Thursday, February 25, 2016

Washington Oaks State Park

Hi All,

One more email from an incredible day. Washington oaks are old, gnarled and reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland.


The oaks are hundreds of years old. The 20-30 year old Palm trees have grown up through the oak branches.

The park includes exotic species like bamboo, banana and stone masks.

In the small visitor center, the park video is played on a 1950's GE console TV.

The park is along A1A south of St Augustine and spans the barrier island from the ocean to the Intercoastal Waterway shown here.
Sorry for all the emails but it was an awesome day.

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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Turtle Video

Hi All,

The turtle video is now on You-Tube at:

http://youtu.be/xWuii0gDz-M

Enjoy

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Turtle Serendipity 2

Hi All,

(The previous email included a video which clogged the system-sorry)

On a visit to Washington Oaks State Park we stopped at the beach to see interesting rock formations. There we found a truck from the South Carolina Aquarium with three loggerhead turtles to be released into the ocean. These animals have spent the last year in a rehab center. This spot was chosen since it was the furthest north winter spot with warm enough water.

First the turtles were removed from the truck


carried to the water's edge.

At the water, the turtles took some time to get their bearings

then walked/swam back into the ocean.
An extraordinary experience.

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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Mala Compra Plantation

Hi All,

On our Washington Oaks expedition we had lunch at Captain's BBQ. The entire staff wore T-Shirts that said," In the 70's I smoked pot, now I smoke ribs!" Ribs, brisket and turkey were all excellent and the place was jumping.

Adjacent to the restaurant was a small county park with the excavated ruins of an old plantation.

Mala Compra means " Bad deal". Perhaps buyers remorse from the plantation owner.

The excavated hearth was interesting

as was the exhibit of recovered artifacts.

Here's another section of the excavated plantation ruins.

This is the old well.
This might have been the highlight of the day but next stop was the beach and turtles!

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, February 24, 2016

Misc Photos

Hi All,

Just s few of my and others photos.

Spring has come to North Florida!


This eight foot tall No Parking sign at Huguenot Park has been swallowed by the sand dune. At least no one will park there.

Many of you have heard about the tornados and severe thunderstorms across the southeast in the last 48 hours. Friends from the Wildlife Brigade we camped in Gulf Shores, AL. They spent a few nervous hours sheltering in the restroom building as the storm passed. Fortunately, they and their motorhome are safe. We were luckier. The front veered north and we had only 40 mph gusts and fitful rain.

With all of the Brigaders were on line chatting about the weather, our boss Kate send this aerial photo of a Yellowstone grizzly, already out of his den🐻.

Yesterday, Carl watched a TED Talk by Mac Stone, a talented and passionate photographer who has worked to help restore the Everglades. The talk is titled "Mac Stone: Stunning Photos of the endangered Everglades. Carl grabbed a few stills to highlight Mac's work.

Reflections from the coppery sky highlight this gator.

Finally, today's APOD is a night view of the northeast coast from the  International Space Station. That's Long Island in the lower right.
Hard to believe we have only five weeks to go.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Friday, February 19, 2016

Quiet Evening

Hi All,

Today we had visitors from a local senior center. Sandy gave them a tour of our museum and Carl took them in the golf card to see the fort exhibit. They were all very sweet and seemed to appreciate the visit.

Back home, Sandy completed the transfer of files to her new computer. How's this for high tech!


Ginger settled on the couch while Sandy worked on the computers. The cat refused to give up her space when Sandy sat down.
Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Monday, February 15, 2016

Sad but Fascinating

Hi All,

A huge leatherback turtle washed ashore at Fort Caroline today. It was intact with no signs of ship strike or propeller scars.


Ranger Heather recorded data

while the Florida Fish and Wildlife biologist inspected the turtle and took measurements. It was about six feet long and estimated at 600 pounds.

The skin on the flippers  had scraped or rotted away, revealing the bone structure below.

This closeup of the mouth shows many small pointed structures which serve to catch jellyfish as the turtle expels the water ingested along with the jellyfish. They are not teeth and softer than cartilage but stiffer than soft tissue.
The poor creature will be left in place for the scavengers (and because it is too big to move).

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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Happy Valentine's Day

Hi All,

We spent a wonderful evening with Scott, Tara, the boys and Tara's mom Pricilla.

Tara loves to decorate for holidays and she admits that Valentines Day is her favorite.

The table was covered with rose petals and little hearts.


Fancy cupcakes for dessert

and a Valentine's Day card from Garrett and Wyatt.
A great dinner and fun games made for a great evening.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Thursday, February 11, 2016

Gravity Waves

Hi All,

Major Geek Alert!!!

An extraordinary scientific discovery was announced today. It is as significant as it is difficult to explain. 

In 1916, Albert Einstein's theory or General Relativity included the notion of gravity waves. When a rock is thrown into a pond, the water ripples. When an object accelerates,  it also makes ripples throughout the universe but smaller, MUCH smaller. Two black holes accelerating towards each other created a wave smaller than the width of an atom!! Yet the new instrument was sensitive enough to detect it. 


Here's another artistic attempt to illustrate gravity waves.
Though admittedly hard to grasp, the euphoria in the scientific community is quite extraordinary.

Stephen Hawking said, he believed that the detection marked a key moment in scientific history.

Another scientist said, the detection was one of the most important developments in science, on a par with the determination of the structure of DNA.

We have a new tool with which to observe the universe.

End of Geek Alert!!!

Love,

Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Eagles etc.

Hi All,

The eagle chick was out again this evening. Not only were we watching him, he was watching us!


A few minutes later we had male painted bunting and cardinal at our feeder. Too dark for a decent photo but use your imagination 😉.

Yesterday while we were staffing the visitor center the Superintendent Chris Hughes stopped in. 

This is a crop of an APOD picture from last week. Perhaps we have spent too much time in Grand Teton but this sure looks like a bear on the right.
Y'all stay warm and safe.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Thursday, February 4, 2016

Barberville Pioneer Settlement

Hi All,

Today we visited the Pioneer Settlement near Deland, FL. Thirty acres, 18 historic structures and over 10,000 historical artifacts. 

They host school groups with numerous hands on programs about life in the late 19th century.

 Part of their mission is preservation of important historical structures. This is the Astor Bridge Tenders House.


The original Barberville Central High School

Kids program on shearing and carding wool.

The old Pierson train station and caboose.

The blacksmith shop has school programs and meetings of the Florida Blacksmith Guild.

The Firehouse houses two antique fire engines.

The Quarters House was insulated with newspaper . 
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, February 3, 2016

Jaguar in US

Hi All,

Camera traps in the Santa Rita mountains south of Tucson, AZ have captured video of the only known jaguar in the states.

Check out the story and video at:

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2016/jaguar-02-03-2016.html







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