St. Augustine is know for being the nations oldest city and for its Fountain of Youth which is Florida’s oldest attraction.  Ponce de Leon discovered a spring at this location supposedly!  We went, we drank from the fountain which appears to come at a pretty steady stream out of nowhere and tastes like sulphur.  I’m thinking there is nothing special about the water as upon further reading the spring is fed from the Floridan Aquifer which lies below most of North Florida.

Peacocks run free – these were pretty to look at!

I knew it sounded weird but we are interested in weird however this attraction was not worth the $14 it costs a senior to explore.  We spent about an hour.  The best part of the park is you can bring your dog with you anywhere in the park without restrictions!  Duke enjoyed the planatarium and learned how the early sailors followed the stars and he had his own comfy seat in the movie about the discovery globe.  The grounds are pretty and they have a nice wooded walkway into the marsh but the hotel next door has the same view and the same walk so I think you could probably enjoy that part for free.  Definitely not on my list of great value of time or money.

St. Augustine has lots of walking streets with every type of shop you can think of and so many little restaurants.  I think I gained weight just walking by and seeing the menus!   The town is like lots of other tourist areas, lots of shops and lots of little tours that will take up a good portion of your day and cost you a small fortune.  Paul and I chose to just walk about and see what we could see.

Lightner Museum

A Hotel first and now a museum.  The outside grounds are beautiful.  We found an indoor area that had a small restaurant with a piano player and as we left I saw a photo on the wall – It was the indoor pool originally!  Pretty interesting.

The Courtyard area

We returned in the evening as they have a huge light display.  A large amount of the businesses and public areas are lite up with white christmas lights and very pretty.

Ponce de Leon

Duke needs some money!

If you are ever in St. Augustine spend some money on the pedicab!  This guy was so friendly and we forgot to tip him for letting Duke climb up in his cab and take a photo!  Actually Duke jumped in while we were chatting with the guy in passing!

St. Augustine is a very cute little town with narrow streets, lots of history and a very cool fort.  We spent the day checking things out.  First stop is Castillo de San Marcos, a fort built by the Spanish to protect the merchantile ships that were bringing goods from the Caribean back to Spain.

The view of the bay from the fort

Firearms

This was pretty interesting, a rifle mounted on a cart.

One of the canyons they fire for the tourists

Mortar Canyon facing the city

The good news for me was Paul didn’t make we stick around so we could watch them fire of a canyon.  We have done that before and I’m not that impressed.

Welcome to Florida – time to get rid of the sweatshirts!

Now, thats friendly!

Two nights in Jacksonville for Paul to visit a couple of RV dealers and the weather is perfect.  Wednesday  we arrived in St. Augustine and I hit the beach right after I got a pedicure!  The advantage of the cold is I saved a bunch of money on pedicures the last 3 months.

Sunshine, Sand, listening to the waves – I’m very happy!

The weather isn’t always perfect!  Wednesday evening the wind started blowing and by morning it was cloudy and very cold, down to about 40!  Our plan for a very cold day was a trip down Route A1A to Ormond Beach where Paul had a customer to see and hopefully some walks along the way back.  After the dealer we realized a picnic was out of the question as the wind was so cold so we found a diner and had some clam chowder.  The route goes right along the Atlantic Ocean and the ocean was wild today – what a difference from yesterday.  The promise from the weather man is the good weather will be returning tomorrow.  Perfect, otherwise I wasted a pedicure!

We did get out a little when the route took us a little inland and we could see some of the intercoastal waterway.  This area looks like a great place to get out on the water and do some paddling.  Maybe this weekend!

Our drive was cut short and we headed home to warm up!  Tomorrow we hope to get back out.

We have been in Florida a week visiting the beaches and enjoying the spring weather, not too many bugs!  Sunday we left Tampa and are now hanging out in Orlando, home of the giant mouse.   The closest I got to the Magic Kingdom was several homes have giant ears as yard art and the Big Kmart had lots of Mickey Mouse household decorations.  I love Disney and all things Disney but Paul doesn’t so I thought about spending the day at the Park until I found out it would cost me close to $100 just to get into the place and then I would have to buy something or some things!  And, then of course you have to sample the food.  One day just wasn’t enough or worth it.   We are only here for 2 days and to really enjoy the park you need at least a week and then you are pushing it and killing yourself trying to enjoy every moment.

Home Sweet Home (Kmart parking lot Orlando Florida!)

Our last day in Orlando I spotted these birds high up on the streetlamps just watching life go by, or guarding their home from the other birds in the area!

Paul has promised that we will return to Florida for a winter now that we have been here.  I can’t wait to come back and spend several months exploring the gulf coast and at least a week with MICKEY MOUSE!!!

Tampa is nice,  St. Petersburg is nice, but Indian Shores, Clearwater and the Gulf is perfect.  We are spending a few days at the worlds biggest RV Center, Lazydays RV’s in Tampa Florida.  The camping park is regular size with all the amenities, pool, tennis, dog run, laundry, etc.  Attached to the campground is the RV supercenter.   They have a huge building with offices that go on forever, and then there is the service center with waiting area that has at least 10 seperate areas for you to wait with Starbucks coffee and your puppy is welcome to!  Included in our camp fees we get breakfast each morning and lunch each day.  The food is just ok but if you are lucky enough to buy a really high end RV or know someone that did you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and happy hour drinks and dinner in the Crown Club where these people get their own campground and swimming pool.  We are lucky enough to know someone that has just bought a fancy Bus from them and are here waiting for some service so we have been getting the royal treatment in the Crown Club.  Connie & Charles, we met in Branson Missiouri are here waiting for their Bus to get some warrenty repairs.

We are having a great time catching up with their travels and a bit of site seeing in the area.  Yesterday Connie and I went to Indian Shores for lunch and to enjoy the waters of the Gulf, while Paul saw some dealers and Charles oversaw the service work being done.  I am still so amazed that I never knew that these beaches were so wonderful.  We had lunch at a great little local spot recommended by Connie’s saleman, The Kooky Coconut.  Definitely a dive but they made an amazing Cuban Sandwich.  This place was about a 1/2 block from the beach so after lunch on their patio we walked the beach.

Walking on the beach is a new experience every time.  Because the water is so warm everyone, young and old are wading in the waters.

There is going to be sand somewhere until he is 40

Spending time relaxing on the beach has reminded me that no matter how old you are  listening to the waves pound the sand is just good for the sole.  It is hard to find someone not smiling when you are on the beach.  The only bummer here is we have not found a beach that allows Duke to also enjoy the sand and surf.

We had a very nice Easter out here on the road in Florida.  We are still at Rocky Bayou SP and the weather is perfect.  Our plan for the day was to relax, enjoy a nice ham dinner and maybe enjoy the waters of the bay.  We found out the park rents kayaks so we decided (or I did!) that we could rent a couple, get out on the water and maybe see some nice wildlife.  Renting the kayaks was easy.  We loaded up with sunscreen, hats and water shoes and launched the kayaks into the water.   Next item is to get into the kayak and I was hoping not to look like such a beginner but no luck.  I almost rolled it but was lucky to make it into the seat and get myself situated so I could paddle.  Paul got right in and started paddling.  Immediately I realized I am not comfortable and this really hurts!   I almost turned back to the beach but I really want to learn to kayak so I kept trying to find a comfortable position.  These kayaks have no back support and you are basically sitting on a plastic board floating in the water!  I finally found a good position and off we go.  We have these kayaks for 2.5 hours and believe me this is way more than enough time.  We paddled along the shore into the bayou for about 25 minutes and find some shade to rest on  a small beach.  Paul rolls out of his kayak and says he has to stop as he is so cramped up.  By this time I had finally found a rhythm so I kept going.   I returned to Paul after awhile and we both had had enough with torturing our bodies so we began to paddle back.  At one point I told Paul we could swim and push the kayaks!  He had a better idea and went for shore and walked his for awhile along the sandy shore.  I kept paddling knowing that I was going to be in pain this evening.  We returned to the beach and turned our kayaks in after only 1.5 hours of fun!!!  I swam in the warm waters for awhile and then it was off to home, a nice warm shower and dinner!

HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE

PS.  Monday morning there was no pain!  So I think we will try it again.  Kayaking was pretty relaxing and so quiet out on the water

We left Louisana on Thursday afternoon and traveled through Mississippi and Alabama into Florida.  We hit the tunnel in Mobile about 5:30 pm, right in the middle of commute hour!  Exciting! One more night in a Walmart parking lot and now we are settled at Rocky Bayou State Park for the Easter weekend.  I have been to Florida before, twice and neither time did I get to see the Gulf Coast.  I keep telling everyone that will listen, these are the most beautiful beaches I have seen.  The water is crystal clear; the sand is snow white and the towns are definitely a vacation meca with high rise condimium complexes everywhere.   There are so many public beaches and they all look the same,  really white, really clear blue waters and they go on for miles.  And,  the water is really warm, warm enough for swimming in April even for me! Saturday we were going out to the gulf to enjoy the afternoon but along the way Paul spots an airplane display! Elgin AF Museum has lots of real planes on the lawns infront of the museum.  Sometimes I think there is a conspiracy going on against a nice relaxing day doing what I want!  I am wondering who in their right mind would put a big display of Air Force Planes right on the highway!  A man I am sure!

Yep, they are real!!

I was fascinated with how these missiles were attached! I have no idea why they are attached or what they do, but Paul can tell you!!!

Why is John Deere in the missile business?

After an hour of wandering among the planes, even Duke needs a rest

Paul loved looking at the planes, telling me what they were and how they were used and just admiring them.  Interesting when you are at a museum of this type you always run into someone that actually used the planes.  We met up with this guy that was giving his 12 year old grandson (I am guessing!)  the whole history lesson of WWII.  Paul learned something new and I was filled with even more information that I will never remember. The boy looked slightly interested and was asking a few questions but I am betting he was like me, watching his clock to be sure there was still going to be sunshine by the time we finally get to the beach!

FINALLY! Destin, Florida, rated #1 beach in my book! I love it here

PS:  The title of this post is referring to the fact that on our RV we have a map of the US that shows all the states we have visited. Our map shows only the states we actually slept in or did something in, therefore we have not been able to add Mississippi to our map.  We have traveled through 2 corners of the state, Northeast, Northwest, and across the bottom twice but we have never spent the night yet!  Alabama we already had on our map from when we went to Talladega for the race.