Cold and Snow

We are in Maryland tonight in a motel. Not even sure if there would be a campground open at this time of year, but for the two of us, this feels really cold. We spent the weekend at Folkston, GA watching trains. There is a very high frequency of train traffic through Folkston. It's a famous train watching spot where lots of funny old guys gather to watch trains. The town put up a viewing platform with picnic tables and even a restroom painted in two shades of blue and yellow - CSX engine colors. The town does not mind if we park right by the tracks and spend the night in our camper. They realistically understand that these funny old guys come to town and spend $$ in stores, restaurants. and lodgings. We will be home tomorrow ready to unpack, do laundry and then get back to our regular routines.

A Banner Day at Jetty Park

Yesterday was an amazing day at Jetty Park and it was all serendipity, we did not know any schedules. Started with a lovely sunrise, then a sub came into the sub base. We had a big breakfast with Lisa and Mary at the Port Side Restaurant. Later the Disney Dream went out on a cruise with the horns playing a few bars of several Disney songs. The Dream is a spectacular ship, so Disney, so lovely. The day progressed with sweet weather and breezes and porpoise in the channel and basin. The grand finale: We had decided to camp one night on the inlet next to the water and there was going to be a rocket launch. Went off with no minutes to spare in the launch window. I was holding my breath. 8:59PM, ignition, blast off, a few seconds later the roar of the rockets. We saw the stages release into the night sky, and then not visible as the rockets shut down. Jetty Park had thousands of folks who came to watch, some are launch baggers from their comments. I could be one! This launch was for a new GPS satellite to replace an oldie. There will be two more launches this year. I could spend quite a few more days here. Hello 2015 camping.

Cruise Ships

I do wish I could upload photos to my blog. I watched the Carnival Pride Cruise Ship slide into port this morning at 6AM. It was still dark and the ship by like a huge city block. You have to look way up to see the top as the ships are quite close in the shipping channel. When the ships leave port, there is a bit of hoopla with music, people waving and shouting, and the attendant pilot and police boats. The cruise ships are escorted out of harbor and even have to have a professional pilot on board. the pilot then later leaves by a small door down by the water line and comes back on the pilot boat. Very cool. When the ships return, it's often very early in the morning while it is dark. They silently glide into port with only the low hum of engines. We are looking on line for more listings of cruise ships entering or leaving. We especially like to watch the Disney ships. They are SO Disney and just perfect. The Disney horn plays a few bars of favorite Disney songs instead of a mighty steam toot.

Florida Delights

We really like the Florida state parks. They are well run, not too expensive, have electric hookups at each site, bathhouses are roomy and clean and they feature some special natural feature. We spent a night at Florida Caverns State Park. Then we went on to St George's Island S .P. before heading to Disney for a few extraordinary days with our friends Art and Beth, who are now cast members and who take us around and give us the inside scoop. The Disney campground is a bit $$$ but exceptional in amenities; and one can get to all the Disney attractions on buses, boats, or trams. We love how Disney runs the parks and manages all the guests. Another favorite campground is Fort Desoto below St Pete beach. Our site was roomy, screened for privacy with lots of palms and other plants and looked out onto the inlet. There are many birds, even a flock of ibis which strolled into our camp; and what with the raccoons who skulk about at night, it's a wonderful place. I can ride my bike to the fort and also the North Beach which gets listed as one of the top ten beaches in the country. Then we drove across the state to Jonathan Dickinson S.P. (eagles, alligators, osprey, long legged birds). Yesterday, we spent our anniversary with our friend Ann who now lives in Palm Beach Gardens. What a great location she is in. For the next three days, we are at what is possibly our personal favorite park: Jetty Park in Port Canaveral, another county park. We will maybe be able to see a satellite launch tomorrow evening. Last year the potential launch was scrubbed and I sat ALL day saving the best possible viewing position; but it was scrubbed at the last minute. Here's hoping... We will be able to see the many kinds of boats and ships, especially we like the cruise ships and most especially, the Disney ships. Only another week and we will be home to deal with the rest of winter. I am hoping for no more snow as we have been quite spoiled down in the South.

Another Hotel Night

We have done really well in NOT going to a lot of hotels: More money, more packing and unpacking. We are in Tampa; however, and we had dinner last night with my nephew Andrew and his spouse, Jack - a delicious Olive Garden dinner with wonderful conversation and laughs. It would have too late to set up camp at a campground, if indeed there was one really handy. Today, we are off to Disney for a few days. Last week? We camped at Fort Pickens off Pensacola. We were in an end camping loop and almost had the place to ourselves...Yea! We shared the area with an old man in a truck camper and a couple armadillos. It was a short walk to the Gulf Coast and lovely miles of beaches, but with winter waves and chilly temps I was not tempted to even stick a toe in the water. Next we headed toward Tallahassee and lunch with my retired teaching colleague Sue. She now lives in a retirement community with really lovely grounds and innumerable amenities (pool, dining room if you want it, fitness center, housekeeper, landscapers, etc). Her sister and a friend are also in the community. we also camped for a night at Florida Caverns State Park; it was a cold and rainy night, but the park is interesting and would be a grand adventure if the weather was better and we were going to be there longer. There are caverns that one can tour on given days. Another two nights' camping at St George Island State Park, it was again, cool but better than in January. A retired educator had his telescope set up for solar viewing in the day time and the night sky after dark. He had a homemade solar filter. One can purchase a film and construct a filter to view sunspots. Yes, there were several visible. Along with the Gulf vistas, many long legged birds, mixed flocks of robins, towhees, mocking birds, there were two great horned owls calling to each other all night. February is courtship month for more than humans and Valentine's Day. we hope to have internet at Disney, which of course, costs extra. About the only thing one does not pay extra for at Disney is toilet paper. I will go on record that the Disney campground is wonderful, lots of campers, but well-run and spotless. Once there, you can get everywhere Disney with the buses, trams, boats, etc. Our friends Art and Beth, former Holliston residents, retired to Disney and are part time cast members. In a way, they open doors for us by advising about special Disney offerings and adventures. We love it all. The order of events is a little disordered in the above paragraph. Here is the sequence: Superbowl night in the motel, Fort Pickens N.P., Florida Caverns State Park, Tallahassee, St George State Park, Jack and Andrew and Olive Garden, Tampa hotel night and today on to Disney.

Superbowl Hotel Night

(1) We had our own little Superbowl Party last night and this is on top of the Mardi Gras Parade. Phew, Such festivities. Bob and I were happily in our PJ's in a Pensacola hotel (not really a party). I confess that I am not very drawn to sports extravaganzas, especially since the home team got eliminated, but the ads were really good. I can't believe the Broncos beat the Pats as they look pretty inept last night. At Least they got one TD. (2) It's raining this morning, but it's a lovely warm rain. We'll be camping in the rain a lot this week. We are headed for Fort Pickens campground for a few days. It's on a barrier island just off Pensacola.

Dauphin Island, AL

(1) The South is finally warming up! We are having a lovely couple days on the Island. The Mardi Gras Parade yesterday was festive, noisy, and just plain fun. Watching folks having their parties and cruising up and down the avenue was as much fun as the parade. People do it up to the max: campers, awnings, purple, yellow and green outfits with mighty silly hats, grills sending out yummy smells of sausage, steak and burgers grilling, decked out motorcycles (Harleys, natch),loud music, and general silliness. (2) I've been able to catch a couple spectacular sunrises and sunsets. I feel instantly spiritual at the cusps of the day. (3) We will be heading for Pensacola probably after church today - St. Francis Episcopal Church on the island. (4) We met some super friendly folks at the parade who have promised us a gala time next year with prize winning gumbo, grilled fish and oysters, and even a boat ride. Thanks to David and Jody for all the hospitality at the parade. And you should have seen their grandbaby girl dressed in a spectacular Mardi Gras outfit. Way too adorable.