Inspired by my escapade on Monday, I returned on Thursday to Princess Place to scout another route connecting the Equestrian Trail and the Long Leaf Trail that wasn’t quite as long. This time I started at the old Hominy Branch Trailhead. A portion of the Equestrian Trail goes through here, but as I’ve noted in the past, the Hominy Branch Trail is no longer a viable loop. A portion of it was closed off before I returned to this area. So, I was looking for other interesting options. This time I backtracked along the Equestrian Trail. The trail splits into a short .6 mile (1 Km) loop and reconnects near the main Princess Place access road. At least that’s what it is supposed to do. Somehow I missed the connection and ended up, still on the loop (it was marked) which bordered the Two Son Ranch. This sandy lumpy trail took me to the road where I found the intersection with the rest of the trail. Part of the current trail is not marked on the map. I choose to go around the marsh which shows as a bump-out on the map.

Here’s the silvery marsh (good name) filled with deciduous cedars that were leafing out. It’s kind of an eerie place in the right lighting.

After swooping around the marsh, the Equestrian Trail follows a portion of the Princess Place Boundary (marked by fencing and signs). Both are accessible to public, the adjoining lands owned by the county and run by Pellicer Creek Preserve.

There are several ecosystems ranging from marshlands to deep hardwood, pine & palm forests. In the photo below, it’s near Pellicer Creek where the Equestrian Trail shares an intersection with the Long Leaf Trail.

From the observation platform on Long Leaf Trail (which is also part of the Equestrian Trail) you can view Pellicer Creek. It is a protected waterway and separates Flagler County from St. Johns County. Pellicer Creek flows into the Intracoastal Waterway west of Marine World and River to Sea Preserve.

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On Friday, I headed to Bulow Woods, largely dodging traffic by going down Seminole Woods Road to Hwy 1, then to the round-about at Korona, Marco Polo Blvd. and Old Dixie Highway. I parked at Fairchild Oak State Park, at the southern end of Bulow Woods Trail.

The woods were the driest I’ve ever seen them. There is a general fire ban in effect in the local counties as these woods are full of dry fuel. Lightning strikes do cause periodic fires but the sturdy plants are well-equipped to survive and thrive in such conditions. We should be getting some rain this weekend, which is part of the reason I was out so much this past week.

I saw about 7 people and 2 dogs on my hike, but spent most of the time quite alone. It is always a serene forest walk. The bugs weren’t too bad yet. That will change as the temperature and humidity rises.

I hope you enjoy these photos. I am enjoying my new camera.

Eliza

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