Florida - Week 3

December 15 - 20

We return to Princess Palace to see the Eagles nest

One is in the Nest and they should be laying eggs soon

 It was overcasts so I couldn't get a real clear shot.  We went back a week later on a Sunny day and I was saddened that the nest had blown down completely in a windstorm a few days before.  I was lamenting about it when Gary said it was God's will and nature.  I said I could still not be happy about it when I looked up and one of the Eagles flew by.

We drove by a herd of Long Horn Cattle

 Back to Crescent Beach so Tucson can run

 and cool off in the ocean

 It's a beautiful day so people are out on horseback and bike

I am luck to get a quick shot of an Osprey with dinner before he disappears down the beach

 Shrimp trawlers are busy because the season ends the end of December

We check out the River to Sea Preserve

A nice boardwalk

 and interesting rock formations on the beach

 an Egret is fishing in the surf

and Tucson scopes out potential playmates

We finally decided to try Neds for lunch
as it was highly recommended by our boss.  It was excellent!
Gary had Liver and Onions and I had the Seafood Etouffe it was chock full of shrimp, scallops, fish and mussel and andouille sausage.

 The wind was blowing really hard

 and blew in Gary's daughter and son-in-law.
We met up with them later and went into
St. Augustine to see the lights.

 We went out to dinner at the Sunset Grill

 Great company and great food!

Florida - Week 2

After running some errands we take a drive into St. Augustine for lunch.  Afterwards we stop at Fort Castilla de San Marcos.

We check with the Guards and Tucson is allowed to walk the outside of the fort with us.

They are just about ready to fire the cannon so we head over there.

Gary covered Tucson's ears

 A really nice view of the water.

The place was hopping with school kids so we will be back another time to tour the inside of the fort. 

We continue on to Crescent Beach where I read dogs are allowed.  Turns out the truck is allowed too!

 Tucson loves it

This will definitely be our go to beach walk with Tucson!

We are only a 10-15 minute drive from Princess Palace Preserve.  We went there in the Spring with our friends Jean and Jim and  toured the Lodge.  There are hiking trails there so we head over to check them out.

The Lodge

We wander around the place

  

Did a double take thinking there was an alligator loose on the lawns - was just a fallen limb

 They put in 3 cabins this year.

 2 Bedroom and sleeps 6

 Great front porches

 and a nice kitchen

 Pretty reasonable at $135 a night

We will be back to check out the Eagle Nest view.  I just read online that they came back to roost this.

Florida - Fort Matanzas

We go to Fort Matanzas today.  There is a free ferry that goes over to the Fort every half hour.

Dogs not allowed on the ferry but they do have a nice 1 mile boardwalk where we can take him for a stroll.

Time to go to the boarding area

The ferry is coming back in

Almost there

A juvenile White Ibis is waiting for us on the dock

It's a fairly small fort.  Built in 1740 to control the Matanzas Inlet - the southern entry to St. Augustine.  It is the only Spanish fortified watchtower in the Continental USA, 

I can't pass up the ladder to the top

The views are amazing

In 1565 Spain crushed an attempt by France to Control Florida by slaughtering a a French Colony 40 miles north of here near Jacksonville.  The inlet then became known as Matanzas - Spanish for slaughter

Cozy quarters

This Snowy Egret is having a bad hair day

This Great Egret caught dinner

This handsome Osprey was in a tree by the shore when we returned to the Park Office

A beautiful day to tour the Fort.