Chiles and His Florida: Live Oak

Live Oak was a bit of a disappointment. In fact, looking back at the whole Suwannee State Park-Live Oak-Madison swing...I should have stayed home and avoided the poison ivy. Given its name, I expected Live Oak to be more canopied--like Monticello but wilder. I got nothing of the kind. The mood in the town was a bit dark. Part of Main Street was blocked off for some reason and the far side of town was busy with a police action of some kind. I think they were waiting for a suspect's vehicle to show.

As usual, downtown was empty of activity. They have a large Bank of America though and a cluster of law firms next to the County Courthouse, so Live Oak has it better than lots of towns since it's the county seat and it's got easy traffic access to highway 90.

It's also got a railroad running alongside--same one that passes through Madison. Back in the old days, it probably boomed with agricultural activity because of those rails. Now not so much.

Welcome to Live Oak. Got a big green bog to make you feel right at home.

Farther up in the shot you can see the "Walkin' Lawton" signpost.

And 651 miles to the Florida Keys!

Main Street. There is a museum of some kind on the other side of the barricades.

On that grassy knoll, the railroad comes to Live Oak.

Industrial plant of some kind. There was a factory--chicken processing I think--on the outskirts of town. It was awkwardly placed and I couldn't find anywhere to stop to take a picture.