Gotta Smile!

Gotta Smile!

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

An Apology To My Faithful Readers

September 5 - September 18, 2013

I have to apologize to all of you that have continued to faithfully read my blog.  It has been pretty darn boring for at least six months.  We haven't been traveling very much due to my knee surgery and family activities.  Please hang on and I guarantee that things will get more interesting once we are moving towards the islands in November.  Until then I will continue posting occasionally, with the mundane things that are happening in our lives.  I guess this a good life lesson for me -- you can be in a place that you love, living the life that you have dreamt of and still every day is not filled with exciting new experiences.  Occasionally we have to slow down and recharge.  As we spend time here in Jacksonville, I'm recharging by taking time to swim and read books again.  Just a couple of things I have neglected.  Oh, I almost forgot.  I got a MAC computer and iPhone so my brain cells are being stimulated as I try to learn this new communication system.  Weekly classes are helping, but it is a challenge.       

Thank goodness we have a car with us.
We love driving to some of the other cities
and towns that surround Jacksonville.
There are lots of interesting places that
can be seen in a day.  Of course, my location
in the car is always the passenger's seat.  Brian
 thinks that his role of 'captain' extends to all
 things motorized.   
Jacksonville has the largest population of any of the
cities in Florida and is the largest city by area in the
contiguous United States.  But, like many large cities,
it is struggling to bring the population downtown in
 the evening.  The first Wednesday of each month is
 Artwalk.  Many of the downtown restaurants, galleries
and street performers co-operate for the event and it is
working.  The night that we attended was packed.  In
case you are having a difficult time deciphering my
photo --- it is a woman twirling and balancing a big
stick that is burning on both ends.
   








Amelia Island is about a half hour north
of Jacksonville.  It has a history of living
under eight different flags.  They like to say
"the French visited, the Spanish developed,
the English named and the Americans
tamed."   At the north end of the island is
the town of Fernandina.  A 50 block area of
the downtown is on the National Historic
Places registry.  Because the town fell into
obscurity when Flagler's railroad bypassed
the island, the Victorian homes were repaired
rather than replaced.  Their heritage was
preserved.  In our travels we are always
looking for seafood shacks or dives that are
local favorites.  During a downpour we ran
into Timoti's, and had a great lunch.  As we
left we saw the sign proclaiming it one of
Coastal Living's top picks for this year.        

Daytona Beach is famous for the hard packed sand 
that allows cars to drive on it.  Brian is meticulous 
in the care of his cars.  So you understand that it 
was only out of true love that he agreed to take the 
car on the beach subjecting it to sand and salt spray.  
For me it was a walk down memory lane.  In 1966 I 
  came here with three sorority sisters for Spring Break.
Nothing more to say on that topic.

We discovered San Marco, a cute neighborhood, within
Jacksonville.  Maple Street Biscuit Company is a new
restaurant located on the main street.  The owner, Gus,
is one of those super nice guys that you just pray will be
successful.  Their specialty is delicious meals and sandwiches
on the flakiest biscuits. The last time we stopped Brian had
 just about licked his plate clean when the chef came out
with a new dessert and asked him to critique it......
A cinnamon apple biscuit, topped with whipped cream
and carmel sauce.  I don't think they could have created
something more perfect for Brian.  Of course, he loves this
picture with his mouth full.    
St Augustine remains one of our favorite neighboring
cities.  It is about 45 minutes south of Jacksonville
with a huge outlet mall on the way.  St Augustine
offers abundant history, a beautiful coastline, lots
of shopping and restaurants.  Most of it is within a
reasonable walk -- especially if the summer
temperatures dip below 90 degrees.    

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

When Will I Learn?

August 23 - September 3, 2013

I've got to stop announcing what our plans are.  My last blog talked about us leaving for Stuart the beginning of September.  Guess what?  It's not going to happen!  To those of you that don't live on a boat, you probably make plans and that is all there is to it.  You follow through on those plans.  Living on a boat offers a few more variables.  

The unexpected variable this time is unprecedented levels of bacteria polluting the east and west coasts where the Okeechobee drains.  The pollution came primarily from the Northern Everglades Agricultural Area where most of the country's sugar cane is grown.  Extremely heavy rainfall in the area caused flooding that carried sewage, manure and fertilizer into the water causing a fluorescent green and black slime of toxic algae.  It is recommended that no one touch this water.  Beaches in the adjacent areas are closed.  It just made sense for us to stay in Jacksonville where the water isn't pristine, but it isn't toxic.  Now we will probably stay here until the end of October........oops, there I did it again!  

We have started meeting more people in the marina that also live on their boats.  The last two Thursdays we were invited to barbecues and we were amazed at the stories. Many of the couples have been living on board for twelve or more years and one couple took the last twelve years to circumnavigate the world.  We feel like total newbies!  



Searching for entertainment here in Jacksonville, we found that every Saturday the Riverside Arts Market is held under a large freeway bridge.  When I read about it, the image of Billy Goat Gruff and the Troll came to my mind.  However, it is a great location.  The bridge deck offers shade that makes the 90+ degree weather comfortable.  A small amphitheater at one end has wonderful acoustics and a view of the St John's River.  Like the markets in other cities, this one was both a craft show and farmer's market with live music and food  trucks.  A little something for everyone!

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!