Fossils, Beaches, and Fishing: What a Surprise

It always amazes me how fast time flies and how easy it is to get behind on our blog. Here its been a week and we have been busy beaching, fishing, and fossilizing, ( that's hunting for sharks teeth not becoming one). So if this post seems kind of disjointed well that's the way it goes.
While we were at Zolfo Springs, we stopped at the museum and learned that there was a fossil show. It was the first show being held by the Southwest Florida Fossil Club and so of course we had to check it out. Mike, Mona, Melanie, and their granddaughter Heather all wanted to come along and so we loaded up the truck and headed south to Punta Gorda.

We wanted to be there when they opened and so we had pretty good pickings. Its a really active club with about two hundred plus members and the displays were all chock full of megladon sharks teeth and Pleistocene mammals fossils.
It didn't take long for us to find more weight for our fifth wheel and we quickly purchased three dugong ribs, (a ancestor of today's manatee). A little further we added a bison tooth, alligator scutes and teeth, and even two cave bear molars. Of course I found a heavy rock from New Mexico that we had to have and now we have a five pound chunk of green silica gel, (needed some weight for the fifth wheel;)).

It all stuff we plan on turning into jewelry, (not the rib bones), as we plan on expanding our line of fossil jewelry. We also purchased several sharks teeth and an opalized ammonite, again all new projects for us to figure out how to wire wrap.
While there we met an author of numerous fossil books, Mark Renz, who told us about a great beach to hunt for sharks teeth. As it was on our way home we decided to stop for a short try and we quickly fell in love with the place. People were everywhere, walking the surf, snorkeling, and using long handled scoops to drag up the shells and sort through the material looking for megladon remains.

Even with the large number of people we still found small teeth, they were a dark black, and so its a place where we plan on returning for a full day of fun. Mikes grand daughter Heather found the largest one and isn't that how it is supposed to happen?

Another day we decided that we hadn't had enough beach fun and so we headed to Fort Desoto. I took along my fishing pole and shortly after we got there birds started to dive bomb a school of bait fish. They were being forced to the surface by blue fish and I actually got out there and had two on, losing both. It not unusual to lose blue fish as they had extremely sharp teeth and it didn't matter as I was going to release them anyway, (haven't figured out how to cook them properly).

 It would have been different if I caught a nice flounder and I did talk with several fly fisherpersons who were targeting the huge sea trout that were occasionally swimming through the pass. I never did hook up with any other fish but that was ok as it was a great day to be relaxing on a beautiful beach.

So its been a busy week and as it ended it was time to say goodbye to Mike and Mona. Mona is retired but Mike still has his business, Mike Brackin's Civil War Antiques, and were heading back to their home in North Carolina. Nothing like time with family scouring the beaches. Clear skies

Sawgrass Lake Park, The Color of the Day was Blue

Of course I was racing ahead on the boardwalk. I just can't help myself, and so when Renita waved me back I knew I had again missed something important. Mike, my brother from North Carolina, had spotted a beautiful blue tailed skink. It was sunning itself on an upturned tree root and was unconcerned with our presence.

Ever since Mike and I stopped fighting, (Did you ever fight with your brother?), we have enjoyed each others company. Growing up we would scour the woods looking for morel mushrooms and Dad taught us how to to identify native plants, jack in the pulpit, leek, and ginsing along with many others.

Mike developed his love of botany and zoology and so became an expert himself, (he later earned a doctorate in zoology with a specialty in herpetology). So of course he was looking for lizards and snakes with his trained eyes while I was trying but missing so much.

A little further a couple were peering into the palmetto brush and Mona asked them what they were seeing. The man asked her if she could see the snake resting in the brush. Renita waved me back as I was charging ahead and Mike identified the snake as an Eastern Blue Indigo, (a rare threatened species). This snake is nonvenomous and routinely eats rattlesnakes, its immune to the poison, and grows to a length of over nine feet. Sighting it was a special treat and it was obvious the color of the day was blue!

Further down the trail we spotted a Cuban anole. Our resident expert explained the difference between anoles, skinks, and geckos and told us that the Cuban anole was an invasive species that has displaced the native green chameleons, (are actually an anoles),

Of course we saw the ever present alligators and turtles. Birding had been the main activity planned for the day and we hadn't been disappointed. Limpkins, rosettes spoonbills, American white ibis, and Louisiana herons waded and fed completely unconcerned with our nearness. Renita and Mona both spotted a downy woodpecker and as it fed a red bellied woodpecker joined it on the dead tree.

It was a fine day to be birding with family in such a place. Surrounded by the city and  the ever present traffic noise, Sawgrass Lake Park is a little gem in the area. I wish I had come here years ago to see the surrounding area before it was developed to death, (meanwhile Tampa news stations proudly reported that the last undeveloped track of forty acres was going to be turned into a condo and business plaza, go figure). Clear skies

A Week in Zolfo Springs

We wanted to check out the Walchula area as a possible wintering spot. There are quite a few rv parks there and so we booked a week at the Skp park near Zolfo Springs. While there we hoped to float the Peace River, perhaps hunt for fossils, check out local museums, in other words just do our usual stuff.
So we checked into the SKP Resort, its a beautiful park by the way, and settled down into our routine. In other words we started to make a few pieces of jewelry and kumihimo and before you know it three days had passed and we hadn't gone anywhere. There was a knock on our door and we met a nice Skp Sue,( a skp is short for Escapees which is a group of fellow full time rvers), who warmly greeted us with two giant oatmeal cookies. She had just gotten a lot there after eight years on the waiting list and so we talked about the application process.

Checking out things to do we found out that the Peace river was not at a good level to hunt for sharks teeth, too high, We still drove down to Zolfo Springs, zolfo means sulfur in Italian,  to look at the boat ramp. We also found out that the current was faster then we expected and so we decided a float from there was going to have to wait.
The county park there, Pioneer Park, has lots of rv spots, They were mostly empty  as were most of the parks we drove by., There were also exhibits of historic buildings, a museum, and an old locomotive.

Heading for the museum we were warmly greeted by the curator and soon discovered display cases filled with fossils and artifacts from the local area. It was really cool to see the beautiful mammoth and mastodon teeth and bones and it was a good display of what could be found.

As we were snapping images my camera stopped working and we realized the battery had run down, of course I had left my cell phone back at the fifth wheel, and so we were short on images for this post. No matter really as it had lasted long enough for the fossil and artifact images.
Two cold fronts were approaching, with gale force wind gusts, and so we cut our visit a day short heading to nearby St Petersburg and our location for the next two months, We always get nervous when ever we have to cross high bridges, crosswinds don't you know, and the Skyline Bridge in Tampa definitely qualifies as a high bridge.

As far as the park is concerned we decided not to apply for a lot. After talking it over we agreed that we like large parks with lots of activity's, walking trails for us and the dog,, a pickle ball court, (yeah we are definitely hooked), and nearness to the beach with salt water fishing. Clear skies

A Picnic on the Beach at Anastasia State Park, St Augustine

We had another day in St Augustine, before we headed south and there was so much to do, should we visit another museum, go to the light house, explore more of downtown St Augustine, or perhaps have a picnic on the beach? The beach of course won out, as you guessed from the title.
So Renita packed our lunch and it was a short drive to Anastasia State Park. After paying the eight dollar entry fee, (a little high but it keeps people away), we parked in the mostly empty beach lot. It was a little cold, seventy five degrees, but the north wind wasn't very strong as we carried the lawn chairs across the long boardwalk.

The beach was really empty so we set up the chairs in the first spot we came to before heading out to walk the surf and high tide line. There were lots and lots of shells but the only ones being different were a narrow and thin razor like clam. Still Renita managed to add some to her collection.
Several horseshoe crab exoskeletons had washed up, they must be molting, and we even came across a threatening to-dee-loo crab, (called to-dee-loos because they usually run away when you approach).

This one stood and showed off its large single claw warning me to leave it alone.
It was safe however, too small for a crab boil, and we continued our stroll with Renita walking the high tide line and me wading in the warm waters. I stopped to look for sharks teeth but didn't find any even though others showed up and bent over scanning for the small brown fossils, (the ones here are brown instead of the black color we found in Aurora, North Carolina.

Returning to the lawn chairs we sat down and enjoyed our lunch before just vegging out. I almost fell asleep but I am leery of sleeping and getting a horribly sunburn. One time, in the Bahamas I actually forgot to put sunscreen everywhere and sunburned the bottom of my feet!

The sand here was squeaky clean and it actually squeaked as we walked in the dry windblown ripples. It was just the kind of day we needed before continuing down the coast and heading inland to the Peace River at Walchula. That's our last stop before we move to St Petersburg for the next two months. Clear skies

St Augustine, A Day at the Castillo De San Markos

From the moment we walked across the drawbridge we knew we were entering a special place. Having visited many other forts, here we were greeted by a volunteer/ranger who was dressed in a period Spanish soldiers uniform and throughout our visit walked the battlements, answered questions, and posed for pictures.

Our first stop was at the guard room and the carcel/prison. Hot air seemed to pour out of the enclosed structure and it was a cool day in St Augustine! It must have been insufferable duirng the hot months. The guard quarters were decorated by graffiti from bored soldiers. Among other things they had carved images of ships on the coquina walls.

We read that the fort had never been taken and had resisted several English attempts in the eighteenth century. It had only changed hands as the result of treaties although it was taken over by Union Forces when the frigate Wabash entered the St Augustine Harbor, (the Confederates had abandoned the Fort and the City and thank goodness no Parrot Cannons had destroyed its walls).

Each of the rooms in the lower level had a story to tell. Several described the imprisonment of Kiowa, Seminole, Commanche, and Apache. Another room contained the powder room, the next the treasury/bank and we both imagined the jewels, gold, and silver that must have been stored there, (ok we  are a bit obsessed with pretty rocks).

Every room contained great exhibits explaining its use. It was by far the best exhibits we have seen anyplace of the history contained in the stone walls.

 Climbing up the stairs to the battlements we were greeted with rows of guns all still defending the forts sides.

The brass guns and mortars were beautifully engraved and forged with whale shaped handles and dragons mouths. The name of the maker and the Spanish town were also preserved, The brass cannons had been captured in Sante Cruz, during the Mexican War and we wondered if Lee and Grant had ever admired their beauty.

One corner of the fort held a signal tower and another a sentry position. Several of the guns had been recently manufactured, in Spain, and were still being used and fired during demonstrations. Each had the fire hole protected with a leather covering and all the new guns pointed toward the harbor, still promising protection from pirates and the hated English.

We laughed as school buses unloaded groups of students who later ran and jumped down into the dry and grassy moat, ( remembering how we had led many field trips and the importance of wearing them out so they would sleep on the bus during the return).

It was another beautiful day in a magical place. St Augustine has captured our hearts and is a gem among gems. We are often asked if we have found a place to stop, when we finished our travels. The truth is we have found many special places and St Augustine is one of those. Clear skies

The Beauty of St Augustine, St Augustines Basilica and Memorial Presbyterian Church

As soon as we reached the downtown area we both almost forgot about anything else but the charm and beauty all around us. Our daughter had told us we needed to visit St Augustine and especially to take the time to view some of the churches. Luckily finding a parking space for our truck, (it doesn't fit in the visitor center parking garage), we grabbed the cameras and headed for St Augustine's Basilica and then the Memorial Presbyterian Church.

We love to view stained glass windows, stunning architecture, and exquisite stone and wood work and the two churches we hoped to visit, promised lots of both. Traveling like we do has given us the opportunity to visit  many of the beautiful churches in the United States..
So when we approached the exterior of the Basilica we saw a sign for a temporary entrance to the side of the church and then another sign that told of the current restoration project. Still we were able to enter and enjoy the beauty of the altar area and the side chapel of Mary. Taking a moment to say a prayer of thanks for our safe journey, we enjoyed the beauty of the ceilings frescoes and the intricate detail of the stained glass windows.

Deciding that we need to return after the restoration has been completed we next headed to the Memorial Presbyterian Church. As we passed by Flagler College, classes were just getting out and we both remembered how busy it was at the University we attended.

Enjoying the beauty of the College we both stopped as we came in sight of the Memorial Presbyterian Church. We had read that the church was ranked as one of the top ten architectural designed small churches in the United States and we could see why. Constructed of cement mixed with local coquina, the church did a great job  of hiding its inherent  strength with stunning arches and a central dome.

As we walked outside a beautiful sundial stood in a small alcove, its tarnished brass crying for the sun, (a tree has grown and hidden it in shade). The dome itself and all the exterior gutters are a beautiful example of incorporating the tarnishing properties of copper, (one of the reasons we love working with untreated copper and brass in some of our jewelry designs).

Stepping inside the darkened church we were dazzled by the richness of the dark woodwork and the brass cross fixtures hanging from the ceiling. Once they had been lit with gas, and there is a cross left with the original gas vents in a side room, they shone brightly above the dark wooded pews.

The lectern was an exquisite carved dais that stood centered in the arms of the cross like structure, (many churches are built in either a cross or an ship/arc pattern).

The curator explained the significance of the dome symbols and explained that the ceiling had been restored and changed after moisture had damaged the original design. Side areas held displays of stunning examples of antique furniture. One in particular held curved designs of shaped and polished brass decorations, while another held a case enclosing a bible with a sterling silver decorated cover.

Returning outside, we walked around the church and every side of the exterior made us pause and drink in the flowing lines and intricate details. The church was built by Flagler as a monument to his daughter after she had died during childbirth and you could see he spared no expense.

If you are ever in St Augustine the historic downtown and the two churches are a must see. We know that we will want to visit here again and when we do we will definitely return to enjoy both of these churches.  It has been a special blessing to enjoy such beauty. A special thank you to all the churches that allow guests to view their interior areas. Clear skies

Savannah Georgia, Tybee Island Lighthouse, Tybee Beach, and Fort Pulaski

We left Winterville, North Carolina, to continue our southern trek. Our next stop was only two hundred miles down the coast at Savannah, Georgia. Now we had already visited Savannah, and while we loved the historic old town, we decided to check out the areas history by visiting the Tybee Lighthouse, Fort Screven and Tybee Beach, and Fort Pulaski National Monument.
Driving to Tybee Island took us through the city and down a beautiful oak lined street. Spanish moss draped the trees and nothing else makes you feel like being down south than being under the bearded oaks. Renita drove and while she struggled a bit with our large truck she did an admirable job and made it down the shaded avenue.

Soon we were crossing marshlands and tidal flats, much like the Louisiana coast. The main visible difference was the elevated boat docks lining the waterways. Here the tidal range is much greater, its the Atlantic Ocean after all, and as we reached Tybee island we spotted the  Lighthouse standing proud above the trees.
Renita parked the truck at the Lighthouse parking lot, one of the few places free with a light house tour ticket, It was nice to see the senior rate and as parking on the island costs two dollars an hour it was like getting to see the lighthouse for free. A volunteer described the lighthouse grounds and museum and gave us all a warm welcome to the place.

Heading to the light house we were soon climbing the one hundred and fifty plus steps, pausing at each window to enjoy each view.  It was a lot easier than hiking up Clingmans Point, and we quickly reached the top. The access to the Fresno lens was restricted but we were able to walk outside on the circular ledge surrounding the top.
Feeling somewhat acrophobic, (I prefer solid mountain tops to man made structures), I forced myself to look down the Towers side. Renita never made any comments about the height and easily walked along the outside of the narrow metal grate and handrail.

The descent was obviously much easier and after watching a short film of the history of the lighthouse we toured the First Light keepers house. The house has been refurnished with the actual furniture from the last light keeper with all the pieces being classic early twentieth century. One piece really stood out, an art deco clock and radio, and really caught our eye.

Next we headed over to Fort Screven and Tybee Beach. Some of the fort was actually sold and converted to private residences, but we were still able to tour a small museum and stand on top of the fort. .It must have been a dull existence for the men assigned to guard the mouth of the Savannah River.
Walking the beach, Renita commented on the scarcity of shells, but still managed to glean a few pieces for her ever growing collection. Still shells are kind of like rocks, you can never have enough,
and there is always room somewhere in our traveling house.

The last stop of the day was at Fort Pulaski. It was a beautiful example of the last of the brick made forts and was finished only fourteen years before the start of the civil war. Constructed with twenty five million bricks and mortar, it only lasted thirty hours against the Union's new rifled parrot guns.

The rifled Parrot guns had the ability to reach the fort and blasted holes through the thick walls. When one shell passed through the breach and  exploded setting fire to the gunpowder magazine, the Confederate commander, who had proudly stated that,  'He had been put in command to defend the fort not to surrender it!", wisely ran up a large white flag.

The Union Commander actually freed the slaves, captured with the Confederate forces, and later enlisted them into the Union forces. It was a bit of history that we had read about but standing in the fort helped us to realize the importance of that decision.
Returning to Savannah we just missed the rush hour traffic It had been a good day, as every day retired has been, and who could ask for more than a day visiting a light house and a day of history in Savannah, Georgia! Clear skies