Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Abundant sunshine, High Humidity, Temperature 89 Degrees

Fort Clinch State Park

This is where we spent the second half of our morning yesterday. This is also where our edict to stay away from people sort of went sideways. Not in the campgrounds but at the Fort and the museum associated with it. There were no extremely large crowds but enough unmasked people that we were a bit nervous. However, we wore our masks and when everyone when left, we went right. In essence for the most part we were able to avoid almost everyone.

This is the entrance to the park proper. The park, we discovered, consists of two campgrounds and Historic Fort Clinch. We were eager to explore all three areas.

Once you pass the ranger station this is the road that leads into the actual park. Note the warning about there being low clearance at various spots? Believe me, they are not kidding!

I kept thinking as we were driving in, this could get interesting with Elvira. I later learned that most people who bring any type of rig in here typically drive down the center of the road. Which is all well and good until you meet someone doing the same thing coming from the other direction!

Just a short distance in you come across a small pullout called Egans Creek on the left side of the road. Always the curious one I of course had to see what it had to offer.

There was first of all some information about a lighthouse. I discovered that the Amelia Island Lighthouse was built in 1838. It is the state’s oldest, and still operational lighthouse, and the only one that has survived without major rebuilding. The Coast Guard turned the lighthouse over to the city of Fernandina in 2001 and works with the city to keep it lit and in good working order.

The lighthouse sits on the highest point of the island. It is 67 feet tall and the walls at the base are four feet thick tapering to two feet at the top. Unfortunately, this is as close as we were able to get to it. I so wanted to climb to the top of this lighthouse even as I have with every other one I have visited.

While at the pullout I also learned this.

I always find it amazing what you can learn about the world around you when you take just a few moments to stop, look and read.

Continuing further into the park.

The Atlantic Beach Campground is the first and the smaller of the two campgrounds you come to in the park.

The sites here are arranged in a circle around the bathroom facilities that sits in the middle of the circle. The sites are open with no shade. There are only water and electric hookups. The Atlantic Ocean, though, is just on the other side of the dunes.

Leaving this campground we are now headed toward the Amelia River Campground and Fort Clinch itself.

We’re now at the entrance to the second, and larger, of the two campgrounds. But the Amelia River Campground is as different from the first campground as night is from day.

As you can see from this picture this campground is heavily wooded.

This is a typical site. It is completely shaded and has only water and electric. Moreover, anything over forty feet is just not going to fit. In fact, even forty feet is a tight fit. Not the place for Elvira.

Who are these two campgrounds for? If you have a smaller size rig, if you like to hike or bike, if you like to kayak, and you like to walk along the beach then you would probably love it in either one of the two campgrounds.

This would be our final stop for the morning. However, rather than try and cram our visit here into this blog we’ll give it a blog of its own tomorrow. So, till then. . .

Our continuing mission remains: Departing from our base as often as possible to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!

Wednesday, August 10, 2021

Abundant Sunshine, Temperature 92 Degrees

Blame It All On Wayne Carini

If you are a gearhead you will probably recognize the TV series Chasing Classical Cars featuring Wayne Carini. Part of the series features the Amelia Concours d’Elegance Vintage car show which is held on Amelia Island. Well, Amelia Island is less than an hour from our current location so we just had to go check the island out.

OK, maybe it wasn’t just because of him. The truth is we were beginning to go stir crazy. Thus, we figured we’d go somewhere out in the open with the best chance of finding no crowds of people. Did it work out as we planned? Sort of. More about that later.

But first, treatment time. We’ve been fortunate that they’ve continued to give us the same time every day at 7:05 am. It makes for a really unretirement time of the morning to be getting up. However, we’re getting used to it and actually liking it since it leaves us with the whole day to do what we want. After this morning, I’ve got just 25 treatments more to go. Yipee!

Treatment over we were on the road.

We headed to Amelia Island, specifically Fernandian Beach and the Visitor Center. Guess what? It would not open until 10 am and we were there at 8:30 am. However, we scored a Visitor’s Guide from an outside kiosk from which we learned the following about the island: it is 18 square miles in size. . .it has 13 miles of beachfront. . .and it has been occupied by 8 different countries.

Since we couldn’t enter the Visitor Center we wandered around outside. Outside, we discovered the following. . .

there was this delightful garden. And then,

a statue of Peg Leg the Pirate.

We also discovered that the Visitor Center occupied an old train depot.

We learned who was behind the creation of the railroad – David L. Yulee – and when it was begun and finished.

Speaking of David L. Yulee, here he is waiting for his train to come in. Again from the Visitor’s Guide we learned the following about him: he helped write the original Florida State Constitution. . .he became the first Jewish Senator appointed to the United States Congress. . .and in 1853 he chose Fernandina as the beginning point of the first trans-peninsular railroad in Florida.

After spending some time at the Visitor Center we walked across the street to

the Fernandina Harbor Marina.

Looking out over the anchorage on the Amelia River it was obvious that there was no crowding here. Imagine an RV park with this amount of space between sites!

OK, that was the first part of our morning. So far so good no people or crowds at all. We had one more stop we wanted to make and I’ll share that with you tomorrow. That’s where, unfortunately, our plan for no crowds sort of went sideways!

That was our day on The Road of Retirement. It felt absolutely great to be able to get out and stretch our legs. Don’t get me wrong, we’re still being extremely careful where we go. Come right down to it, we’re still for the most part staying in and away from crowds and people in general. However, some times you just have to get out and roam. If only for a little bit.

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog.  We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Remember, take time to stop and smell the roses and live each day that God gives you to the fullest.

 Our continuing mission remains: Departing from our base as often as possible to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!

Friday, August 6, 2021

Cloudy, Afternoon Thunder Storms, Temperature 84 Degrees

Another Week of Treatment in the Books

Around Our RV Park Home

Another week of treatment is in the books. I have just twenty seven more times to get zapped by protons moving at 2/3 the speed of light. I’m also getting really good at knowing once I’m on the slab when the whole process begins and ends. When they are ready to activate the gantry you’ll hear what sounds like a doorbell. This means it is time to clear the room for the beam is being turned on. Then, at the end of the treatment you hear what sounds like a jet engine spinning down. Once the sound stops the gantry is off and it is safe to enter the room. Then it is off the slab and double time to the bathroom.

That, of course, is Ms. Barbara in the lobby. They’ve told us that she is the exception, rather than the norm, because most wives cease coming with their husbands after the first week. Not my sweetheart. Even given that my treatment time is 7:10 am every day. She could be sleeping in, but no instead every day she is at my side. Words cannot express how much I love her and how much I appreciate her always being there for me. There is a special place in heaven for her.

So, what’s happening around our homestead?

They are constantly making improvements to the overall appearance of the park. This is new garden that they planted in front of the laundry room.

They also covered all the bare areas between the sites with new sod. In addition, they are constantly releveling sites and putting down a new gravel base. It is obvious that the owners really care about the park.

We have once again put sightseeing on hold because COVID is out of control and getting worse here in Florida. However, to listen to our Governor he has it under control. Anyone who believes that will I’m sure also believe that I know how to fly a jet airplane. Absolutely.

So that is where we are at on The Road of Retirement. We’re adjusting to a new normal as time goes bye. One thing is for sure, this being Friday night we can and will sleep in tomorrow. Phones are being turned off tonight and will not come back on until after we are up tomorrow. Overall, life is good and we have no complaints. Hope you can say the same.

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog.  We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Remember, take time to stop and smell the roses and live each day that God gives you to the fullest.

 Our continuing mission remains: Departing from our base as often as possible to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!

Sunday, August 1, 2021

Overcast, Thunder Storms, Temperature 98 Degrees

Count Your Many Blessings, Name Them One by One

So the question of the day is, Is Your Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

That question in turn inspired me to reflect on what we’ve been through this year to date, and what is happening now.

Yes, it is hot here in Jacksonville. The bottom number above is the temperature in the shade. The top number is inside Elvira. But as a good friend noted, I’m not carrying 70 pounds of combat gear on my back, I’m not in danger of getting shot when I go to take the garbage to the dumpster, and I don’t have to worry about stepping on a land mine. Count your many blessings, name them one by one.

COVID is soaring out of control in Florida, especially here in Jacksonville. However, to date we are both still healthy and intend on staying that way. To that end we have gone into self imposed isolation venturing out only when we need necessary supplies. Count your many blessings, name them one by one.

I have prostate cancer but I am being treated at what I believe is the very best facility for this type of cancer on the East Coast. I did my homework and decided that, yes, Proton Therapy was the best option for me. So I came to the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute. The entire staff is absolutely wonderful. Everyone is so compassionate and caring. I’m absolutely convinced that this is no more than a speed bump in the road of life and I’ll soon be over it. Count your many blessings, name them one by one.

We’re at a fantastic RV park. The RV park we are in is well maintained and well taken care of. The staff here is also absolutely wonderful. Our site has the top three things I look for in a site – dead level, all utilities are right at hand, and satellite friendly. But the big plus is, it is at best only 20 minutes from where I am receiving treatment. Count your many blessings, name them one by one.

Elvira is a wonderful home away from home. Our rig is in great condition for its age. Mechanically, it is in the best condition that it can be. Inside, it gives us a spacious, comfortable home. It shields us from the sun and protects us from the rain. The floorplan is just right for us. To date both A/C’s have been handling the heat. Count your many blessings, name them one by one.

Our home base in Mt. Olive Shores was the find of the year. The price was right and out of the five people wanting to buy it we won out. Our house is spacious but compact. It is a comfortable place to hang out when we are not on the road. The RV port attached to it allows us to park Elvira out of the elements when we are there. It truly has all that we were looking for in a house. Count your many blessings, name them one by one.

OK, we’re not where we expected to be at this point in the year. We were heading to Mount Rushmore and then on to Yellowstone. OK, we didn’t make it that far but my oh my what we’ve been able to see and do is beyond words.

This is just a very brief glimpse of what we have been able to do.

We explored Jekyll Island. What a beautiful island and with so much rich history. We saw so much, and again learned much more of our country’s history.

This was a definite highlight for me.

We were able to explore the historic town of Charleston by land and sea.

We were able to visit with some good friends we had not seen in several years.

We had a great time with Ms. Barbara’s sister, Carol and her husband, Bob. Little did we know that this would be the last time we would ever see Carol. She passed away a short time thereafter. This only makes this time with them even more precious for us.

We crossed off another item on our bucket list with our visit to Frontier Culture Village.

We were able to spend a good deal of time with our daughter Amanda and her significant other, Ben. What beautiful memories we have of our time together.

We can’t forget the good times with Adam and our grandson Jarrett. My grandson plays a mean game of Mexican Train!

Then, too, we had a great time with my son Adam and all our grandkids and their significant others.

I had an absolute blast when I went cart racing with my son Adam, and my two grandson’s Jarrett and Mikey!

On into PA we rolled and had a really great time with my sister, Cindy and her husband, Charlie and let’s not forget our four legged friend, Eddie.

This was an unexpected find which turned out to be a super place to visit. My only regret was that the weather that day was bad and I could not go up in a glider. I’ll be back.

Count your many blessings, name them one by one

The above is just a tiny, really tiny glimpse of our year to date. OK things didn’t turn out like we thought they would. But so what. The most important part of this year has been the time we’ve spent with family and friends. Sightseeing was just the icing on the cake. Our glass is definitely half full.

. I’ve said it before and I’ll continue to say it we are two of the most blessed and fortunate people in the world.

So how about your glass? I hope as you reflect back on your year to date you too can say that your glass is half full.

God bless.