Florida Week 3 - Caleb's last day

Today is the day that Caleb flies back to Albany.

On the way to the airport we stopped at Blue Springs State Park 

to see the Manatees

 There were 318 Manatees in the springs this morning

 and the Manatee Festival was going on

 Tucson loves Manatees

All good things come to an end - hopefully Caleb considered his visit a 10

Florida Week 3 - Caleb Visit Day 6

Today the boys are going to Daytona Beach International Speedway to catch the BMW endurance race.

I get together with my friend Jean for lunch and some shopping.  

We are adventuresome and turn down this Scenic dirt road.  Jean figures her car is already dirty so why not? 

 It starts out mostly dirt

 But the further in you go

The more bricks there are

What's that ahead??  Well, we never got to it - I figure it was a mirage or optical illusion of  the road ahead

 The bricks are in surprisingly good condition

We find out later that this was part of the original Dixie Highway. This is one of the few extended portions of the original brick Dixie Highway left in Florida.  The highway was constructed between 1915 and 1925

We ended up on US 1 just north of Bunell, FL an hour and 15 minutes later.  A nice lunch out and some thrift shopping before I had to go to work.

Meanwhile the boys were having a good time in Daytona Beach.  They thought it was awesome.  It was very loud - not my cup of tea

 They even came home with some free gifts

Florida Week 3 - Caleb Visit Day 5 - Trainspotting

Gary's grandson Caleb is a huge Train fanatic.  He wanted to go see some train yards so we head out to Folkston GA to hopefully see some trains.  We pass the Long Horn Cattle on the way

 We make a stop in Baldwin, GA where he has heard there are many trains going through in all directions - turned out to be a bust so on to Folkston, GA

 The old Railroad Station is a Museum and Chamber of Commerce

 There is a viewing platform and finally a train comes

On the other side of the tracks are a small cabin and old Chessie Train Car that are B&Bs where you can stay overnight - or Caleb's dream home

 Where is Gary in all this?

 Getting a haircut!

 Since we find out there won't be another train for a couple of hours, we head 9 miles down the road to Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

 Caleb - watch your step!

We scout the swamp behind the closed Park office for Alligators but it is still a bit cold and none are around

 I want to drive the scenic loop but so does Caleb - since it is a 15 mph road we let him take the wheel

 We stop at the Chester Island Homestead

 Caleb getting ready to put his nose to the grindstone

 Tucson gets to stretch his legs too

Back to Folkston!

Caleb waits patiently for trains while I stroll around town and Gary rests

Back just in time for the next train

Caleb bought a train car as a souvenir but Tucson has claimed it, christening it as a Sleeper car

 When we get back to Jacksonville, we caught this Helicopter out in the water - not sure if this guy was going up or down, or if it was a rescue or a practice drill

These pics sum up Caleb's view on trains

295 miles logged in today

A stop at Ichiban Buffet for mongolian barbecue on the way home