood Ferry River Camp. This camp was incredible. We paddled up to the partially submerged tiered dock which allowed us to paddle onto the dock and then step out of the kayaks onto the dock. A kayak/canoe rack was a perfect place to store our boats for the night. The ramp leading from the river up to the camp is long and very well built. The camp provides large wagons and wheelbarrows for campers to haul their gear up the ramp.

After a good night’s sleep in a Wood Ferry River Camp cabin and a hearty Mountain House Meal (Biscuits & Gravy) we continued our journey south down the river. The launch off the submerged tiered dock was flawless and we were on our way! The morning was cold and overcast but the paddle was great! More limestone riverbanks, Cypress Trees and Live Oaks. We passed by several spring and creek runoffs along the sides of the river. Soon we came across a man made limestone structure which I had seen photos of before. This structure was a wall surrounding Suwanee Springs, a mineral spring that had been a tourist attraction since before the Civil War. In fact it is the oldest tourist attraction in Florida. People traveled to the spring from around the Country in search of medicinal cures. We got out and walked around the spring and park area which was also accessible by car. A sign told the history of the spring. When we got back onto the river we paddled up near the wall and the brick opening which allowed the water to pour out into the river. The flow from the spring was very strong and there was no doubt the “mineral” the people were attracted to was sulfer!

A little further down the river we came across this old abandoned bridge across the river. People were walking on the bridge and it was tagged with graffiti.

As we continued to paddle down the river the sound of good old Interstate 75 reverberated down the river. We heard it long before we saw it and the pre-Christmas traffic was heavy! Rain had begun to fall as we approached and we were very impressed with the huge bridge structure visible from under the bridges.

Throughout the three day paddle trip we were treated to numerous springs and creeks that flowed into the Suwanee River. We were told that there are many more springs below the Suwanee River State Park.

Day two ended as we paddled into the Holton Creek River Camp. Again we were very impressed with the camp accomodations. Although not as elaborate as the Wood Ferry ramp Holton Creek was not as high off the river however the ramp and campground were very nice. A camp host, restrooms and showers, cabins and a cooking pavillion were available.

After arriving at Holton Creek River Camp we showered, had dinner and monitored the weather forecast. Rain began around 1am and was scheduled to last until early afternoon. Temperatures were hovering around 50 degrees. We slept dry inside of the cabins however if we had to wait until 1pm to leave and finish the last 13.4 miles we would be cutting it close to get to the Suwanee River State Park before dark. Leaving in the rain would subject paddlers to the chance of hypothermia. Luckily the rain began to dissipate around 10am which was just the break we were looking for we seized the opportunity, loaded the boats and took off.

Although it was cold and windy the rain held off for the most part until we got to the landing at Suwanee River State Park. Shortly after we arrived the rain became heavier.

Many old growth trees lined the river banks to include Cypress, Live Oak and others. Many trees have high water marks staining their bark from floods past. Many old rope swings could be seen hanging from from trees which reached out over the river. The trees were a very interesting part of the river not to mention the tannins that their leaves create which makes the river a dark tea color.

Shortly after 2 o’clock in the afternoon we arrived at the Suwanee River State Park luckily dodging the rain! We loaded the trucks and headed home.

This was an incredible trip which had been in the works for some time. We were fortunate to get it done just before Christmas. Although no Swamp Apes were spotted we will try again, next time starting at Fargo and paddling to White Springs.

Maybe it was the weather, perhaps the Christmas season but for some reason we saw very few people on the river, in fact in 3 days we only saw 1 boat. Few birds were seen to include only 1 Blue Heron and 1 Wild Turkey flying over the river. No animals were seen other than few squirrels. This was strange as the area seems remote and heavily wooded and should be teeming with wildlife.

This trip gave me a chance to try a new cooking system which consisted of an alcohol stove (Spirit Burner) and a Firebox which I mistakenly left at home and had to make do on the camp grills which worked in a pinch. The Spirit Burner worked great and the alcohol created great heat but it burned more fuel that I had anticipated and I burned 12 ounces of HEET in the yellow bottle cooking 4 meals and coffee. The meals consisted of Mountain House breakfasts and dinners (Breakfast Skillet, Biscuits and Gravy, Beef Stew and Pad Thai). I also make Raman Noodles at night before the main course. Lunch consisted of dried mangos, beef jerky and trail mix. I brought several oranges that were eaten by the group as a snack and to prevent scurvey. No vitamin C deficiencies were reported on this trip..

All photos were taken with a GoPro Hero 8 Black camera and edited using a standard IPhoto editing program in a Apple MacBook Pro.

Dave Ferrell

Thankfully the Tallahassee Turkey Trot has returned after a two year hiatus due to Covid-19! The weather was perfect for a Thanksgiving foot race thru the Southwood neighborhood. A broken toe and torn hip muscle during a pre-workout stretching routine kept me off the course but I decided to take the mighty Canon and shoot some photos during the races! Approximately 4000 people ran/walked the races today! What follows are some of the sights from today’s events! Thanks for visiting this site and please take a few moments to reflect of this past year and to remind yourself of all the blessings that have been bestowed upon us. So much to be Thankful for!

Very thankful to have had the opportunity to have taken photos at this year’s Turkey Trot, although I would have much rather been running it! Great to see so many friends who I have the upmost respect and admiration for racing today. Hope you enjoyed the blog. See you on the trail!

After having to abort the last day of our Kayak Journey in 2020 due to storms which would not be kind we finally put the last day of the trip together in February 2021 and finished the trip. In 2020 we had started a four day Kayak/camping trip on the Apalachicola River from Chattahoochee, Fl. to Apalachicola, Florida. The final night of the trip put us at Hickory Landing at Owl Creek. We set up camp that night and had planned on getting an early start the next day. Everything was fine until a routine weather app check showed heavy storms approaching. Having paddled this section of the river before I knew that heavy winds would push our kayaks into the sawgrass and trap us before we could get to the landing at 10 mile hole in Apalachicola. As much as we hated to we punted the trip and called a ride to take us home.

We finally rescheduled the trip for February 2021 and drove to Owl Creek. The three paddlers were Rick Ashton, Jay Etheridge and myself. Once we set up camp at Hickory Landing we drove two trucks to Apalachicola and had dinner. We left one truck in Apalachicola and drove one truck back to the campsite. This allowed us to have a vehicle at the end of the trip and to drive the three of us back to the starting point.

After a good night’s sleep we awakened early and had breakfast. We broke camp and readied our kayaks. We launched from the landing and began heading towards the Apalachicola River on Owl Creek. Owl Creek is a beautiful tributary which empties into the River about two miles downstream.

This trip being in January was cool but thankfully it wasn’t cold. Being in the river swamp it was a wet with dew in the early morning however the sun soon burned the moisture away and it turned out to be a nice day although overcast.

The part of the river between Owl Creek and Apalachicola goes through Tates Hell Forest and passes a historic area known as Fort Gadsden. During the Civil War hundreds of slaves were hiding at Fort Gadsden when a Union cannon was fired at the Fort. The cannonball hit the powder room at the Fort causing a massive explosion killing hundreds of people.

Although the Apalachicola River is a wide and fast flowing river there are hundreds of house boats tied up along side it’s banks. Homemade, manufactured, houseboats of all shapes and sizes can be seen here. We did encounter a floating dog kennel complete with a number of deer hounds which could be heard for miles up and down the river as we approached.

Fortunately the wind was mostly calm and the tides were in our favor so the last few miles of our journey were enjoyable. Approaching Apalachicola we were in big water with boat traffic and tidal influence. An incoming wind or tide could make paddling difficult if not impossible, hence we punted our last trip and made up for it with this one day paddle trip.

We paddled past Scipio Creek and the docks in Apalachicola to the boat landing at 10 Mile Hole (under the Hwy 98 Bridge). Sheriff AJ Smith gave me a ride to my truck and I returned and we loaded the boats and gear. We grabbed a bite to eat and returned (via truck) to Hickory Landing where we split up. It was the ending to a great day.

This was an incredible trip as the paddle trips I’ve made down the Apalachicola River always are. The Apalachicola River is a clean, strong, fast flowing river that sports a lot of history. Currently there is an ongoing court battle for water rights between Georgia and Florida which will probably be ongoing for many years to come. Regardless I have always enjoyed paddling and camping beside the big river. It is a special place to me and I hope to soon return for another kayaking adventure. Hopefully you will too!

Having ridden past the old cemetery on the west side of Apalachicola for years, I finally decided to take a day after a deck build the day before to visit the cemetery and take some photos. This old cemetery always intrigued me however after visiting and walking thru it I am probably more intrigued now than before. To say this cemetery contains a lot of history would be an understatement! The cemetery is the oldest burying ground in Apalachicola and is the final resting place for many individuals who were responsible for the history and development of the area. There are approximately 560 marked graves in the cemetery and many more graves that are unmarked. A variety of tombstones decorate the cemetery, from simple vertical slabs from the 1830’s to elaborate marble monuments. A few graves are marked with simple wooden crosses or a blanket of shells with no name. Beginning in 1912 the local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy marked the graves of all civil war veterans in the cemetery. There are at least 79 Confederate Veterans and 7 Union Veterans buried here.

Upon entering the cemetery I located a white box on a post which contained information brochures regarding historical facts pertaining to those buried here. This pamphlet was actually a walking tour map/guide with information about the graves and the interesting lives of those entombed in them. While visiting the cemetery I encountered two other visitors there. One fellow from Perry, Florida was much like myself and always wanted to visit the cemetery. Later a woman was walking through and encouraged me to attend a bi-annual Ghost Tour through the cemetery sponsored by the Apalachicola Historical Society.

One thing I noticed while visiting the cemetery is that most of the folks who are buried there did not live long compared to today. For some reason it seems that a lot of them didn’t make it past their forties. Most of the graves here are well in excess of 100 years old, in fact most seemed to have died prior to the 20th century.

One thing that is very impressive is the artistic design of many of the headstones. Many display very ornate and artistic designs that were no doubt expensive to produce and ship to this southern gulf side cemetery which is a testament of the love of surviving family members towards those buried here.

Many people buried here made their living on or around the Gulf which is no great surprise. Charles Marks was a seaman and ship’s captain his entire life. Born in Connecticut he enlisted in the Confederate Army. His house was burned by the Union Navy during the war and he was accused of murder for the killing of two Union sympathizers.

Charles Dobson was a tugboat captain during the lumber boom. He built a grand house in Apalachicola for his girlfriend Minne Barfield who ran a bordello out of the house. After her death the property was passed to the Catholic Church and housed the nuns who operated the Holy Family School next door.

William Henry Austin is interred here. He worked for the Untied States Coastal Survey on the schooner Silliman performing a hydrographic survey of St. George Sound. After Church one Sunday morning six crew members including Austin tried to return to the schooner in a small sailboat. A sudden squall capsized the vessel drowning all six men.

Many people who are interred here were entrepreneurs who came to Apalachicola to seek their fortune, many immigrated from other countries looking for a better life.

Catherine Spano immigrated from Greece and married Salvadore Spano who was a seafood dealer. H.F. Quant immigrated from England and was a printer by trade. Richard Porter moved to Apalachicola in 1833 and along with his brother William entered the cotton trade. They became one of the most prominent families in Apalachicola. Corneilius and Elizabeth Grady immigrated from Ireland and had four children. Their two boys started a business known as J. E. Grady & Co on Water Street which sold ship chandlery, dry goods and hardware. Charles Lind was a seafood dealer and businessman, he loaned money to the Presbyterian Church in 1909 to build a sanctuary. When the congregation did not repay the loan he foreclosed on the church. There is a stained glass window in the Episcopal Church in his memory. Herman Ruge immigrated from Germany and started a successful mercantile business. He had two sons who established the first successful oyster cannery in Apalachicola. Geno Zingarelli immigrated from Bari, Italy. He operated a boat yard and had a fleet of sponge boats.

Many people resting here were involved in the Civil War.

William Marr was killed by Confederate forces during the Civil War while gathering cattle to supply to the Union blockades. John Ruan was taken hostage by the U.S.Navy to ensure the safe return of two Union Sympathizers who had disappeared during the war. Upon his release he was arrested by the Confederate Army for traveling between the lines. Peter Wise was a member of the Pennsylvania Calvary until his horse fell on him goring him on the saddle pommel. Lt. Sanders Myers served as a Lieutenant in the Confederate Army. He was captured and was one of the “immortal 600” Southern Officers held as human shields by the Union Army under Confederate fire at Charleston. Joseph Lawrence served in the Florida Calvary and was the last Civil War Veteran in Franklin County, dying in 1933.

The mighty Apalachicola River was a dangerous place back in the day and is credited with several people resting in the cemetery. Henry Gordon was a Riverboat Pilot on the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers. Leander Crawford was a Steamboat Captain and was scalded when the boiler exploded at Bristol. John Jenkins took the first river steamboat up the Apalachicola and Chattahoochee Rivers to Columbus, Georgia in 1829, beginning the trade that made Apalachicola the third leading cotton port on the Gulf. Young Clarence Messina didn’t return home one evening in 1901and a search party found him in the river having drowned after falling off a dock. Louisa Bruni and Frank Messina were playing on a dock when Louisa fell into the river. Frank jumped in to save her but she latched onto him causing him to drown. When their bodies were recovered her arms were still wrapped around his neck.

In the middle of the cemetery is a brick chimney. No one knows the significance of the chimney as it has stood in the cemetery as long as anyone can remember. Thought to possibly be a family memorial it has no identifying marks on it. For years it has served as a right of passage for local children to climb to the top before you were invited to play with the other kids.

Visiting this cemetery was a walk thru the history of Apalachicola, Florida. All of the graves I saw were in an excess of 100 years old. Walking thru I thought about the lives of those buried here. What they saw, how they lived, what Florida must have been like back then. I gathered that the people buried here were hard working people who came to this area in search of a better life. They fought for what they believed in and laid the groundwork for what this community is today. Many were immigrants who left their homeland and came here in search of a better life.

Many Thanks to the Apalachicola Historical Society for providing the information that is in this blog. They have done an outstanding job compiling the history of this cemetery. Twice a year the Historical Society conducts a Ghost Tour in which local history enthusiasts take on the personna of the cemetery’s more notable inhabitants to tell of life in Apalachicola more than 100 years ago.

About this blog: The images in this blog were taken by Dave Ferrell using a Canon EOS 1DX with a 16-35 2.8 lens in RAW format. Information was provided by the Apalachicola Historical Society.