Patient Fisherman
We have been trying to get to Florida for a visit with Haskell and Anne for a couple of years and, at last, we made it!
Monday 2/18, we left winter behind as we drove South on I75 to Valdosta, Georgia for the first night of our trip. We had a gourmet meal consisting of cheese, crackers and beer in our motel room, crashed for the night and after a hearty breakfast, we hit the road for day 2.
Mary gets to the beach!
We continued heading South to Ocala and then headed East on Florida 40 to dodge the traffic around Jacksonville. The Tilted Kilt provided an excellent lunch of Drunken Clams, a Grilled Chicken Quesadilla and plenty of Killian’s on tap. We arrived at our destination around 2:30 and were immediately made to feel at home.
We immediately shucked winter clothing in favor of shorts, t-shirts and sandals and headed to the beach a block away! A three-mile walk prepared us for dinner at the Inlet Harbor Restaurant in Ponce Inlet. Then back to Haskell & Anne’s place to crash and burn. Day 2 successfully concluded.
Mary & Haskell go for a spin
Day 3 found us at a flea market digging through “Stuff” with no particular item in mind but finding hidden treasures is always a fun outing. Lunch was at Steak N Shake, Frisco Melts and various shakes at the original location of this chain. Haskell showed us the sites around Daytona Beach then home for another walk on the beach, dinner of pork chops n fixins at home and lots of great conversation completed the day.
Mary & I at the North Turn Restaurant
Day 4 started with a bruising game of miniature golf at Pirate’s Island in Daytona Beach. (Mini Golf IS bruising the way we play it!) Haskell took the first place earning him the right to feed us again. After lunch, Mary finally got her ride in Haskell’s Benz with the top down. Then another walk on the beach – the midpoint was the famous North Turn Restaurant where the old beach auto races made the turnaround. It was pretty warm so in the interest of proper hydration, we consumed a pitcher of Shock Top before heading home for another wonderful meal and more conversation.
Excursion Schooner in St. Augustine
Friday, we headed North to Saint Augustine – the oldest Spanish City in the country. We visited the old Spanish fort, walked the busy streets and, of course, ate a fantastic lunch of Lobster Tacos and Kobe Beef sliders at the A1A Restaurant near the drawbridge. The second story veranda was a fantastic setting leading us to linger over lunch as we indulged our people watching hobby.
We walked along the seawall to work off lunch then proceeded North to Brunswick, Georgia. Dinner at Captain Joe’s Seafood near our hotel concluded Day 5.
Beautiful old churchyard on St. Simons Island
The predicted rain held off Saturday morning so we made our planned trip to St. Simons Island. Mary had wanted to visit this island for some time so we ventured over after breakfast and found ourselves in the midst of hundreds of runners there for the annual marathon and fun runs. We were afraid our planned tour would not run but right on time, the 1930’s vintage trolley came lurching into the parking lot at the pier.
We spent a wonderfully enjoyable and informative hour and a half touring the island then, another great lunch. This time at the Blue Water Cafe where the Blackened fish is excellent and the view is wonderful.
Time to head toward home via Macon, Georgia. Our short vacation was a welcome respite from the winter in East Tennessee but, as always, we are glad to be home.
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