Monday, May 4, 2015

Fort Caroline "Cowspotdog" Park - National Bark Rangers

We got up nice and early to go check out the Fort Caroline Park which of coarse I have renamed the Fort Caroline "Cowspotdog" Park - I have peed there - therefore it is mine - those are the Reilly Rules :)  And if you are wondering why they don't apply to Denny it is because the weird little Dweeb won't pee at the park - he will only pee in his own backyard!  The other amazing thing is this park is like a half  mile around the corner from our house! Fort Caroline was settled by the French in the 1500's.  It was originally named La Caroline (land of Charles) after King Charles IX. In 1565 the Spanish attacked and massacred all but 60 women and a few children out of the 600 hundred people that were living at the fort. Also living near the Fort were the Timucuan Indians who sadly died off due to the introduction of European diseases.

Here we are at the beginning of the park where we went to check out the visitors center and pick up a map. Now we must tell you - this is one the shadiest parks with huge big trees draped in Spanish Moss - Mom said it gave the whole park a magical feel - yeah what ever Mom!













 Having picked up our map we head down the trail marked 'fort' and along the way came across one of the kennels houses the Timucuan's lived in. We sure hope they only had little families as this thing was barely big enough for us ! The next thing we came across was SUPER cool. It was a display of dog pictures - yes dog pictures!!! These are all doggies who have become Nation Bark Rangers - and guess what - when we went back to the visitors center they took pictures of us too, put our names in the book and we are now officially National Bark Rangers too! Our next stop was the actual fort - which is really small and an odd triangle shape - it sits right on the waters edge.







































From Fort Caroline "Cowspotdog" we went across the road to the Spanish Ponds. From here you can take a walking trail to Timucuan Preserve which is another area of natural bush land. Now something else we learned was all this park land was once owned by an old guy by name of Willie Brown. He was offered millions of dollar for the land as it is in a super prime location but in his own immortal words he said "Pretty soon there will come a day when there will be nothing but concrete jungle from New York City to Jacksonville - that is why I want this place saved - so you can come and see some of God's handwork" In 1969 he donated all the land for free to the National Parks Service - way to go Willie - we thank you from the bottom of our paws to the tips of our tails!

29 comments:

  1. That is pawsome you guys are gonna be on the picture board at Fort Cowspotdog park. Pawsome looking park!

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  2. Dweeb don't take it so hard. Katy will pee, but only poops in her own yard. Bailey not so discriminating. Looks like you found a beautiful new park.

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  3. We think that Fort Carolineeeeeeeeeeee ♫ is SWEET ♫
    And of course it is now your SWEET CAROLINE... Fort... since you have Peed there.

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  4. What an exciting time you guys are having, exploring all the wonderful places near your new home. Thanks for taking us along too.
    Toodle pip!
    Bertie.

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  5. Denny, would you believe Ruby will NOT pee in her own yard! You two are like cute little opposites!

    The park looks huge and beautiful!

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  6. Wow, you're finally lots of beautiful parks to go to and this one has gotta be yours…you've left pee mail AND got your photo on the wall!
    Hope handsome Denny is settling in a bit better now
    Loves and licky kisses
    Princess Leah xxx

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  7. That looks like a wonderful park. And a for too! And now you are official Bark Rangers! How much better can it get?

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

    PS - Tomorrow the Blogville Barkers debut in their furst practice!

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  8. Boy...you guys landed right in the middle of a bunch of parks and exciting places to see....and now you are Officially Official National Bark Rangers!

    The Mad Scots

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  9. No way! You won't pee at the park, BOL
    Lily & Edward

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  10. We are beginning to think that you two are really gonna love living in Florida! What wonderful parks they have to visit
    hugs
    Mr Bailey, Hazel & Mabel

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  11. Why it is like being dropped off in a whole new world. It must be wonderful to start anew. We envy you with all the new sights to see and things to do. We would love to see Spanish moss hanging from trees.
    Thanks for being a friend
    Sweet William The Scot

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  12. You guys sure do find the coolest and prettiest places to visit!

    Love ya lots♥
    Mitch and Molly

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  13. Hari OM
    What a supery-dupery place - and to become bark rangers too - bravo!!! Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

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  14. Thanks. That was a nice outing. When do we eat?

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  15. I love those trees! It is MAGICAL! You're going to love having a shady place to walk in the summer. I'd love to sit and read a book under those trees.

    It sounds like it is very dog friendly too! I love how they make all of you park rangers! (I want to be a park ranger when I grow up).

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  16. Oh, how we love learning about all these special places you visit. Fort Caroline is very interesting - and you tell us all about it in such an enchanting way. What's next?

    Woos - Ciara and Lightning

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  17. Wowsa! You guys are just in park HEAVEN theres in FL!!! Very cool parks! And they allow doggies too??! SCORE!
    Kisses,
    Ruby ♥

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  18. Another great park you have claimed.

    Aroo to you,
    Sully

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  19. OMD but you are having some wonderful adventures already and how dog friendly is Florida, who would have believed it!! You lucky dogs.

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  20. Yay for Willie Brown! That is a fantastic park. And you are Bark Rangers....love it!

    Looks like another great park for you to visit.

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  21. Oh I love how right at home you are!! That park is gorgeous too!!!

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  22. Denny won't pee at da park? What da woof???

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  23. You are fitting right in there!!


    Loveys Sasha

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  24. how great is that? you have a new park, what's totally magic and you became Bark Rangers... wow!!! Thanks for inviting me to a historic walk, I never heart about this indians, that was interesting, many thanks :o)
    easy rider

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  25. That park is FANGTASTIC! Congrats on becoming National Bark Rangers, talk about a sweet deal!
    Wally & Sammy

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  26. Happy exploring! I wonder if National Bark Rangers get paid since it sounds like a job???

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  27. National Bark Rangers! What an honour!!

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  28. Wowzers, Bark Rangers! What an awesome park!
    Cammie!

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  29. Best park yet, and Bark Rangers how cool! Love Dolly

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Thank you for woofing at us - we read each and every one of them