#richloam

[naturecoaster]

Fun on the Mermaid Tale Trail along Florida’s Adventure Coast

Weeki Wachee has long been home to the Weeki Wachee mermaids and in 2022, the park celebrated its 75th anniversary. To aid in the celebration, the Mermaid Tale Trail was scheduled for a grand kickoff, but Mother Nature had a different plan. Hurricane Ian devastated the Port Charlotte area, and the festivities had to be put on hold… but… The Mermaid Tale Trail is a long dreamt of public art project sponsored by Florida’s Adventure Coast Visitors Bureau, Brooksville Main Street, and the Hernando County Fine Arts Council. The idea was to create life-sized mermaid statues to be painted by commissioned artists throughout Hernando County along a trail of sorts for locals and visitors to enjoy. Tammy Heon, Manager of Tourism for the County, found the right company to create the mermaid statues, and Kristy, a real Weeki Wachee mermaid, would have her face cast to add authentic beauty to each piece. Read the whole story here. Mermaid Kristy after the casting was complete with her face cast - still smiling. Image by Diane Bedard The Mermaids Come to Life from Artist Visions Meanwhile, a call was made for artists to submit their visions for painting a mermaid for the trail, and each sponsor chose their artist based on the submitted concept drawings. After the statues were created, they were brought to Brooksville for distribution, and the process of bringing each mermaid to life began. NatureCoaster sponsored a mermaid called Nico and the Velvet Underwater, which was painted by Jesse Kasabian. She is on display at Anderson Snow Park where thousands of children visit and stop to get their photo with Nico. She is a beautiful addition to the area, as are her many sisters throughout Hernando County, from Bayport to Richloam. Watch Jesse’s story of creating Nico: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynEGbWqIqDI Each mermaid has a theme and a story. The creativity that goes into each one can be seen on the Florida Mermaid Trail website at https://floridamermaidtrail.com/tale-trail/ There is a fun, hand-drawn map of the entire trail available for download or you can pick one up at the Brooksville Bandshell offices. The map is adorable, with each mermaid’s story on the back, but it wasn’t drawn to scale and would be hard to follow while driving, so I went for a drive to meet all 27 local mermaids using the Mermaid Tale Trail digital passport. Using the Mermaid Tale Trail Passport to Travel the Public Art Trail It was a simple 1-2-3 process to order my Mermaid Tale Trail Passport from the website. After visiting the Mermaid Tale Trail website and providing my info, I received a text message to add the passport to my phone. This allowed me to see each mermaid’s location and gave me directions to visit the one(s) I selected. As I visit each mermaid, I can learn more about her story and check in with my phone’s location services to qualify for some pretty cool mermaid swag! I was planning to follow the itinerary to discover all twenty-seven statues, starting at the Brooksville Bandshell offices in Brooksville’s charming historic district on East Ft. Dade Avenue, but I was starting quite a bit north, northeast n Nobleton. I opened the Florida’s Adventure Coast passport and clicked on Mermaid Tale Trail. I clicked the map icon and each mermaid on the Tale Trail and its location was displayed. Two mermaids were north of town and I headed out to meet them. The Mermaid Tail Trail passport provides an easy to follow Google Maps interface that gives the location of all of the mermaids or the ones near you, as well as directions. It made it a lot easier! Google Maps directed me to “Clarise”, the mermaid protector of manatees! Although she is the ultimate “seacow” girl, she resides on top of a hill off Snow Road at Sparacia Family Winery. After being guided to the winery, I parked and immediately saw her – a colorful 6’8” statue in the center of the venue’s gathering place. As part of my adventure, I checked in to show that I met Clarise on the app and confirmed my location. It worked like a charm but took several clicks. I met the gentlemen who maintain the winery property and enjoyed learning about their upcoming live music shows. The view is spectacular! Axamura, Seminole mermaid. Chinsegut historic manor house at the top of the hill. Then off to meet Amaxura, Seminole mermaid. Amaxura was the original name for Hernando County, according to the passport. Each mermaid on the trail features a story, adding to the fun of visiting them. This mermaid is positioned near the foot of Chinsegut Hill Historic Site. Open on weekends for tours of the manor house and self-guided tours of the property, it is always a wonderful experience to visit “the Hill.” The Lake Lindsey Mall & Deli is a local favorite when you are traveling in north Hernando County. Image by Diane Bedard. I passed one of my favorite “off the beaten path” locations driving between these two mermaids: the Lake Lindsey Mall & Deli. Known for their delicious Cubans and their “sit on the front porch and stay a while” ambiance, “the mall” is a must-stop for a bit of cultural education and a cool drink. The passport said I had earned 50 points for each “check in” at a mermaid. What did this mean? Earning Points for Mermaid Tale Trail Prizes I opened the passport’s Rewards tab. It said I was well on my way to earning a tale trail sticker page, an artist’s postcard, a souvenir magnet for my refrigerator, or the big prize of a coloring and activity book! Reward amounts ranged from 250 to 400 points and included shipping! Downtown Brooksville houses several mermaids in close proximity and some cool places to discover. In front of the public library is “Undine,” a water nymph inspired by a fairytale novella published in 1811. Two blocks to the east is “Queen Bee,” inspired by the beekeeping of the artist’s grandfather and her love for nature (and honey). I checked in at both. A Queen Bee mermaid concepted and painted by Rachel Ford with a friendly model visiting the trail. Image by Sheri Gardner. Then I visited “Sirena de la Fruta”, a celebration of living life in abundance. She resides in a small garden with a waterfall and reflecting bench to the right of the building’s back entrance. I check in for Sirena in the garden, while taking a few minutes to relax. Sirena de la Fruta is located in the back of the Brooksville City Government Center. I sat for a moment in the little oasis. Image by Diane Bedard. Next, a visit to “Patience” who resides on the south side of the historic Hernando County Courthouse. After viewing Patience, I checked in with my passport and considered my next move. It was getting pretty hot. Patience the Mermaid was visited by this beautiful young lady on her mermaid-chasing adventure on the Tail Trail. Image by Sheri Gardner. I chose the mermaid located by the 1895 Train Depot and Countryman One Room Schoolhouse, two historic locations that are manned by volunteers and highlight the history of the area. Unfortunately, Russell Street was under construction, so I could just look at “Lily” from my vehicle while I read her story. With eight mermaid check-ins in my app, I now had 400 points. I had visited “Nico and the Velvet Underwater” when I was last in Anderson Snow Park and checked in there. Nico is my favorite mermaid because “Nico knows that to be truly great at her craft, she must practice diligently and consistently, while never giving up and staying positive.” Yes, the mermaid statue inspires me. After exploring the Mermaid Tale Trail, I had qualified for swag! Now I understood Tammy Heon’s comment, “We invested in the Passport to help users find the mermaids along the trail based on the location where the visitor is. We wanted to add some fun to the trail, so as each mermaid is visited, the user can record the visit in their passport to qualify for some Tale Trail Swag." Tammy continued with a definite note of pride, "Our team tourism really chipped in on creating the swag, with our own Shannon Werner creating the artwork for nearly everything, except the artist’s postcard by Lee Middleton. It has truly been a team project.” Driving to the closest mermaid to me was relaxing, with two-lane blacktop roads leading me by farms and estates, alongside tiny homes from the 1960s, and half of a giant brontosaurus known as the Lake Lindsey dinosaur. Read that story here. Continuing along the trail with the use of the passport to guide me from one location to the other and to tell me each siren's story was a lot of fun. Seeing children enjoy the statues and their magic added to the equation. A second call for artists is active right now, ending July 26, 2024. Twenty new mermaids are planned for the trail, so stay tuned. A Call for Artists for the next 20 Mermaids ends July 26 Nature Coast artists are invited to apply to paint one of the 20 mermaids that will be unveiled on November 2, 2024. Once the unveiling day is complete, the Mermaid statues will be moved to their permanent locations and publicly displayed at local businesses and various public locations throughout Hernando County and added to the digital passport. The artist submission deadline is July 26, 2024. Then the submissions go to a committee for final selections. Meanwhile, local patrons and businesses can apply to sponsor their mermaid by emailing Tammy Heon at theon@floridasadventurecoast.com for specifics. Read the full article

[ameritt]

Mt Dora We saw a number of roadside attractions enroute to Mt Dora, including the Richloam General Store. The last photo is of journalist Mabel Norris Reese who reported on corruption and racism during the Jim Crow era...

[pawneezr]

View this post on Instagram

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Richloam ride this coming weekend!! Can't wait to get back out to the swamp!!! . . . #jeep #jeepwrangler #jeepwranglerjk #jeeplife #jeep4life #jeepfamily #jeepcrazy #jeepjunkies #itsajeepthing #jeeplife #richloam https://www.instagram.com/p/CALgUQzAhlg/?igshid=1coh1inxp0v4u

[chadgallivanter]

🚨New video now up on YouTube. Go inside Florida's historic Richloam General Store and Post Office near Webster. It's like going in the wayback machine 100 years! Really friendly people here. #richloam #generalstore #richloamgeneralstore #richloamwma #websterflorida #floridageneralstore #lincolnlogs #oldfashioned #ruralamerica #ruralflorida #floridalife #realflorida (at Richloam General Store) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2ht4_4BcER/?igshid=s527noumi8ce

[annlynngilbertphotography]

Withlacoochee State Forest - Richloam General Store, Florida - February 2019.

[the-firebird69]

Cypress Creek Flood Detention Area

Cypress Creek Flood Detention Area

(352) 796-7211

To richloam park

Zues Hera

It is one there too yes

Thor Freya

We go now to take kraken

And yes we are flippint. We have kraken gear clothes paraphernalia.

A. Cork

We sell it now. Kraken clothes and jewelry. Masks too for riding helmets. Teeth well imitation for jewelry plus.

Hera

My ideas

Zues

Good one ok

Thor Freya

Olympus

[oakstrand]

Are you a real estate sales agent in Richloam, Florida? Join us - You keep 100% commission. Click to find out more! https://oakstrand.com/job/17767/hiring-real-estate-sales-agent-in-richloam-florida?utm_term=Richloam-Florida #joblisting #hiring #joinourteam #jobopening #Richloam #realestateagent #florida #oakstrand #bestplacetowork

[brooksvilleoffroad-blog]

Hey guys, I have a couple of friends that believe a loved one is lost or in danger. I just got off the phone with them. They are trying to put a search party together to bring him home. If you guys could forward this to anyone that would be interested in putting together a search party together that would be great. They believe he went hiking in croom or richloam. Unfortunately they do not know anything other than the radius of his last cellphone ping Not our usual promotional message, just looking to get this spread around. Contact brooksvilleoffroad@gmail.com with any questions or information. https://www.instagram.com/p/BwIyO-UDVhN/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1uu21b3l7nv8h

[swampysflorida]

Swampy’s #Florida live at the last standing structure of Richloam, Florida: The Richloam General Store. Dates back to 1922, here, in Pasco County.

[green-flymedia]

Historic Hernando Preservation - November 2017

Historic Hernando Preservation – November 2017

Historic Hernando Preservation – November 2017

 November Meeting: Richloam General Store 

RICHLOAM GENERAL STORE

Historic Hernando Preservation Society

Special Speaker Presentation: Eric Burkes

Thursday, November 2, 2017 @ 6:30PM

Brooksville City Hall

201 Howell Ave, Brooksville 34601

Richloam General Store Photo provided by Historic Hernando Preservation Society

Richloam General Store was…

[naturecoaster]

Paddling Adventure on the Withlacoochee River

As our kayaks glide through the dark water of the Withlacoochee River, a calmness fills the cool morning air around us. Birds flit from tree to tree along an embank of oaks and cypresses and the only other sound heard is that of our paddles dipping into the cool, tea-colored water. Our last paddling adventure on this mighty river had been years ago when our pontoon’s motor blew out and we had to paddle back to the boat ramp, Huckleberry Finn raft style, with two little kids. Water plants along the embanks provide shelter and shade for the aquatic life. Photo by Sally White The Withlacoochee River Has a Storied Past Mention the Withlacoochee River to a gathering of outdoorsy people and out will pour the most colorful stories. The giant gator that bumped the bottom of someone’s boat. The ‘stuck on the log’ bass tracker. The water moccasin caught on the fishing pole - and that time the gator grabbed a water moccasin. Getting caught on the rocks. The biggest bass catch. The biggest gar catches. Seeing the most humongous gator ever. Withlacoochee River life is rich with its many-storied past. The Withlacoochee River stretches for 141 miles with its headwaters in the Green Swamp through Polk, Pasco, Hernando, Sumter, and Citrus counties. It is only one of two Florida rivers that flows from the south to the north, and it empties into the Gulf of Mexico in Yankeetown, Florida. 30% of the Withlacoochee River’s watershed is recreational land, rich with diverse plant life and over 500 species of vertebrae. Herons, eagles, and hawks fish in its waters for sunfish, bass, and brim. White-tailed deer, bears, bobcats, and raccoons are among the critters roaming the surrounding wilderness along its banks. Bobcats, bears, birds, and more use the Withlacoochee River watershed for their home and to move through the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The Corridor's connectedness provides some safety as they move naturally. The Withlacoochee River watershed it part of the Corridor. Image: FStop Foundation. Today the flow of this tannin-infused dark river is not strong. Fed by swamp waters and springs, the river rises with rainfall, growing darker and faster during wetter periods. As summer rains pour down, the Withlacoochee River becomes deeper and faster. The Withlacoochee name derives from the Creek native language, meaning “little big water.” It is believed to be referring to the drastic level changes in the river. Look for evidence of the past levels by the water marks on the trees along its banks. Paddling the Withlacoochee River provides the opportunity to see the drastic changes in water levels by looking at the water marks on the trees along its banks. Photo by Sally White. Silver Lake Recreation Area Here on the south side of Silver Lake, water plants edge the banks, providing shade and sanctuary to the local fish, like largemouth bass, sunfish, and brim, and the storied reptile, Alligator mississippiensis. The Withlacoochee River is known for its large alligator population. There are portions of the river unnavigable by boat due to limestone rocks and low water conditions, making it a haven for Florida’s most famous native reptile population. The dark water of the river, rich in tannins gets its color from the leaf debris and sediment. When the river runs faster, it gets darker. In essence, you are paddling through compost tea. The Little Withlacoochee On the Little Withlacoochee River, a 16-mile addition to the Withlacoochee River. Photo by Sally White Not far from our launch site is a side canal to the left. A family of anglers is trying their luck on this confluence of waterways where the Little Withlacoochee joins the big river. The Little Withlacoochee River runs 16 miles from the Richloam Wildlife Management Area in Sumter County, Florida, to the Silver Lake Recreation Area in Hernando County. It’s narrow, winding, and can be impassable when the water is low. Cypress knees on Silver Lake_Paddling the Withlacoochee River. Photo by Sally White Campers from River Junction Campground have their tents set up along the high bluffs of the river's banks. They are beginning to stir and the smell of camp coffee mingles in the air. We feel as if we are paddling through a house awakening, intruding on their peaceful solace, and so we turn back to rejoin the less populated big river. There is no one on the Withlacoochee River this morning but us. We continue paddling upriver (south). Our goal is to paddle up as far as we can and drift back with the current. The embankments rise on either side. Sandy spots along the river beckon us invitingly. The perfect wilderness campsite? Or a perfect spot for sunning gators? Cypress trees along the river are giants with a network of roots to help stop erosion. Bald cypress trees can grow to six feet in diameter and 150 feet in height. Photo by Sally White Cypress on the Withlacoochee River A ginormous cypress tree stands on the riverbank, surrounded by a group of small knees, looking like a wise professor teaching young minds. Further upriver the cypresses get larger! We are but dwarves in the shadows of their stature. Bald cypresses can grow 6 feet in diameter and about 150 feet in height. The waterline on the cypress trees tells tales of the rise and fall of Little Big River. Photo by Sally White Cypress trees play a vital role in the ecology of the Withlacoochee River. Beneath the surface, their root systems are like a spider web between cypress knees- knobby bits. The knees are thought to be a way to help the tree breathe when its roots are submerged. The root network helps stop, or slow, erosion and keeps the tree anchored in the swamp environment. Like humans; the more of a support system you have around you, the better off you are. The sun rises above the surrounding forest and the sound of a whirring motor echoes across the water, warning of an approaching boat. A family in another vessel passes us. The world is awakening. We take a few more turns along the river and turn around to float back to the boat ramp where families have already settled along the sandy shore to enjoy a Sunday in the Florida sun. Paddling the Withlacoochee River River Junction Boat Ramp, where we put in for our Paddling Adventure on the Withlacoochee River. Photo by Sally White Not known for excessive water traffic, aside from airboats, because of the many obstacles in the water like rocks and fallen trees, the Withlacoochee tends to be a quieter river for kayaking. There are many times you may be the sole human for miles. Embrace the precious commodity of solitude on your journey in this bustling state. We put in at the River Junction Boat Ramp on the Southwest tip of Silver Lake in the Withlacoochee State Forest, Croom Tract, but you can choose from a myriad of launch sites to explore the winding Withlacoochee River and return with your own colorful stories. Cypress trees - nature's sculptures- play a vital role in the ecosystem of the Withlacoochee River. Photo by Sally White Silver Lake Recreational Complex is located at 31475 Silver Lake Rd, Brooksville, FL 34602. Day-use passes are $2 per person. An annual pass for up to 6 persons on one pass is $45. It's good for all Florida State Forests. Sources: - https://www5.swfwmd.state.fl.us/with/ - https://floridadep.gov/PaddlingTrails - https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Withlacoochee-State-Forest/Recreation-Areas-on-the-Croom-Tract-at-Withlacoochee-State-Forest - https://ccmedia.fdacs.gov/content/download/82305/file/Silver-Lake-Brochure-102019.pdf - https://ccmedia.fdacs.gov/content/download/62942/file/fees_on_ffs_managed_lands.pdf Read the full article

[timjeffersphotography]

Richloam General Store & Post Office

Richloam General Store & Post Office

[pawneezr]

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#richloam fun in sunny #florida even though we got stormed on. #jeepjunkies #jeepfamily #jeepcrazy #jeeplife #jeep4life #jeepmaniac #jeepwrangler #jeepwranglerjk #offroading https://www.instagram.com/p/CC2D4VWpBji/?igshid=bf7ylb9gy6pf

[amycchristine5-blog]

Off-Roading At Richloam

Happy 2015 Friends!! Hope you all had a wonderful New Year’s Eve and are enjoying the first day of 2015 :)

Colin and I spent the last day of 2014 riding our enduros off-road through the woods. I can’t think of a better way to ride out of the year!

We rented an U-haul van to transport the bikes up to Richloam for a day of fun.

It has rained the past couple of days so we knew we were going to have…

[oakstrand]

Are you a real estate sales agent in Richloam, Florida? Join us - You keep 90% commission. Click to find out more! https://oakstrand.com/job/17767/hiring-real-estate-sales-agent-in-richloam-florida?utm_term=Richloam-Florida #joblisting #hiring #joinourteam #jobopening #Richloam #realestateagent #florida #oakstrand #bestplacetowork

[swampysflorida]

Swampy’s #Florida live at the last standing structure of Richloam, Florida: The Richloam General Store. Dates back to 1922, here, in Pasco County.