Desoto Natl Park 6

 

My photo of the tree that died from i think 2016

These trees are Gumbo Limbo trees, the monster tree that was hundreds of years old, died a few years ago, they tried to save it, from disease. 

The Park photos of the tree that died HERE! 

My photo of the tree from 2009

Gumbo Limbo Tree (Bursera simaruba) are the most fascinating of trees here in our city.  

The story of the trees in a prior post from 2009 is HERE...  check this link if you have time.

The photos below are my photos from Feb 10, 2024

These are current photos of the Gumbo Limbos that are still thriving and are the first thing you see when entering the park. 

Today ends the photos from last week, I will make another trip to do the current trails. 

Desoto National Park 5

 

Beau was not with us. The park you see on the other side of the bay has distemper awarnings.

while wandering this starting point of the trail, turn and look back to see this view. The trails follow the water line, sometimes going under, over and around threes.

Manatee River at low tide. The docks belong to the UBER Rich. Once Bob was wade fishing waste deep, going around the dock, and a famous football player ran out on the dock and told him he was on private property to get out of his year. Bob responded, Florida law is you can't own anything that is covered by the water. your dock is yours and I am not touching it, the sand I am in is mine. the response was, I am calling the police. He said go for it, I will be right here when they come.
No one came. 

Desoto Natl Park 4

 

Stepping through the gate into the DeSoto Natl Park, you see benches and this is the first view,

Sweeping skies and river views

the building on left is the museum

I have walked this park and its trails at least once a year since I moved here. Not for history but for the trees, sandy trails, water views, the trail takes about an hour but for me, at least 2 because of stopping to snap madly at what I see.

trees, trails, river flats coming soon .to be continued

Desoto Natl Park 3

 

Hubby Bob, waiting for me outside the hut, if not for that there would be MANY MORE photos

The Native Americans in this part of Florida in the 1500's were Tocobaga and Uzita tribes. Both tribes were peaceful, loving and lived off the land.

These are the replicas of their thatched huts.

Step inside the hut and you will find several full sized murals depicting the lives of these tribes.

Building their home from palms and trees, fishing and hunting for food.

The mural below shows Hernando and the hundreds of men that came on 7 ships, from Cuba. He was the governor of Cuba, when Spain ruled it, and left there to come and start his trip to the Mississippi River. Like many of the explorers from the past he pillaged, raped, destroyed and made slaves of around 1000 native Americans, to feed and care for his soldiers. 

All of Florida, has monuments and parks and entire Historical Societys names for this horror of a man. 

They nearly wiped out the tribes, but a few did remain until 1700. 

In our city of Bradenton, there are dozens of places with the Name Desoto on them, Bridges, Malls, Stores, Parks and even Assisted Living Community, such as DeSoto Palms Asst Living community.

The snip below is to show what happens on the screen when I type DeSoto.

If you like history and care to know details I am including links. 

For details on this park, slide show, pod talk and photos of the special events that show us how they lived are here at DeSoto Natl Memorial 

Trail of Florida Indian Heritage is a list of places to visit in our state.

If you want to see just how crazy about this murderous man the city is, you will find photo and stories of all the things people do to celebrate and party at Hernando Historical Society of Manatee County. It is not just our county, but you would find these in every county in the state.

As for me, I just love the trails, the trees, the water views the gorgeous scenery and the peace and quite away from the madding crowds. to be continued

Desoto National Park 2

All photos taken by MadSnapper with Cell phone

We parked outside the gate to Hernando DeSoto Natl Park.

 

walked past the Indian Village (don't fret, you will see the village soon)

and through the gate to this view

Hernando de Soto is famous in Latin American history as the Spanish conquistador who joined Francisco Pizarro in the invasion of the Inca Empire, but he is also a critical player in American history as the first European to discover the Mississippi River.

His goal was to conquer and settle the territory of the Gulf States as well as find gold to enrich himself and his king

and to the monument that says

Desoto Trail

The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in Florida

Near here, Hernando DeSoto, with his men landed May 30, 1539 and began his march westward to the Mississippi River. 

This Marker Commemorates the 400th Anniversary of his arrival on the shores of Florida.

to be continued

Desoto Natl Memorial State Park 1

 

Home to Park 5.6 miles

Saturday AM after I walked Beau, I said lets go to Desoto Park, it is a national park that is only 5.6 miles from our home. The park is at the mouth of the Manatee River and the Gulf of Mexico.

10 mile scenic route we took

We took the 10 mile scenic root because the 5 mile is all traffic, lights, business and the longer is through Riverview Blvd that is waterfront on both sides and where the UBER rich live. 

This ariel view, you can see water on either side, the docks are really long because of low tides.

All graphics are snips taken by me of Google Maps, I was driving. the next few days I will show you the photos I took at the park.

this one shows the wall-to-wall houses that are on the part that doesn't have waterfront.

The street is long and winding, and most of the houses are out of sight behind gates. There is no way to pull off and take photos. and no sidewalks to encourage walking. There were people walking dogs and riding bikes which means driving slowly.

The one above is a public boat ramp, and it is large enough to wander up and down on a small beach.

One of the homes had sold and was being remodeled. I came home and checked, and they paid 1.9 million for it, and looking at the permits, I saw the new roof cost 270,000.00 and they had spent another million on remodel. That is one of the cheap ones. One sold for Ten Million. It was early on Saturday, and we saw very little traffic.

to be continued

notice how the road disappeared around the curves