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On the Road with Walt & Barb

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March 2016

03/31/2016

Bonaventure Cemetery

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Long ago I read John Muir's 1000 Mile Walk to the Gulf.   In one of the chapters he told about Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah and I was hooked. The words that accompany my photos are his about his time there in 1867.  

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"After going again to the express office and post office, and wandering about the streets, I found a road which led me to the Bonaventure graveyard.  If that burying-ground across the Sea of Galilee, mentioned in Scripture, was half as beautiful as Bonaventure, I do not wonder that a man should dwell among the tombs. It is only three or four miles from Savannah, and is reached by a smooth white shell road."

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"There is but little to be seen on the way in land, water, or sky, that would lead one to hope for the glories of Bonaventure. The ragged desolate fields, on both sides of the road, are overrun with coarse rank weeds, and show scarce a trace of cultivation. But soon all is changed. Rickety log huts, broken fences, and the last patch of weedy rice-stubble are left behind. You come to beds of purple liatris and living wild-wood trees. You hear the song of birds, cross a small stream, and are with Nature in the grand old forest graveyard, so beautiful that almost any sensible person would choose to dwell here with the dead rather than with the lazy, disorderly living."

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"Part of the grounds was cultivated and planted with live-oak, about a hundred years ago, by a wealthy gentleman who had his country residence here. But much the greater part is undisturbed. Even those spots which are disordered by art, Nature is ever at work to reclaim, and to make them look as if the foot of man had never known them. Only a small plot of ground is occupied with graves and the old mansion is in ruins."

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"The most conspicuous glory of Bonaventure is its noble avenue of live-oaks. They are the most magnificent planted trees I have ever seen, about fifty feet high and perhaps three or four feet in diameter, with broad spreading leafy heads. The main branches reach out horizontally until they come together over the driveway, embowering it throughout its entire length, while each branch is adorned like a garden with ferns, flowers, grasses, and dwarf palmettos."

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"But of all the plants of these curious tree-gardens the most striking and characteristic is the so-called Long Moss. It drapes all the branches from top to bottom, hanging in long silvery-gray skeins, reaching a length of not less than eight or ten feet, and when slowly waving in the wind they produce a solemn funereal effect singularly impressive."

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"There are also thousands of smaller trees and clustered bushes, covered almost from sight in the glorious brightness of their own light. The place is half surrounded by the salt marshes and islands of the river, their reeds and sedges making a delightful fringe. Many bald eagles roost among the trees along the side of the marsh. Their screams are heard every morning, joined with the noise of crows and the songs of countless warblers, hidden deep in their dwellings of leafy bowers."

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"Large flocks of butterflies, all kinds of happy insects, seem to be in a perfect fever of joy and sportive gladness. The whole place seems like a center of life. The dead do not reign there alone."

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"Bonaventure to me is one of the most impressive assemblages of animal and plant creatures I ever met. I was fresh from the Western prairies, the garden-like openings of Wisconsin, the beech and maple and oak woods of Indiana and Kentucky, the dark mysterious Savannah cypress forests; but never since I was allowed to walk the woods have I found so impressive a company of trees as the tillandsia-draped oaks of Bonaventure."

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"I gazed awe-stricken as one new-arrived from another world. Bonaventure is called a graveyard, a town of the dead, but the few graves are powerless in such a depth of life. The rippling of living waters, the song of birds, the joyous confidence of flowers, the calm, undisturbable grandeur of the oaks, mark this place of graves as one of the Lord’s most favored abodes of life and light."

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"On no subject are our ideas more warped and pitiable than on death. Instead of the sympathy, the friendly union, of life and death so apparent in Nature, we are taught that death is an accident, a deplorable punishment for the oldest sin, the arch-enemy of life, etc. Town children, especially, are steeped in this death orthodoxy, for the natural beauties of death are seldom seen or taught in towns."

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"Of death among our own species, to say nothing of the thousand styles and modes of murder, our best memories, even among happy deaths, yield groans and tears, mingled with morbid exultation; burial companies, black in cloth and countenance; and, last of all, a black box burial in an ill-omened place, haunted by imaginary glooms and ghosts of every degree. Thus death becomes fearful, and the most notable and incredible thing heard around a death-bed is, "I fear not to die."

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"But let children walk with Nature, let them see the beautiful blendings and communions of death and life, their joyous inseparable unity, as taught in woods and meadows, plains and mountains and streams of our blessed star, and they will learn that death is stingless indeed, and as beautiful as life, and that the grave has no victory, for it never fights. All is divine harmony."

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"Most of the few graves of Bonaventure are planted with flowers. There is generally a magnolia at the head, near the strictly erect marble, a rose-bush or two at the foot, and some violets and showy exotics along the sides or on the tops. All is enclosed by a black iron railing, composed of rigid bars that might have been spears or bludgeons from a battlefield in Pandemonium."

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"It is interesting to observe how assiduously Nature seeks to remedy these labored art blunders. She corrodes the iron and marble, and gradually levels the hill which is always heaped up, as if a sufficiently heavy quantity of clods could not be laid on the dead. Arching grasses come one by one; seeds come flying on downy wings, silent as fate, to give life’s dearest beauty for the ashes of art; and strong evergreen arms laden with ferns and tillandsia drapery are spread over all—Life at work everywhere, obliterating all memory of the confusion of man."

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John Muir said it perfectly.  Bonaventure in french means "good fortune."  Our day there was worth a fortune.  Au Revoir Savannah, we will remember your beauty. 

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03/30/2016

Savannah Has Food For The Soul And The Body

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We were fortunate to be at The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist while there was no mass, no wedding or other event going on so we were able to see the inside.  

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The church was constructed in 1873 but the spires were not completed until 1898.  Then in 1898 it was nearly destroyed by fire but was quickly rebuilt in 1899.  

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Once you step inside you understand why the interior decoration took an additional 13 years. 

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The stained glass windows were installed around 1904.

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The columns are Italian marble in a soft shade of green.  The gold leaf dazzles the eyes.

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There are Persian rugs on the floors.

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The altars are white marble.

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The decorative painting and murals are meticulously done with such delicate colors.

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There is a fairly recent additions.  The cathedral’s pipe organ was installed in 1987 and it had  2,308 pipes, with a case and console made of solid white oak and black walnut.

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Our visit was a joy to the eye and food for the soul.

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 We wandered through the Paula Deen store and from there went into her restaurant "The Lady & Sons" to have an early dinner.  

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Yes, it's all about the butter y'all.  Walt had the southern buffet with all those southern fixin's like fried chicken, ribs, meat loaf, green beans, down to peach cobbler for dessert.  I had the crab stew and chicken salad.  All very good, very rich, and very filling.  Too much food for  the body.

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 All that food called for a walk to Forsyth Park.  The fountain there is spectacular.  It is reminiscent of fountains in Paris and Peru.  

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Every St.Patricks Day the fountain is ceremoniously turned green in celebration of Savannah's deep Irish heritage.

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Forsyth Park covers 30 acres and is the hub of Savannah activities.  

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It was humming with activity while we were there. 

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There seemed to be some kind of event taking place.

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Hmm........something must be going on.   Oh yes, there is something going on.  We've all been kicked out of the portion of the park surrounding the fountain.  Baywatch is not only being filmed on Tybee Island.  It is being filmed by the fountain in Forsyth Park too.  We didn't hang around the fringes to see if we could see The Rock or Zac Efron but it looked like there were plenty who did. 

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We moved on to the Riverwalk and finished our walk there.

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There is a free passenger ferry between Savannah and Hutchinson Island.  

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You can take a River Cruise on a paddle wheeler. 

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They have refurbished the old warehouses into hotels, shops and restaurants.

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There are trees for kids to climb in.

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It took a huge amount of willpower to walk on by without going in and getting some of the candy made with pralines.  The aroma was enticing.  But. walk on we did.  Our visit to downtown Savannah was at an end.  Just one more place on the agenda in Savannah.  More to come. 

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"Savannah is sleeping amid its baskets of azaleas."
-- America Day by Day
Simone de Beauvoir

 

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03/28/2016

The Charm Of Savannah

 

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We started early on our Trolley Tour.  We rode it completely around once so we would know where we wanted to get off to see specific things. Immediately I knew there was no way I would be able to quantify the history of Savannah.  Every home or building has a story, every square has a historical name and many have multiple statues for different historical founders, soldiers, Native American, famous people, and just plain characters. There was a bit of information that stuck in my brain but mostly I just enjoyed for the pure love of beauty and to heck with the history.

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Ever since the mid 90's when I read the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil I have wanted to come to Savannah.  I especially wanted to see THIS house.  It is the Mercer Williams House where the murder in the book took place. 

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This is the room where the murder took place.  While they do give tours of the interior I didn't feel the need for that.  Between the descriptions in the book and my multiple visits to photos of it on the internet I was happy.  I just wanted to BE there for a minute.

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The house was built in 1861 and stands at the west end of the beautiful Monterey Square.

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It was originally built for for General Hugh W. Mercer, great grandfather of singer-songwriter Johnny Mercer.  Who remembers "Moon River?"  That is my favorite that he wrote.  

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In 1969, Jim Williams, one of Savannah’s earliest and most dedicated private restorationists, bought the then vacant house and began a two-year restoration. This house is one of the more than 50 houses Mr. Williams saved during his thirty-year career in historic restoration in Savannah and the Lowcountry.

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Jim Williams was arrested in 1981 for the murder of his lover and after four trials was eventually acquitted in 1989.  Six months after the final trial Williams died of natural causes in the home near the room where the murder took place.  Now I can just sit back and enjoy the rest of Savannah.

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Then what did I see? This poster on a theatre, Lady Chablis played a big part in Midnight in the Garden of Evil.  Lady Chablis is a female impersonator and it looks like is still performing. 

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Savannah is the oldest city in the state of Georgia.  It was founded in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe and a group of colonists on a bluff above the Savannah River. 

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James Oglethorpe designed the city and it is known as America's first planned city.  It is designed around 24 original squares of which 22 remain.  Each one is layered with flowers, bushes and trees.  Many of them were in bloom.  Many squares have fountains and statues.  What a treat.

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Savannah is laden with moss draped trees.  So many that it is often impossible to get a picture without including the trees.

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While the overwhelming history lessons didn't always stick one thing that I was really impressed with is the story of the Savannah College of Art and Design, also known as SCAD.

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It was founded in 1978 and now has 11,000 students in 2 locations in Georgia, as well as Hong Kong and Lacoste, France.  

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What impressed me the most is SCAD's efforts to work with the city of Savannah to preserve its architectural history by restoring buildings for use as college facilities.   
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They have purchased and restored 67 buildings in downtown Savannah. 

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As they grew SCAD quickly bought up the priced-to-move schoolhouses, vacant homes and dilapidated office buildings that were rotting away downtown and developed its campus.  A win for them and a definite win for the city of Savannah. The restoration of the buildings are beautifully done and a compliment to the city. 

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The Bouhan Falligant Law Firm bought the restored Armstrong House from Jim Williams in 1970.  The firm represented him during his murder trials.

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Savannah has many "double houses".  The original duplexes. 

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During the Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman and his army of Union soldiers captured Atlanta and started the march south to Savannah. As they marched they destroyed much in their path.  Sherman and his troops captured Savannah on December 22, 1864 and Sherman then telegraphed his commander-in-chief, President Abraham Lincoln, offering him the city as a Christmas present.  Savannah was spared to be the city she is today.

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Congregation Mickve Israel in Savannah is one of the oldest in the United States, as it was organized in 1735 by mostly Sephardic Jewish immigrants of Spanish-Portuguese extraction from London who arrived in the new colony in 1733.   Love the architecture.  Gothic Revival.  Symmetry at its best. 

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Walt was smart and brought his cane.  The old sidewalks and streets are pretty uneven.  So much beauty on this street.  

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The windows in the old train station are shaped like the Liberty Bell.

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The Chatham County Courthouse has an impressive gold leafed dome.

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A full day in Savannah but we have just begun.  More to come.

"As one walks from square to square, passing each building, discovering a different nuance of detailing, from the eaves to the railings and stairs, the visual-architectural experience can be as overwhelming to the eye as a symphony is to the ear." 

Eric Meyerhoff, Architect 




 

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03/27/2016

Our Savannah Stay Started At Tybee Island

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After our short drive from Brunswick to Savannah and getting settled in Sunshine RV Park we drove out to Tybee Island.

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The day was cloudy but warm and the beach was crowded.

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Tybee Island is the easternmost point in the state of Georgia. 

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It has long been a beach escape for the citizens of Savannah but in recent years has become a destination for tourists.  And they film movies on Tybee quite often.  While we were there they were setting up props for filming the Baywatch movie with The Rock and Zac Efron.  They are expecting David Hasselhof too.

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 After the beach we walked around the touristy shops and had some lunch.

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We went on to see the Tybee Island Lighthouse.  It is located on the Islands northern tip and near the mouth of the Savannah River. The original lighthouse was built in 1736 and has been replaced several times.  Early lighthouses fell subject to erosion, storms, an earthquake and the Civil War. The lighthouse standing today is a combination of repairs, modifications, and restoration. 

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We didn't climb the 178 stairs to get a close up look at it's original Fresnel lens.  The information sign says that the lens is 9 feet tall.

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 Wow, we are really on the east coast.  2400 miles from San Diego.  Unfortunately Highway 80 has now been absorbed in other freeways on the east west route but this sign was a fun reminder of how far east we are.

2016-01-12 03.31.09While we enjoyed Tybee Island there were still visions of Jekyll Island dancing in my head and it was hard not to compare.  The winner for me is Jekyll Island. 

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We drove into Savannah to scope out where the Visitor Center was, where we could do the trolley tour and what the parking situation was like.  

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Parking is free at the Visitor Center if you take the Trolley Tour.  The Trolley Tour in Savannah is only good for one day but you can hop on and hop off as many times as you want.  Other parking is at a premium cost and usually hard to find.

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We decided we would start early the next morning to take full advantage of the Trolley and then could decide what we might want to come back for another time.

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We know we are going to be seeing breathtaking sights tomorrow.  Time for a good nights rest.

"If you only have the opportunity to visit one southern town in your lifetime, Savannah should be the one. Surrendered to William Sherman at the end of his March to the Sea, Savannah was spared from destruction during the Civil War. As a result, Southerners and Carpetbaggers alike can partake in its timeless splendor and charm. If you like a rainbow of flowers and huge live oaks dripping with Spanish moss, then Savannah is your ticket". -- smalltowngems.com


 

 

 

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03/26/2016

Jekyll Island Is A Treasure

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Leaving St. Augustine with Gypsy II on her first journey we headed to Brunswick, GA. 

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We checked into Coastal Georgia RV Park in Brunswick.  One of the prettiest RV Parks we have stayed in.  

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The reason for choosing Brunswick is because it is close to Jekyll Island.  It has been on my "must see" list.  Jekyll Island is a barrier island off the coast of Georgia.  

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It was a cloudy day but that did not stop a little beach walk on Glory Boardwalk.  Portions of the 1989 civil war movie drama, Glory, were filmed on Jekyll Island and the film company built the boardwalk.

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The beach was pretty much deserted as far as people were concerned but the "no see um's" were plentiful.  Luckily we didn't get many bites so we were good to go.

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This couple must have on insect repellant. 

2016-03-18 18.35.04There were many cardinals flying around on our walk down the boardwalk.  The most I have ever seen in one spot.  Hard to get a photo because they only seemed to land way up in the trees.

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Jekyll Island is only 7 miles long and 1 and 1/2 miles wide but there is a lot packed into that small area.  

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This was the big draw for me.  Architecture and over the top landscaping everywhere you look.

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In 1904 the Club was described as “the richest, the most exclusive, the most inaccessible club in the world.”

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Its members included J.P. Morgan, William Rockefeller, Vincent Astor, Joseph Pulitzer, William K. Vanderbilt, and other recognizable names on the roster were Macy, Goodyear, and Gould.

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It started as a hunting club for wealthy northerners that turned into the most exclusive social club in the United States.

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Ground was broken for the Clubhouse in mid-August 1886, and the club officially opened its doors in January 1888. Designed by Charles Alexander of Chicago, the original clubhouse reflects the Queen Anne style, incorporating into its plan the turret which dominates the roof line, extensive verandas, bay windows, and extended chimneys. 

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The hotel is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The historic district itself has been listed as a National Historic Landmark District since 1978.

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From 1888 to 1942 the club opened every January, except a few because of yellow fever outbreaks, to accommodate some of the world's wealthiest people. Members and their families enjoyed activities such as biking, hunting, horseback riding, and tennis, and frequented the north beaches.

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Between 1888 and 1928 these wealthy northern families built their winter homes, or “cottages” as they were called, designed to house entire families with staff.

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Hardly "cottages" to me.  More like mansions. 

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 While all were nice this is the one that I found most spectacular. It is "Crane Cottage."

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 Perhaps I was captivated by it because of the gorgeous landscaping.

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The home is Italian Renaissance style and was built by Richard Teller Crane, Jr. in 1917.  He was heir to the Crane Company.  We probably know it mainly for it's plumbing fixtures.

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It was the most expensive and elegant home ever built on Jekyll Island. 

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It had 20 bedrooms and no surprise, since his company is a plumbing company, 17 bathrooms.

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It was in this cottage that the Federal Reserve System was crafted by John. D. Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan, and other members of the Jekyll Island Club.

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Today Crane Cottage is a bed and breakfast and a restaurant.

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Jekyll Island flourished into the 1930's but then the Great Depression caused many of the members to abandon the Island.  Then World War II came along and afraid that enemy submarines could lurk just off the coast of Jekyll Island the federal government ordered the complete evacuation of the Island for the duration of the war. 

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In 1947 the State of Georgia purchased the Island for only $675,000 and turned it into a State Park. 

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Many of the old buildings, including the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, became leased properties and have been fully restored.

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The Jekyll Island Club Hotel may no longer be the exclusive playground of the very rich but it is a luxury, high class, 4 star hotel that takes very good care of its guests.

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There is still a touch of the "old world" on the croquet court.  

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You have to sign up to play and it is "suggested" you wear white.

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A nice dinner was in store for us at Tortuga Jacks.

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The best fajitas we could have asked for in a very fun atmosphere.  

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A quick stop in Brunswick to see the 900 year old "Lover's Oak."  Legend has it that Native American braves and their maidens met under this towering oak.  

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Between Coastal Georgia RV Park and Jekyll Island this stop on our journey was absolutely a treasure.

"Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of filling a vacuum, it makes one."

Benjamin Franklin

 



 

 

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03/23/2016

We Came For The Old & Left With The New

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We came to St. Augustine to see the oldest city.  Who would have thought that Gypsy would be the old too.

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Meet Gypsy II.  

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She is a Rockwood Ultra V 2715VS.  

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We had seen this floor plan in Texas and Albuquerque and really liked it. 

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The bathroom is in the front of the V nose and the room allows for double sinks.  I love that. 

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The slide in the bedroom makes it so that you can make the bed without gymnastic moves.   And the second TV now goes in the bedroom so Walt no longer has to watch TV outside if we want to watch something different.  But, honestly I think we both miss the outside kitchen in Gypsy.

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Comfy couch and a table and chairs.  Only reason we might miss the dinette instead of the table and chairs is all the storage they had. 

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Here is the real reason we made the trade.  A RECLINER for Walt.  He has really missed having a chair.  When Tresa and Jerry found their Rockwood that is the next size up from this Walt has serious chair envy so we started watching for one as we traveled.  One day in St. Augustine Walt dropped me off to do some shopping while he had the car serviced.  As he was leaving the car dealership he saw Gypsy II on an RV lot and stopped to take a look. He brought me back and it went from there.  

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After some negotiations a deal was made that worked for us and then it was time to move our belongings from Gypsy I to Gypsy II.  It was done in a dusty RV lot on an 86 degree day with 80% humidity in full sun with no electricity so no air conditioner.  Plus Gypsy II has considerably less storage space than Gypsy I so it was a struggle knowing what to do with everything.  About 6 hours into the move I was having serious buyers remorse and about to have a melt down when the service people who were moving our hitch and sway bars showed us a serious weld failure on the hitch.  If we had been going down the road and the hitch had broken a serious accident could have occurred that could have affected not only us but other vehicles on the road.

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That confirmed that this trade was meant to be.  Feels like we had an Angel on our shoulder.  The Equalizer hitch had a lifetime warranty and the Customer Service rep we contacted was very helpful and found a replacement for us that we could pick up the next day and we were able to have the hitch and sway bars put on Gypsy II and we were good to go.  

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We spent a few days going through our "stuff" with a fine tooth comb to address the storage situation.  The Navigator has more in it than before, a box got shipped back to Arizona, we made several trips to Goodwill, and some was just thrown away.  Now we seem to have everything stowed away and are happily ensconced in Gypsy II.  It was hard for me to leave Gypsy I behind.  We have had so many wonderful experiences as she followed behind and sheltered us when we came back at the end of the day after our adventures.  

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"It's time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad and I'd much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure."

Ernie Harwell

 

 

 

 

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03/22/2016

Two Weeks In St. Augustine................This & That & A Fort

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The location of Ripley's Believe It Or Not in St. Augustine was their first location.  It is in the Castle Warden.  Castle Warden was built by William Warden ( one of the Standard Oil Partners with Henry Flagler) for his family of 11 children.  We were told that the 23 room mansion only had one bathroom and that most of his children were girls.  I wonder how mornings were at their house.

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Magnolia Avenue has been named one of the most beautiful streets in America.  The live oaks form a canopy over the street draped with Spanish Moss that dances in the breeze. 

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The Casa Monica Hotel is near both the Ponce de Leon Hotel and The Alcazar Hotel.  It was opened in 1888 by Franklin W. Smith.  It was said that he was a friend of Henry Flagler.  Soon after completing the hotel, Smith ran into financial difficulties and sold the hotel, including all fixtures, furnishings, linen, and all other chattel, for $325,000 to Henry Flagler.  Apparently the reason Mr. Smith ran into financial difficulties is because the furniture that was to go into his hotel never arrived so he couldn't rent rooms with no furniture.  That furniture was being shipped by Mr. Flagler's railroad.  Not sure Mr. Flagler was a good friend.  The Casa Monica closed in 1932.  For a time after closure it was used as the St. Johns County Courthouse but in 1997 it was purchased and renovated to the Four Diamond Hotel it is today.

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The Bridge of Lions that connects St. Augustine to Anastasia Island is guarded by two Carrera marble lions patterned after originals found in Florence, Italy.   It is a draw bridge that opens to allow ships to go through on their way along the Intracoastal Waterway. 

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It was originally designed in 1927 not merely to carry cars, but to be a work of art, and it cost ten times as much as other bridges constructed nearby at the same time.  The bridge was renovated in 2010 after being closed for several years because of safety issues.

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We spent an afternoon at the Castillo de San Marcos.  It is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States.  

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It has a dry moat and you enter by a drawbridge.  Construction on the fort began in 1672.  There were nine wooden forts built in various locations near St. Augustine by the Spanish but they were destroyed by the British and by pirates so the Queen Regent of Spain authorized the building of a masonry fort.

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The fort is built of coquina.  It is a rock that is composed of fragments of shells. The shells bind together to make a rock that is similar to limestone.

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The fort is massive in size and very imposing on its site.  

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Not only is the fort huge but look at the width of the walls.  I think I would feel pretty safe inside.

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Castillo de San Marcos was under several flags.  Originally the Spanish, then the British, then back to the Spanish, then on to the United States, from there to the Confederate States, and finally back to the United States.  The fort has reenactment demonstrations and this group was on their way to fire the cannons.

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Squeeze in there and you can fire your musket against the enemy. 

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How fortunate we are to learn more about the history that has led us to today.  To think that this is 350 years old and that it has been saved as a National Monument is special. 

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"Joy is like restless day; but peace divine like quiet night; Lead me, O Lord, till perfect Day shall shine through Peace to Light."

 

Adelaide Anne Procter

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03/20/2016

Two Weeks In St. Augustine.............The Alcazar Hotel (Lightner Museum)

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Right across the street from the Ponce de Leon Hotel is the Alcazar Hotel.  It was also built by Henry Flagler and designed by the same architects that built the Ponce de Leon Hotel, Carrere and Hastings.  He built it so his wealthy winter visitors would have activities.  It opened soon after the Ponce de Leon. 

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It was the center of social life until it closed  in 1932.  It had a casino, tennis courts, a steam room, massage parlor, sulfur baths, gymnasium, a three-storey ballroom, and the world's largest indoor swimming pool at the time. 

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The Alcazar Hotel had 300 rooms and they cost less than the Ponce de Leon Hotel.  The guests from the Ponce de Leon Hotel could use all the facilities at the Alcazar but the Alcazar guests could not go to the Ponce de Leon Hotel.  Both hotels were known for their elegance and beauty.

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The Alcazar Hotel sat empty after its closure in 1932 until 1947 when Otto C. Lightner,  a Chicago publisher, purchased it to store his extensive collections.  He opened it as a museum in 1949 and later donated the building to the City of St. Augustine. 

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Otto Lightner was very wealthy and even through the Great Depression he remained financially well off. He is known for saying "Everyone should have a hobby. Everyone should collect something".   He didn't just collect something.  It seems he collected everything.

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When others had lost their fortunes and were selling off their valuable collections he would purchase full collections for a pittance compared to what the original cost was. 

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Between the beautiful original furnishings of the Alcazar Hotel and the Lightner collections it was a feast for the eyes.

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The shell collection would be the envy of any shell seekers.  

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There were shelves full of coral.  Sad to think that the process of them turning white is deadly to them because the white is so pretty.

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Ladies in the 19th century with leisure time on their hands turned to crafts as a diversion.  Shell crafts were popular as a way to bring nature into a room but in a neat and tidy way. I have some shells..........who has the talent to turn them into this? 

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There was an Egyptian mummy. Mummification was an expensive process so whomever this was was probably wealthy.

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Let's get the weird out of the way.  There was a real shrunken head along with a description of how it was done.  I hope I can stop thinking about this soon.

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I found this fascinating.  It is a blown glass steam engine.  It was done by the artist William H. Allen in 1850.  It was fully operational and was taken on exhibition throughout the Northeast.  It was included in P.T. Barnum's first museum.  I wonder how Mr. Lightner ended up with it. 

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This statue was eerily lifelike.  Maybe because it was in a corner in a dimly lit room but I felt like she could take a step any minute.  She is in marble done by the Italian artist Andre Cambi in 1889. 
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This gorgeous Malachite urn and pedestal is from the palace of the Russian Czar, circa 1830.  There is a bit of damage on it and the reason is because it was bought by a woman in Chicago who placed it outside which caused the damage.  Having money does not mean you have any sense.  This is one that Mr. Lightner should have gotten a bargain on. 

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Display after display of cut glass.  Let me count the ones that I once owned.  Seven in this photo alone.  Hmmmm, just like Lightner someone bought my collections for pennies on the dollar. 

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I once owned both of those vases....................in a previous life.  

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There was a room full of stained glass.  Much of it from the artist Lewis Comfort Tiffany.  

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Upstairs in the ballroom there were elaborate pieces of furniture.  I especially was drawn to the chairs.  Not sure what the top of this one would be protecting you from indoors.  

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Do you sit on this one?  Or is it for a really short person to recline on? 

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A Neo classical rocking chair from Europe from the 19th century.  I cannot imagine that it would be comfortable.

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Such an extraordinary musical instrument and a scary monkey statue do not seem to go together.  I know...........art is art.

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These stunning rafters are above what was the huge swimming pool.

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The swimming pool is now a restaurant.  2016-03-10 22.07.31
The beautiful old Alcazar Hotel also holds the St. Augustine City Hall.  Very fitting since Mr. Lightner donated not only the building but all of its contents to the City of St. Augustine when he died.  We enjoyed our visit to the Museum, not only was there beauty but education and history as well. 

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"The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude." Friedrich Nietzsche

 

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03/14/2016

Two Weeks In St. Augustine.....The Ponce de Leon Hotel (Flagler College)


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Henry M. Flagler was an American Industrialist and along with John D. Rockefeller was the founder of Standard Oil.  He was also a key figure in the development of the Atlantic coast of Florida and founder of what became the Florida East Coast Railway.   2016-03-10 20.51.31

In 1883 he traveled to St. Augustine.  He found it charming but lacking in adequate hotel facilities and transportation systems. Flagler believed that Florida had the potential to attract large numbers of tourists. Though Flagler remained on the Board of Directors of Standard Oil, he gave up his day-to-day involvement in the corporation in order to pursue his interests in Florida.

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In 1885 he began construction of the 540-room Hotel Ponce de Leon. Realizing the importance of a transportation system to support his hotel ventures, Flagler purchased the Jacksonville, St. Augustine & Halifax Railroad, the first railroad in what would eventually become the Florida East Coast Railway system.

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He hired two young architects: John M. Carrere and Thomas Hastings. The 540-room Ponce de León Hotel opened on January 10, 1888 on a five-acre lot with Spanish Renaissance architecture.

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The hotel was the first large scale building constructed entirely of poured concrete.

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The towers on each side of the building held the running water for the hotel.  One side held 8,000 gallons of hot water the other held 8,000 gallons of cold water.

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The servants rooms were on the top floor above the very rich guests.  The servants were at the beck and call of their assigned guests 20 hours a day. 

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The stunning fountain at the center of the courtyard is a sundial. It is crowned with lion's heads and surrounded by twelve frogs that represent the months and four turtles that represent the seasons.  

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The design reflected the wealth and extravagance of the upper-class during the Gilded Age.

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This is not a down spout.  Mr. Flagler's friend was Thomas Edison. The Edison Electric Company powered the building with steam heat and 4,000 electric lights, making the Hotel one of the nation’s first electrified buildings.  This dragon had a red light bulb in it making it appear as if it were breathing fire.  There were several around the courtyard.  Must have been an exciting sight for the guests.  But, Mr. Flagler had to hire additional staff to turn on and off the light switches in the rooms because the guests were afraid of electricity and thought they might be shocked.

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There are several terra cotta relief plaques on the buildings that have interesting sayings on them.  They are in different languages so I needed translation.  This one says "Every time the sheep bleats, it loses a mouthful."  Does that mean that if you complain you come up short? 

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Design and ornamentation are everywhere you look.

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Once you step inside you find yourself overwhelmed by the size and grandeur of the rotunda.

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The interior decorator was Louis Comfort Tiffany. 

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Murals in the rotunda and dining room were completed by the well-known artist George W. Maynard in 18 months with no help other than an assistant that was only allowed to mix his paints.  

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Panels have reference to things such as the four elements: fire, water, air, earth and the four figures: adventure, discovery, conquest and civilization.

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I think this devilish face must reference fire.

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The rotunda floor is done in hand placed mosaic.  It was one of the last things that was being finished up before the hotel opening and Mr. Flager and an assistant were admiring what had been done when the assistant made the comment that "it was perfect."  Mr. Flagler took offense to that saying "Only God is perfect."  He then advised the tile layers to make a mistake so it would not be perfect.  Can you find it? Each of the black triangles have a white corner other than one.  Quite a mistake.

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Thomas Hastings created the women holding up the rotunda.  When interviewed at the opening of the hotel he said "They have the merry, mischievous faces of Spanish
danseuses and seem to think nothing of the great load they are bearing."

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Signs of the Zodiac are part of the dining room ceiling decor.  To stay in the Hotel in many of the years after it opened you had to commit to paying for "the season."  This could be from November to May.  It didn't matter if you only stayed one day you still paid the $4000 each to stay.  For a couple that would equate to a quarter of a million dollars today.  

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There are 79 Tiffany glass windows with most of them being in the dining room.  The collection is reputed to be the largest private collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany glass in its original location in the world.  No one will put a price tag on them.  They just say "they are priceless." 

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The dining room has multiple chandeliers as well as being lined with light bulbs in lion fixtures.

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On each side of the dining room is an alcove that held the musicians that played for the guests.

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The hotel closed in 1967 and became Flagler College.  It is a four year liberal arts college with an annual cost of $25, 000.  That includes room and board.  Imagine living in this elegant building and eating your meals in this amazing dining room.  The class sizes average around 20.  They have 29 majors and 34 minors.   

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The Grand Parlor was for women only.  They met and gossiped about how rich they were, read, did needlework, listened to or played music,  and wrote letters.

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When they arrived at the hotel the woman was immediately escorted to the Grand Parlor and the man was taken to the business office to pay the $4000.00 each in cash.  

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There were only two times that men were allowed in the Grand Parlor.  First is if a woman gave birth to a male child or if a female was being courted.  If so they could would sit in this chair and converse with a proper married woman chaperone on the third seat.

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The Hotel Ponce de Leon was one of the few Flagler Hotels to survive the Great Depression.  

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Thomas Edison designed this electric clock set in one of the largest blocks of white onyx known.  Notice that Edison used four numeral ones rather than the usual IV for the number 4.  

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This ornate lamp is so fragile that the only one allowed to touch it is the person who did the restoration on it.  It is so fortunate that Flagler College was able to embark on an ambitious campaign to restore the hotel and other Flagler-era campus buildings.

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What an experience we had touring this structure.  We can't even imagine what it would have been like to stay in such a glorious place.  To think now that the halls are filled with college students who must appreciate its beauty to have chosen it to come to to get their education.

"Architecture is a visual art, and the buildings speak for themselves."

Julia Morgan

 

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03/13/2016

Two Weeks In St. Augustine............Continued

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We got many of our chores done.  Both Gypsy and the Navigator got baths, the Navigator got serviced, laundry got done, groceries were purchased, pedicure felt so good, and some shopping for a wish list item was done too. But, there is SO much history here and such a large number of things to see and do in St. Augustine that it is a good thing that we stayed two weeks.  

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We purchased Trolley Tours tickets and the package we chose gave us unlimited rides on the trolley and tickets to a large number of places to go. 

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Our first tour was through the Oldest Store Museum.

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The Oldest Store Museum re-creates the original St. Augustine general store that was operated by C.F. Hamblen in 1908.

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It was like stepping back in time.............a time we had never known.  This was my favorite piece.  A pretty portable pantry.  The guide said that it was to go in a wagon but I think it would look good in an RV!

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Fun to see all the interesting items.  The best was hearing about all of the "cure all" medicines.  Most of it was made up of whiskey, spring water, opium or morphine. 

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The next visit was to the Old St. Johns County Jail.  

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In 1891, with the opening of his Ponce de Leon hotel, Henry Flagler (more about him and his importance in St. Augustine later) wanted to ensure a safe and pleasant environment for his patrons by creating a secure fortress to house criminals. It was important to Mr.Flagler that the exterior appearance of this fortress wouldn’t disrupt the majestic atmosphere of the Ancient City. In order to accomplish this, it was designed with a Romanesque Revival style that gave it the distinct appearance of a Victorian house without the interior comfort and charm. It was almost unrecognizable as a jail apart from the barred windows.  Those barred windows at that time had no glass in them so the prisoners were subject to whatever was outside.  Storms, heat, bugs were all able to come in.  

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It was built by the same company that built Alcatraz.  Conditions were terrible.  Bathrooms were a single bucket for each cell.  And those barred windows with no glass.............perfect for throwing out the bucket contents.

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Prisoners only lasted about two years before dying from disease, violence, malnutrition, or being hung. The only time a doctor came was on hanging days.  The death rate was notorious and they do not have a recorded number of people who died there.   Believe me you didn't want to break the law in St. Johns County in the late 1800's.  

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Next up the Old St. Augustine History Museum.  Some history, some fun.

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This is how RV'ing began.  The Tin Can Tourists was an RV Club that was organized at DeSoto Park, Tampa in 1919.  It developed into 100,000 member national organization.  They spent their winters in Florida. 

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The club is still in existence as a club for those with vintage RV's.  We sure camp a lot more luxurious today.  

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I was amazed that this plate was close to 300 years old.  The colors are so beautiful.  The museum had many pieces of elegant items that were brought to St. Augustine from Spain. 

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The eight or the Spanish dollar was the coin upon which the original United States dollar was based, and it remained legal tender in the United States until the Coinage Act of 1857. 

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This silver ingot was recovered from a ship that sank in 1622 off the coast of Florida.  There is so much history here that our brains are on overload. 

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We spent a day at the Ponce de Leon Fountain of Youth Archeological Park.  It is the 1513 Florida landing site of Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon. 

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On April 2, 1513 Ponce de Leon landed here and claimed Florida ( Pascua Florida meaning Flowering Easter) for the Spanish Crown.  The story that he was searching for "The Fountain of Youth" has been passed along with no actual historical substantiation.  However, look closely at us and in the future if we have not changed come to St. Augustine and sample the nasty tasting sulphur water for yourself.  

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The explorer made no mention of the Fountain of Youth in his logs or letters sent , focusing instead on his desire to settle the land, spread Christianity and discover whether Florida was an island or peninsula. But, just to be safe we both sampled the water.

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The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park sits where the original Saint Augustine Settlement was built. It is our Nation's oldest permanently inhabited settlement that was founded by Europeans.

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It was founded by Pedro Menendez Aviles on September 8, 1565.  He brought with him 500 soldiers, 200 sailors, and 100 colonists.  From there the history of St. Augustine began. It has been under the flags of France,Spain, Britain, the Confederancy and the U.S. with so much violence, illnesses, fires, pirate raids, and much more that it is hard to wrap your mind around it all. 

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The park is filled with artifacts that remain from hundreds of years ago.  These huge clay pots came over on the ships from Spain filled with such things as foods, red wine, and olive oil.

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They have a Planetarium where they give a very educational demonstration of how Ponce de Leon's crew were able to follow the stars to navigate to find their way to the New World.  Amazing! 

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The Discovery Globe is an impressive 30 foot high demonstration that illustrates the routes of the explorers to and from the New World, the extent of the lands of La Florida, and the settlements and cities that they founded.
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The grounds are extensive with lush plantings as well as a huge open area where the archaeological dig is in progress.  They have unearthed remnants of the original Spanish buildings,  Timucan Indian ruins, as well as jewelry, beads and the like.  The original find were skeletons that were found by gardeners doing some planting. 

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The stars of the Park are the peacocks.  Especially the white ones.  The muster of peacocks at the park number about 30.  

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I wonder if he knows that his plumage looks like huge snowflakes.  

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While we were there I got my first sighting in the wild of a blue crab.  The blue is so vivid.  I don't think seeing how pretty they are will stop me from eating them.  Blue crab is tasty. 

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Such a nice setting to have our minds expanded learning more history.  And to think we have only just begun.  More to come. 

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Bob Hope



  

 

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03/08/2016

Two Weeks In St. Augustine

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We decided we needed to land somewhere for a couple weeks and catch up on more than sightseeing. But, the first thing we did was go to the beach.

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Sandy St. Augustine Beach is located on Anastasia Island.  Anastasia Island is a barrier island located off the northeast Atlantic coast just east of St. Augustine. 

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The water is so shallow that it is a perfect place for families to enjoy the water.

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We arrived apparently just when school let out because lots of local kids hit the beach as we arrived. Boys driving pick ups filled with girls in bikinis in the back made us smile.  Oh, where have those years gone? 

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The water is a soft shade of blue.  The breeze was gentle.  Nice way to start our visit to St. Augustine.

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Walt was busy making new friends on the fishing pier. 

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The pelicans hang around the fishermen in hopes that they make a catch and while the fisherman is reeling his fish in the pelicans swoop by trying to snatch it off the fisherman's line.  We have seen it happen and it is pretty funny.  The fishermen don't think so though. 

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Before we started doing the things we needed done like laundry, car service, my pedicure, and grocery shopping we kept Walt's priorities straight by visiting the World Golf Hall Of Fame.

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Just driving in is so pretty.  There are hotels, condos, and houses that accommodate vacationers and long term residents.

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There are two 4 1/2 star golf courses to play.

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If you want to improve your game you can attend the Golf Academy.

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The building that houses the museum is striking.

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It was designed by the museum architecture specialist firm of E. Verner Johnson and Associates of Boston Massachusetts.

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They also designed the surrounding facilities.

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The World Golf Hall of Fame was originally located in Pinehurst, North Carolina, and was privately operated . The PGA of America took over management in 1983 and acquired full ownership in 1986. The Hall of Fame of Women's Golf that was located in Augusta, Georgia was renamed the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame and in 1998 it merged into the World Golf Hall of Fame. 

In 1994 the global golf industry established a non-profit making body called the World Golf Foundation to promote the sport, with the creation of an enhanced Hall of Fame as one of its main objectives. Construction at the new site in St. Augustine began in 1996 and the new facility opened on May 19, 1998.

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Each year new members are inducted into the Hall of Fame.  The qualifications are very stringent making sure that they meet all the criteria for their contribution to the game of golf.  This glittering Induction Crystal is Golf's Highest Honor.

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Loved this sign that shows the mileage from the Museum to places where golf has had an impact. Vietnam you ask?   That refers to Bob Hope's visits to Vietnam and much of his entertainment was around golf. 

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The first portion of the Museum revolves around Bob Hope with countless anecdotes in his ode to the game.  The museum is very interactive and we very much enjoyed the videos they had of Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Jack Benny and the like.  

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While we were there Walt was transported to the Old Course at Saint Andrews. 

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Trying out the Ping putters.

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So many fun things to do.  

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The displays were very well done, entertaining and informational.

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This is "The Perfect Swing."  It is a lead crystal sculpture simulating the Arc of a golf swing.  It is in the tower of the museum.

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The view from the tower was awesome.  Happily I was able to ride up in the glass elevator and even keep my eyes open.  Still working on that fear of heights thing.

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Birds eye view of the 18 hole grass putting course we get to play later.

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Nice view of the Challenge Green.

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With the museum admission you get two tries.  We upped our entry to get Walt a hat and that included 8 tries.  

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After a couple shots he was able to get the distance right.............hmmm..............some left, some right and a couple right on. Not going to be the monthly winner! 

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The putting course was really fun and I even beat Walt on a couple holes. 

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Sparkle, glitter, shine of trophies.  These were just a few that Nancy Lopez won.  Her story and display were just amazing.

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The coveted green jacket.

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So many different symbols of recognition.  

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The Hall of Fame Museum features a permanent exhibition and a changing program of temporary exhibitions.  It has exhibits on the game's history, heritage, and techniques; major players and organizations; golf course design, equipment, and dress; and new directions, such as ecological concerns in course management. All and all a happy, happy day for Walt and a most enjoyable one for me too. 

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03/06/2016

Sunsets At Lake Marian

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We spent 3 nights at Lake Marian and the first nights sunset was so spectacular that I came back each night to see it again.  I think the first night won but I loved them all.  There will be very little narrative. I just want to save it to savor the memory to enjoy in the future.

DAY 1

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DAY 2 

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DAY 3

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2016-03-01 03.55.05

"It is almost impossible to watch a sunset and not dream."

Bern Williams

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03/05/2016

Florida Forever

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Leaving Florida City we put a course north to Central Florida.  We camped at a isolated campground with the big name of Lake Marian Paradise Marina & RV Resort.  It was my first sighting of a Black-crowned Night Heron.  

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And a nice introduction to a Wood Stork. There was a large number of them here.............you don't say there is a flock of storks............"a clatter of storks", "a filth of storks", "a muster of storks", "a phalanx of storks", and a "swoop of storks," apparently is more appropriate. 

2016-02-29 23.11.33The best sighting was one I was totally unprepared for. We were in Gypsy and  Walt said "there are two big birds walking down the road."  I got up and looked out the door and there were two what I am guessing were limpkins walking down the road followed by two fluffy chicks. I ran back in for the camera and this was the only picture I could get before they disappeared from my sight.  So cute. 

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Where we were staying was many miles from a town of any size but just a few miles down the road was a place called Forever Florida.

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There are many adventures at Forever Florida such as ziplines, horseback rides, and 7 story freefalls but we didn't think we would make it out of those in one piece so we chose the Wild Coach Adventure.  You ride in a buggy like this that can go through the trails and swamps. 

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Forever Florida began as a cattle ranch and home to the Broussard family.

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In 1990, Dr. Broussard purchased 12 cows and one bull (“Bulldozer”) from the State of Florida. They were certified to be pure descendants of the Spanish cattle and registered as “Cracker” cattle by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.  Those original cattle were brought over by Ponce de Leon in the 1500's and many escaped and survived in the wild.

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In the 1800's when ranches were rounding up the wild cattle those who worked the cattle were called cow hunters.  Florida claims that it takes a man to hunt cattle and that is why all the boys are in Texas. 

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The Broussard's had a son named Allen who loved the land around the ranch.  Allen was a Wildlife Biologist and Ecologist. Allen died 4 days after his 29th birthday, of infection following a heart transplant. At the time, he was in a Doctoral program at the University of Illinois. His heart had been damaged as a result of the year-long radiotherapy and chemotherapy he had undergone to cure him of Hodgkin's Disease diagnosed when he was 19 years old.

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There are many horses on the land as well.  Our guide told us that they are wild and descendants of the Spanish horses.

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As a tribute to Allen the Broussard's founded the Allen Broussard Conservancy.  The Allen Broussard Conservancy, a Florida Not-for-Profit Scientific Corporation, owns the conservation area known as Forever Florida. 

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The conservancy covers over 4700 acres now and encompasses 9 different ecosystems. Their mission is to preserve and protect the native land and wildlife. 

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Forever Florida remains a safe and beautiful habitat full of rare and endangered birds, animals, and plants.  Like this Florida soft shell turtle.  It is like the one that I found in Big Cypress but this one has had bites taken out of its shell giving it that scalloped look.  Wonder who has been nibbling.

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The swampy areas were filled with baby alligators. 

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There were so many that it was like a competition on board pointing them out.

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The mamas were always close by usually mostly submerged in the ponds.

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The babies are very active.  Just like kids everywhere.

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Seems like no matter where you look in the brackish water there is some kind of wildlife.

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This pretty lichen is sometimes called Christmas Lichen because of its red and green colors and its wreath like shape. 

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Our guide was so knowledgable that it was such a pleasure listening to her talking about the the conservancy and its plants and wildlife.  She said that lichens will not grow in polluted air and that where there is red lichen it means that the air is especially pure.  They are so proud of what they have been able to do to keep this part of Florida undisturbed.

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So happy we found this place out in the middle of Florida that is a bit uncivilized and remote.  A good day spent in fresh air learning a little more about the state of Florida.

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The RV park we are staying in is close to a near-ghost town named Kenansville that they say has a population of about 900 that takes in a pretty large geographical area. Not sure who tried to restore this bank but good for them. It was built about 1915 and at that time the town was a thriving railroad town of the Florida East Coast Railroad of Henry Flagler.  He is the same railroader that built the railroad to the Keys. 

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The old abandoned school looks like the ones that Walt and I started school in.  Two story brick and not very big.

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This is the original U S Post Office built in 1914 but the sign is new.  Zip codes didn't start until the 60's. Not sure that I believe this quote but I loved it. 

"A small town is a place where there's no place to go where you shouldn't."

Burt Bacharach 


 

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03/02/2016

South Florida Wrap Up

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We took an afternoon to go to Biscayne National Park.  The park preserves Biscayne Bay and its offshore barrier reefs.

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It is located south of Miami very close to where we were staying in Florida City.

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Ninety-five percent of the park is water, and the shore of the bay is the location of an extensive mangrove forest.

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We watched the movie in the visitor center to learn about the history and nature of the park.  We always enjoy this.  They give so much information in a short time and always seem to be well done. 

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The shallow, aquamarine waters and lush sea-grass beds of Biscayne Bay cover the third longest coral reef tract and sharks, rays, sea turtles, sea cucumbers, jellyfish, and more than 500 species of fish.

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Those beautiful waters also cover six shipwrecks on the Maritime Heritage Trail.  The park also includes several keys.  Some of the keys were inhabited in the 30's by wealthy industrialists and some of the buildings still stand although most have been destroyed by fire or hurricanes. 

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To really see this park you need a boat to get to the keys and then you need to get into the water to snorkel or dive to see all that underwater has to offer. 

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This is as close as we got to Key Biscayne and Miami.  City avoidance is frequent with us unless there is something specific we want to see.  We are glad we had time to visit Biscayne National Park and learn about another one of our great National Parks. 

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One of the things I loved seeing in the Florida City/Homestead area were the acres and acres of plant nurseries.  

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All ready to be shipped to your local Home Depot or Lowe's.  

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Acres and acres of food crops too. 

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We saw a lot, learned a lot, and enjoyed a lot during our visit to very southern Florida.  

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But, this is what happens if you stay too long at Southern Comfort RV Resort so we are out of here. 

 

"Once you have been through a certain amount of things in life, you definitely grow more comfortable with yourself. To persevere and hang in there and believe in yourself. "   Steve Nash

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03/01/2016

The Everglades...........A River Of Grass

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The Everglades is kind of a mysterious place.

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The Everglades is a 1.5-million-acre wetlands preserve on the southern tip of Florida.

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The first thing we realized is that it is not the swampy, jungly, mosquito laden place that is often associated with the Everglades.  There is swamp, jungle and mosquitos but most of it is "A River of Grass."

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The Everglades are the southern part of a large watershed.  The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee. Water leaving the lake in the wet season forms a slow-moving river 60 miles wide and over 100 miles long.  The wet season here is the summer but this winter has been unusually wet so they have been releasing water out of Lake Okeechobee and in watching the news this has been a big controversy.  The water released not only flows to the Everglades but to the Gulf of Mexico as well.  The released water is full of silt and this has turned some of the shores of the beaches brown instead of the normal beautiful blues.  This has upset residents and especially realtors who have lost sales on beach front property because the water wasn't perfectly colored. 

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The vast areas of sawgrass look like dry prairie but those blades have wet feet and just a rise of a foot or two allows trees to take root as you see behind the grass here.  We laughed because along the road they have signs that say "3 feet above sea level and listed as a pass was 4 feet above sea level.

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We decided to drive straight through to the southern point in the Park to the Flamingo Visitor Center. We wanted to take a boat excursion out into the Florida Bay and then explore on the way back.

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The day was perfect for a boat trip.  A little overcast and in the 70's.  

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This tri-colored heron was there to wish us bon voyage.

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The Florida Bay is very shallow so our trip is through a channel that has been dredged out.

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We pass by a large stand of mangrove trees.  Mangrove trees are well adapted to the transitional zone of brackish water where fresh and salt water meet. The Everglades have the most extensive continuous system of mangroves in the world.  

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The mangroves tangled roots wriggle out of the water.  Not only do the roots provide structural support they also help provide oxygen for the tree.

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There are approximately 100 keys in the bay and most are covered with mangrove forests.

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We were fortunate to see a Portuguese Man of War.  It is probably the most dangerous jellyfish in Florida.  It has a clear inflatable float that stays on top of the water like a little balloon. The rest of the animal is purple, and the purple tentacles can dangle underneath and behind the jellyfish for 50 to 200 feet, depending on the size of the jellyfish. One of his tentacles got caught in the boat motor but the Captain reversed the engine and he was set free. 

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We saw some osprey nests.  This one had babies in it but they never popped up their head when I was taking a photo. 

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See that little bird on the right?  It is their housekeeper.  She keeps the nest clean of bugs for them.  

2016-02-24 23.07.03The Osprey readily builds its nest on manmade structures, such as telephone poles, channel markers, duck blinds, and nest platforms designed especially for it such as this one.   There are a few out in the bay for them.  

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While we were sent off by a heron we were welcomed back by a Black Skimmer.  Its bill sets it apart from other water birds.  The boat trip was fun and now it's time to see some more.

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On our way back to the car we were excited to see a crocodile.  They say sightings of crocs are few and far between so we were happy we got to see this big one even though the view was not perfect.  The Everglades are one of few places that has both crocodiles and alligators.  The crocs like the salt water and the gators like the fresh water. 

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Shortly after seeing the crocodile we saw this osprey on a post.  Notice that all of left of his catch is the skeleton at his feet.  It looked like he was daring me to take his catch as I took his photo. 

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 On the way back to the entrance we explored the wetter parts of the Glades.

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There are several ponds that are home to alligators, turtles and all kinds of birds.

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 These islands of trees growing 1 to 3 feet above the wet sloughs are called tropical hardwood hammocks.  Hardwood hammocks exhibit a mixture of subtropical and hardwood trees.

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There are even a few mahogany trees.  Mahogany is extensively logged so it will be nice that the ones here can grow to a ripe old age.

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Walking through these hardwood hammocks reminds me of walking through a forest in Washington and Oregon. 

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The ferns, mosses and lichen paint a pretty picture.

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I think my favorite though are the swampy areas.  This is where you can find flowers, birds, turtles and alligators.

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The park has built boardwalks and without them you would be unable to get through the water, roots, and branches to get deep into the different areas.

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In one of the swampy areas that is close to the bay the foam from the bay gets caught in the roots and branches and it looks like they are standing in a snow bank. 

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Vibrant colors from the bloom of a bromeliad on a tree.

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 Walt is a great gator finder.  He spotted those eyes.  

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No missing this one.  Just basking beside the trail.

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The Everglades provide habitat for a spectacle of diverse number of wildlife.  I am so thankful that there are forward thinking people to make sure places like this are saved for the future.

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"Here are no lofty peaks seeking the sky, no mighty glaciers or rushing streams wearing away the uplifted land.  Here is land, tranquil in its quiet beauty, serving not as the source of water but as the last receiver of it.  To its natural abundance we owe the spectacular plant and animal life that distinguishes this place from all others in our country." 

President Harry S. Truman, Address at dedication of Everglades National Park, December 6, 1947

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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