Thursday, November 20, 2014

Visitor Center

Hi All,

We had our last training day, tomorrow we start for real. We thought you might enjoy a brief tour of our Visitor Center.

The Timucuan Preserve is about 46,000 acres, almost all wetlands.

One section of the VC illustrates the rich diversity of plants and animals in this estuary.

The Timucuan Indians lived here for thousands of years before the French arrived. This mural depicts a Timucuan village along the river.


This "Owl Totem" dates to around 1350 CE. It is the oldest surviving totem in North America.

In 1562, French captain Jean Ribault explored the coast from Canaveral to So. Carolina. He stopped at the mouth of the St Johns River and erected a monument.

French colonists arrived two years later as depicted in these engravings by Jacques Le Moyne.

The local Timucuan greeted the returning Frenchmen at the monument.

A triangular fort was built along the river.

Back in Spain, King Phillip II didn't like the French in his "New Spain" so he sent Captain Pedro Menendez pictured below, to get rid of them.
In 1565 Menendez wiped out the French colony and renamed the fort San Mateo.

Next week there will be a test ;-).

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Fort Caroline

Hi All,

We have spent the past few days learning about Ft Caroline and the brief French settlement in Florida.

In 1964 the park service built a 1/4 scale replica of what the fort was believed to look like. Here is the entrance gate.


The ramparts overlooked the mouth of the St Johns River.

This canon guarded the entrance gate.

Today we got to witness a wonderful National Park outreach initiative. Using a "Skype" like application on an iPad, Ranger Katrina gave a classroom of students miles away a virtual tour of our Visitor Center

and then Ranger Craig(also our boss) demonstrated loading

and firing a matchlock musket.

Lest you think this place is all cultural history, this gopher tortoise crawled up in front of the VC.
To paraphrase Little Orphan Annie, "We think we're gonna like it here!"

Love.

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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Saturday, November 15, 2014

Our New Home

Hi All,

In 1562, French explorer Jean Ribault came ashore along the mouth of the St Johns River in what is now Jacksonville, FL.

There he erected a stone column dedicating this land to the King of France. This is a recreation of that monument with the river beyond.


In 1564 the French returned to build a small fort and settlement they called "La Caroline". This National Memorial includes a reconstruction of that fort.

In 2014, the Greenbaums arrived to occupy the Fort Caroline Volunteer Village.
We will be here through the end of March. Stop by if you are in the neighborhood.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Thursday, November 13, 2014

Hunting Island State Park

Hi All,

Our last stop before Jacksonville. It it a beautiful state park with miles of hiking trails and beaches.

The lighthouse is open for visitors.


About 160 steps to the top but every 19 steps there is a landing with an informative sign.

A stunning view across the maritime forest to the ocean.

After lunch we drove to a seafood store to buy shrimp. Guess it was fresh shrimp; there were two shrimp boats tied up behind the store.
We will conclude our trip with a campfire tonight then tomorrow we drive to FL.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Middleton Place

Hi All,

Today we visited the site of a former rice plantation. The Middleton family was very politically active including signers of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the SC Civil War Articles of Secession and SC Governor.

The gardens are beautiful.


This statue is titled "Winter"

The main house. It had been larger but the Union Army burned some of it down on 1865.

All of the grounds were beautifully manicured.

In the shop area, a volunteer describes the use of molding planes to make tongue and groove board.

The coach house has several beautiful carriages.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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Charleston

Hi All,

Next on our journey south was Charleston, SC. We stopped to visit Jim & Marilyn Rosenthal who are volunteering here. They work at three sites; Charles Pickney NHP, Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter.

They took us to Fort Moultrie Monday afternoon.

This coastal fortification overlooking the mouth of Charleston Harbor was first built to defend against the British during the Revolutionary War. It was expanded and continued in use intermittently through WWII.


We then walked to the beach and watched the Carnival Fantasy sail away.

Soon after we watched a beautiful sunset.



Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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Saturday, November 8, 2014

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

Hi All,

Friday we drove a short 75 miles from Delaware to Chincoteague, VA. In the afternoon we visited the refuge and got on a wildlife bus tour that went along the 7.5 mile service road into the refuge.

We were delighted to see some of the famous Chincoteague ponies in a nearby field.


It was really neat when one of them stood alongside the road as we drove past!

Today we returned to the refuge to hike the 3.5 mile wildlife loop. Lots of different birds. An immature bald eagle flew overhead and the ponds and mudflat held many different ducks, shorebirds and wading birds.  Here Sandy is photographing a great egret.

Captain Zack's is a great seafood take-out place. We got one of their seafood platters that fed us both very well for two nights .
Tomorrow we begin a two day drive to Charleston, SC.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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Friday, November 7, 2014

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Hi All,

Wednesday we spent most of the day at Prime Hook.

The great blue heron came out to greet us.
We saw about 20 different bird species as we hiked the many trails through the refuge. These birds were too far away to photograph so we settled for colorful berries and leaves.






Late afternoon we drove to the boardwalk at Rehoboth Beach. It is pretty quiet this time of year but there are enough people buying food to keep the grackles and gulls watching for a handout.
Next we are off to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge 80 miles down the coast in VA.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Heading South

Hi All,

We said good bye to family and friends on Saturday and Sunday. Monday morning we headed south on the way to volunteer in Jacksonville.

There are no campgrounds open this late in the season so our first stop was a Walmart in northern Delaware. Yesterday we visited Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge 


Thousands of snow geese as well as shorebirds galore.
Today we will visit Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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