Although the official ride is over it doesn’t seem right without saying a few words about St Augustine, our home for two nights before we start driving north. St. Augustine is pretty much everything our trip, was not. Over commercialized, it could very easy switch places with Mackinaw Island, Wisconsin Dells, Branson, etc., etc. Our trip was an escape to the ‘real, raw’ version of Americana. One we chose. These kind of places are also an escape from reality but of a different kind and serve a clientele looking for that kind of experience. Great place for kids!!!!

There is one natural features, a 650 year old Like Oak that happens to be in our backyard . . . named the Senator!!! I took this shot at 6:30am as I was walking over for breakfast. The orange in the tree is a reflection from the sun coming up.

It happens to be in the driveway of our Howard Johnsons’ and is a stop on the city trolley ride. A trolley comes through every 15 minutes . . . .

The colors are fantastic . . . hope there is some of this in WI when we return  . . .

Our ‘senior’ group was thinking of taking a dip here. No discount for those with wrinkles!!!!

There is an  ‘old jail’ museum you can tour, for a fee of course. Outside they had a display of the  ‘convict labor’ system where, up until the 1920’s, farmer’s could ‘rent labor’ from the country and state jails to work on their farms . . . interesting that all the statues were white skinned . . .

. . . while the photos depicted all those who participated as black skinned!!!

Conditions were terrible and the convicts were often whipped and chained together at night. But it was evidently such a big deal that ‘portable prison’ cells were invented!!!!

I know several ‘Bob’s’ this might fit!!!!

A 207 foot stainless steel crucifix marking the placement of the first cross placed in Florida, 400 years ago.

Folks can donate to help with the upkeep of the grounds  . . . looks like the Gallagher’s, at least the one’s that were M.D.’s pitched in!!!!

At the original Ripley’s ‘Believe It Or Not’ there was a head sticking above a very manicured hedge . . .

It’s a replica of David. One of only two imitations carved out of a solid chunk of marble from the same quarry the original came from in Italy. Believe It, or Not!!!

The town was too big for me to walk around, so I took Connie, the Clydesdale, out of the pasture for a little gallop around town. I thought she was getting a little antsy around David, with her snorting and prancing, until I noticed this handsome guy in the corner of the parking lot. No wonder she was excited. The horse was sculpted out of chrome fenders from 1950 – 60 vintage vehicles!!!!

. . . and right next to it was a log home . . . hollowed from a tree 1,900 years old . . .

. . . sort of a ‘shotgun house’ affair with three ‘rooms’  . . . ‘Believe It, or Not’.

Finally it was on to the Castillo de San Marco, a National Park Service site. I bought my Senior Pass today. $10 and it lasts FOREVER . . . longer than I will.

Very interesting ‘walk around’. I spent several hours there . . . long enough to see the cannon firing demo put on by volunteer docents older than I am!!!!

Click above to see the action. I cut the show short . . . it was really a drawn out affair. In a real life battle, the soldiers could load and fire four cannon balls a minute!!!

The bigger the cannon the further they could hail their payload. Some went 4-5 miles . . . ‘Believe It or Not’!!!

Live, hand on demos kept all the kids entertained. The docent said the musket balls displayed are made out of pewter because the NPS is nervous about people handling lead, the original material used to form musket balls!!!

Next was a leisurely ride across the high  bridge to the first barrier island and the lighthouse. It was being painted so closed for tours.

On the way back I noticed another Ghost Bike on a city street . . . unbelievable!!!!!

. . . and I saw my first ‘Senior Lineup’ of oldsters waiting for the 5:00pm dinner special. Thing is, it was only 3:10pm. They must have a LOT of time on their hands!!!!

On the way back across the bridge I saw the point where, yesterday, Connie dipped her hooves in the Atlantic . . .

I headed down St George St. for some special shopping . . .

. . . not this place . . . special vacation wear??? . . .

. . . nor this Coat of Arm’s dealer, with a last name reference book outside the store that was about 5 inches thick. Close . . . but no cigar. There are some interesting spellings though . . .

I was heading to Kilwin’s for a praline pecan ‘Special Order’ placed by Bikin’ Bob. He said if I picked him up a pound he would up his Alzheimer donation . . . and pay for the pralines!!!!

Wonder how they make those waffle cones? Click above to see Lori in action!!!!

We went to a great Greek restaurant, first one of the trip, and all had yummy dishes. Gina surprised everyone by getting two community desserts. They didn’t last long!!!!

St Augustine does come alive at night with lots of restaurant choices and music seems to be everywhere . . . and light. This  “Magic Globe’ boutique is only open at night for the obvious reason.

One of the many small restaurant options off the St George Street . .

. . . and on the walk back, the 207 foot crucifix was even lit  . . . looks taller at night!!!

. . . even HoJo’s looked magical tonight.  Tomorrow we head north . . . and back to our individual lives!