Before getting on Interstate 95, the plan was to make a quick stop by the Castillo de San Marcos which is the oldest masonary fort in the United States before crossing over the Bridge of Lions to make a quick stop at Saint Augustine Light before going over to the hotel where Sandy and Dick were staying so that we could at least have a quick get-together while we were both in the same area. Whew!
That plan changed a bit though when I decided that it was already too hot to spend any amount of time at the Castillo even for quick pictures. I'd driven past it several times the day before while Jamie and I were checking out the city and I had noticed then that there was nary a scrap of shade anywhere around the 1672 Spanish structure. As much as I would have liked to do some exploration, common sense told me that it would be better to wait until perhaps another time when it wasn't hot enough to cause a person to break out into a sweat just getting out of the car!


As much as I would have liked to try to climb the stairs to the top of the lighthouse and check out what was sure to be a beautiful view, I decided that giving myself a heart attack probably wasn't the best way to start the day and would really put a kibosh on the rest of the trip. Instead I settled for walking around the grounds and taking a few pictures from ground level.
I even got Jamie to branch out a little and pose for a picture with one of the oaks that surrounds the lighthouse; I suppose I should have warned you about the bright colors first, though, so you could have grabbed some sunglasses!
Following pictures at the lighthouse, we then continued down the highway in search of Sandy's hotel where upon our arrival I was greeted with a big hug by an extremely nice lady - the blog mistress of The Traveling Bells. Before we retired to the lobby to sit and talk I was given introductions to some of the other members of Sandy's family who were heading down to the pool to spend some time in the cool water. Dick was going to stretch out on the bed in the hotel room and try to sneak in a nap while everyone else was occupied at the pool. That sure sounded like a good idea to me!
Sandy and Dick are both pilots as well as travelers of the open road in their Moho and they were going to be flying back up to their part of Georgia on Tuesday to get ready for a drive westward. It was just real fortuitous that they were in Saint Augustine attending a family function at the same time Jamie and I were there and even though we only had time for a brief get-together, there was no way that I was going to be in the same place at the same time and not meet Sandy and Dick!
Sitting and talking with Sandy was like sitting and talking with an old friend that I'd met before and way too soon it was time for Jamie and I to head south if we were going to make it down to West Palm Beach in time for dinner with Miss Bee and Sarge Charlie. Before going, though, Sandy got her hubby Dick to take a picture of the two of us. Even though she said it was way too hot for her, too, I think Sandy looked a lot more cool, calm, and collected than I did!
Following promises to get together again for a longer meeting, Sandy gave me another big hug, waved good-bye to Jamie who had retreated to the rental car with my iPhone while we adults were talking, and then we continued our journey south towards West Palm Beach where we were going to meet more blogging royalty in the land of royal palms! First though, we had about four hours to drive ...
I love that photo of Jamie lounging on the tree limb! I'm glad to see she found a neon shirt and flip flops to match her neon jeans!
ReplyDeleteI found Sandy the same way when we met for breakfast when they were driving through Valdosta on their way south; it was just like getting together with a dear old friend. Dick had parked the moho, with Missy on board, in the parking lot behind the restaurant and we all sat gabbing away through breakfast. Unfortunately, none of us thought to take a single photo!
Which reminds me. I need to be sure and pick up more memory cards before the cruise!
Big hugs xo
sandy is always sweet, smiling, and cool! i just love her!
ReplyDeletesmiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxxo
I quite like the ethereal photo of the lighthouse.
ReplyDeleteLove Jamie's colour scheme - I love neon colours. :)
I lived in Florida for about 7 years and always LOVED going to St Augustine. Beautiful and historical. Love the lighthouse pic(esp the blurry one) and the pic of Jaimie! It's so great that you are having the opportunity to meet all of these bloggers!
ReplyDeleteI love these stories of your trip...
Aww, this post brought back such good memories of our too BRIEF time together (love Jamie in the tree photo!). And then to read the comments, gosh, I have tears in my eyes. Y'all are sooo sweet. Can't that BC4 cruise get here soon?! I need real hugs from y'all! Get prepared!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBig hugs, my friend...
Awww...what a great post Linda. You know Sandy said she was going to hug the stuffing out of Zane and I. I can't wait to meet her and everyone else. It's going to be grand.
ReplyDeleteHave a terrific day. Big hug. :)
I love Jamie's outfit by the way. Color is good. :)
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there is a way to market your method of picture taking re: the lighthouse with ghosts?
ReplyDeletez
Cool trip you took
ReplyDeleteA great picture of Jaimne. She is so colourful!
ReplyDeleteLove Jamie's neon green pants with the bright blue top and flip flops. Cute post in the tree limbs.
ReplyDeleteCan you even count the number of blog friends you have met, Linda? There must be about 25 by now!
You go, girl!
I have a few days off starting tomorrow and I hope to do some catch-up blog reading. ;-)
* I meant cute pose in the tree limbs..I have blog posts on my mind I guess.
ReplyDeleteOne of these days Linda, we have to meet up. I remember the lighthouse. I was pregnant during my visit and I didn't make the steps either, but the grounds are lovely.
ReplyDeleteI see that you're going on a cruise. We're off on July 18th on the Carnival Legend. Nice to see that you're spending time with Jamie even if it is in hot, humid Florida.
Oh my...fantastic photos! Jamie fits into the tropical climate with her beautiful colors!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you do as well in the heat as I do. It was 106 here the other day, but "it's a dry heat." I want to bash who ever started that one! Hot is hot!
It's Sandy!
ReplyDeleteThe crooked tree shot is precious.