Leaving Florida July 2, 2016

We were talking this morning and realized that we went from the west coast of Florida to the east coast, to the west coast and back to the east coast in the two weeks we have been in Florida.  We have done many things and had a great time. Tonight finds us in Richmond Hill, Georgia.

Today as we traveled we didn't have an agenda.  Our drive was to be a little over four hours.  We were on the road by just before 8 this morning. However, we did take a stop that took us on a slightly different route and we saw some beautiful country and we stopped about one o clock in St. Augustine, Florida. They claim to be the oldest town in the United States. 

The first settlers there came from Spain 55 years before the pilgrims came to Plymouth. They have a trolley you can take around the old town and listen to a guide tell you about the town.  It has the oldest fort in the U.S.

The Oldest fort in the nation.  The walls are 19' at the bottom and 5' at the top.

Just before we got on the trolley/tram it started to rain.  It came down hard for quite a while. They gave us all plastic ponchos to help us stay dry. Since we were on the trolley in the middle, we didn't wear ours. We got a little wet, but as my dad used to say: "You are not sugar nor salt, you're not going melt" Before it ended, it was running rivers in the streets.

The town was fascinating.  This particular home was purchased from the Sears Roebuck catalog.  It was shipped in a kit and assembled on the property.

House ordered from Sears

The history is varied and the trolley made 23 stops on the way where we could get off and explore or go to a museum and then get back on the next trolley that came along when we were ready.  We got off at one stop and went on a tour of the Pirates Treasure Museum. Our tour guide was a pirate captain.

A little dark, but this is our Pirate guide

He told us stories about pirates and was highly entertaining and interactive with the group. Among the thing they had there were a 400 year old chest that you could touch,

400 year old chest

the worlds only known pirate,s chest,

and one of only three known Jolly Roger flags in the world.





They also had a room of movie pirate memorabilia that included a sword captain Jack Sparrow used in the films

Jack Sparrow's Sword

and one of the gold coins from the film.

They also had a replica of Captain Hooks hook from the movie hook.

 It was a delightful hour spent in the museum. We also wandered down the street of shops by the museum and saw the oldest wood schoolhouse. 

We got back on the trolley after checking out the cemetery



And a large ball that marks the beginning of the Spanish trail. It ends in San Diego, California. 

The buildings and sites we saw were full of history and it was fascinating to visit.  Thanks to Olivia for telling me we should go there.

Nola pointing to the Spanish moss

The freeways are incredibly beautiful in Florida. They are lined with trees and have grass on the sides of the road which they keep mowed.  We even saw them laying sod at the side of the road through on stretch of construction. I haven't decided if we have seen the state's scenery or not, since all the roads are lined with trees as far as you can see but maybe that is what the whole state is like.  Hmm... Either way it has been beautiful and amazing to drive through. 

We got to talk to Jessica (our granddaughter) today. It was so good to hear her voice and chat with her. Although we miss our family, we are having a great time.  We reach our halfway point tonight. We have been gone for three weeks and have three weeks left.  Tomorrow we will give you some stats about our travels.