Up at 7:25 am - Sunny 70 degrees
Biked to the shelter at the river to look for white squirrels. Found only two.
Biked on the sandy loop trail
After breakfast we left Ochlockonee Campground around 10, turned left on 319/98.
Stopped at Carabelle to check out bottle house. Went in to look around. Here are pictures
As we were ready to leave the property the owner/sculptor, Leon, who built sculptures with glass bottles, called us back. I thought I was in trouble for taking pictures without permission ;-)
He just wanted to talk with passerbys, so we stayed for a bit. He told us that he had back surgery last February. He broke his back in several places due to lifting so many bags of concrete mix, He is not going to build any tall sculptures again, but will build as high as his height. Plans to build layered boxes and impossible traingles. As I was about ready to leave EH saw blue jay coming to the feeder, so I went back in the bottle property, took pics of Scarlet Tanager, a new lifer me.
Stopped by the world's smallest police station
Went to the marina to check out sculptures, pelicans on docks and in water.
Stopped by to check Crooked River Lighthouse, took several pics
Continued on 319/98 to Apalachicola. Crossed the bridge to town. Found parking spot one block east of main street. Was going to Tamara's Cafe, but we decided to try a different restaurant, so walked across the street to The Grill. I had 1/2 lb hamburger with fries and EH had 1/2 cheesburger with fries. The hamburgers was very delicious.
While in town we decided to check out the boat ramp and fishing pier to see if we can park there over night, but we decided to call St. joe's Peninsula State Park for availability. They had avialable sites, but it is on first come first serve basis, so we hurriedly went over there. We were planning on spending the rest of the day exploring Apalachicola, but we can always come back another time. Got on Route 30 toward Cape San Blas/St. Joe's Peninsula State Park from RT 98. Checked in at the ranger station, had several sites to choose from, so we picked site #98 (handicapped site) that is close to the beach and shower facility. Asked about bald eagles, they said there is a nest in wilderness refugee but didn't know if it was active.
Saw lots of Indigo Buntings near the restroom.
Biked to the Wilderness Refuge. While we were locking our bikes to the post a bald eagle flew over. Hiked less than a mile before we saw the nest in a tall pine tree. Hard to tell if it is active. Waited for 10 mins hoping that the eagle will come to the nest, but no luck. So we hiked back to our bikes.
For supper. I fixed chicken thighs and Knorr pasta side. While cooking EH chatted with a lady, named Joanne from Keystone Heights for a good long while. While chicken were being pan fried I went out to meet her. Turned out that her husband passed away of Alzheimer's recently, so she is traveling by herself for 6 months. She said she was 17 years old when she got married and bore 9 children. She admitted that it is bittersweet and she is visiting places that she and her husband loved to go to in the past.. She drives a 24' foot Class B Thor alone! Brave soul!
It was ao nice dnining outside with a cup of Scyamore wine (Norwood Restaurant's speciality)
Walked to the beach, brought chairs. Waited for the sunset. Took several pics. EH was reading ebook while I was busy taking picures. It was very breezy, little chilly, but bearable.
While. I was busy taking sunset pictures EH was reading an ebook written by Louis L'Amour called 'The Walking Drum'.
It is 9:30 pm and I think I am ready for bed soon. Hope I can get up early tomorrow morn for sunrise pics. Nope, she slept in!
Edith & Erwin (EH)
