November 2020

Mala Compra Hiking Trail – September 14, 2020

Mala Compra Hiking Trail is a 2.8 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Palm Coast, Florida that features beautiful wild flowers, ponds and ocean views and is part of a historic plantation.

Mala Compra Plantation History – (next trip I’ll get to see the plantation)

In the early 19th century, the plantation was home to Joseph Hernandez, who served as everything from a brigadier general in the U.S. Army to a committee member who helped select Tallahassee as the state capital. The site is part of Bing’s Landing, an eight-acre county park. Today, visitors can walk on an elevated boardwalk around the perimeter of the plantation remains and read interpretive displays that explain the site’s historical and cultural value.

November 30, 2020 4

Smyrna Dunes Park – November 23rd Road Trip

Continuing our Monday roadtrips – We headed to Smyrna Dunes Park in New Smyrna Beach, a 2-mile hiking trail / boardwalk, with side trips off the main boardwalk taking you to ocean, inlet and river views. We got to enjoy gopher tortoises, kit surfers, and views of the Ponce Inlet lighthouse. On our way back home we stopped at Hollyland Park in Holly Hills FL to check out the eagles – but only a long distance glimpse. However herons and woods storks were around.

(see https://floridahikes.com/smyrna-dunes-park for more info)

November 28, 2020 4

Jacksonville Arboretum — November 2, 2020

Another of our Monday outings –

The Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens is a 120-acre urban woodland full of trails for you to explore and enjoy. Interpretive signs and over 100 labeled plants enhance the loop. Over three miles of rustic hiking trails wind quietly through a series of distinct ecological habitats. The Arboretum is developed and managed by the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens, Inc., a non-profit entity that leases the land from the City of Jacksonville.

November 20, 2020 2

During our last visit the the beachside of the park was closed. Today we were able to visit the Coquina rock formations on the ocean. The parks website defines Coquina —

What is Coquina Rock?
Coquina= (“co-KEEN-a”)

Coquina rock is a type of sedimentary rock. The rock in our area formed in the near shore region, where shells and sand become well sorted by wave action. During times when sea level was lower, these shells and sand were exposed to rain. The rainwater dissolved some of the calcium carbonate (limestone) from the shells, which “glued” together the sand and shells into rock. If you look closely at the rock, you can see the individual shells and sand grains that are cemented together. The coquina rock is part of the Anastasia formation, which stretches from St. Augustine to Palm Beach County, and was created during the Pleistocene era (12,000 to 2.5 million years ago.) The word “coquina” is Spanish for “cockle” and is the name given to the small, burrowing clam that lives in the sand just at the ocean’s edge. The scientific name for the coquina clam is Donax variabilis, as the shells of the clams can be various colors. These clams are also sometimes called“periwinkles” by locals, but true periwinkles are actually snails. Well I went there for the opportunity to take some photographs – after the beach we hiked the trails through the white oak forest and to view the gardens.