Suwannee River Canoe, Hike, & Folklore Elderhostel

The host of this Elderhostel is the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park out of White Springs, Florida, along the banks of the Suwannee River. In keeping with Elderhostel's strong educational component requirement, we began with classes on folk foods, folk life, and folklore of the region. Then we were led on a forest hike in Big Shoals State Park to Florida's only class 3 rapids ...


... at Big Shoals, which was roiling from the 5 inches of recent rain.




The first 2 evenings, we had spectacular "home cooked" meals of pot roast and chicken pileau catered by local cooks Willonese Tillman-Adams and Ruby Shaw. The second evening, we were entertained by Les Hebeaux String Band (the hoboes) comprised of local musicians...



... and taught local square dances. What a wonderful evening!


A class in the process of gathering and distilling turpentine came next, followed by trips to the gift shop and museum.

Wednesday we enjoyed a performance by Florida folk song writer and singer Pete Gallagher, followed by an 8 mile paddle on the famous Suwannee River. Despite the temps in the 50s and the stiff wind with gusts over 35mph, it was a wonderful paddle, and included a picnic lunch at the park's gazebo.


In the evening, we were treated to another "home cooked" meal by Willonese and her sister Sonya (lasagna this time) followed by original music performed by park ranger Kelly Green and Pete Gallagher (below) and then more music from professional touring musicians Fred Gosbee and his wife Julia Lane (together known as Castlebay).




Thursday saw a ranger-led interpretive hike to Blue Hole Spring in Ichetucknee State Park, following which we paddled 4 miles down the magnificent Ichetucknee River. From the head springs, the river begins as a narrow 5 foot wide stream, and as you pass the other 7 springs, it broadens out, but the entire run is spectacular. We did it the end of February and had the river to ourselves, but we were warned that the summer months sees a horde of 2500 people daily in tubes and rafts floating the river.


Thursday night we were treated to a dinner at a local Baptist church -- BBQ chicken and the fixins', followed by a performance by local fiddler Lloyd Baldwin and then a history of White Springs by Barbara Beauchamp.

Friday we had a demonstration by Ranger Stan Christian on how to harvest "heart of palm" to make swamp cabbage, a local delicacy. Then we dispersed to attend various folk arts/crafts of the Suwannee Valley, and I watched Carl Dowell's flint knapping and then Roy Balthazard blacksmithing (below.)

Both were quite interesting and provided another view of life in this area over the last few centuries. The Elderhostel ended with a farewell luncheon called "Florida Cracker Fish Fry" featuring fried catfish, grilled grouper, baked beans, hush puppies, and grits -- and also some of Ranger Stan's swamp cabbage! What a wonderful ending to a truly memorable Elderhostel program. This is my 20th Elderhostel, and this group of people and the staff bonded like few other programs have. The group photo is below:



More photos available at my web gallery.

Chuck's other Active Outdoor Elderhostel programs (with photos)