Florida 2005

Jan 15 to Jan 19,2005 High Bridge to Jackson, MS

On Friday, January 14 we drove down to celebrate Matt's 31st birthday before our anticipated departure on Saturday. Little did we know that the van had different ideas. At the KFC the van died with no juice. The second jump start with some heavy duty batteries supplied by Matt got it going so we lit off for home. On Rt. 31 in Clinton all the lights went out and the van coasted to a stop. A call to Matt and AAA resulted in a transfer of all the packed items for the trip into Matt's vehicle and the van being towed to the dealer. The next day we found out that the van had a bad battery which was replaced. However I had already packed the smaller Malibu with all our trip stuff ad felt more secure going in a vehicle I know will make it with no problems. We left at two o'clock in the afternoon with no particular stopping point in mind.

On Saturday we got as far as Harrisonburg, VA which is 308 miles. I will not mention the wallet incident but a call to Greg and his help with FedEx will remedy the situation by January 21 in Texas. We spent Sunday night and Monday with the Stutts in Charlotte and had a great time looking for the Geotrax bridge for Alex. It is a tough find anywhere but we succeeded. Ken was good enough to ship it to Alexander in Flemington on Tuesday. On Tuesday we drove to Birmingham, Al. with a side tour of the Taladega Scenic drive and Cheaha State Park which has the highest point in Alabama.

Wednesday before heading to Jackson, MS we drove up to Cullman, AL to visit the Ave Maria Grotto and the Clarkson covered Bridge. The Grotto was the handiwork of a Brother Joseph. His job at the St. Bernard Abbey was to shovel coal into the boilers and in his spare time he created miniatures of old buildings and placed them on the monastery grounds. His themes were copied from pictures and studies of the bible. Brother Joseph was not educated beyond the high school level. at one time he had wanted to study for the priesthood but an accident at the abbey resulted in permanent damage to his back and he was deemed unfit for the priesthood. Then he got assigned to shovel coal- figure that. Eventually his art work drew more and more public attention until he was ordered to stop because the public was interfering with the activities at the abbey. In 1934 a solution was found by moving all of the works to the abandoned quarry at the abbey and Brother Joseph was able to continue. Brother Joseph continued to create his works from stones and discarded glass and any other material he could get a hold of until he was 80 years old. He died in 1961 at the age of 83. It is an interesting place to see and well deserving of the "Gem" rating in AAA.

From the Grotto we went to see the 270 foot Town Lattice Style Wooden Covered Bridge known as the Clarkson Covered Bridge. It is this style of bridge that we want to build in Millbrook to replace one of the bridges taken by the flood of 2004. It is an engineering marvel. We arrived in Jackson, MS around 5:00PM.

Alex on Jan 14 with his surprised look	Cheaha State Park View in Alabama	Observation Tower at Cheaha Park	Manger Miniature at the Ave Maria Grotto
The Vatican at the Ave Maria Grotto	Ave Maria Grotto	Ave Maria Grotto	Hanging Gardens at the Ave Maria Grotto
Clarkson covered Bridge	Clarkson Covered Bridge	Clarkson Covered Bridge	Clarkson Covered Bridge

  January 20 - Jackson,MS to Lafayette, LA

We drove north on the Natchez Trace to visit the Mississippi Craft Center. Since we were early we drove a bit further north and investigated a section of the old trail, an Indian Burial Mound and the Ross Barnett Reservoir. The Natchez Trace Parkway is run by the National Park Service which runs from Nashville, TN to Natchez. MS. It generally follows the trail of the old Indian trail which was later heavily used by boatmen and others on their way north after floating their boats down the Mississippi. In spots the old trace is still visible. The Mississippi Craft Center is basically a display of crafts done by members of the Mississippi Craft Guild. I say display but all items are on sale here. The crafts displayed are wood turnings, wood carvings, pottery, baskets and other items. All of them were gorgeous. The Trace is interrupted in Jackson so to get to the southern 100 miles you have to drive about 20 miles to get to the point where the trace is picked up again. We did the 100 miles in approximately 2 1/2 hours making a few stops to see the displays. The ride is a peaceful 50mph through a beautifully wooded highway. At no time over the 100 mile stretch was I following another vehicle. Eerie but nice. After lunch in Natchez we crossed the Mississippi and drove the 100+ miles to Lafayette, La. We finished the day off by listening to cajun music at Mulates while eating our Louisiana meal.

Section of the Old Natchez Trace	Ross Barnett Reservoir	Boyd Place - Burial Mound from around 500AD	Mississippi Craft Center
Mississippi Craft Center	Natchez Trace - Owens Creek Waterfall	Natchez Trace Emeral Temple Mound - Second Largest Mound in the USA	Mighty Mississippi from the Natchez bluffs

  January 22 - Galveston, TX and Lake Jackson,TX

Arrived in Lake Jackson on Friday to visit on the weekend with Johnny and Sharon Elias. Dear friends from starting in around 1986 in my old BASF days. They have a beautiful home in Lake Jackson. On Saturday we went to Galveston along the shore road over the San Louis Pass on to Galveston Island. In Galveston we visited the Moody Gardens which is a rainforest environment created under a glass pyramid. The weather outside was sunny and warm with temperatures around 75. Inside we were later told their objective is to keep the temperature between 75 and 100 with a humidity to match. They lived up to their word. It was warm and muggy in there. We found out that some kind of "Cheerleading Championships" were in town and were at times surrounded by the pom-pom girls while walking thru the gardens. We paid for this later at the Joes Crabshack restaurant where to our dismay we found out that our food was being held up by the special party of cheerleaders upstairs. Over an hour wait from the ordering to serving. 

Boss toad at Moody Gardens	Moody Gardens	Moody Gardens - Scarlet Ibis	Moody Gardens - Macaws?	Moody Gardens - Macaws?
Moody Gardens - Balalaika Teal	Johnny, Sharon and Rose all starving at Joes Crabshack	Two kinds of Galveston Shrimpers - Boats and birds	Tall Ship Elissa in Galveston	Very Tall Ship - Grand Princess in Galveston

Meanwhile back in the Northeast

Easton Pa at Greggs house	Easton Pa at Greg's House

January 24 thru January 26 Lake Jackson,TX to East of Pensacola

We left Lake Jackson on Monday morning and headed east and reached Baton Rouge in the evening. We did take a detour to go to Konrico Rice Mills to pick up some of the wild pecan rice we bought the last time we were here. Reaching Baton Rouge we did try our luck at the Argosy River Boat Casino but left $15.00 poorer. 

On Tuesday, January 25 we headed down to New Orleans to go see the D Day Museum. Before getting to New Orleans we stopped to visit the Plantation Laura. Laura Plantation is famous as the place where the "Uncle Remus" stories were put on paper. We had seen the plantation in 1995 but decided to see the changes. The changes to the main house were drastic. Last August the main house caught fire and it is now in restoration covered by scaffolding. It wasn't a total loss but close. The tour now includes a visit to the slave quarters and description of the slave living conditions. Not pretty. We learned about the "Code Noir" or Black Law shich regulated the relations between slave and master. Elizabeth - Laura's mother when faced with a shortage of available field slaves went to New Orleans where she acquired 30 young black women and then had them impregnated. If you can't buy them - build them. Interesting tour in that it is a history tour of the creole life style and not a house tour. On the way to Laura we went past the Plantation Tezcuco. We had stayed there in 1995 in the B & B connected to the plantation. The main house was interesting back in 1995 but now is in ruins as it also has burned. This house is down to the ground.

Laura Plantation before the fire	Sugar Cane kettle at Laura Plantation	Laura Plantation gift shop - formerly a ferry office along river	Laura Plantation - slave quarters

After the plantation visit we headed to the D-Day museum in New Orleans. What a museum. It is filled with exhibits explaining the onset of the war, the build-up leading to D-Day and the action of D-Day on June 6, 1944. The museum was sited in New Orleans because the Higgins Boat Company was located here. Eisenhower credited Higgins with the victory at Normandy. He said after the war that without the Higgins designed landing boats, the operation could not have been carried out. In one of the Higgins videos, during a demonstration for the navy the pilot of the boat had not run the boat up on the beach as insisted upon by Higgins. When Higgins insisted that the "SOB" be fired for disobeying his orders he was advised that was not possible as the pilot was Higgins son. The museum is filled with listening booths with audio and video where people involved in D-Day in some fashion give short vignettes of the time. Some were by Germans. The action on D-Day was depicted with all its terrible loss of life and limb. There were no punches pulled in the descriptions. One of the poignant memoirs was by a soldier on Omaha beach who picked up 5 purple hearts in one day and survived the war to become a doctor. The last purple heart he got was from a German sniper while he was being evacuated on a stretcher. This museum is definintely worth the visit.

D-Day Museum poster	The Bad Guys at the D-Day Museum	The Good Guys at the D-Day Museum	One type of Higgins Landing Craft at the D-Day museum

On Wednesday June 26 we left New Orleans and crossed Lake Ponchatrain over the 20 + mile Huey P. Long Bridge. We were heading east to Pensacola, Fl. Upon crossing into Mississippi we stopped to visit the John C. Stennis Space Center which is a rocket engine testing facility built on 14,000 acres and surrounded by a buffer zone in excess of 100k acres. The facility is run by NASA and houses three huge rocket engine testing stands. It was built in the 60's and resulted in the relocation of four towns and about 2000 people. The tour they give you here is unbelievable. A tour bus picks you up at the Mississippi Welcome center and takes you to the Visitors center about 5 miles away. The Visitors center houses a fantastic display of space flight information and memorabilia. From the visitors center there is a bus tour of the test stand area. The public is permitted to view the tests from a fairly short distance. There was a test tentatively scheduled for today but there is no set schedule. Catch as catch can is the rule here. We spent over two hours in the visitors center and the tour of the test stands took about 30 minutes. The Stennis Visitors Center is run by NASA while the Kennedy and Houston visitors centers are run by private operators. We found the Stennis Center to be more interesting than Houston. However, the Mississippi tour is completely free while you pay a bundle at the other two. After the space center we drove to Pensacola hoping to tour the area tomorrow. We found out that there was not a motel room to be found in Pensacola because of the influx of FEMA and contractor employees still working on the ravages from the 2004 hurricanes. All the beach hotels are still closed from the damage. We drove more than 60 miles east of Pensacola before we were able to find a motel with a room. So much for those plans.

Rose the astronaut	Test Stand at the Stennis Space Center	Double Test stand at the Stennis Space Center	Display at the Stennis Space Center	A Saturn F-1 rocket. five of these were on the first stage

On Thursday January 27 we headed towards Niceville and Fort Walton Beach from our truck stop motel around Mossy Head on I-10. The objective was to drive along the Gulf of Mexico with an evening destination of Apalachicola. Motel considerations were still in our minds after last night and we  were wondering if there was to be adequate lodging in Apalachicola. After breakfast in Niceville our first stop was at a beach state park in Destin. The thermometer at the park said 36 degrees but with the sun out it really didn't feel that cold. A light jacket was sufficient. By the end of the afternoon the temperature was up around 70. This part of the gulf coast is called the emerald coast which I guess is after the color of the water. After a short walk on the beach we continued south towards Panama City. At Panama City we were looking for a waterfront restaurant but did not succeed so continued further south to Mexican Beach where we located Toucans - an excellent restaurant right on the beach with a perfect view of the water. Below Mexican Beach you really get an appreciation for the gulf coast. The beach is very close to the road and there are no high rises going up to block the views as there are in Panama City Beach where the high rises are going up everywhere you turn. Below Mexican Beach it almost feels wild. After Port St. Joe which seems to be a small town with an economic base other than tourism, we drove out to Cape San Bas to see the lighthouse. Here there is access to the beach granted by Eglin AF Base. The beach has evidence of damage to the palm trees caused by Hurricane Ivan which tore up the gulf coast and devastated Pensacola. From the lighthouse it was only a short ride to Apalachicola which is a small gulf port town still heavily involved with shrimp and oysters. Walking around town you got a feeling that you were still in the 1950's. Sure there were some small shops with arty stuff but the whole character of the town looked like it was looking back rather than forwards. I hope it never changes. In the local tourist publications, they referred to this place as the "Forgotten Coast". Real estate prices at the local realtors did not back up the forgotten theory. St. Georges Island is about 8 miles away and houses that looked like no more than bungalows were going for $3 million and up. We stayed at the local Best Western and had a dinner at Poppa Joes which advertises that "If you haven't eaten at Poppa Joe's you haven't seen Apalach". We saw Apalach.  

Beach at Destin, Flordia - the sand is pure white	Beach Patrol at Destin, Fl.	Toucans Restaurant at Mexican Beach	Handyman Special at San Bas Lighthouse
Cape San Bas Lighhouse	Trees down at Cape San Bas	Docked Shrimper at Apalachicola	Shrimper returning at Apalachicola

Friday, January 28, 2005 was a cold morning in Apalachicola. We stopped at the Chestnut St. Cemetery and then headed out to St. Georges Island which is about 10 miles from Apalach. The state park at St. Georges was open but only fools like me and a few others were wandering around here. The temperature was a balmy 46 but the wind was so harsh that staying out in it was not a kind option. We left these pursuits and drove down to Gainesville for the evening. The Comfort Inn we selected for the evening advertised "wireless internet" which there was but the only place the wireless would work was in the bathroom. To spend the evening we took in the movie "Sideways". Funny but there were quite a few "F" words and some other not for adult items in the movie.

For pictures we'll stick with mostly history.

Chestnut Street Cemetery Plaque	No two plots in this cemetery are lined up with any adjacent plot.	Beach at St. Georges - What a difference a day made	Historical marker on St. Georges

Saturday, January 29, 2005 morning was raining when we left Gainesville but when we got to Mt. Dora the sun was partially out and the temperature had climbed to the 70's. Mt. Dora is a tourist town which contains many little artsy shops. We wandered about for a while before continuing our trip to the Orlando area. The objective was to find a motel close to Disney World in the early afternoon to enable us to find a church for services on Saturday. We wandered into the Universal Studios area on International drive which at first sight seemed a mistake because of all the traffic and activity. However we settled for a Ramada. It so happened that the nearby church was the St. Nicholas Byzantine Rite Catholic Church. The ushers there went to great lengths to explain that the Byzantine Rite service has been approved by the Pope in Rome as a service fulfilling the weekly obligations. We went in and found a beautiful church with religious icons spread across the front of the church. It was an interesting service.

Close to the motel was a bungi cord slingshot device which was sending people on a wild ride into the sky. This was a very busy ride in the Universal area and we wondered how anybody could stand such a ride.

Altar front of St. Nicholas Byzantine Rite Catholic Church	Bungi ride at Universal. I had to restrain mom from going.

Sunday, January 30, 2005  We arrived at Port Orleans Riverside resort in Disney at around 9:00 AM and surprisingly checked into the room right away. After unloading we headed to the Magic Kingdom where Greg and his family and Aunt Mary Quinn were having fun waiting for our arrival. We met them in the vicinity of Space Mountain and started the adventure. We took in the People Mover, Indianapolis Speedway - Katie steered, Mom operated the pedal because Katie couldn't press all the way down, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain Log Plume, Haunted House, Stitch's Magnificent Escape, Hall of Presidents, Train ride, Thunder Mountain - Mom sat this one out, the parade, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Boats ride, Tikki Room, and Alladins' Magic Carpet ride. When this was accomplished it was time for the 7:00 PM fireworks and back to the Riverside resort for a snack dinner. A great day was had by all.

Riverside Lodge - not shabby lodgings	Greg and Joey on the speedway	Mom and Katie on the Speedway	On the people mover
Aunt Mary took the picture in front of the castle.	Mickey Mouse on his float in the parade	Captain Hook in the Parade	Characters dancing in the Parade

Monday, January 31, 2005 Today was the day for Epcot. This park is primarily designed around pavilions themed by other nations. Of course there are numerous gift shops and one of the ways they have of getting you into the shops is by giving kids the opportunity to add small designed tags to a cardboard facial mask. The mask is picked up in a gift shop for free and can be colored at small tables. All the while the parents are of course exposed to the shop. If you get all the countries marked on your mask then you qualify to get an autographed picture of Goofy. Greg's kids got about halfway thru the stores and they will complete the mission later in the week.

In the front of Epcot are several major rides and we visited Mission to Space, Spaceship Earth and TestTrack. We also took in the 3-D show "Honey I shrunk the audience" which was very entertaining. By this time it was lunch which we grabbed at the fast food restaurant. After lunch we headed into the round of countries. We started with Mexico where there is a small but entertaining boat ride which takes you past scenes and video of Mexico. Here Katie also got to dance with the band. From Mexico we went to Norway where there was a Viking Boat ride and also a I-Max type of movie in a theater. From here we went on to China with a 360 degree movie screen and movie which was fantastic. We got thru Germany before it was time to head to Japan where Greg had dinner reservations at the restaurant where they cook in front of you. It was a great and entertaining meal. We finished with the meal at around 7:00 PM and headed towards the United Kingdom and Canada pavilions. Canada had a Celtic band called "Out of Kilter" They put on a short but entertaining set mostly done in the rock style. At 9:00 PM the evening was completed with a fabulous fireworks display around the lagoon. The day went by like a flash. Tomorrow it is on to Sebastian where we can recover from the past few fabulous days.

Epcot Sphere across the lagoon	Street Band of Garbage Pail drummers	Kids with Donald Duck	Katie Dancing in Mexico
Chineese Pavilion	Kids with Snow White	Greg and Mom at Dinner	The Japaneese Chef and audience

Tuesday, February 1 through March 1,2005

On February 1 we arrived in Sebastian, Florida for our one month in the sun. Right off the bat we found out that 2005 would be our last for sure year at Capt. Butchers resort. Sometime between our booking for 2005 last year and our arrival on Feb. 1, our efficiency had been rented out for 2006 to someone else. This without a phone call to inquire if we would be interested in 2006. I expressed my displeasure and was advised that new office help had not been told to follow such a policy or that such a policy was even in effect and that what was done was done. We are on the top of the waiting list for 2006. We refused to let this spoil our time in 2005 and the month was grand. I mostly fished and relaxed while mom relaxed by crocheting, going to ceramics with friends and reading four or more books. A good month indeed.

We left on March 1 for our ride home with expected stops in Atlanta to see Mom's sister Kathy, Charlotte and Southport, NC. From Sebastian we headed to Tifton Georgia which was our scheduled stop for the day. Along the way we visited the Stephen Foster Folk Craft center in White Springs, Florida on the Suwanee River. Stephen Foster the composer of such songs as Oh, Susanna, Camptown Races, My Old Kentucky Home, Swanee River and numerous other American Classics, had never seen the Suwanee River. In fact he originally had written the famous song using the Pedee River as the title but later on edit changed the title to the Swanee River by changing the spelling of Suwanee. The Folk Craft center in White Springs had been built on the Suwanee River by a wealthy benefactor who had collected Stephen Foster memorabilia and then decided to build a museum here in White Springs on the Suwanee River. It is a nice complement to the Stephen Foster Memorial in Pittsburgh, Pa. which we had visited when our son Jeff was at the University of Pittsburgh.

Three nice Pompano - they were delicious	Bird of a feather - Pelican in Fort Pierce, Fl.	Bird of another kind - experimental	Heron in Sebastian, Florida	Pelican on the dock	My largest fish-Trout-25 inches and 4.2 lbs
Fabulous Sunrise on Feb 24	Stephen Foster Museum in White Springs, Fl.	Spring is in the air in White Springs	Carillion at Stephen Foster Craft Center	Its the Suwanee River or is it the Swanee River	Glory of Days gone by in White Springs, Florida

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Home