Skidaway Island, GA

March 9-10, 2014

Now we’re at Skidaway Island.  When we got there we ate lunch, and then biked to the interpretation center.  It was really cool.  We saw a replica of a giant, prehistoric sloth.  It was around 15 ft. tall!  We looked around for a while and then my parents figured out how to get to a tower.  We biked on a trail through the woods.  It was a pretty bumpy ride, going over all the roots.  It wasn’t too far from our RV.  That was good because my Mom and I were definitely going there for the sunset.  We were disappointed that we couldn’t go on top of the roof, but it was probably for a good reason.  The area looked like the savannah, with the tall grass, few trees, but it was surrounded by a forest and is a muddy wetland.  My Mom and I came back later for the sunset, and there were two people from Chicago up there taking pictures.  It turned out they were ghost hunters.  My Mom and they shared tips on photography as I biked around.  When my Mom shot the good stuff, we headed back.  The next day, we were going to do some geocaching.  We didn’t get the coordinates at all.  It said it was near some boardwalk, so we searched them all.  No luck.  We went back to take a break.  Tyler didn’t want to go, and my Dad’s feet hurt.  I kept urging my Mom to hurry up.  We finally set of and let my Mom’s GPS take over.  It led through private property, and I don’t think either of us wanted to be prosecuted, so we turned back.  At least it made for a nice bike ride.  That night we had a fire.  The bugs weren’t bad that night.  Tyler came in, so I came in too, to keep him company.  After a while, our parents came in, we watched Brain Games in bed, and went to sleep.

~Jack

Located near historic Savannah, this park borders Skidaway narrows, a part of Georgia’s intracoastal waterway.  Inside the park’s interpretive center, birders will find binoculars, reference books and a window where they can look for migrating species such as Painted Buntings. The kids especially enjoyed seeing the towering, 20-foot Giant Ground Sloth replica and reptile room. 

I know, I know....what about Savannah? We have to take a pass on that. Scott and I spent some time there before we were married.  We don't feel like renting a car and it's just a bit too complicated to get the RV into town...and then we have the dog, and it's warm...for now, we will just enjoy being outdoors and exploring the state parks.  

Trails wind through maritime forest filled with live oaks draped in Spanish moss and past salt marsh, leading to a boardwalk and observation tower. Lots of wildlife can be found here like deer, fiddler crabs, raccoon, egrets among others.

Daylight savings was last night so Jack and I hit the sunset for 7:30pm!  While at the observation tower, we met a couple of Ghost Hunters from the Chicago area who had come to Savannah to shoot some video footage at the haunted places known around town.  They were taking a time lapse video of the sunset for the ending of the video. Pretty cool....

March 10

The time change really messed us up & the guys were up really, really late the night before so we all slept in today.  After a big breakfast, we headed out on our bikes to go geocaching  We haven't done this before, so I downloaded an app on my phone and the first one we were directed to was up and over a really steep, well traveled bridge, with construction and barriers along the side.  We decided that wouldn't be the safest, especially if some inexperienced RV'er passed us!

The next clue was for a letterbox and it did not have GPS coordinates.  The clue had to do with a boardwalk. We biked all over the trails, found every boardwalk and still could not find it.  At one point, I gave up my camera to Scott to hold in his backpack and my mountain biking improved immensely without that expensive gear weighing me down.  

We returned back to the RV in complete and utter failure.  I went back online and found some GPS coordinates and Jack and I decided to give it another try.  The letterbox was so close to our RV, but we could not access it from the park.  We had to bike outside of the park and into an affluent area.  We hit a gated entry less than a mile from our treasure and had to turn back.

Oh well, maybe our next stop will have some more buried treasures we can search for.  We had fun trying and had a perfect 75 degree day!  We ended the evening under the stars with a nice fire outside. 

~Linda

Jekyll Island, Georgia

March 7-9, 2014

Jekyll Island is pretty creepy, with all the trees with the moss hanging down, raccoons, and deep forests.  We decided to bike to the beach so my Mom could get some shots.  There were dead trees everywhere!  My Dad, Tyler and I biked around the beach, sliding 180s.  My Mom wanted to come back early for the sunset.  I was definitely going to go.  We headed back, and saw a raccoon.  I didn’t have my glasses so I couldn’t get a good look at him.  We peddled on, and found another raccoon!  This one was close so I could see it.  The striped tail, black around his eyes, he was actually kind of cute!  He stood up on his hind legs, and when he put them down, it was enough to drive me away.  A while after we got back, just when I thought I’d slip into sleep, my Mom came to my bed.  It didn’t seem like morning at all, but I didn’t want her to leave without me.  I pulled on my clothes, put on my sweatshirt, and we headed out.  We biked even further this time and there were so much dead trees!  It was like an obstacle course on my bike. It was even hard staying out of the other photographers’ way.  We decided to head back along the beach.  After all, if we didn’t, we wouldn’t have found this shell.  It was a big one, old, and intact!  It had those pegs going around the upper part and the shell looked like it was rolled up.  As we biked along, we saw a bunch of jellyfish.  Not in the water, but just washed up on the beach.  My Mom spotted a crab.  It was all curled up, but when she poked it, it moved for her.  Of course she took a couple of shots, but when it stopped, it wouldn’t move again.  The bike ride was getting tiring, and we should’ve been back by now.  Then, I saw a rock, but it wasn’t a rock, it was a horseshoe crab shell.  I’ve never found one myself before.  I only see them in nature centers.  I had to show Tyler and Dad, just another thing to carry.  We actually reached the pavement! This is my favorite place, biking through the trees, branches hanging down, and moss.  This is where we saw the raccoons.  We didn’t get to see any though.  It was just all the birds.  I did see a cardinal though. They made nice sound as we peddled along.  We finally got back. I was surprised when Dad and Tyler were still in bed.

~Jack

In 1886, Jekyll Island was purchased to become an exclusive winter retreat for America’s most elite families, known as the Jekyll Island Club. For more than half a century, the nation’s leading families, including the legendary Rockefellers, Morgans, and Pulitzers, came to Jekyll Island “to secure an escape.”  It soon became recognized as “the richest, most inaccessible club in the world.”

I have to laugh because those guys would be rolling in their graves to know there is a campground here...with people in RV's...enjoying their exclusive island rather inexpensively!

Don't be fooled by the bare feet! It is chilly at 50 degrees!  Probably sounds like a heatwave to everyone back home! I tried to make some chili for dinner but was lacking a few ingredients and it turned into a nice bolognese sauce instead.

Since dinner was all set, and the sun was coming out, I rallied the troops for a bike ride on the beach.

We even spotted a few raccoons on the way home...he was not shy either!

Saturday, March 8

Jack and I were up and out before the crack of dawn! We had a short bike ride to Driftwood Beach to see the sunrise.  I was pleasantly surprised to actually see several people out with their cameras this morning.  Mornings like this, in a new place, make me want to stay on the road indefinitely!

We saw lots of beached jellyfish, a live crab and Jack found a nice big shell, fully intact.

The live oaks are draped in Spanish Moss giving a creepy feeling to this Island.  We spent the afternoon biking around the entire island, about 10 miles.  There are miles of biking trails, all paved and flat, the way I prefer it! We biked down to the Jekyll Club Hotel for a lunch al fresco...

Then we went into the the Georgia Sea Turtle Center which is a hospital for ill and injured sea turtles.   They have an interactive exhibit gallery and rehabilitation pavilion with a number of viewable sea turtle patients.  Many of the turtles are from the New England Aquarium.  They get flown down here on private planes!

We all loved the island, especially all the biking trails.  Another great stop on our trip!

~Linda

St. Augustine, FL

March 6-7

We finally made it back to the Atlantic Ocean.  We drove up A1A from Daytona into St Augustine.  It was not the prettiest of days, cloudy and a bit rainy and very New England type of weather, but not the thunder and lightening storm we were expecting.  

Last night, we had a great time catching up with our former neighbors and the kids favorite babysitter, the Hann Family. We enjoyed a great meal and lots of laughs.

We went to see our old babysitter, Aubrey.  We went in their house and it was so futuristic!  3D TV, lights used by the internet, and stuff like that.  Her Dad made us dinner.  It was ribs, potatoes, and chicken.  Tyler, Aubrey and I left the table and let the adults talk.  We played a board game called Brain-O-Matic.  The only it was just like Sorry, but different theme.  The hardest question said “With what do you walk the dog, and go around the world”.  It seemed more like a riddle to me, but I got it.  The answer was a yoyo.  Once I won, we ate some Key Lime Pie.  Oh mama, it was good.  I started hanging my head and stumbling.  I was ready to go back into the RV.  I was reading really late, when everyone was sleeping and then I heard someone say “I don’t care!”  I looked down from my loft and saw Tyler, another one of his sleepwalking nights.  Like two other times, he went for the door and tried to escape.  I told him he couldn’t leave but he didn’t hear me.  Like the two other times, my Mom rushed down and convinced Tyler he was sleepwalking and walked him to bed.  The next morning, we told Tyler about his escape plan over another creative meal my Dad made.  It was scramble eggs held inside a ring of pepper.  It was great.  We went to the house, and our good-byes. 

~Jack

The kids played Brain-o-matic with Aubrey while we finished up dinner with Bill.  I heard lots of laughing and giggling going on, just like the old days!  Tyler wasn't sure if Aubrey would still be fun.  He was happy to report, that yes, she was still fun!

Tyler told her he remembered the forts that they used to make in the basement. She was surprised that they remembered that!  She said they were the best fort makers...the big basement and lots of pillows and blankets helped! Funny enough, Tyler built a fort around our dinette on the way into Georgia.

It's hard to believe that Aubrey is finishing up nursing school this summer and Bryce is headed into his junior year of college studying mechanical engineering. They have always been great, smart, respectful kids and have turned out to be the same as adults.  I loved seeing them all so happy and doing well in Florida.

Thanks for your hospitality and all the best to you all!

~Linda

Wekiwa Springs State Park, FL

March 5-6

Wekiwa Springs is located at the base of a grassy hillside used by park visitors for picnicking and recreation. The spring pool is kidney-shaped and walled, and it measures 105 feet in diameter.  The spring pumps out an amazing 42 million gallons of cool fresh water daily! It has a constant temperature of 68-72 degrees.

This is just a pit stop for the night.  Once again, I am pleasantly surprised by another beautiful park with nice amenities. Yesterday was nice, today mostly rain with thunderstorms heading in soon.  

The spring bottom is sandy and flat, averaging 5 feet deep, making it popular for family outings. From the spring pool, the clear water flows in a 60-foot-wide spring run through a picturesque floodplain swamp, and is ideal for canoeing and kayaking.

Florida definitely has some of the best State Parks we have seen.  One Park Ranger said if you have only seen the amusements parks, you have not seen Florida.  I know my opinion has changed, there is a lot to see and do here.  Undoubtedly, our biggest regret of this trip will be leaving Florida...still no end in sight of winter back home.  We are thrilled to have missed the 80 inches of snowfall, we picked a good winter to be gone.

Off to see some more friends for the night.

~Linda

Tampa, FL

March 2-5

Sunday afternoon was spent at Sand Key State Park in Clearwater, FL... conveniently located about a half mile from our favorite restaurant, The Columbia. This is the area we have most frequently vacationed at as a family for  last 10 years.  My former college roommate from Spain, Michelle, introduced me to this area and Indian Rocks Beach more than 20 yrs ago and has since been a family favorite of ours.

Since we were not seeing her until Sunday night, we had planned to dine at the Columbia but the RV was too big for their parking lot.   Passing up the Columbia was very traumatic for me and the kids, but I had a Plan B.  Driving down Gulf Blvd, we passed by many of our other favorite places and again, could not stop because there was no where to park this thing! We finally found a place with ample parking, great food and life size Jenga!

My Mom wanted to see her friend, Michelle, who she met in Spain.  Tyler and I just wanted the Wi-Fi.  It was ok.  We went out for lunch with her at an old Spanish restaurant called Columbia.  It was so big!  I needed my Dad’s help for finding the bathroom.  I went up and down these big stairs so much times!  Tyler, my Mom and I were just there for the churros.  In case you don’t know what they are, they are dreamy, cinnamon sticks.  I love them.  Her parents came to her house, and my Dad made us meet them.  They were pretty funny.  We came in for spaghetti.  It was actually spaghetti squash.  My Dad doesn’t like gluten. The next day, we hit the road.

~Jack

We arrived just before her and, imagine my shock to see her 15 yr old son DRIVING! I just can't comprehend this...surely she is not old enough to have teenagers!!! That means I .... oh never mind...

Another gorgeous day in Tampa and from the weather app, we are not missing much at home.  

Time for some serious maintenance for me.  I can always count on Michelle to get me a beautified!  Off for pedicures and then to the Columbia for lunch (Plan B worked out!)  All those tapas bring back such fun memories of our time in Spain. I love how food can trigger memories just like music does.

Founded in 1905 by Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez, Sr., the Columbia Restaurant is Florida’s oldest restaurant, and the largest Spanish restaurant in the world with 15 dining rooms, with seating for up to 1,700 people! The restaurant has a grand total of 52,000 square feet, and encompasses an entire city block. 

Back at the ranch, Scott taught Michelle how to make some cinnamon swirl bread.

Michelle's dog, Juno, and Scout became fast friends.

On Day 2 of my maintenance,  I was dropped off to get my hair done (sorry Darcy, I will see you soon!) I was feeling like million bucks by the time I left there!

Michelle's folks came by for a quick visit.  I always thoroughly enjoy seeing them.  Michelle's Dad comes bursting thru the door on fire! He is a Renaissance Man...an artist at sculpting, world traveler, story teller, with a zest for life that I have never seen in anyone else that I have ever met! He is a whirlwind and always leaves with me wanting to ask more questions and hear more stories....until next time!

I always love seeing Michelle and her family and am so grateful for our friendship that has spanned 25 yrs.  Even the dogs are friends now :)

~Linda