Everglades and Labelle

The Huge Black Monster of a Walking Dredge is still proudly on display at Collier Seminole State Park.  It and others like it were used to dig the miles and miles of ditches along side the Tamiami Trail that runs from Tampa, down and across the Everglades to Miami Florida.  Without those ditches, there would not have been enough muck and dirt to pile up and make the roadway now called Rt 41.  Once again we followed the ditches and the high road that lies high and dry between them out and across the Glades.  Sometimes there were shallow ponds and shorebirds, fishing for their next meal.  Sometimes it was miles of swamp grass or a cluster of low trees and palms on swaths of higher ground.  We passed the road to Everglade City and various airboat ride

concessions along the way.  I had several birthday cards to mail and we stopped at the smallest Post Office in the entire United States to mail them!  While the Ochopee Post Office was formerly an irrigation pipe storage shed for a local tomato farmer, the local postmaster pressed it into service after a disastrous fire in 1953 burned down the original general store and post office.  This structure has been in continuous use ever since, as both post office and ticket station for the Trailways bus lines!  I hope Becki and Bobbie checked their postmarks!

 The National Park System normally operates Midway Campground and reservations are placed with Recreation.Gov but with this ridiculous “partial government shutdown”, no one knows

Midway campground

what’s going on.  R.Gov is telling people it’s first come first serve. One host is saying they can’t stop anyone from parking and staying on any open site.  The other host has put out a “campground full” sign and “reserved” signs on all 24 sites.  H was obviously concerned since we needed those 2 nights to fit into our camping schedule so we left Collier Seminole early that morning and arrived in Midway by 10am. Our reserved site was open and we backed in and quickly hooked up to the electricity!

The next storm was to arrive on Thursday so we grabbed a bite to eat and headed out to explore via blue truck.  The “Loop Road” is now mostly level gravel and posted speed signs say 25mph and sometimes only 15mph.  We drove thru jungle areas with the

palmetto and Cypress trees hugging the edge of the narrow road.  There were areas of swamp with pools of calm water.  Tall thin Blue Herons blended in with the tall strange looking gray Cypress trees, covered with stringy, spooky looking Spanish moss that swayed in the breeze. Yes - we saw gators.  We REALLY saw gators as we drove back up to the Visitor Center.  It was warm enough by then for all the big black lumps of leather to haul themselves up on the banks to grab some warm rays.  One even smiled at us!   At the Visitor Center, the rustic wooden boardwalk still stands above the area’s ditch and there are still a magnitude of the black monsters lurking in the dark waters or sunning on the

rocks – RIGHT below your feet!

As promised the storm arrived and we were forced to stay inside most of the day Thursday.  H got to read and I got out the sewing machine!  Friday morning was another moving day!  Backtracking on westbound Rt 41 we reversed our route and then headed north on Rt 29 – the way we arrived 2 weeks previously!  As we had seen on the way down, there were several areas that were bordered by high fences topped with barbed wire.  Every so often there were big yellow signs announcing “panther crossing” areas- complete with under the road passageways for the stealthy endangered big cat to travel safely thru his domain.  Up in the “forest” – it’s bears. In the

Glades – it’s panthers – and we didn’t see any of them either!

Our travel schedule had us booked for 2 nights in Ortona Lock Campground before we would move into WP Franklin Lock and Dam Campground.  Remember, we had just camped at Phipps Park in Stuart – within walking distance of the Port Lucie Lock Campground and now it was Ortona.  See Last Years Florida Blog!!  Our site was great!  The back window of the “tan train” overlooked the lock and dam. The side door and windows looked up the Caloosahatchee River!  The sun was shining and the boats were slowing down to enter the lock!   H got to spend his afternoon at the Ford Dealer in nearby Labelle getting

Ortona campground

the latest truck problem tended to and lucky me – I got to tend to the laundry and have some “me” time!

More rain was predicted.  Scattered showers for Sunday morning, then clearing, then the real storms were to arrive from the south during the afternoon.  The weatherman missed it again!  The DELUGE started before 5am and just barely let up by 9am when we made our dash for the highway.  Poor H was just about drowned trying to get the “train” hooked up and the tanks drained.  See the lovely view from our doorway, looking up the river?  See the low area just past the gravel patio?  Sunday morning it was FULL of water!

 
We made it to WP Franklin without further incident and we hurried to set up before the next round of wind and rain hit.  Squishing around in the deep waterlogged grass would have been more fun if it weren’t so cold and windy out!   We’ve got two weeks here so we’re good!  Our shoes should dry!

Naples - Marco Island Area

It seemed forever to get from Stuart on the Atlantic side of Florida to Marco Island and Collier Seminole State Park on the very

western edge of the Everglades!  We crossed south of Lake Okeechobee and across to Labelle before heading south on the comparatively calm Rt 29.  Anything but getting on hectic I 75!

 

 
We squeezed into site 67, which was too short and narrow for this “train” but it was right across from the bathhouse and tiny laundry area!   It was for only 4 nights and our neighbors were great, plus - I didn’t have to lug the laundry too far!  We’ve met so many nice folks – it seems like this was Michigan week – folks were here from Livonia, Traverse City, Warren, Brownstone Twp and even Temperance!  We’ve moved now to a bigger site and our neighbors next to us are from Angola/Lake James, Indiana! 

 With the government shut down, nobody was sure about whether Midway Campground in the Glades would be functioning when it was our turn to park there so we took a chance and drove that way to see.  We learned there had been squatters in the campground that wouldn’t move when the real campers arrived so the camp hosts finally put out the “campground full” sign and put “reserved” signs on all the campsites.  We also wanted to see if Shark Valley was

open and available to ride our bikes.  Shark Valley, while part of the National Park System is operated by a separate concession, so it was open.  The day was sunny but cooler – low 70’s, as we began peddling our trusty little bikes!   The first half of the day’s ride was easy – not as many bikes and not as many gators lying in the roadway like last time!  The tall spiral observation tower came into view and then stood right before us.  The uphill walk was more tiring than the 7-mile bike ride but the view was still worth it.  Looking back to where we had come – you could see the stick straight bike/tram path and to the right the curvy line that was the longer route was visible and then the vast grassland that lay beyond.  H decided that we should venture back

to the parking area/visitor center via that route this time.  The trip out was 7 miles, level and WITH the wind.  The trip back was 8 miles, curved, a bit uphill and INTO a 15 mph wind!  AMEN to the power of the electric bikes!  And while the Everglades are referred to as a River of Grass – it’s been way too dry down here and this part of the damp glades have dried up with just a few pockets of water remaining along the way.  But – we still counted gators – 83 of them on this round trip. And a million birds!
 

The beaches have been visited!  As usual, in Naples we parked and walked the mile up the beach to the public pier and back.  This time we finally got to go visit the much acclaimed Tigertail Beach on the north end of Marco Island.   However – it was the day after we rode our bikes on the Shark Valley trail and H’s legs and knees were not up to too much beach/sand walking.  We did make it to the main beach area tho and saw all the shells strewn about on the white sand.  One family had even created a sand sculpture of a

giant dragon!  Had it been up north it would have been snow!
 

The Caxambas City Park on the south end of Marco Island – is where we normally park the truck and ride our bikes to the public access pathways to the beach.  At the boat launch area we had to stop and watch a group of men dressed as what seemed to be pirates.  They were filling a small wooden sailboat with way too many supplies and gear.  Eventually they completed their tasks and shoved off from the dock.  Long skinny looking oars were dipped in and out of the water in synchronized time and the much overloaded boat was pointed out to the open water.   Finally, as we stood watching, the small, heavy looking canvas sails were hoisted to assist in their slow moving process.

Then the storm that has dumped all the snow on the northern states arrived at our little section of SW Florida.  Thankfully it passed Saturday night/Sunday morning and was only much needed rain!  Sunday brought the strong winds!  H felt the need to head back to the Naples Pier and document the size of the waves at high tide and to see how much of the beautiful beach was now under water.  As we parked and approached the gathering area for the pier, the crowd was getting thicker.  The pier was packed with people who had the same idea as we had.  We side stepped around several groups and worked our way to the front of the crowd to check out the long wooden fishing dock but the pier itself was closed and a chain was draped across the way.  Where just a few days before the beautiful blue green water was gently lapping at the snow white sand, now HUGE, 6 to 8 foot, angry gray waves

were beating at the higher section of the beach and at the sturdy cement legs of the pier itself.  A few foolish surfers were trying to find a wave they could handle and about a dozen hardy kite surfers were hanging on for dear life as they skipped and bounced along on the raging waves, up the coastline.
 
We’ve watched as our new friends have come and gone and we’ve said our “Goodbyes” to others.  It’s our turn to hitch up and hit the road to our next area of this winter’s adventure.

Southeast Florida Coast

While Phipps Park and the surrounding areas are not new to us – H always manages to find new places for us to explore and learn about.  But first we had to test our little bikes - across the wooden

bridge and on the grassy path on the small island in the middle of the pond that is also in this park.  H even found an alligator hiding in plain sight and a small blue heron stalking his next meal.  Past the pond, at the end of the park is the boat launch, which is conveniently located in the shade of the turnpike bridge.

 

The Atlantic coast is lined with barrier islands and dotted with expansive beaches - between all the massive mansions and

conglomerates of high-rise condos.  Hutchinson Island stretches from Stuart and has the “refuge” with its New England looking rocky shoreline at the southern end and the Ft Pierce Inlet Jetty and beach on the northern end.  The pelicans still sit and preen and wait for a fisherman to catch fish for them to swipe!

 

To the south is Jupiter Inlet and Jetty!  It was our first time to visit and explore this delightful park with plenty of people watching benches, picnic areas and a continuous

parade of boats coming and going and the Jupiter Lighthouse in the distance.  At the ocean end of the jetty the ocean waves caused such a turbulence in combination with the outgoing tide it was especially amusing to watch as some boats wallowed in the swells and others just gunned it and charged on thru!  One beautiful sailboat came in the whole way under sail and at a good tilt to boot!

 

Further south from that park was Carlin Beach Park – another first to visit!  There was ample free parking and cool, shaded picnic areas.  Out on the beach was a bright red flag with the word “ROCKS” waving in the breeze. As we strolled along, we approached a weather worn area of pinkish orange rocks being attacked by crashing waves.  Unique formations for sure and by placing the camera almost on

the wet sand – I got a good shot of this “Florida Arch”!  What do you think?
 

We even explored Jonathan Dickinson State Park, which is also down RT 1 near Jupiter!  While we’ve never stayed there, the park is massive and interesting!  It claims to have the highest spot in SOUTH Florida!  And we climbed the 86 ft high

“mountain” and the sturdy wooden tower atop it to view the surrounding vista below!  We should have counted the steps!

 10-mile long Jupiter Island sits between the town, also called Jupiter Island, and Stuart.  The majority of mansions are behind high concrete walls with ornate wrought iron gates, or 10 ft high manicured hedges that are at the narrow roads edge. We’ve been told there are only 900 people who live on the island.  We passed Tiger Woods 12 acre estate, complete with practice golf course and 60 million dollar, 10,000 square ft. mansion but we never knew which one of the mega mansions was his!  Nor did we know which one was the Bush estate, or the home of Jack Nicklaus, or Alan Jackson or Michael Jordan!  The Island’s website boasts of seclusion and privacy!

 

Our early mornings are spent watching the collection of various boats pausing behind our temporary home - coming and going, up and down the river, riding our bikes and trying to keep track of all the different birds we’ve encountered – all the herons – blue, green, tri colored and white, osprey, the murder (flock!) of crows, the committee of vultures, the squadron of pelicans or even the

pandemonium of bright green Monk Parakeets we saw at one of the parks we visited!  I even got out the binoculars to inspect the tiny flitting Swamp Sparrows that hunted for seeds in the dry grass outside our doorway!

 

Our “happy hour” afternoons and early evenings have been dutifully spent watching wispy clouds gather, join together and then disappear again before the sun finished setting over the darkening lock and dam.  Attendance gets taken almost daily in this stretch of trailers, 5^th wheels and motorhomes that like us, line the rivers edge.  From the usual Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, to Delaware, New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Maine, there is also New Mexico, South Dakota and even Alaska!  Talk about diversity!

 

On our last day in Stuart we found and visited the Treasure Coast Wildlife Animal Hospital and Sanctuary.  We were allowed to roam around each of the enclosures for the “residents” of the park – the ones who cannot be released back into the wild because of different disabilities and are now used for educational purposes.  Among others, there were turtles, owls, hawks, eagles and even Crested Caracara!  The young woman there brought several of the disabled birds out and introduced us to them and told of how they each came to be at the Sanctuary.  Very interesting and VERY informative!

 It’s time to go. West this time – back across the state to Collier Seminole State Park and Marco Island!  Come along!

Happy New Year

Christmas may be over but the enjoyment lingers on.  That afternoon may have been spent enjoying the company of D&S in Ocala but the morning was spent strolling the beautiful walkways of Silver Springs Park - the 2013 addition to the Silver Springs

State Park.  The famous entertainers no longer perform on its stage and the animals in its zoo are no longer there but the gardens are still full of blooming shrubs and flowers and the famous glass bottom boats still transport their passengers up and down the river and pause over each of the deep blue springs.  In winters past, H and I would ply the boat or canoe up the clear sparkling river, counting alligators, beautiful wading birds and even wild monkeys.  We’d follow behind the much larger passenger boats in the main spring area and listen to each explanation before we’d gently glide back down the jungle-engulfed river.  This time we strolled all the paths and boardwalks, enjoying the Christmas decorations and talked about our fond memories of being out on that water!

 

Our next stop over on this winter’s journey was at Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring.  Highlands County was named for its high terrain, and a “hammock” is defined by Wikopedia as a fertile area in southern US (Florida!) that is usually higher that its surroundings and contains hardwood vegetation and deep humus-rich soil – hence the name of this park!   Back in 1931, the local

citizens collected funds to purchase the land so that the area could not be cleared for farming.  The Civilian Conservation Corps put the young men of the area to work, constructing the buildings, bridges and roads throughout the park.   A 3 mile blacktopped loop affords cars, bikes and pedestrians a chance to experience the deeper portions of the park.  H and I rode our bikes around the loop two times during our stay and of course we HAD to walk out thru the swamp (SPFB!) and walk precariously over the narrow boardwalk!

 

We explored the small town of Lake Wales in the rolling hills of the highest ground of peninsular Florida and the home of Bok Towers.  We had already visited those beautiful gardens years ago so this time, our adventure called for finding SPOOK HILL!  We finally found the Spook Hill Elementary School and then the big sign that explained the legend of the hill.  We did as the sign directed: stopped on the white line and put the truck in neutral.  We slowly rolled back UP the hill – just as these two vehicles in this photo are doing!

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  The park was jammed full of RV’s of all sizes and styles but since we reserved a site so late – we did not get the best one.  We were surrounded by a gaggle of tents, bikes, trucks, kids and dogs.  Fortunately they were mostly well behaved and New Years Eve came and went peacefully and quietly.  We made new friends who were camped several sites away.  Debbie & Rich have a 2015 Hemisphere – built just several months after ours!  Same size but it is the yellow tan instead of our beige tan.   Instead of a big back window they have a gorgeous fireplace. The guys are the same age but D and I are 10 years minus 3 days of being the same age!  She sews and she knits!  Imagine!

 

Several times we drove down Rt 27 to Lake Placid to visit with B&C in Camp Florida!  They returned the favor and we met in Historic Downtown Sebring and we enjoyed a pizza - almost as good as the ones at Buddy’s Pizza up in Dearborn Michigan!  This restaurant opened at 4pm and by 4:10pm they were lined up out the door!

 

Our stay at Highlands Hammock was not without its problems.  Our long narrow site was also occupied by several tall trees whose roots spread out across the top of the sandy, leaf strewn earth and kept trying to trip us!  Sometimes successfully!   One day the water in the park was shut off.   On our moving day, the dump station had an “out of order” sign across the driveway! Ugh!  Well, our next campground surely would have a dump station that would be open for business.

 

And that campground is Phipps Park in Stuart Florida.  Phipps Park is a county park - right on the St Lucie Canal that flows from the Atlantic Ocean in Port St Lucie to Lake Okeechobee.  And, yes – we’ve camped here before but the campsites didn’t look like they do now.  Then, the mammoth sites were deep and backed up to a rough hedge row of palmettos and other small trees that lined the canal – blocking the views of the peaceful river.   Now the still ample sites are full of sun and include wide-open views of the dark tannic water and the variety of boats that prowl the river.  Now we can see the St Lucie Lock and dam just to the west.  We can see the wading shorebirds and the fish that jump and tempt them!  The osprey that fly overhead, also!  Just to the east of the campground is the Florida Turnpike and past that is US 95 that runs from Maine to Miami!

 

It’s a new year!  Here’s to hoping that we all have a healthy and happy one!

Merry Christmas

To all of our Dear Friends – Our New Friends and Our Old Friends –

To our families in Florida, Michigan, Ohio and all our family elsewhere –

We are sending our warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas, a Safe and Warm Winter and the Happiest of New Years!

Here are a few of our favorite Christmas Pictures that we would like

To share with all of you!  Count these as our Christmas Cards for you!

Just remember:  JESUS is the Reason for this Season!

Ocala National Forest

We’re in the FOREST!    See Previous Florida Blogs for Salt Springs!  Per usual, we are officially “hunting” for bears!  According to the latest National Forest Magazine, black bears are more widespread than their larger brown cousins.  The Ocala is home to Florida’s largest population of black bears; a 2016 statewide estimate noted that the area around the Ocala supports roughly 1,200 bears with the highest density in the Forest itself - - more than a quarter of the state’s bear population!   Then why haven’t we seen any???

What we have seen is rain!  MORE RAIN!  Last week it started during the evening on Thursday and rained for more than 24 hours straight.  Ocala registered 8 inches!   Now it’s Thursday again and it’s RAINING!   I KNEW I should have bought that rain gauge when we were at the flea market last week!   Luckily for us – the warnings and several small tornados passed south of us.  They were aiming for Orlando and not us.  We did end up with about 4 inches on this second batch of precipitation!

Before the rain hit last week, we heard the piercing squawk of what sounded like a very large parrot coming from the next row over.  The parrot and his people moved in right next to us and his

screened room shelter was placed right between the two trailers!   OH NO!!  Thankfully he settled down and with all the rain, he was kept inside alot.  I finally got to meet ZEUS who is 17 years old and has been with his folks since he was 5 months old.  He can do tricks and talks! He loves having his head scratched!  Isn’t he beautiful?!

 

Salt Springs Campground has changed over the years since we’ve been camping here.  It used to have a big old barn for socializing.  It used to have sites where you could stay for months at a time. This year the limit of stay is 2 weeks on all sites - just like all the other National Forest Campgrounds!  Instead of being almost full at Christmas time – only about a third of the sites have campers.   Zeus and his folks have moved on and we’ve met the fun folks who have moved into that site! Two sites down are a couple we met back when we stayed at EG Simmons County Park!   I was showing her my “wares” and she said she had bought some from a lady years ago but she was sure it wasn’t me.  IT WAS!   It was at EG Simmons!   Our friends that we met here last year just arrived and this weekend our other favorite friends from here are due in!  And Bob from Illinois is back at the resort across the road – he is

still swimming in the springs whenever he can!  On one of our rare sunny days we rode our little bikes over to visit him and H ended up with a flat tire.  HA – he fixed it without removing the tire from the bike!

The truck is fixed!   Ford has had a recall out on the power brake vacuum pump but our local dealer at home would not replace it until it acted up.  It has begun to act up!   If anyone is near Palatka or the Forest and need auto assistance – call BECK Ford (or Chevy, or Nissan, or Chrysler!).  We drove up on Saturday and the part was emergency ordered out of Atlanta.  Monday was frustrating but after contacting Mark, the service manager, nerves were settled and after the call from him again on Tuesday morning – we were there within the hour!  And within the next hour – Jeff had the brake vacuum pump replaced and also the throttle body assembly!   Jeff and H even swapped several stories about their respective FORDS!  He was very knowledgeable and easy to chat with!  On Wednesday, all was fine – on Thursday – after all the rain – there were NO power brakes when the truck was started.  Friday was another phone call and another 20-mile drive up to Palatka.  We are so tired of all this truck drama!  But at least on this trip to the dealership, our Good Lord provided us with a beautiful rainbow to let us know all would be ok.  When the pump was installed on Tuesday the clamp on the vacuum hose was not tightened sufficiently and when H started it on Thursday – it blew it right off!  Simple fix!  

 

Corky Bells Seafood Restaurant has been checked off our list of “must do’s! Their Shrimp and Scallop plate was great as usual but they only serve Shrimp and Grits on Mondays so on our second trip I ordered their shrimp and their cheesy grits as a side dish.  I put the dozen broiled shrimp in the good-sized bowl of grits.   It was good but not as great as Safe Harbor’s!!

And H got to go shoot skeet at the Palatka Trap and Skeet Club again!  While I knitted and chatted on my cell phone he was out

shooting a PERFECT score!!  Way to go H!!   You smoked it!

Saturday was the Christmas potluck and thankfully there was no rain.  No warm weather either but the sun was shining brightly and we were almost warm enough!  My Sweet & Sour Green Beans were devoured – just a few were left aimlessly floating in a puddle of its tangy liquid!

 

Christmas is coming!   We’re moving closer to Ocala for the holiday, which will be spent with D&S before we really head south to (hopefully) the warmer parts of Florida.

Fernandina Beach to St Augustine

 

Fernandina Florida was a “hop” from the Georgia line and the Cumberland Island National Seashore (In Georgia!) was right across the river from the tip of Amelia Island, the home of Ft Clinch and the state park that bears it’s name. Fort Clinch was our home for one night before our “skip” down the island and across the mighty St Johns River.  Jacksonville straddles both sides of this extremely busy international import/export terminal lined river!  Ocean freighters of all nationalities and places of origin, carrying all types of cargo were either going up river or exiting out onto the ocean.  We watched as the Jumbo Shipping Freighter “Fairlift” cruised steadily by us carrying 2 mammoth funnel-like looking contraptions on her deck.  The Blount Island Terminal has a crane that will lift a 65-TON container and last year 683,000 vehicles were moved thru just that terminal.  That’s only one of 3 terminals!

Kathryn Abbey Hanna City Park is next to the Mayport Naval Station that presently was home to at least 5 huge gray naval vessels.  The ferry that shuttles cars and trucks across the expanse of the St Johns River, docks in Mayport, near the naval station and right next to all the fishing boat docks where the big ugly fishing vessels with folded up arms of netting, perch to unload their

Lunch at the Docks

valuable cargo.  On previous stays in Hanna Park, our choice of seafood restaurants was always Singletons. Not anymore!  They were closed for remodeling when we stopped so we ventured into Safe Harbor Seafood Market & Restaurant.   We entered the “market” and placed our order with the lady just past all the display cases that held the various types of cleaned, pink or white, neatly arranged fish.  We were given a number and we found an empty table in the eating area – out on the back deck – right NEXT to the docks where the catches were being unloaded.  Up north – grits are usually made with water and resemble old gray wallpaper paste.  I make my grits with milk, cheese, butter and a little garlic!  I had Shrimp and Grits for the 1^st time last year in Myrtle Beach and they were good!  The Shrimp and Grits at Safe Harbor were out of this world!  HUGE Crusty Grilled Shrimp were nestled in a bed of cheesy, garlicky grits that were smothered in finely chopped red tomatoes, purple onions and bright green chives.  Dee-lish!

And then there was the rain.  The massive storm that reeked havoc on North Carolina and Tennessee was a deluge of water that threatened to delay our trip farther down A1A.  Once the rain had subsided we hooked up the “train” and climbed in the truck to complete our “hop-skip and jump” down the coast to St Augustine and the Anastasia State Park.

Okay – here it is: SPFB!  St Augustine and her Old Towne decorate for Christmas to the nines!  In past winters it’s been raining or cold but this year as we parked in the parking lot for the San Marcos Fort (free after 5pm!) we had on our winter coats so we were toasty warm!  The narrow streets were busy with other folks also out to enjoy the sites.  Horses bedecked with jingle bells, slowly clomped by, pulling buggies outlined in colorful lights. After our circle thru and around the restored old town we strolled along the river walk on our way back to the fort and our awaiting blue chariot.  A lighted sailboat was under motor power and was heading for the

also bright, glowing bridge.  Reflections rippled outward from the base of the bridge – multiplying the lights.  Too bad – the boat parade was the night BEFORE we arrived!

Yes, H has driven the local beaches!  On Amelia Island he drove out on squishy white sand on the state park beach.  He even got a 20-minute pass to check out the campground at Huguenot Memorial Park and for old times sake he HAD to drive on that beach also!  Of course, if he’s out on St Augustine Beach – he’s gonna have to drive on that beach too!  Other times we used our feet to check out a couple of the beaches.  One day the sky was being torn apart with angry clouds and the equally angry waves were crashing against the staunch sturdy legs of the fishing pier on their way to the beach.  Out past the pier, surfers were bouncing around on their boards, struggling to ride the rolling waves.   The next day the sky was blue and the waves were now happily racing to reach the shore!

 And the drone has been flown!   Finally - no wind and NO rain!!  We hurried out to the kayak launching area on the small lake on the inland side of the dunes here in Anastasia.  In one direction, the drone’s camera did capture the tall black & white spiraled St Augustine lighthouse in the distance and in the opposite, the kayakers floating along on the lake. You can see the camp road to the beach parking area and the slit of blue ocean. Too bad the drone didn’t get high enough to see on the other side of the white dunes and the sparkling white waves that were lining those shores.

 Our “To Do” list for our time in Anastasia is complete.   The day’s forecast is for more rain so we are packed and ready to go.  We’re heading for the Forest!