Episode 122: Creature from the Black Lagoon, Mermaids, and Florida Springs

Leslie Kemp Poole, author of Tracing Florida Journeys: Explorers, Travelers, and Landscapes Then and Now, comes on the podcast to talk about recreating Florida journeys made by famous Floridians and Florida-fans such as John Muir, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, and Harriet Beecher Stowe. She gives life to these journeys — take a listen!

Leslie's books

Watch Leslie follow Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' journey

Book cover courtesy of Leslie Kemp Poole/University Press of Florida.

Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.

Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri

Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.

Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.

Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).

Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...

Subscriber-only episode

Looking for places to snorkel in the Florida Keys? Brad's the expert. He explains not only how snorkeling ignited his interest in Florida Keys and Monroe County history, but where anyone can snorkel in the Florida Keys. 

Brad's Florida Keys snorkeling spots

Bahia Honda State Park

Looe Key

Key West Marine Park (you can walk/swim to this one)

Garden Key and Dry Tortugas

Links We Mentioned

At Robbie's: Sundance Watersports often goes to Alligator Light reef

Your guide to reef-friendly sunscreen

What does a Caribbean reef shark look like?

Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival

Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.

Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri

Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.

Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.

Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).

Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...

Cathy and Rick talk about how nature influences their writing, Cathy's camping experience at Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, Rick's upcoming keynote at the MKR annual conference, and where to find wild citrus.

Links We Mentioned

Matheson Museum, with the anniversary exhibit Rick designed

Squarehouse Pizza in Gainesville (Formerly Satch Squared, partly owned by Satchel's Pizza)

Rawlings Society and annual conference in May

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park and its Citizen Support Organization (also called a "friends group")

Sour Orange Pie and Sour Orange Margaritas

Volunteer at a Florida State Park

Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.

Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri

Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.

Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.

Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).

Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...

People love pirate lore — but what did it mean to be a pirate in Florida? According to Cathy, a lot more bureaucracy than you'd think. Rick and Cathy talk about pirates, real and imagined, and make a few Florida detours along the way.

Links We Mentioned

Legend of Jose Gaspar

Sir Francis Drake and privateer Robert Searle

Florida Pirate Festivals

Pirates in St. Augustine

A history of pirates in Florida

Sir Frances Drake in St. Augustine

Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.

Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri

Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.

Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.

Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).

Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...

Subscriber-only episode

Did the Florida Keys have pirates? Brad and Cathy debate. Brad unearthed an 1829 Keys newspaper and talks about an article warning of land sharks and advertising a house for rent for $20 a month in Key West. 

They also chat about the San Carlos, the Key West Firehouse Museum, and Carysfort Reef.

Links We Mentioned

Key West Firehouse Museum

San Carlos Institute

Carysfort Reef National Marine Sanctuary

The U.S.S. Schooner Alligator and Alligator Key

Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.

Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri

Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.

Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.

Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).

Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings made Cross Creek famous through her writing, and if you want to experience Florida as she did, there's no better place. From free-range venison starters at a Cross Creek restaurant to paddling the same creeks she did, immerse yourself in the world of Cross Creek. Here's how!

Spoiler alert: Cathy gives away the ending of The Yearling at the start of the podcast, because she says everyone knows. Rick disagrees, so if you don't know the story, consider yourself warned!

Links We Mentioned

The Yearling Restaurant

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park

Cross Creek paddle trips

Wood & Swink general store in Evinston

Ocean Grill in Vero Beach

Cathy Salustri's Writer's Talk at Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park (Feb. 24, 2024)

Salt Springs

Real Florida? The Ocklawaha River

Explore More of the Area

Exploring Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' homestead

Where's Waldo?

Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.

Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri

Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.

Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.

Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).

Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...

Ryan Smart, the executive director of the Florida Springs Council, joins the podcast to talk about threats facing springs, some recent victories for Florida's environment, and how people can support the work that protects Florida springs.

Image of the Profanity Manatee courtesy of Florida Springs Council; used with permission.

Links We Mentioned

Manatee Profanity t-shirt and other merch that supports Florida Springs Council

Become a sustaining member

Ditch the plastic water bottles for hurricane prep: Get reusable five-gallon glass water jug and USB-powered pump dispenser

Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.

Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri

Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.

Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.

Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).

Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...

Subscriber-only episode

Brad and Cathy take a deep dive into two of the best Florida State Parks in the Florida Keys: Bahia Honda and Long Key. 

Links We Mentioned

Florida Keys Eco-Experience Trail app for exploring the Florida Keys.

Bahia Honda State Park

Long Key State Park

Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.

Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri

Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.

Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.

Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).

Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...

Today's guest, Charles Ellis, who serves as the Fort Mose Historical Society president, talks about the reconstruction of the Fort, what’s happening in February, and Florida's place on the Underground Railroad. 

Links We Mentioned

Fort Mose State Park

Flight to Freedom

Fort Mose Historical Society

Jazz and Blues at Fort Mose

Support Fort Mose and Black History in Florida

Gullah Geechee Heritage Trail

What is a "ring shout"?

How To Be an Anti-Racist

Middle grade offering from Zora Neale Hurston and Ibram X. Kendi

Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.

Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri

Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.

Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.

Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).

Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...

If you want to explore Sarasota, Rick and Cathy have plenty of favorites. 

Places to Eat

Owen's Fish Camp

Yoder's of Pinecraft and The Gabber Newspaper's feature on Yoder's

Bali Hut Tiki Hut

Outdoors and Nature Experiences

Myakka River State Park

Warm Mineral Springs

Selby Botanical Gardens

Mote Marine Aquarium (kayaking and the February Farm to Fillet)

Venice Beach and Shark's Teeth

Roadside Attraction: Sarasota Jungle Gardens

Arts 

Ringling

Sarasota School of Architecture

Urbanite Theatre

Sarasota Art Museum

Shopping: St. Armand's Circle

Links We Mentioned

Orchid scandal at Selby and Craig Pittman's The Scent of Scandal about that scandal

Feld Entertainment

Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.

Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri

Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.

Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.

Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).

Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...