Sunday, January 31, 2016

Eaglet Shows His Head

Hi All,

There is a bald eagle nest less than 100 yards from our motorhome. We have seen adults on the nest before and today we got our first glimpse of the eaglet. Carl shot this with his phone through a spotting scope.

Some observers have reported hearing two chicks calling but so far just one sighted. Very cool.

Love,

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

Hi All,

We had another Living History Day on Saturday. Lots more people in period costumes helping visitors understand what life was like here in 1564.

Here we are 452 years ago.


Herb and Marilyn were protecting the Visitor Center!

Here's Sandy with the Jen Hughes, wife of the Superintendent.

Meet Lauren and Taylor, the Superintendent's adorable daughters.

Jonathan in Civil War garb and Jim as a 16th century settler.

Eight musketeers from the Son's of the American Revolution were on hand. We had lots of visitors up in the fort watching from a safe place.

Once again we burned lots of black powder in the park cannons. When a container ship cruised past we fired two cannons and a volley of musket fire. The ship signified her surrender with a long blast of her horn!
It was great fun helping visitors get a sense of what life was like here at Fort Caroline. Hopefully, we'll get to do this every month.

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, January 29, 2016

Spanish-American War Fort

Hi All,

Saint John's bluff has been a strategic high point near the mouth of the St Johns River for over 450 years. Less than a mile beyond Fort Caroline is the site of a Spanish American war gun battery.

It is still private property but the National Park Service is working with the North Florida Land Trust to acquire the site and add it to the Timucuan Preserve.

Jacksonville was the center of planning for our planned invasion of Cuba. Construction of this gun battery, begun in 1898, was part of this preparation.

These gun mounts were designed for 2-8" recoilless cannon.


The magazine was behind four foot walls.

During a battle, the steel door would be closed and the rounds would be passed through the big hole.

Here's the 12' X 17' magazine.

The roof of the magazine.

Here's a wide view of the gun emplacements and magazine entrance.
It took about two years to complete the gun battery. Since the war only lasted ten weeks and Spain never attacked Jacksonville, the guns were never fired in anger.

The property has great views across the river and is priced far above its historic value. Anyone wishing to help contribute to the $400,000 cost, let us know😃.'

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, January 23, 2016

Living History Day

Hi All,

Today was the first Living History Day at Fort Caroline this year. Staff and volunteers dressed in period costumes to tell visitors about the 16th century events here.

Here we are in the Visitor Center.

Outdoors the wind chill was below freezing. No complaints given the horrible weather elsewhere but Carl found a fox skin to wear as a scarf.

Other staff members wore Civil War era uniforms since our cannons are from that period. First we fired the three pounder using one half pound of black powder, equivalent to 3 1/2 sticks of dynamite. Note the flame squirting out of the vent at the back of the cannon.

The crew then moved to the Dahlgren cannon. A full pound of powder-seven sticks of dynamite. Even with ear plugs it is pretty loud.
The excitement could keep the hypothermia at bay only so long! After different crews fired each cannon three times we retired to the Visitor Center to warm up.

Very exciting.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Friday, January 22, 2016

Passenger Pidgeon

Hi All,

Today we attended the Timucuan Science & History Symposium sponsored by the park. Lots of interesting presentations and exhibits of items from the Timucuan museum collection. One exhibit caught our eye.

This is (or was) a Passenger Pidgeon .

Talk about a cautionary tale. In the early 19th century, Passenger Pidgeon flocks numbered in the hundreds of millions, possibly billions! They darkened the sky during migration.

By 1871 the flock was still estimated at 136 million. How could a bird still so numerous be driven to extinction?

Uncontrolled hunting!

On September 1, 1914, the last remaining Passenger Pidgeon died in the Cincinnati Zoo.

Be nice to our feathered friends.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Astro Geek Alert: ISS Transit

Hi All,

Here's another incredible APOD image that illustrates how hard some folks will go to get an astronomical image.

On January 15th, the International Space Station (ISS) traveling 17,100 mph, passed in front of Saturn. The transit lasted a mere 0.02 seconds and the camera placement was critical. 

German astrophotographers was up to the challenge as he captured this video astounding sequence.

End of Geek Alert

Love

Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Thursday, January 21, 2016

Jacksonville Top to Bottom

Hi All,

We joined friend Evalyn for a tour of downtown Jacksonville. First stop was the Times-Union Center for Performing Arts.

This magnificent 4,000 pound glass sculpture graces the lobby.

We got a behind the scenes tour of the Jacoby Symphony Hall which reportedly has nearly perfect acoustics.


Including this awesome pipe organ with 6,215 pipes ranging in diameter from 3/8" to 32".

Next stop was the Bank of America building. Our motorhome mortgage is somewhere in this 42 story building!

We took a rocket ship of an elevator (42 stories in 17 seconds) to the top where we were treated to magnificent panoramic vistas.

Back at street level we entered the American National Bank building which has preserved access to their huge underground vault.

This massive 8 foot diameter vault door is a mechanical engineering marvel.

Last stop was the Library. The fourth floor reading room features this 8' by 32' mural of French explorer Jean Ribault coming ashore in Mayport in 1562; greeted by the local Timucuan. This panorama is only 2/3 of the mural.
After the tour we had a great lunch at the Candy Apple Cafe.

A wonderful day.

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

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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Thursday, January 14, 2016

SWAT Cat Cousin

Hi All,

Ginger's cousin, Calico SWAT Cat is famous in Boston!

"SWAT Cat," beloved Boston Police SWAT mascot, found safe

1 Comment
Jan 14, 2016 11:52 AM EST
info
Boston Police via Facebook

ROXBURY, Mass. -- A stray cat that's become the Boston Police Department SWAT team's unofficial mascot has been found safe, according to the department.

"SWAT cat" went missing in late November.Last month, the department posted a note on its Facebook page seeking help finding their furry friend, and news of her disappearance spread quickly over social media.

Boston Police say the Calico cat returned to her home at the department's Special Operations Unit headquarters in Roxbury Thursday morning, exactly one month since they reported her missing.

We see the resemblance. How about you?


Love,

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

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Sunday, January 10, 2016

Potpourri

Hi All,

We are in the post holiday doldrums at Fort Caroline. Fewer than 50 visitors on weekdays and about 125 on weekend days.


The barricade wall still guards the fort.

We got excited when we found on the Nat Geo site, this photo of Plitvice Lakes National Park  in Croatia. The park is on our itinerary in the spring.

We saw movies at opposite ends of the spectrum this week. Carol and Star Wars. This painting of Rey was on line too.

Speaking of stars, check out this APOD image of the fox fur nebula!
We got great news from Wyoming today. We have been officially invited back to volunteer in Grand Teton National Park. 

Love,

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