FunkyFlorida

Four years later, this is still one of the coolest places I've visited.

The Dam That Never Was

In the 1930's there was a plan for a canal to be built in Florida that ran from the St Johns River, just south of Palatka and run southwest until it reached the Gulf coast at Inglis. This project halted and restarted several times until President Nixon declared the project cancelled in 1971 but not before some infrastructure had been partially completed. A segment of the canal was completed and is now known as the Cross Florida Greenway. This segment sits between the St Johns River and Lake Ocklawaha.

A lesser known relic of this cross-state canal project is a set of locks intended to be accompanied by a dam that was never built. These were to be known as the Eureka Lock and Dam. Now hidden amid the thick Florida trees bordering the Ocala National Forest and brushing up against the Ocklawaha River, this lock system and compound sit abandoned and obscured from the public eye by a pair of bordering fences. The building and infrastructure remnants included a mix of equipment from the 60s/70s and the 90s/early 2000s. Since the lock was decommissioned in 1971, perhaps the compound was used as a state sponsored or private youth camp or recreation area.

There are two sets of locks; the downstream locks are first, followed by the compound, where the upstream locks create a large chamber of water for raising and lowering boats and ships through the channel. The downstream lock gates appeared to lift using a pulley system. A walkway at the top of the pulley system provides a great vantage point to view the gators sunning and swimming on the west side of the lock. The upstream lock gates are in the open position, exposing the large hydraulic pistons which are quite a sight. An abundance of alligator gar and grass carp swam in the lock chamber. At the far end of the locks was a Corps of Engineers survey marker indicating the locks were completed in 1969.

Its blueberry season in Florida! I'm planning a visit to HNH Blueberry farm in Botswick, FL. If you want to beat the crowds, try visiting on a weekday and be sure to get there early in the season because this activity is really popular. There's nothing like fresh picked blueberries and if you have a surplus, just bag and freeze! The kiddos love blueberry pancakes and I'm partial to fresh-made lemon blueberry muffins.

Does anyone have suggestions on where to pick blueberries in their area? Share your favorite u-pick spot and favorite blueberry recipes!

Behold the first berry of the season! It was good too. We're about 10 days away from opening day, give or take. Time to get out your rain boots if you have them or invest in some if you don't. The farm's been pretty wet lately so we're going to have the usual muddy rows towards the back. Hopefully it stays sunny and warm the next week or so to help dry things out. Either way I know I'll see you guys soon!!