St Augustine, FL - Part IV

March 05 - 08

After lunch Saturday we headed north to check out Fort Caroline, a French fort, and the Kigsley Plantation.

The Fort Caroline visitor center was one of the better ones we have visited so far. We both wish we had paid better attention in history class.


We became very confused about Spanish, French and English occupation with many areas changing hands. This visitor center has a very good time line and other displays that explain the area history. It seems the Europeans played Monopoly with their New World holdings.

The fort itself was very disappointing as it was a reproduction built on the best guess location of the original. It was a beautiful walk of about a mile from the center.

The fort is just a tall pike fence around the perimeter and some earthwork which encloses a grass area within.


We left the fort and drove to Kingsley Plantation. The house is not open but we walked the grounds.

About a quarter of a mile from the main house are the slave quarters. They were arranged in a semi circle.

Debbie walking to some information about the quarters. The on the other side, the remaining structures are more complete.


Cement with a generous amount of sea shell in place of gravel was used in the construction. There are numerous shell middens or mounds along the rivers left by prehistoric and later natives.


Now it's on to Savanna Georgia tomorrow.

St Augustine, FL - Part III

March 05 - 08

Saturday we went back into town to visit Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. The was the main defense of St Augustine back in the Spanish days. Debbie crosses over the first of two drawbridges across the now dry moat.


The second moat crosses from a triangular shaped island to the main wall.



Inside the walls. Across the way a reenactment is underway.



After exploring the fort we walk around the area and stopped for lunch. Debbie ordered shrimp.

St Augustine, FL (con't)

March 05 - 08

Friday we drove down to Fort Matanzas National Monument which was about forty miles south of our RV Park. The small fort was established to protect St Augustine from an attack by water from the south. Our timing was great.


The fort is located on an island across from the Visitor Center and they operate a free ferry. We arrived just in time to catch the ferry across.


A ranger took our group of about twenty across to the small Fort on the ferry.


We landed at the back side and I walked around to the front to get a picture. The group is using stairs at the left to climb up to the deck.


On the deck the history of the fort was presented. The door behind leads to the soldier's quarters. The stairs and the upstairs door lead to the small officer's quarters.


Inside the officer's quarters.


A view out the Officer's door.


Looking down from the roof to the deck.


Our ferry docked on the island. The waterway is part of the Intercoastal Waterway.


Here is what the fort looked like before it was restored.

Saint Augustine, FL

March 05 - 08

On our way from New Orleans to Mexico Beach we drove through Mississippi and the small foot of Alabama on I 10. As we crossed into Alabama the State Troopers were like bees buzzing around a hive. They drove dark brown patrol cars and I counted at least eight of them on car stops within a mile or so of the border.

After our stop in Mexico Beach we continued to St Augustine, FL Bryn Mawr Ocean Resort. A long drive but the wind was still fairly light and didn't effect driving. The "Resort" turned out to be one where the sites were sold to individuals. Most, 9o percent, of the sites had park models on them so it was hardly a "RV Resort" anymore although along the beach were about twenty RV sites. The interior roads were VERY narrow, rough and unpaved. Our site was wide and long. Getting into it required coming within inches of the white round park light. I was very disappointed at $75 per night but Ty loved the sandy roads. This maybe his favorite park, but then he's not paying for it.


At the end of the road is the beach. There's a walkway over the sand dunes to the actual beach.


Debbie set up the ironing board to iron some clothes but she wasn't fast enough!

Sorry, not right now, I'm using it.

Mexico Beach, FL

March 02 - 05

It was a long seven hour drive from New Orleans with the wind blowing most of the day but by the time we arrived it had moderated considerably.

We are in Rustic Sands Camp Ground. Nice big site but rough unpaved roads. Big trees made it shady and added a nice feeling to the park after so many bare camping sites.


We are only few blocks away from white sands beaches that we have all to ourselves.

We drove over to Panama City a few miles away. Some really fantastic home on the ocean. Not much planned here so we'll recharge. Next, on to Saint Augustine, FL

New Orleans, LA (con't)

February 27 - March 02

Sunday morning we were up early for breakfast at Brennan's. Located on Royal street, it was built in 1795. One reason the street looks so empty is no street parking is allowed today, so another 10 dollar parking lot bill and a walk of several blocks I finally arrived and met Debbie where I had dropped her off at the restaurant.

Looking down Royal St. early Sunday Morning

We were seated in a small dinning room on the second floor. There were four other tables, a waiter and his assistant were dedicated to our dining room.

I had Eggs Nouvelle Orleans, poached eggs over a bed of lump crabmeats covered with a brandy-cream sauce. Debbie had Eggs Sardou, poached eggs on artichoke bottoms nestled in a bed of creamed spinach and covered with Hollandaise sauce.

Brian, Our Waiter with Our Dessert

For dessert I had Banana Foster which was originated by Brennans's and Deb had Crepes Fitzgerald, crepes filled with cream cheese, sour cream topped by strawberries. Both were flamed in brandy.

Brian Prepares For Flaming

Brian Flames

What! Out of focus? How does that happen to a ex-professional photographer using a state-of-art auto focus camera? Actually it takes an expert to mess up with an automatic everything camera. Unfortunately it's a quick flash and there's no time for a second shot. Oh, the dessert, it was great! The breakfast bill was also great at $125. But that included coffee.

This past Tuesday was Fat Tuesday and all over New Orleans there are necklaces hanging on trees and utility lines. Ty loves playing with his necklace.

New Orleans, LA

February 27 - March 02

We left Beaumont around 10am enroute to New Orleans. It was still windy and there was a lot of road construction off and on which narrowed the lanes and that with the wind made it a tiring drive. Pulled into Pontchartrain Landing RV late afternoon. The roads and sites are unpaved and the wind kicks up the dust whenever somebody drive by.


One side of our site has some tan bark and a couple of plants but I think it belongs to our neighbor site. Ty is about to 'try out' the tan bark.


New Orleans is very similar to Mexico.. Both are tourist areas, sell a lot of souvenir stuff, don't speak English, have shootings in the street, and a lot of unfamiliar areas to drive around in and get lost. One big difference was Mexico was clean.


Satarday we went down to the French Quarter and walked around. It was really crowded and like swimming up stream through the ton of people on the sidewalk. We had lunch at Maspero's which turned out to be good choise and a bargain. Their door is just inback of the lady in black. We split a muffuletta sandwich which originated in New Orleans in 1906. It was real different; made on a 8" round bun, about an inch and a half of salami and Italian ham, several layers of cheese and topped with green olives stuffed with pimentos and maybe some other stuff. Eight bucks! I'm glad we tried one but I think with one behind me, I'll go for something else next time.


On our way back to the RV park we drove by Anne Rice's house.


After cruising through the historic district and looking at all the huge mansions we drove out to Lake Pontchartrain to drive along the newly constructed shoreline. As you can see the wind had white caps on the lake and the waves were crashing over the top of the new seawall.


Tomorrow we are going to breakfast at Brennan,s in the French Quarter.