Our drive today was 3 hours down Interstate 95, into Florida, through Jacksonville, stopping at Saint Augustine’s Anastasia State Park. Saint Augustine is America’s oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement . . . dating back to 1565! The temperature started right at 25 F, and never got above 47 for the whole day. Somehow 47 degrees in Florida seems colder than 47 degrees in Ohio! At least we are above the freezing point. We drove out onto Anastasia Island and set up in the State Park – beautiful tree and palm growth and large, private campsites. It was just a bit windy and coolish to enjoy the views on foot, but we loaded in the truck to do a drive-around of the park – out to the sand-dunes and back. Then we did a tour-by-truck through the old town of St. Augustine -- rather than the open-air tour trolly! We passed the Lighthouse, the Castillo De Marco, the Oldest House and Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse . . . and the Alligator Farm! Come on Tom – we at least have to see the Alligators! We didn’t! (They have a zip-line that crosses over the alligator pond!) When we passed a hair salon, I jumped out of the truck for a quick trim; I am growing out my natural color (white, white, white) and I am almost at the point of nothing is going to make it better -- but a good trim helps! Tom filled the truck with gas, and we headed back to the campsite to enjoy . . . the inside of our new trailer, supplemented by some quick walks with Charlie Button, and a bowl of chili. Rain all night. Rain in the morning. Rain for two hours of driving down coastal Interstate 95 to Kennedy Space Center. And temperatures dropping by the hour – from 42 to 38! News flashes throughout Florida were warning of freezing temperatures, icy roads, closed schools and cancelled airline flights! We played along with it all, and found ourselves being very chilled! By 1:00 we were set up at the Cape Canaveral KOA (still raining and winds of 25 mph) and headed for the Kennedy Space Center Visitor’s complex. Micah and cousin Emily had attended Space Camp here sometime in the 90’s, but the facility was so different we didn’t recognize very much. Our first stop was the IMAX Theater for a very nice movie presentation on the space shuttle program – all leading up to the fact that the space shuttle Atlantis was a resident exhibit waiting for us to tour. That was very nicely done with two preview films and then a spectacular transition from the movie into the Atlantis display. There were other displays to see, but we were in a bit of a rush as it was the end of the day and the Center would be closing soon. Note to self: If you are going to pay $45/each for entry tickets – enter early in the day!
At the KOA we fixed dinner and then everybody got a bath – including Charlie Button! Tom used the KOA bath-house and Charlie and I managed just fine in the Silvermine.
2 Comments
Mike
1/4/2018 12:12:09 pm
Enjoy. Ohio is still bitter cold with no end n sight. Love your photos.
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Terry Baughman
1/5/2018 07:14:19 am
We also stayed at that same campground with Lou and Larry and it was windy then however warmer. Enjoy and keep warm
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October 2021
We don’t go camping any more . . . we go ‘streamin’ ! The “SIlvermine and His” is our 2018 25' Airstream Serenity with Salsa interior and front twin beds., and ‘streamin’ is the name we use to describe our adventures. Stream along as we document everything from weekend trips to longer summer excursions and full-blown vacations. You know what they say: if you’re not in an Airstream – you’re just camping!
Tom & Ella Brown |