Change in Plans

Mayport, FL -  Naval Station - Pelican Roost R.V. Park
February 7st - Friday- 50 degrees w/ wind and rain

Remember how I had said that I was going to spend the next day on the beach, well that didn’t happen, we haven’t had a day above 60 degrees since the last post, so needless to say it has not been beach weather.  We did have one day that we were able to get in a short mile long walk.

We have been without internet, as someone moved into the lot beside us and that took away our signal, so we have both enjoyed our books and our electric heat and the view of the St. John River.

I took this while on our walk.  This is a ship that contains "reefers"  

We did get to watch a Navy ship go out with the crew on board, we had a feeling that is what was going to happen as several cars had parked across from our RV park and children had gotten out and were playing along the river and a little later we saw the ship coming down the river and the children were all waving to their daddy’s, was a nice sight.  Today we saw a Navy ship come in with their crew, that would make families happy also.

Note the Sailors standing on board

Tonight we decided to go to Safe Harbor Seafood for dinner.  This is located across the harbor from us and they procure the seafood from the ocean here.  All of the shrimp comes from Mayport.  We have eaten there before and decided tonight was the night.  We usually eat out on the deck, but decided with the misty rain and wind we would eat inside.  It was a delicious meal.  I had crab cakes and twice baked potatoes.  Lou had shrimp and a crab cake.

A view of the restaurant from the car

You can see from the pictures that it was raining when I took all of the pictures, as is the case for most of the last few days, but at least it isn't snow as they are having at home.  All of our kids have sent us pictures of the snow at home, and Krista has been concerned about our pipes freezing at home, as there has been power outages and therefore our heat tapes wouldn't function.  Steve checked everything out last night about 9:30 after the power came back on and all was in good shape.  Sure means a lot to us to know someone is keeping a check on what is happening a home.

We want to get to St. Augustine to do some sightseeing, but can't do it until the weather clears.  We did do some preliminary planning yesterday and think we will leave here and go to Disney from here for a week then to Patrick Air force Base on the east coast before coming back to the West coast to see our son and friends.

An Afternoon on the Beach - Finally

The bird with the black and orange bill is a Black Skimmer

Cactus about ready to bloom

Lou enjoying the sunshine

February 3rd - Monday - 82 degrees

We took advantage of the warmest day that we have had since we left Pennsylvania and walked to the beach.  We walked over two miles this afternoon and was it ever enjoyable.  If we had realized how warm it was going to be we would have put on shorts and cooler shirts.  Lou finally took his shirt off to enjoy soaking up the vitamin D.  I didn't even take my sand bucket, so didn't pick up any shells.  I did snap some pictures as we walked along.

This was at the entrance to the beach

Krista and Susan take note of this bird it is a White Tailed Kite Bird.  I thought that was interesting.  When we came back from our walk, it had caught something and was eating.

Razor crab shell

This is the only  beach that I have ever seen a razor crab shell and today, I didn't pick any of them up, but did take a picture of one.

Oyster shell

Tonight after dinner, I made a potato salad for tomorrow night and I plan on spending the afternoon on the beach with my new book and my sand chair and soak up the sunshine and enjoy the the sound of the ocean.

A Sunday Drive around the Base

February 3rd - Monday 73 degrees

We awoke to Sunshine this morning, which was a huge surprise, as the forecast last evening gave warnings for severe fog.  This is the first morning that we have been able to see the other shore of the St. John River and it is lovely.

We have not had any internet service here since we moved into our new site, which has been very discouraging to both of us.  I called yesterday and the tech decided it was my computer and I told him I thought he was mistaken, as I could not pick up anything on my telephone or my kindle.....  Today our neighbor left and I tried again and presto I connected, so am going to get a post done quickly before someone moves into that spot.

Yesterday we attended church on the base.  Was a lovely service which was Lutheran, and well attended.  A lovely choir that contained 15 members.  They sang Worthy is the Lamb, written by Ray Bolt, one of my favorites.  I remembered being at this chapel two years ago, as they have wonderful music and a great choir director.  The chaplain was new but very inspiring.  His message was delivered as he moved up and down the aisles of the church, without notes.  He spoke from Luke 2:22-40.  Where Jesus is presented to Simeon, at the time of of purification.

After church, we drove to another Waffle House in Atlantic Beach and as Lou likes to do we drove home a different way, and it certainly was, we used the GPS to get to the WH,  but he drove home by the "seat of his pants" it was scenic.  Can't say where we were, as we don't really know, we did get home before dark!!  We love to do that.  Then we drove around the base to see the some of the sights.

They are dredging the River and putting the dirt on the barge and taking out to the ocean

The entrance to the base

A ship in the fog

Pellican Roost R.V. Park

Bayport, FL -  Naval Station - Pelican Roost R.V. Park
February 1st - Saturday - 62 degrees w/ wind

We awoke to a fog that covered the St. John River, we could hear the horns of the ships as they came in, but couldn’t see them.  Krista called me and told me that they finally reached temperatures above freezing and the timing was perfect as they had been without power for four hours.  Had it been last week, our home would have suffered from frozen pipes.

We moved into our site that we will keep for two weeks, it is on the second row, so we don’t have a direct view of the River, but still can see the ships as they come and go.

Yesterday, we had an exciting day, we were able to view something that we have never viewed before.  We saw a submarine come in for the day and then leave later in the day.  This is a rare occurrence and we felt privileged to have witnessed it.

Yesterday we procured a post office box, so Krista can forward mail to us while we are here, so she and I reviewed all of the mail that we have received since we have left home and she will get it sent out to us.  I got to talk to Matthew to day and he has learned to say Chickadee, as they have been visiting his bird feeder.

Today, I caught up on the laundry again, this R.V. park also has a free laundry, with a lovely clean and well kept area for doing laundry.  The sun did come out for a bit this afternoon, and was able to hang some of our things out to dry, but the fog came back in and they didn’t dry well.