Still Gravity

The Kingsley Plantation near Jacksonville, Florida  -  License our images here . This is the oldest plantation in Florida with remains of slave houses. Kingsley Plantation is at the northern tip of Fort George Island. It had various owners, but the most interesting was British born Zephaniah Kingsley. He settled here in 1814 and lived in the plantation for 25 years. This slave owner wrote in defense of slavery and, at the same time, defended the rights of free people of color. For this, he claimed Florida laws from the time of the Spanish rule - The Spaniards encouraged slaves to purchase their freedom under the belief that slavery was not a lifelong condition. Some free blacks owned businesses and slaves.  Zephaniah Kingsley's wife was a former slave - this may explain his views about free slaves. Her name was Anna Madgigine Jai and was born in Africa and purchased by him at age 13 in Havana, Cuba . He married and freed her, and their children were free blacks with good education.

Sunset at Myrtle Creek in Little Talbot Island State Park, Florida -  License our images here .         The basecamp was in Little Talbot Island State Park. Great campground between the blue of the Atlantic and the muddy waters of Myrtle Creek. Every day, we got a first-class sunset at the boat ramp to the creek. We never launched the kayaks there. The water level changed wildly with the tides, and we didn't want to walk on sharp shells with a kayak over the head during the low tide.  The park's trails are sandy but easy. We went with the bikes and had to walk over big sand dunes by the Atlantic beach. Nice ride on the shores returning to camp.  And what about the Talbot in the name of this island? It was in honor to a  British Chancellor . The island was named in 1735 and it's said that two centuries before was a hotspot for Norman  Huguenots . Kayak Amelia was the place to launch our kayaks. Simpson Creek

Camping in Fort Wilderness, Disneyworld, Florida.            Camping and Disney may sound a weird combination, but we had a great time there with the kids many years ago. It was the best campground we have ever been for comfort and entertainment options. They even have magnetic card readers to secure the bathhouses.  Supercharged glamping! And then, of course, all was about the parks.  Exploring the wilderness of Disneyworld.