State Parks and the Beaches

This week we didn't do too much but enjoy the beautiful warm sun of Florida. We did hit a couple of state parks and went to a couple different beaches. We took our bikes over to St. George Island to ride, they have a great bike path there and not very many people are there.

Carrabelle and St. George Island, FL

 Our view for the next 2 months.

 My first sand dollar.

 An eel (maybe, we aren't sure what it is for sure) that we saved.

 The lighthouse on St. George Island.

 Louie's Buffalo Shrimp Wrap from Paddy's Raw Oyster Bar.

 Crooked River Lighthouse that is right next to us that still works.

 World's smallest Police Station.

 House made of glass bottles.

 Lighthouse made of glass bottles.

 Veterans Memorial in Carrabelle.

 A clam, it was so heavy, he spit water out at Louie when he tried to open it.

 Starfish

 2 small hermit crabs, or it could have been one trying to change shells.

 The sunrise.

 There were jellyfish all over the St. George beach. Ewww!!

A crab in his hole.

We have been here in Carrabelle, FL (in the panhandle along the coast) since Thursday. It was pretty chilly here the first day, I don't think it ever reached 60 degrees. But since then it has warmed up nicely, even enough to get a tan. We are right across the road from the beach, and we can usually see dolphins swimming on our walks along the beach. It is really nice here and the people at the resort are very friendly and full of information. The first night we ate at Red Pirate in Eastpoint, recommended by the locals, it was not bad.

On Friday, we drove to St. George Island. This is a very nice island, but since it is off season there isn't very many people there and some of the restaurants are closed. We seen the lighthouse and drove down to the State Park that has a campground (not that nice and probably would never stay there, but the park is nice and so is the beach). We walked on the beach which has a lot of shells to see, I even found my first sand dollar, small but they aren't easy to find. We ate at Paddy's raw oyster bar, no one ate raw oysters, but Louie said his Buffalo Shrimp wrap was the best food he has ate yet.

Saturday, we drove around some of the sightseeing spots in Carrabelle, some were duds, but others where worth seeing. There are some more stuff we need to go back and check out, like the ferry to Dog Island WWII museum, and Tate's Hell State Park. Once we were done driving around we came back and just enjoyed the beautiful sunshine by the trailer.

Yesterday, we went back to St. George Island because we just wanted a relaxing day, so we just looked for shells on the beach, I found 2 more sand dollars (little but it was better then nothing). We also got up early enough to make it across the road to the beach to see the sunrise. I have to admit this is the first time I actually paid attention to the sun rising and it was absolutely amazing. I have just always lived by letting the world pass me by, but not anymore. We are enjoying everything to the fullest now.

Louie's Childhood

Today we drove to Deltona, Sanford, Daytona Beach, Ponce Inlet, and New Smyrna Beach (North). Louie wanted to check out the old houses he used to live in when he was growing up. He said they haven't changed much from 30 years ago. He began to reminisce and tell me about some of the good times he had. This is a rare occasion since his memory isn't the best anymore. Daytona Beach and Ponce Inlet were for me, I have never been to Daytona Beach and wanted to go. So since we were so close and had the dogs with us (didn't have to hurry back to take care of them), we decided to just go ahead to check it out. Well the dogs weren't allowed on Daytona Beach so we had to drive down to Ponce Inlet to a beach they are aloud on. I got to see a tortoise alongside the road on our way back to the main road. I love seeing the wildlife like it should be.

Staurday, Louie's uncle and his new wife (Gary and Nancy) came to visit with us here at the campground. We had a great visit and we went down to the cafe here at the campground for dinner. We sat outside on the patio to eat. Well, it is by the lake and everyone knows how much the mosquitoes love me. They tore me up and now I have probably 50 bites all over my legs. Let's just say I am miserable. I just want to scratch my skin off right now. But it will pass and life goes on.

Yesterday we went to the pool. It was a perfect day to relax poolside. (79 degrees with a slight breeze) We had the pool by ourselves for most of the time. Later some older ladies came down and were talking. We overheard them talking about a BBQ joint down the road. We are always up for some good food, so we went and checked it out after getting our tan on. The place was really neat and the Redneck Eggrolls are to die for. I would have never thought to put coleslaw and pork in an eggroll. But let me tell you------delicious!!! I got to talk to Brinlee (one-way conversation right now, but she was trying to figure out where my voice was coming from) on the phone and got many pictures of her. Colton had her and they went out to lunch with Jordan and my parents for Jordan's 23rd birthday. We exchanged pictures of what we were eating. Lame, but it is nice to see what everyone is doing back home.

For Thanksgiving we were lazy most of the day. I made chicken and noodles in the crock pot and bought mashed potatoes. Yummy!!! We got to Skype with everyone at my parents house for a couple of hours. Didn't get to see Brinlee, that was disappointing. But is was nice to see everyone since we weren't there. Then we put up our little Christmas tree. It works for us since we don't have much room and I don't like a lot of clutter.

 The sand hill cranes are always around and it is neat to see them everyday.

 Our Christmas tree this year.

 The only picture I have been able to get of one of the eagles. They are usually flying around or out when I don't have my phone with me.

 Some more of the birds that are always around the resort.

 Finally got to see one of the baby alligators out of the water sunning himself.

 Louie with his Uncle Gary.

 Sitting poolside.

 Backwoods BBQ

 Redneck egg rolls and I also got cheesecake egg rolls, they were just as good (1-blueberry and 1-strawberry).

 Inside the restaurant

 Jordan and Brinlee on Jordan's birthday.

 Love her little smile and her sassiness.

 Louie's childhood home in Deltona on Lake Diana.

 Louie's childhood home in Sanford on the canal.

 Daytona Beach

 Ponce Inlet beach

 Ponce Inlet beach

 Taking the dogs to the beach.

 They didn't like the beach so much. They like their comfort in the AC and laying in the grass. No sand and saltwater. The beach at Ponce Inlet Lighthouse Park.

 Ponce Inlet Lighthouse

 New Smyrna Beach (North). There were big waves today. What did you do today? We just drove on the beach and enjoyed the smell of saltwater and hearing the waves crashing. Life is good!!!

 Gunner enjoying the beach from inside the comfort of the truck.

 Duke was not too sure about it all.

 Ate at Pappa's Drive-In in New Smyrna Beach on our way home since we had the doge we couldn't go in anywhere.

 Pappa's famous burger. Nothing special about it.

Drove through Ocala National Forest today. Seen a bear on the side of the road that was probably hit by a car. That's the closest I want to be to a bear.