good-times-rollin: Florida

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

The Love Tree

Pine Mountain RV Resort
Pine Mountain, GA
October 31, 2015

Love Trees are made of two trees...one growing out of the other. Generally it is a Sabal Palm (the Florida state tree) and an oak tree intertwined to make one tree. Neither tree would survive if they were separated. Hence, the legend "if you kiss someone beneath a Love Tree, the two of you will seal your love for all eternity and be together forever". There are several such trees in St. Augustine, but the first and most famous is the The Love Tree on Cordova St. next to the Tolomato Cemetery. The natural embrace of these trees is the spot Will (our nephew) and Jan chose for their marriage ceremony on Saturday, October 31st.

Congratulations Will and Jan

Front row - Jessica (Jan's daughter), Beckom, (Jan's grandson), Jo (Joe's sister) and me
Back row - Bubba (Jan's son), Jan, Will, Joe and Chuck (Joe's BIL)

It was a short two day visit packed full of fun and laughter.

The night before the big day, we dined at Scarlett O'Hara's. We sure had a hankering for southern fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, and sweet tea! And to top it off, a piece of pecan pie...just like my grandma made.

Everyone (except us) stayed at the Old Powder House Inn B&B.

The porches (downstairs and upstairs) and quaint yard were comfy, cozy and served as the perfect place to visit and catch up.

After the wedding, Jo and Chuck treated all of us to a very nice lunch at Columbia Restaurant featuring Spanish/Cuban cuisine.

Located in the historic district, it is family owned and operated for over 100 years.

Saturday night we were entertained by the Sheriff as we walked the back streets of St. Augustine and heard ghostly tails with a bit of history. It was a 90 minute stroll which would be fun on any night, but being Halloween made it especially spooky. Do you know the difference between a cemetery and a graveyard?

We were perhaps the only people in St. Augustine who did not "dress up" for the occasion. Costumes were quite elaborate...we saw it all. Folks there take it very seriously!

We are now settled in at Pine Mountain RV Resort for a week. Until next time, let the good times roll...

HAPPY TRAILS!

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Wood Storks at Ft. Mose Historic State Park

Stagecoach RV Park
St. Augustine, FL
October 28, 2015

Fort Mose (Moh-Say) Historic State Park is a 40 acre waterfront historic site with picnic areas, one observation and birding boardwalk, a kayak launch, and a visitor center.

Although none of the earth and wooden structures remain, visitors can still view the land where once a legally sanctioned free African settlement was.

In 1994, this site was designated as a National Historic Landmark and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

After our history lesson, we were off to the birding boardwalk.

There was only one other person there this day. There is a turn in the boardwalk just ahead of the birder. That is where we saw the wood storks. I was thrilled! My first sighting of this magnificent creature.

There were four wood storks in the tree fairly close to the boardwalk.

Wood Storks are large, white, bald-headed wading birds of the southeastern swamps.

These are the only stork breeding in the United States.

Their late winter breeding season is timed to the Florida dry season when its fish prey become concentrated in shrinking pools.

That is important because a couple with two fledglings can eat over 400 pounds of fish during a single breeding season.

They stand nearly 4 feet tall with a wingspan of about 5 feet.

For over 30 years the wood stork was on the Endangered species list. An estimated 20,000 breeding pairs dropped to roughly 5,000 pairs from the 1930s to the 1970s. In 2014 they were upgraded to a Threatened Species with as many as 9,000 breeding adults reported.