Time flies

 I just realized that I haven't written a thing since Dec 7.  I guess I've been busy visiting with others or I don't have enough signal to upload photos and/or access this blog.  So, it is now December 12.  I cannot believe how fast the time is going.  I arrived at Jekyll Island and met up with Marta and Annie there.  

Driftwood beach:

Baby alligator

Ollie!  

A Florida Double IPA??  And one I actually like?!  

 

Left to right - me, Zoe, Sunny, Annie (back), Marta, Carol, Penny.  Fun afternoon and lunch with this gang.

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Sunset, such as it was.  

Lights at Jekyll Island Club house.  So many lights!

Sunrise at Driftwood Beach.  The colors weren't spectacular, but it was beautiful and peaceful.

Can we go back to bed, Mom?  Or at least get breakfast???

Annie and I rode their e-bikes to the lighthouse, which is still active.  The 200+ steps weren't bad at all, but I couldn't imagine doing it carrying the 25 lb can with oil for the light in the old days.  

Marta, Annie, Carol, and I had an early dinner of the fish we scored from some fishermen on Jekyll Island.  Marta cooked it perfectly.  We ate at 4ish so that I could head into town for the lights.

St Augustine Night of Lights.  So pretty!  I risked going there, because backing into sites after dark is never fun as the lighting is poor and provides reflections that make it extra difficult.  But I couldn't see missing this (I just love lights and fireworks) just because I was nervous about parking my van.  In the end it really wasn't too difficult.  

Castillo San Marcos National Monument

12/12

Walking at the Anastasia campground

Photo before departure.  Glad we got this as we missed getting a photo of dinner last night.

Because I loved what I saw in St Augustine the night before, I went back to check it out during the day.  I would have loved to have taken a tour as it's the oldest "continuously occupied settlement of European and African American origin in the USA".  Founded in 1565 - that's pretty darn old for the very young USA!

Many beautiful homes too.  This is why I love walking around cities.

After leaving St Augustine, I drove to Salt Springs recreation area and had to pay $65 for a site!!!  They wouldn't give me a primitive site because I have water on board, even though I don't need hookups.  Grrr.  If I had my America the Beautiful pass, which I intend to get, it would have been 50% off, but I couldn't get it here.  I was planning to get it at the first opportunity...  And on top of that price, the septic is down, so I don't even get to use the bath houses/showers.  Double Grrr.  Swimming in the salt spring area is included, but I realized that maybe I shouldn't due to my tattoo, which I only got 10 days ago.  It seems 100% healed to me, but I'm still not sure.  It would be a bummer if I can't swim in the salt pool!

I did end up getting a rash from the derm shield adhesive once I removed it.  The tattooed skin looks fine, but the rest of the skin under the derm shield is all red, even 5 days later.  I have some prescription cream I have for when I get rashes from the sun and that seems to have helped.  

I don't love the tattoo, but it's growing on me, which is good since it is PERMANENT!!!  Some of what I thought was artsy in the design looks a bit messy instead.