More of St Aug & Flagler

I went back to St Augustine today. Two of the places I went to see were closed because it was Monday - bummer. I went to this different museum - the Lightner Museum. The building was originally the Hotel Alcazar, built by - you guessed it - Henry Flagler. The purpose of this hotel was to (1) provide accommodations for the not-so-rich, who couldn't afford Ponce de Leon Hotel, and (2) to provide some activity in St Augustine. He put in the largest indoor swimming pool at the time (1888), a bowling alley, tennis courts, Turkish and Russian baths, and a ballroom. Otto Lightner from Chicago bought the building in 1947 to house his many collections. I guess he bought collections that others had collected. Thus, there was a collection of very diverse collections - toasters, furniture, buttons, stuffed animals (I mean the big kind like a lion, a turkey), barber shop soap cups, etc., etc. The Turkish and Roman baths were still displayed - my favorite. Otto Lightner bequeathed the museum to the city. I doubt he included enough money to keep it running in top condition, because you can see where maintenance is required.

The city is fascinating. It was a walled city, with gates and a fort. The fort was made of coquina, a mixture of shells and sand. It was mentioned that the walls kind of absorbed the cannonballs when under siege. At night the people in the fort would go down and dig them out, and send them back the next day to the enemy. It also had a dry moat, which housed the livestock (future food) during a siege. It features a pedestrian mall, unique cobblestone streets, lots of sidewalk entertainment, a great harbor and interesting bridge, and much more. And of course Flagler was fascinating. He kept trying to think of new ways to spend all his money. He wanted the land the Methodist Church was on, so he built them one at another location. The Baptists then said, "How about us?" He ended up building them one, but it had to be done in 1? 2? year(s), and couldn't have a bell in the bell tower (so it wouldn't disturb his hotel guests). Then his daughter had a baby girl who died shortly after birth. His daughter died soon after that, while on the way down to visit him in FL. He built a Presbyterian Church in memory of them. He told the builders he wanted it done in 1 year, and, if it was, there would be big bonuses. It was done in time for a memorial service. He also built a clinic/hospital and all his employees and families had free health care there. That's a nice benefit!! Hmmm.. I wonder if any of his descendants are hiring.

Sebring to St. Augustine

I went back to Sebring in the middle of the state, and had more fun with my good friends. This included dinners, a movie and talking, talking, talking. I stayed at the nearby state park this time. I don't know why, but it seems you meet more people in state parks. The first day I met this great couple. Kathy (another realtor) and I hit it off right away. She shared her secrets of organizing her rig, which was almost exactly like mine - a year younger with a dinette instead of a couch. A couple weeks earlier I had seen Doreen's, Liz' and Max' motorhomes and had seen some of their organizing tools. So, I began the reorganization of Gail's rig. That's all - I just began it. It's continuing. The biggest surprise for me was that all these people were using the same material I was, and all their things were staying on the counter and upright in the cupboards - while they drove. Mine landed on the floor, and whacked me in the head when I opened doors. And no, Kathy, it's not the way I drive. I have since discovered these great bathtub mats, which I cut up and put everywhere, and now my things stay put too. Kathy and her husband Peter raced sailboats for many years and were used to living in small places, and still entertaining. The last day I was there I met another great couple. I found out they were game-players, too late!! I told them I would have knocked on their door when I had returned the night before and we could have played till dawn.

My plan was to stay in the Flagler Beach area next, but the Daytona 500 nixed those plans. All I could find was 1 night in the St. Augustine area. Once there, I found a place that would take me for another 3 nights, and I like it. The sites are larger; it's wooded, convenient and cheaper, and it has internet. I think my next investment will be a mifi. I can look things up on my I-phone, but doing any amount of communication is a pain. After I moved I went down to Flagler Beach to see the area and look up Jean (sister of my sister-in-law) and Fran. We had lunch at this great local place on the beach. Flagler Beach is beautiful. I can see why my Dad made a trip there in the winter.

St. Augustine is great too! I could spend more time here. There's lots to do - great water, boating, fishing, beaching, and lots of history, shopping, eating, entertainment. This is one of those places where you see musicians set up on the sidewalks and play in the cafes, as well as be scheduled for the clubs. Once again, I jumped off and on an Old Town trolley, took some tours and walked around. I toured the old jail which was, I thought, a well-done tourist trap. Flagler - remember him? - the railroad and hotel builder - also partner to Rockefeller in Standard Oil - had built a ritzy hotel across from the jail, and then paid for the jail to be rebuilt at another location. This guy is supposed to be an astute businessman, but I wonder....he builds a fancy hotel, ACROSS from the jail, and then also decides he has to build a railroad to get people to the hotel in style. But...he sure did make his mark in Florida. His name keeps coming up. I've learned lots of the history of St. Augustine - go ahead ask me something, ask me anything!!!! - and of course I bought 3 more books - saga of the city, daughters of the city and ghosts of the city. Today I'm doing laundry, organizing, reading, walking, and tomorrow, I'll go back into the city to check out a museum and a small village of old, original houses. Like I said before, "what a life!"

The Keys to Florida

From now on, when I think of the sun and beach of Florida - the American Caribbean - I'm going to think of the Keys. Water everywhere! I love driving over the numerous bridges with water on both sides. I love the fact that the highest point on Key West is 18" above sea level. I couldn't take the altitude - my nose started bleeding. I don't like the mangrove trees growing all over the water with their huge roots. These keep forming new patches of land. One guide pointed out a patch and said if we came back in 500 years there may be a new key, hammock, ?? Well, maybe it does take that long, but I still don't like this growth.

Because of great friends, I'm staying in the middle keys with a canal out the back door - with many, many pelicans (none carrying babies in a diaper?napkin?) and the occasional heron. What fun. I arrived Sunday, and watched a little of the Superbowl with Cameron, the woman who lived downstairs. On Monday I did some errands, reading and exploring.

On Tuesday, I explored Crane Point. Francis and Mary Crane from Massachusetts bought this land, some of which was previously owned by George Adderley in the early 1900s. George was from the Bahamas, met his wife, and had a family. He earned a living collecting and selling sponges and making and selling charcoal. The Cranes bought his land and much more, building a home in 1954. This parcel of 63 acres is preserved by a trust. It contains the Adderley and Crane houses, a butterfly meadow, a bird rehab, and of course the beautiful land and sea. This preserve is located in the middle of Marathon. The Trust has kept the location from being a Wallmart parking lot or condominium development. It is truly beautiful. While there, we were entertained by a family of ospreys.

Wednesday I went to Key West for the day. I took one of those Old Town tours where you can jump (very carefully) off and on the trolley to see different things. I visited Hemingway's house, which was very interesting. There are something like 60 cats there - all descended from a cat Hemingway brought home from ???? I also went to the Truman Little White House - another building steeped in history. I liked Truman, and enjoyed hearing more about him. A few of us on the tour really wanted to lag behind and sit down at the poker table, but the tour guide was accounting for all his "little chickees" following him. At Mallory Sq every night they celebrate the sunset. I saw the beginning as musicians were beginning to gather, but couldn't stay too long. Times like this I wish I had a companion to share the driving, or at least keep me awake on the ride back. That kept me out of Margaritaville too, even though it was 5:00 there.

Thursday I had the most fun. I went to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon. It rescues, rehabilitates, and, if possible, releases sea turtles back to their habitat. The owner had bought a motel on the bay side. It had a large salt water pool, which he started filling with fish and sea creatures. He asked about taking in sea turtles and was told they needed a facility to rehab turtles. He agreed to do that, and started the turtle hospital. Income from the motel supported the hospital. But then a hurricane damaged the motel beyond fixing and reopening it. At one point when Mother Nature brought a very large number of turtles to the hospital, they were housed in the motel rooms. Admission and sales from the gift shop now support the hospital. They have a number of residential turtles - turtles that will never be released, because their afflictions won't allow them to survive on their own. It was the best education. We were shown the amount of plastic that was taken from 1 turtle's belly. It filled a gallon jar. The turtles were adorable - like my iguana was adorable. We also saw a couple iguanas there. The Turtle Hospital touched my heart. If you find yourself in Marathon, it is definitely worth the trip. I had planned to go to the Dolphin Rescue Center too, but didn't get there.

Beautiful area, great things to do and see. What a life - I think I've said that before. And, as a bonus, I'm missing the winter to top all winters back in Mass. Now, back to the Sebring area. I have to get to a vet and hair salon - such mundane but necessary activities.

Houdini, family, friends, and lots to see

Last Thursday, Feb 3, I left Sebring, FL. I was moving my rig off the lot at 11:00, as the new inhabitants were moving on the lot. Maintenance had to come to get my sewer hook-up unhooked, and Skittles, the escape artist, was waiting for me, jumped over my head, and took off before I actually got off the lot. So, parking my rig on the street, I searched for her in the rain with many great neighbors helping. Finally, we were out and on our way to Ft Pierce, FL.Setting up in Ft Pierce was quick - 20  minutes at the most - easy, easy.

On Friday, I drove to Jupiter (by car, not spaceship) and caught up with my cousin, Heather. It had been about 16 years since we had seen each other, and it was so much fun catching up. We talked and talked. At 2:30 we met her youngest, Jacob, at the bus stop. What a cutie!! It took him about 10 minutes to win my heart. I left before Nicholas got home, and Holland was in VA, but I got to hear all about them. WHY, WHY, WHY didn't I take pictures?

Saturday, I visited the marina in Ft Pierce. I checked out a craft/art fair, the manatee observatory/museum, and then the Navy Seal museum. I saw around 8 manatees in the warm water of the river to the marina. Gentle giants. They were so much fun to watch, but my pictures don't show them well at all. The Navy Seal museum was fascinating. It was actually information about the people trained in underwater demolition, which led to Navy Frogmen and Seals. In WWII there was a large loss of life when the military attempted a beach landing. They began a training site at Ft. Pierce to prepare specially talented individuals to take out underwater impediments to prepare sites for landing crafts. "Twas fascinating. I spent more time there than I thought I would. Of course, seeing all those pictures of fit bodies, was pretty nice too.

Sunday morning I started packing up to move down to the Keys. The cat Houdini got out of her halter, and free. How does she do that?? I chased her for a while, to the amusement of my neighbors. As I emptied the black water with my fancy new attachment, it came loose, and spilled on the ground.  DISGUSTING!!!  I'm glad I had my vinyl gloves on, Chuck!! Otherwise I might have had to cut off my hands. After cleaning that up, Skittles let me catch her and put her in the coach. Then I lost my keys. And, again... Houdini slipped under my legs, and was gone!! This is getting old.  Luckily, one of my neighbors brought out a dog, and Skittles let me catch her. A neighbor found my keys - yeah!!! I finally left - about 2 hours later than planned. Florida Keys!!!! - here I come!!!!

Buttonwood time

For almost 2 weeks I have been "camped" at Buttonwood Bay in Sebring, FL. I have trouble thinking of my RVing as camping. It's so far from sleeping on the ground in a tent. Buttonwood is where my good friends Barbara, Vinny and Doreen have houses they use in the winter - yes, they qualify for the term "snowbirds," and who could blame them, when you hear about all the snow and cold in the northeast. Now, Buttonwood is an over 55 community, and it has all these activities - scads and scads of them. You couldn't get to all the activities, because they overlap. Well, I love to play the card game pinochle, and I never have an opportunity to play at home. I saw double pinochle on the schedule, and thought, "If I can play single, shouldn't I be able to play double?" The play started at 6:00, so I got to the community center at 5:50, a little early. There were many tables busy playing cards. Did I have the wrong day? the wrong time? I asked if it was pinochle and was told that all the tables were full, and they had already started. I should have been there by 5:30 if I wanted to play. That's Buttonwood time. That night they were playing Bunko. I didn't know what that was, but hadn't gotten my anticipated game fix, so I decided to go. I got there approximately 25 minutes early and all but a couple tables were full. Buttonwood time. On Thursdays, when they have coffee and muffins at 8:00 AM, the crowd begins to form at 7:00 - Buttonwood time. They don't serve the muffins until 8:00, but all the tables are full with coffee drinkers before 7:30. I hear the Monday social hour - coffee and doughnuts - is even worse. Perhaps, because it's free. So why Buttonwood time? - a fear of them running out of muffins or doughnuts? A fear of the good tables being taken? My theory is that at one time, people showed up at the scheduled time, and then a couple of people snuck in early and got the best doughnuts or the best seats, and then more and more did the same, and pretty soon they established Buttonwood time. In a couple days I'm taking off to go see my cousin, and then the Keys. I may have gotten used to Buttonwood time for games or social hours, but when it comes to departure time, I'm not leaving a minute sooner than I have to.