October 24, 2015 - Perry, FL & Crawfordville, FL

It was a big relief to see that the weather cooperated because we wanted to enjoy our day at St. Marks Lighthouse.  Edith packed ham/cheese sandwiches, cookies and fruits for our lunch.

We decided not to fix breakfast, were going to get donuts from the bakery in the town.  However, the main road was closed off to traffic for few miles in preparation for the festival parade. Dang! No Donuts! :( 

No breakfast for us because there was no bakery shop or a restaurant that serves breakfast along US 98 before we reached St. Marks Lighthouse.  

Edith loves going to and spending time at St. Marks Lighthouse because there is something about this place that makes her feels so peaceful.  Erwin is not as crazy about this place as Edith but he tolerates it for her sake! He will probably like it as much as Edith if he is into photography.   

First stop after entering the park was at the Visitor Center and there were booths outside the center.  We went inside the gift store, looked around and did not see anything we would want to buy.  Edith liked the yellow T- shirt that has beautiful butterflies on the front, but it was asking $20 for it.   

Next stop was the picnic area, but we decided to go past it cause it was crowded and continued to the lighthouse area.  The road leading to the lighthouse was closed off to traffic and we had to go to the boat ramp, parked the Jeep, got on the tram that took us straight to the lighthouse.  We were lucky to be able to find a parking space.  If we had come much later we would have trouble finding one.  

After getting off the tram we went to the back of the lighthouse, walked to the “beach” area, admired the view of the lighthouse, took pictures.   

There were demonstrations/displays in front of the lighthouse station. At the first table there was a net bag containing live Monarch butterflies and a guy would take one out of the bag and let people hold it.  Next table had a sign explaining Monarch’s lifecycle and how important it is for people to plant certain flowers/plants that will attract butterflies.  At the last table it was interesting to watch how each butterfly is tagged.  Before the butterfly is tagged the ranger will explain the anatomy.  The purpose for tagging is to see how far the butterfly flies after the release. The tag remains on the wing for up to 2 months.  If you happen to see one Monarch butterfly with blue tag you will know it came from St Marks Lighthouse area.

Edith holding Monarch butterfly

Monarch Butterfly being tagged

Before the release

https://youtu.be/q1AXKB8nTfg

Not too far from the observation deck there were lots of Monarchs on the shrub.  The ranger came over with the net, let the young girl try to capture some of them.  One of the butterflies had a blue tag, so we know it did not venture too far from when it was released.  The girl did not have any luck in netting one. 

They failed to tag this one!

We took a hike around the pond back to the boat ramp parking lot.  Along the way we could see butterflies fluttering around.

Swimming/wading not advised!

Gulf of Mexico

Prickly Pear fruits ready for picking and eating.
Alas, we don't know how to prepare them!

After leaving the lighthouse area we slowly drove along the way to look for wading birds in or near the water, but there were not that many.  It is because they had already migrated somewhere else during this time of the year.  The best time to see lots of wading/shore birds will be in the spring.  There were few egrets, a couple of Great Blue Herons, some ducks.  Yes, we saw an alligator, maybe a 4-6 footer. 

For lunch we stopped at the picnic area, enjoyed the view of the scenery while lunching. When we were done we walked over to where the booths were and looked around. 

The parking area at the Visitor Center was getting so full and we were glad that we came early in the morning.

Edith wanted to check out Stone Crab Festival in St. Marks, about 6 miles west of the lighthouse.  However, the traffic was long and the parking lot was almost full. It was around 2 pm and we decided to turn around and headed back to the campground.  

Perry, FL had its own festival going on today and it was Florida Forest Festival. There were  Lumberjack demonstrations, shows, etc at Florida Forest Museum.  It was around 4 pm when we went by it, but most booths were already closed.

After a good supper we went for a walk inside the campground.  It was a very pleasant evening.  

October 23, 2015 - Micanopy, FL to Perry, FL

Another beautiful morning, so that made it so easy for us to prepare our Lil’ Home before getting on the road.

We left the campground at 10:30 am, got on US 441 N then to 63rd Ave to get on I-75 N.  We got back on US 441 after I-75 exit, then on US 27.

Anyone care to put this on your sandwiches??

We checked into KOA Campground in Perry, FL at 12:45 pm.  We were assigned to campsite #C02 (no shade). We asked for a shaded site, but the office said all of them were already reserved for the weekend.  We made a last minute reservation last night.

Looking dejected cause he didn't get a shady spot!

After the setup we went to 3 Nelsons Burger and Ice Cream Shoppe to meet Marlene for a chat.  Marlene and Edith knew each other from the time they were little, while as students at Florida Deaf School in St. Augustine, FL.  She showed up at our surprise Lil’ Home Journey Party at Gold Head Branch State Park on Oct 3, 2015, but we did not get much chance to talk. 

Erwin had two scoops of strawberry ice cream in a cup and Edith got root beer float (a big NO for her, but…).  Edith is supposed to stay away from carbonated drinks.  Too much sugar… The chat lasted about 2 hours and we enjoyed chatting about different topics.  We talked about family, schoolmates, travel and of course, health issues… 

Marlene & Edith

After bidding Marlene good-bye we went to the cemetery on Center Street.  We had been there before, but Edith wanted to check it out again.  There were few statues she would like to get pictures of, but the setting sun was behind them. She decided to come back during one early morning.

We stopped to get gas for the Jeep and while there, a semi truck carrying a truck with huge monster tires on it pulled up to fuel up too. Edith took a few pictures. 

Then on our way back to the campsite we passed Hampton Inn and immediately made a U-turn into their parking lot because Edith saw a row of Ford Model T cars.  There were about 12-15 cars mostly in the 1931 model years, most of them in excellent shape/condition. There is one model that Erwin really liked so much.  The cars will be part of the Florida Forest Festival parade that will be held tomorrow in Perry.

Erwin liked this one

At the campground Erwin went out for a walk while Edith prepared supper.  After he got back he told her that he found a good place for watching sunsets and suggested that we go there after supper.

If we had walked we would probably miss the sunset, so we went in the Jeep, parked it by the fence.  The area in the back probably belongs to Perry municipal airport.  Another couple joined in.  

It was a restful night and we played two rounds of cribbage. Edith won both rounds! 
Erwin :-(

October 22, 2015 - Micanopy, FL & Jacksonville, FL

Erwin was worried about the mailbox being full at our house and suggested that we make a day trip to Jacksonville, FL. There were a couple errands that we need to do while in town.

Erwin was still having trouble with his right side and felt he needed to get X-rays done to be sure the rib is not fractured or broken.  A visit to the walk-in clinic is on our list for this afternoon. 

After breakfast we left Micanopy, FL around 9 am.  We took the Jeep, used the backroads which was more pleasant to drive on than to go on I-10.  In Green Cove Springs, FL there is a historic cemetery that Edith wanted to check out.  Wow, what an interesting place it is. So spooky because of the atmosphere. We did not stay long to look around, but will definitely go back there when there is enough time. Edith took few pictures.

While still in Green Gove Springs Erwin wanted to stop by his former employer’s welding shop. He was curious if the business is still in operation.  When we got to the end of the street the business sign was.... GONE!  Oh, it is closed…  

After we got back to our house Edith walked to the mailbox and it was almost full.  90% of the mail was JUNK… Too many mailers from Aetna, Humana and others encouraging us to switch over to them from Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance.  

A quick walk around in the house, the garage and the workshop and everything looked the same.  There were some ripened Blood Navel oranges on the trees and Erwin took some with him.  

At Emed clinic Erwin had X-rays done on his chest and it showed no broken bones. Just a bad bruise and it will take longer to heal due to his age.  Ibuprofen and ice pack should help lessen the pain and discomfort.

Because Edith wanted to be at the Bat House in Gainesville, FL before the sunset we used I-10 then 301 to 26 instead of backroads.  

Mural on the side of a store

We arrived at the Bat House one hour before the sunset.  Edith thought the bats emerge 15-20 minutes BEFORE sunset, but when we read the sign it mentioned that the emergence happens 15-20 minutes AFTER sunset.  Oh, we were so hungry and wished had enough time to go out and get something to eat, but we did not want to lose the parking space.  We were determined to stay and wait for the emergence. Next time we will need to have snacks in the Jeep for emergency.

Lake Alice is right across the road from the Bat House, so we walked over to check it out.  “No swimming” sign was posted. Oh, there is an alligator in there.  It was not too far from the bank where we stood on.  Few ibises were on an island.

When we walked back to the Bat House more spectators joined in.  There was a dog wearing a Batman sweater, a couple wearing costumes with the guy wearing a Batman mask.  

It was at 6:58 pm when the first bat came out of the house.  The early bat gets the insect!!!  About 5 minutes later thousands and thousands of bats started to emerge.

Edith was standing by the fence along with other gawkers, but had to run under the tree because of dangerous “falling” objects (urine/feces).  

https://youtu.be/Xfq0lOLPp3w

The emergence lasted for about 15 minutes and we stayed until the last bat left.  It was such a fantastic sight to see how the bats flew around trees. They flew over the road and over Lake Alice.  It was so surreal.  We will want to come back here again. 

We were REALLY hungry and it was almost 8 pm when we got back to the campground.  Luckily for us there were leftovers and we warmed them up in the microwave.  Leftovers are great time-savers.

It was a good day and we accomplished most of the tasks when we were in Jacksonville, FL. We will have to go back on October 29th for our medical appointments.