Final Days in Florida

6^th March – Palm Bay

A chance conversation with a fellow camper last night led to us accepting an offer for our inflatable kayak.  So after we ‘did the deal’ we set off from Fiesta Key driving the 280 miles up to Palm Bay – mostly along I-95 and passing Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

7^th – 11^th Mar – Long Point City Park

 Using this campground as our base we visited our friends, Maggie and Grant.  We had stayed with them back in the beginning of December.  Paul spent some time fishing from both the campground on the Indian River and also from nearby Sebastian Inlet state park where Alison had a long walk along the seashore. It was sunny and the beach was almost empty with a few surfers having fun in the waves.

Our campsite was on an Island but there was also another smaller island accessed via a bridge.  Walking around one day we came across a tortoise.

One day we had some excitement when a Racoon was spotted wandering around under RVs; very unusual to see one like this in daylight so near people.  Close up it looked very skinny, possibly   So the Ranger was alerted, caught it, and put into a cage – it was not normal behaviour for a Racoon not to put up a fight.  

old or ill?

12^th Mar – McLarty Treasure Museum

We visited the McLarty Treasure Museum which had an excellent video explaining all about the 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet and the quantity of Treasure subsequently found. 

Prior to 1715 gold and silver mined in the New World was being accumulated by Spain because it was unsafe for ships to sail across the Atlantic due to the seven year war. At the end of July 1715 11 ships laden with all the treasure set sail heading for Spain. A hurricane decimated the fleet just off-shore and, although 1000 people survived, many were drowned and only one ship ran aground.  The beach in August was a harsh refuge; fresh water, food and shade were sparse.  People would bury themselves in the sand at night to avoid the biting insects.  Eventually help came from St Augustine further north.

However, only some of the Treasure was recovered during the 18^th century, leaving a lot still beneath the waves.  In the 1950s Kip Wagner discovered where the survivor/salvager encampment had been – his dog found a make-shift fresh water well.  During the 1960s Treasure worth millions has been brought up from this region of the coast; silver pieces of eight, gold doubloons, gold bars, pearls, jewellery etc.  Every year something is discovered from the beach – it made us want to get a metal detector and start beach combing ……

Barrier Island Sanctuary

We then visited the Barrier Island Sanctuary which highlighted the importance of the area as a nesting site for Sea Turtles.  Three species nest here each year; Green, Logger Head and Leatherbacks. 

Whilst hiking the nature trail we surprised a family of Racoons.  The mother and one youngster fled but the other youngster climbed up a tree.  It then realised that was a mistake as we were stood almost eye to eye.  We watched as it turned round on the tree and jumped back down on the ground before  

running off in the opposite direction of its mother.

One of the weirdest trees we have come across is the “Strangler Fig”. It starts life similar to Mistletoe. As it grows on the host tree it throws down roots

circling the tree and eventually rooting itself. Apparently it does not harm the host tree.

Just as we were leaving the camp site Paul spotted this Woodpecker making its nest in the side of the rangers hut, the sound must have been deafening inside.

 

 

13^th Mar – Travel to St Augustine

We travelled further up the I-95 to St Augustine where we were hoping to meet up with friends, Sue and Ian, whom we visited in February.  However due to illness they weren’t able to make it.  After setting up came we popped into the city for a visit in the late afternoon and were delighted to find such a quaint historical town with lots going on.  The Spanish and British influence over the years was evident.

14^th Mar – St Patrick’s Day Parade

The streets were lined for the annual St Augustine’s St Patrick’s Day parade which started at 10am.  The whole weekend was designated as a Celtic Festival covering all things Irish and Scottish; including Star War Storm Troopers in Kilts ………

 

After the parade we toured the fort; the Castillo de San Marcos.  Built at the end of the 17^th Century this fort was for many years the northernmost outpost of Spain’s New World Empire.  The fort’s use, over the centuries, reflected the history of Florida as the state was passed from Spain to Britain to Spain and then the USA.

After lunch in the Prince of Wales pub (including sticky toffee pudding and custard) we spent some time at the Celtic Festival grounds watching some Irish dancing and tossing the Caber.