Road Trip: Florida or BUST (Also Congaree NP)

 NY to Florida; St. Augustine, Melbourne and Congaree National Park

Feb. 9-Feb 15th 2021

Mark and I have been planning to visit our son Ben for awhile now. COVID has been the deterant. Originally we had planned to visit in October, but with the continued concerns for the disease and the thought that Mark may loose two weeks of pay, should he return and test positive. We delayed our plans and finally decided we were just going to go for it. Mark is fully vaccinated and has been for over a month. I am not identified as being able to yet receive one, but we planned to be cautious and I did get a test as required by NY state when I returned. Negative, btw. We decided to drive, thinking this would be safer then flying. So on a Tuesday afternoon we were off on an18 hour drive to the south.

Although this is not all the states we drove through, here are a few selfies in front of the state welcome signs or local areas. We drove for several hours until we were just about worn out. 

We made it to visit Pablo at south of the Border around midnight. We were tired but we had hopes of getting to our destination straight through. To tired unfortunately to keep on driving.

We found ourselves a nice spot to park in the Georgia welcome center about 2am and took a good 2-3 hour nap in the truck.

It was much needed. Before we knew it we were hitting Florida just as the world was waking up. We still had many hours before our hotel reservations would be open and I have always wanted to visit St. Augustine. Mark obliged for a visit. After some discussion around what to do we decided on a visit to the Fountain of Youth. 

There appears to be several things that you can do in here in the area, the fountain of youth might not be the ideal, but we really didn't plan on even visiting. We were recommended an entire tour of the historical area and although this may have been what I might have really enjoyed the hubs, was not interested at all. The Fountain of Youth was a suggested compromise. 

I don't think I have to explain, but  Spanish explorer Ponce De Leon apparently founded the said, Fountain of Youth.  Or maybe he was just searching for it. This tourist attraction would agree that this was the actual historical fountain that provided the legend. HOWEVER, (If you will be crushed to know the truth do not continue to read)

Ponce, (Juan) was not actually seeking to find any such fountain, but was a lead in the first European expedition into Florida. He charted the North Eastern territory and into the keys. He however was never proven to have found or claimed to be searching for the Fountain of Youth.

I'm bummed out too. Why do the history books give us such lies. The "rumor" of Ponce De Leon's search was believed to be started as a cruel means to poke fun of the man as he was seen as "old". 

The park would report that the search was the belief that indigenous people were youthful and full of life thus drinking from such springs. 

There may be no truth to the spring itself having any powers to provide such youthful vigor, but I drank as much as I could and even applied some to my saggy bags under my eyes for good measure. The guide claimed the waters were "powerful" and reported that many believed the healing of such. I decided that she was much to enthusiastic and smiled at her positive words, with serious doubt. The water itself may hold several minerals, and it did taste like it (Not bad like the "healing" springs of Saratoga) but certainly NOT a YOUTH serum. 

The park is absolutely beautiful, despite actually being a tourist trap using the "fountain" as a draw to lure simple minded people...this being me, into a visit. The grounds provided several opportunities to learn about the actual real history of the area and the natives that once resided here. Below are pictures of a burial ground that once was located on the property.

The Timucua burial grounds, as seen upon its discovery. 

There are shows provided throughout the day for visitors to enjoy, but Mark and I decided to simply walk around and enjoy on our own. Of course this prevented us from learning anything actually factual. 

Exhibits provided a lifestyle of both the Spanish settlers and the natives. The Timucua Indians resided on these lands before the Spanish carried disease that eventually killed of this tribe. There are no Timucua tribe members left. 

Here are examples of their homes. 

Owls are my favorite.

The boat house area where Spanish ships were built.

The history of St. Augustine is explained by the military mission lead by Pedro Menendez for the purpose of dealing with the French, who had been treading into these Spanish claimed territories. This was in 1565, 55 years before the Pilgrims. It is said that St. Augustine actually held the first Thanksgiving and St. Augustine the oldest new world settlement. (Another lie our history books told us.)

This nice long boardwalk allows for a stroll along the marsh. 

We did not see any alligators, turtles or manatee but we did get a view of some birds. 

The Ponce De Leon statue

These looked fun. Unfortunately I could not convince my husband to take a picture.

Although we did not take in any of the shows or learn as much history as seems to be available at the park, we certainly did enjoy this little fellow and the 30 or so Peacocks that wandered around the park. 

There are peanuts to purchase for feeding the peacocks, and it clearly states NOT to feed the squirrels, but this guy was pretty sneaky and snatched up a few the peacocks missed. 

He was so cute. In the gift store I was tempted to buy this bottle for myself, but decided I was already sexy enough. (LOL)

After our visit we only had a few more hours to get to our hotel located right on the beach outside of the Melbourne area. Ahhh...the beauty of the water and the sun and it is all ours for the next four days...and we get to see Ben.

Mark had booked us at a hotel directly on the ocean. We hit up the beach immediately upon checking in and spent most of the afternoon enjoying the waves.

After an afternoon of relaxing on the beach we met up with Ben for dinner at a nice place on the beach called Coconuts. This was my first time seeing Ben in over a year and our first time meeting his new Girlfriend. Leonora, is her name but she likes to be called Leo. Ben looks fantastic with his beard. I cannot believe how fast he is growing up. We LOVE Leo btw.

The next day Mark and I enjoyed the ocean. It was never really warm enough to take a swim, but Mark did go in for a nice dip. I never got in deeper then my thigs. It was COLD. 

Ben and Leo came to our hotel where we enjoyed the much warmer pool, had some pizza on the deck and later went for a little bowling.

Let me just interject here about HOW VERY DIFFERENT Florida is regarding COVID then NY!!!! I felt funny wearing my mask. Most people just do what they want to do. There were some places were masks were required, but for the most part, it was like living in a different WORLD. We did not wear masks to go to the beach, or at the bowling alley or at most of the activities we enjoyed while on our visit. That is not to say that we were not careful. Mark is fully vaccinated and I followed the rules of NY and promptly was tested when I returned home. NEGATIVE btw. 

After a fun filled evening of bowling the following day we enjoyed the beach as well as watching a concert. LIVE. This was the first live music I have enjoyed since before the shut down. I was sad we had to leave as we had reservations at the Chart house for dinner.

Our menu's had Ben's Birthday announcements on them.

I had the filet. It was DELISH!!!!!

Happy Birthday Ben.

Dessert was LAVA CAKE. 

Ben had actually been scheduled to work during our visit, but unfortunately he cut his hand and his injury prevented him from working, Sad he was hurt, but glad it offered us the time to spend with him. I enjoyed the sunrise on several mornings while we were there. Often reading and just admiring the view. 

WONDERFUL. I can not wait for our lives down here. (just 21/2 years from now.) Mark and I will be making Florida our home for a short while once Mark retires. I have been reading Leave only Footprints.

Our day included an activity I had never tried before. Axe throwing. 

Both Mark and Ben were pretty good. Leo was too. I was not. 

We got a nice picture to remember. Dinner out later the evening and then on to another day. 

More of the beach!!!

Our last full day we had brunch with my Uncle who lives North of Melbourne. 

It was nice to visit with family. 

Our last evening included a nice dinner and some cocktails.

It was incredible to spend some much needed time with Ben. I loved meeting Leo and catching up with how Ben's life is going. He continues school and has plans for a new job. We are both very proud. 

The next day we said our goodbyes and headed back north. Just about 5 hours to one of the Nations most unknow National Park. 

After my visit to Shenandoah National Park I have been on a quest to see all of the National Parks. This one, Congaree is perhaps the one least known National Park. 

Located in South Carolina, this flood plain is the largest old growth bottomland forest remaining in the USA. Although it resembles a swamp it is actually a flood plain. (Above they have a mosquito meter) We were lucky as the meter was at a 1. 

I was unaware that the store would be closed as it was Presidents day, but there were self led trail maps. Unfortunately several of the trails were closed due to flooding. We decided on the boardwalk trail. 

We took the self guided tour and looked at the beauty of this unique natural wonder.

Apparently a good thing to also do when visiting is take a kayak. 

We learned about the loblolly Pine. These beasts of a tree span all over the marsh. They do get incredibly large.

Everything has a purpose. The floods help the roots and the greens to grow.  Lichen, moss and fungi cover the plant life.

Beautiful fern grow under the trees providing a POP of green. 

I just loved the look of the moss growing in between the tree's bark.

We went as far as we could before we had to end our walking tour....FLOODED in both directions.

These woods have been used for years. Long before becoming a National park, it was home to the Native Americans, used as part of the underground railroad where slaves would hide in their pursuit of freedom and (as shown below) where bootleggers would make and hide their moonshine. (pictured is a still left over from prohibition.)

It is also home for wildlife. We only saw this squirrel, but there are known to be deer, coyotes, bobcats, turkey, otter, opossums and armadillos. As well as alligators, snakes, turtles and a ton of insects.

CLOSED!!!!! I was a little disappointed. We returned to the main center just as it began to rain. I had hoped to go into the visitors center and learn more, bummer. 

Despite the flooded trails, and the lack of Park rangers to give us more insight on the park. We enjoyed the day. Soon we were back on the road towards home. 

We had planned to also visit the Nation's newest National Park; New Valley Gorge, but the weather forecast was for SNOW SNOW SNOW. This was the week when Texas had their terrible ICE storm. Rather then take the chance of getting stuck in a snow storm on our way home, we ended our trip a day earlier and went straight home from Virginia. The drive was beautiful, and we must come back ASAP. It is a good thing we did go home when we did the entire area we had been driving in was hit pretty hard.  Although it was not one of those wild sight seeing vacations it was simply enjoyable to spend time with family. This COVID curse has hit us all so hard. Missing family has been the hardest. I am grateful that we were able to spend some time with important people in our lives and see some sights in between. TTFN