Oraaaannnggge City, where the oranges fall off of the tree! (Sung to "Oklahoma!")

12/15/11

Ahhh, another plan laid to waste!  Had to skip the Flagler tour today, unfortunately.  While calling the next RV park in Orange City, the manager had to check on how long we can stay at the Passport America rate, and would call me back.  While waiting for said return call, TC proceeded to lecture me on how to conduct the conversation when the call was returned – committing one of the four deadly sins that will cause me to start screaming in a heart beat – so a fight ensued whereby he picked up the phone call so that he could conduct the conversation as he sees fit.  The other three items, I’m sure you’re holding your breath in wonder about, are: 2) doesn’t recap the ATTACHED toothpaste cap so the toothpaste gets all dry and gooey; 3) doesn’t put the toilet seat down; 4) doesn’t wear his hearing aids.

As soon as that fiasco was finished – what a surprise, we got a week at the discount as I thought! – Roku decides he’s going to stay in the woods for an extended period of time, to drink swampy scum water, lick his butt and stare at us as we called him.  He eventually sauntered to Blue, only to walk under it, then under the truck next to us.  And he would not come when called.  I stayed behind while TC showered, calling out to him every once in awhile until he placed each paw and pad carefully, picking his way back inside to stare at his food bowl.  So, no tour today.

To backtrack on a more pleasant day, however, we toured the Castillo de San Marcos yesterday afternoon.  It’s merely a 340 years old, made from locally quarried coquina, which is a “stone” made from million year old beach/shells.  Extremely beautiful and sturdy fort, which protected the Spanish fleet bringing back millions of dollars of riches in their galleons up the Gulf Stream.  Remarkable that it still stands in the harbor.  Pictures say it all:

Writing in an ancient Spanish, Castillo de San Marcos

TC in a Castillo room - great ceiling

A real McCoy drawbridge at the Castillo

Castillo from outside, standing on drawbridge

Castillo courtyard and the Ranger dressed in period piece

Castillo steps on outside...looks like one steps

 

We landed in Orange City which is quite near Blue Springs State Park, where the manatees come in to hang in the warm spring water.  Tomorrow…can hardly contain myself!

Had a visitor tonight too, a big old multi colored cat thumped his way through Roku's window and surprised us.  In fact, I think it's the same cat we saw in Georgia when Dawn was with us at The Oaks.