We arrived at Fort Clinch State Park on Amelia Island and met friends Lou and Roberta, whose campsite is right next to ours. So fun to camp with friends! We have had a great time exploring the quaint historic town of Fernandina Beach, sharing lunches and laughs and hanging around the campsite. We are sad to learn that they are selling their RV, but happy for them, as they bought a house in the mountains near Asheville, where they will spend their summers. There is a nice campground nearby, so we are already planning to visit them on our travels next year!
 |
| Historic Canopy Road leading 3 miles to our site! |
 |
| And what a site! Right on by the dunes, ocean out there in the haze. |
Happy Hour starts anytime when you are camping......it's 5:00 somewhere! 
The day of our arrival, we set up and visited with a stiff breeze coming off the ocean. We are right near the dunes, and that prevents direct view of the ocean unless you are tall enough to see over them....in which case, I need to be elevated a bit! But the sea oats are blooming, and it is lovely, and a board walk two sites down takes you out to the waters edge. Unfortunately, I was coming out of the coach, became distracted talking to everyone, and kind of missed the step and rolled my ankle over the edge. Initially I thought it was ok, as I was able to put my weight on it, and even walk, but later when we went for dinner, it was swelling and tight, and by that night it was apparent it was not. .
 |
| Lou and Roberta at Tomati's |
But we had a great dinner at a super casual place called Timati’s that smacked of seaside dining, where you place your order and take it out to picnic tables under a portico. Great seafood, and even better hushpuppies.....all worth hobbling to! Normally I would be up for a walk, but we drove up and down streets looking at the historic homes. Fifty some blocks of the town are on the historic register
 |
| The old Inn, pretty inside as well. |
Live band playing on the deck of this restaurant seemed like a great place to hang out on a nice evening. 
"The Villa Las Palmas is a magnificent structure and a remainder of the elaborate but tasteful expressions of eclecticism found in many houses of the early twentieth century. It should also be noted that the house is situated on a part of the site of the now destroyed home of David Yulee. "
 |
| You guys were out, so we took over the couch for the evening! |
Tuesday morning, not to be deterred by a painful ankle, I wanted to walk out to the water, so Clem obliged and brought my coffee, and I wrapped up with a cold compress I had, and used my walking sticks to hobble out. Of course, once I got out there, I realized I had to get back....groan!
By Tuesday I was really hobbling, and we found a drug store for an ace bandage and brace, and I used a walking stick to help me hobble around, and we went for a nice late lunch at Brett’s on the water in town. Our waiter was amazing, rambling through a very long list of specials, and how much of each he had left! I uttered a wow out loud, and a conversation ensued about the extensive training that was required to work there. Then when asked about beers, another huge list! Funny!
 |
| Clem has been on a Bloody Mary kick, and this one was complete with shrimp and a peppery rim! |
 |
| I had a great shrimp quiche, and Roberta shrimp bisque and salad, while the boys enjoyed an unusual smoked fish on bagel sandwich. |
We enjoyed an excellent lunch, then ventured across the way to the Visitors Center, located in a historic train depot, where we gathered some information from the knowledgeable woman on duty. David Levy Yulee, whose statue sits on a bench by the station, was a businessman and representative of the Florida territory, started a railroad that went from Fernandina to Cedar Key on the Gulf Coast before the Civil War, and before Mr. Flagler’s railroad, and was the first Jewish Senator in the US. A town nearby bears his name, and I always find it interesting to find out where unusual names come from.
I saw this pirate from the visitor center, and wanted to get a closer look. One of many, as there were apparently pirates in their history, yet not much said about them! ThePalace is Florida's Oldest Saloon, complete with old time saloon doors, and I had to have my photo taken with my fellow peg leg! 
I asked at the visitor center how to get to the lighthouse, said to be the oldest in Florida, maybe because it is the only one left standing from the time, but it was actually built in 1820 in Georgia, and moved to its current location on Amelia Island. I am clearly on a lighthouse streak, so I must see it! I even bought a cute lighthouse statue for the motorhome, which just happens to be an artistic one in the same colors as my new decor!
That evening we were preparing to sit outside with wine and cheese, when some folks walked by with their glasses and started to chat, as they own the same model motorhome. Lou and Roberta had run across them the last time they were here, too, and we invited them to join us, and we all enjoyed a lovely evening sitting around and swapping stories, well past dark. He was full of ideas about books to read about the history of the area, and I made notes! They actually live nearby, are big boaters, and camp here often, apparently leaving the coach at the campground, and going back and forth. Kind of a seaside cottage for them, though they said they live on the water. We don’t quite get it, but whatever floats your boat! And they are very nice people, easy to talk to, and full of stories and ideas. Tom and Trisha often go to the Keyes, and we told them about our RV club, and that we are going in November, so we may cross paths again.
No comments:
Post a Comment