Yesterday I did about 60 mild off-road miles from Lake Talquin (just west of Tallahassee) down through the Apalachicola National Forest and Tate's Hell State Forest* to Carrabelle.
Fire danger was high and it was DUSTY!
Fortunately, there were some less-traveled sections.
The New River looked like it came straight out of a Charlie Daniels' song about Wooley Swamp.
The New River has some nice private campsites.
And with that, I've hit every state on the East Coast.
*The Legend of TATE'S HELL...
A tale that has been told for many years recounts how Tate's Hell Swamp got its name. Local legend has it that a farmer by the name of Cebe Tate, armed with only a shotgun and accompanied by his hunting dogs, journeyed into the swamp in search of a panther that was killing his livestock. Although there are several versions of this story, the most common describes Tate as being lost in the swamp for seven days and nights, bitten by a snake, and drinking from the murky waters to curb his thirst. Finally he came to a clearing near Carrabelle, living only long enough to murmur the words, "My name is Cebe Tate, and I just came from Hell." Cebe Tate's adventure took place in 1875 and ever since, the area has been known as Tate's Hell, the legendary and forbidden swamp.
