From The Treasure Valley to the Treasure Coast

December 2 – December 14, 2014

The adventure continued along the Florida coast and we planned to spend the next days in Fort Pierce. We had a date set for the Florida Keys so this was a good stopping point and place to hang out for a short period of time.

Fort Pierce is named after the army installation Fort Pierce built in the area in 1838 during the Second Seminole War. The location is also a prime spot for fishing many of the Atlantic Intracoastal waters and ocean. You can guess who was excited by this fact can’t you?

This part of the Florida coast is known as the Treasure Coast. In particular Fort Pierce and the close towns just north and south of it are somewhat a hidden jewel of Florida. The coast is pretty, beaches gorgeous, and the crowds don’t really exist. The weather is just a few degrees cooler than Miami so you get to have the warmth, water, and atmosphere here.

They have nice park with a lot of beach and fishing pier. We wandered around one afternoon and then stopped at a local restaurant for a cold beer. The nice thing about this area is plenty of parking and it is free. I think this attracts quite a few people from the Orlando area for vacation.

Not Quite A Race

Resting

 Sailing

We enjoyed being close to the water and the RV park was close to a dirt road so Izzy could get her runs in every day. She has gained 10 pounds this past year so she doesn’t quite run as fast! Sounds like us! Well we can’t run at all so she is ahead of us.

 

We headed out fishing one evening in the Intracoastal Waterway and had success catching some mangrove snapper and I even caught a sheephead. Both are great eating and we caught enough for five dinners.

Big Fish Tory

Mangrove Snapper Yum!

We enjoyed the area and will come back next winter for a few months as this just might the place we establish as our winter spot. So maybe a year from now we might be telling you about the spare bedroom for you to come hang out with us too!

 

Our next spot is Marathon Florida. More fun in the sun!

Do You Know The Way To Diagon Alley?

November 17 – December 1, 2014

We left the wonderful city of Charleston and took a bit of time to get to our next destination in Florida. We spent a couple of nights near Savannah and then Jacksonville Florida.

Steve wanted to stop for a short time in Jacksonville so we could check out a small boat called the Solo Skiff. We made an appointment to meet with the manufacturer. He is a one person shop and full of energy and the boat is really neat. Something to put on a future Christmas list!

We arrived at our temporary home away from home on Friday November 21. We found a great RV park which gave Izzy and me many paths to take our walks. The first morning the spot next to us had a couple of deer eating their breakfast.

Deer Saying Hello

The neighbor (Scott) on the other side greeted us when we arrived and gave us some tips on things to do in the area. We spent some time with him and enjoyed his company. Izzy liked hanging out with Scott too.

You’re probably still trying to figure out where we are so I won’t make you suffer any longer. We are in Titusville which is about 30 miles from Orlando on the coast. We decided since we were working our way back down the coast we would take a day and go check out Universal Studios especially since we saw they had added Diagon Alley and Hogwarts. Who could resist right?

 

We discovered it was a bit more crowded since it was the Monday before Thanksgiving when we went, but it could have been worse! We weren’t quite sure what we would encounter so wandered through both parks. One park is Universal Studios and the other one is Islands of Adventure.

We worked our way back to Diagon Alley and were taken into the world of Harry Potter. It was pretty amazing wandering around there and you would have thought you were really in the story if it weren’t for all the tourists!

 



 

We took the Hogwarts Train over to Hogwarts and the Islands of Adventure. You can take several rides that are all Harry Potter influenced but looking at how they twist, turn, and take you upside down I elected to not adventure to that point. Steve decided he didn’t want to stand in lines that much so we enjoyed them from the ground.

King's Cross Station London

Hogwarts Train Heading to Hogwarts

Hogwarts

Guarding the Castle



You go into the world of Jurassic Park and can even see dinosaurs being born. It is a great spot for the kids.

 

We enjoyed a nice lunch in the Mythos Restaurant which is on the lost continent and you just might run into Sinbad near there too.

Inside Mythos Restaurant



As we were heading out we just happened to find Scooby Doo and the gang. Well except for Freddy so we took advantage and snapped a picture. We asked if I could take my picture with them but they were done for the day. Bummer, I guess they didn’t know I was probably the biggest fan Scooby ever had.

Steve gave me a new camera for my birthday so we decided to check out the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge one of the days it wasn’t raining so I could experiment with the camera.

The day was perfect for taking their Black Point Wildlife Drive. We spotted a few different species of birds and a couple of alligators even hanging out. Izzy also enjoyed the day since part of the road provided her with a place to get a little exercise. There were also some great places to hike so we could get some exercise ourselves. Here are some of the pictures we took during our wandering through the refuge.

 Above the Crowd

 Being Patient

Color Added

 Diverse Vegetation

 Enjoying the Chase

 Getting a little Exercise

 Hiding Out

 In Flight

 Pretty Don't You Think?

 Reflecting

 Relaxing

 Sneak Peak

 Swimming Along

 Walking

Trying to Hide



We found a park that had enough room for Izzy to enjoy some floppy time. The first time Steve took her here most of it was covered with standing water from all of the thunderstorms that had hit the area.



We were going to leave this area the day after Thanksgiving but our refrigerator decided it was done keeping food cold. This presented a nice challenge and the need to stay put for a few more days. If we had a RV service place fix it we would be without one for almost two weeks. So Steve decided if they can get the part for us we can do it ourselves. The part itself is the entire cooling unit that goes on the back of the refrigerator so you have to take it out to work on it. Well you have to put it back too which was a challenge for me since I am not quite as strong as Steve. We figured out how to get it back in and now we have cold food once again!

 



 

We hit the road on Tuesday December 2 but before we pulled out Scott took a picture of us. Also during our drive Izzy asked where are we going now and I replied with a treat. Pretty smart of me don’t you think??

 

Hey Where Are We Headed? 

Thanks Mom That Was Tasty

 



SIT will land in Fort Pierce Florida for about two weeks so next time you hear from us we will let you know how things went so stick around for more.

 

Learning the Charleston

November 10 – 16, 2014

Heading along the coast brought us to the Charleston South Carolina area so we decided to spend a week.

We didn’t learn to do the Charleston but it was named after this city. It became popular in the United States in 1923 but Charleston city was founded in 1670 as Charles Towne in honor of King Charles II of England. In 1783 the name was changed to Charleston.

It became quite the area for trade for the southern colonies. Charleston was also the wealthiest and largest city south of Philadelphia. It still has some pretty wealthy residents.

We took a tour via carriage to get a feel for the history and the wonderful architecture. Our tour guide was fun to listen to and pointed out the buildings that have been around since the late 1700s.

Our Transportation

Classic

Vintage Beautiful

One Old Door 

Preserving History

The Sword Gate

 

We toured the harbor as well and got to see Fort Sumter, Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, and even the Yorktown. Not sure if I mentioned in earlier writings but Fort Sumter is pretty much known as the place the Civil War began.

Mount Pleasant Beach House

 

Going for Bait Fish

Heading off to Sail

 

South Carolina had seceded from the Union, yet Union forces still occupied the fort. The South wanted the Union to vacate and they refused, so on April 12, 1861, South Carolina Confederate troops from Fort Johnson fired on the fort and as they say “the rest is history”.

 

Fort Sumter

Patriots Point is the home of the USS Yorktown (CVS-10) which now serves as a museum. The ship was named after the Battle of Yorktown of the American Revolutionary War. Building began on December 1, 1941 and launched in January 1943.

 

 

We enjoyed the harbor tour and as we were heading back to the dock you get to go under the bridge that takes you over the Ashley River. We crossed this bridge to get to the RV park we were staying at and were pretty amazed at its design.

The Stick Farm

Bridging the Gap

 

We enjoyed checking out some of the local places folks told us about one of which was Folly Beach on James Island. We were there on Veteran’s Day so I am guessing it was a bit busier than it normally would have been. Dogs are not allowed on the beach during the summer so Izzy lucked out and enjoyed running around and chasing sticks.

 

 

 

The other place we explored was the Caw Caw interpretive center.  

This area was once thriving with rice fields. African slaves brought knowledge of rice cultivation which plantation owners cultivated and developed.  

 

Cypress in the Swamp

Enjoying the Day

Nature's Art

Rice Field Remnants

Still Water

As you hike on the trails you encounter tea plants which were once planted here in the early 1900s to try and become a commercial tea growing area. It didn’t last long and today the only commercially grown tea in the United States is grown on Wadmalaw Island South Carolina.  

 Tea Anyone?

We were also told about an oak that was close to where we were staying that you must see. We found the Angel Oak Park and walked around. We have to admit that it is one big Southern live oak tree. Not to mention it is estimated to be at least 400 and possibly 1400 years old.

 

A bit gnarly

Expansive



 

We did manage to find a nice golf course to get some more exercise while we were in the area. The course was beautiful and our golf wasn’t horrible!

Now If I Can Keep it Straight

Putting Hopeful

 

Izzy had fun too since there was a nature trail at the RV park so she could get out and sniff to her heart’s content. It is a good thing she didn’t want to go swimming though as I think these ducks probably would have chased her out of their ponds.

 

 

We will hit the road from here and work our way down to Florida so check back in a week or so and find out what else we are up to. Until then TTFN!