Author: Easin' Along

Last Thursday, Helen, Mortimer, and I arrived in Keaton Beach, Florida. We had yet to learn what awaited us in terms of a campground. The reviews were few but were favorable. I chose the location primarily because the driving time from Eastpoint, Florida, was within my preferred range of four hours. Lynn, the campground operator, greeted us warmly when we pulled in. Lynn is a charming Southern lady with a Southern accent to match.

As soon as we pulled in, we noticed a vacant campsite within a few yards of the waterfront. We asked Lynn if it was available. “Honey, she said, I’ve been savin’ that campsite for y’all all day!” I couldn’t take a step without smiling.

Campsite number 25 is perfect for water lovers and faces directly into the setting sun, and we have seats on the front row for every one. The two sunsets we have witnessed have been spectacular. Our weather is also excellent, with clear skies and temperatures in the high 60s to low 70s.

Campers here in Old Pavilion Campground came to fish the Gulf waters. The area around the campground has apartments, small beach houses, and campgrounds dedicated to fishermen and women of every stripe. Every morning, we wake to the sound of fishing boats heading for deeper waters in search of a big catch. We have a small pier beside our trailer where Helen and I can drop a line; no license is required. A couple next to us has caught two large Redfish since we arrived.

The only knock on our campground is that the Wi-Fi is weak, and T-Mobile service is spotty at best. I struggled to upload three pictures and finally decided to hang it up until we move to Kissimmee (our next stop). I’m saving my sunset pictures until we get together again, so please come back next week. We’re Easin’ Along. 

Our time in Jacksonville began with cold, windy weather, and we only ventured out a little. Helen finished one puzzle and started another. I watched football and basketball. On Sunday, I dressed up and watched our church service streaming on YouTube. We enjoyed watching the huge freighters float by in front of our campsite.

Thankfully, the weather improved, and we had a checklist of items on our “do list.” My bloggy friend Suzanne (Picture Retirement) suggested visiting Huguenot Memorial Beach as something we would enjoy. We planned to go there as soon as the wind died down.

As it turned out, Huguenot Memorial Beach was a short distance from Mayport Naval Station. We could see the beach across the shipping lane in front of our campsite, but didn’t realize it was the Park. We drove there early with Mortimer in tow.

Other than a few fishermen and a gaggle of gulls (above), we had the beach to ourselves. Across the inlet, I spotted our trailer sitting on the front row of Pelican Roost Campground. I took some pictures, but unfortunately, I had the wrong light setting on my camera, and the images had a blue cast. Editing improved them a bit, but only a bit. Nevertheless, we enjoyed being outdoors in fresh air and sunshine. Thanks, Suzanne!

The next thing on our checklist was a visit to St. Augustine, about 40 miles to the south. My sister, LeAnn, and brother-in-law, Marty,  live on the east coast of Florida and drove over to meet us for lunch. Helen and I visited St. Augustine on a previous trip to Mayport and loved walking through the historic district, browsing the small alleys and the shops found there. Helen and I walked to Faux Paws, a shop for all things “dog,” and found a few gifts for Mortimer–his boxers were in a bunch because we left him in the campground.

LeAnn chose Columbia Restaurant for lunch, famous for the 1905 Salad, a trademark dish prepared there. Helen and I were treated to this salad by our dear friend and neighbor, Dottie, who served it at a dinner party in her home, complete with the dressing sold by the restaurant. The salad is delightful and includes lettuce, ham, Swiss cheese, and olives. This salad is a meal by itself, and the delicious vinegar blend dressing is lovely.

LeAnn, Marty, and Helen ordered a half-salad and a Cuban sandwich. I ordered the larger serving of the 1905. A waitress prepared the salads at our table with very practiced hands. It was delicious! Helen and I said our goodbyes and hustled back to Mayport to appease Mortimer and shower him with his gifts.

We wanted to do something special on our last night in Jacksonville. A fellow camper said that the “Seafood Shack,” near Mayport was the place for excellent seafood meals. We decided to check it out. If we had not had a recommendation, I would not have eaten even canned food in this place from the outside appearance. Singleton’s Seafood Shack was aptly named and featured creaky board floors, faded wooden walls, and bar stools with uneven legs. Nevertheless, our shrimp and oyster platters were divine.

We enjoyed calm winds and warm temperatures when we left Jacksonville the next day. Our next stop was Coastline RV Resort in Eastpoint, FL, on the Gulf, near Apalachicola, Florida, the Oyster Capitol of the World. We arrived at temperatures above 70 degrees. The campground is excellent, and the staff is friendly and accommodating. The grounds are well-maintained, and the showers are immaculate. Our site is pointed directly toward the Gulf and offers an excellent view of the rising sun.

The next day, we decided to do what everyone else does–drive to Apalachicola and order fresh oysters for lunch. I finished off a dozen…raw. We went to St. George Island beach and walked Mortimer for exercise the following day. We’re here for a week and look forward to every day. Residents refer to this area as “The Forgotten Coast.” So far, I have found it filled with memories to treasure. Come back next week, and I’ll share a few more.

Our plan was to leave Knoxville for Florida on January 13. We made those plans before we learned that our granddaughter, Bennett, was scheduled to play in a soccer tournament beginning on the 13th in Cumming, Georgia, near Atlanta. I researched and found a campground about 12 miles from the soccer complex with space available. I made a reservation and moved up our departure by two days. It’s a good thing I did.

As Helen, Mortimer, and I drove away, the residents of Knoxville learned that they were the target of a sizable snowstorm followed by some bitterly cold temperatures. The forecast called for up to five inches of snow…they got nine. An ice storm arrived later in the week, and the temperature plunged to two degrees below zero. Knoxvillians were shut in, and schools closed for the week. The picture above was sent to me by our neighbor. Knoxville has not received that much snow in decades.

We arrived in Cumming as temperatures hovered in the low 30s. Bennett’s tournament began on Saturday morning. They lost the first game, but we arrived too late to see them play. We made it to Sunday’s game with Mortimer in tow. Bennett’s team played hard and well, but their opponent was better that day and won the match.

The next game started at 9 am on Monday in 34-degree weather. It’s hard to imagine playing in shorts and t-shirts in cold temperatures, but these girls are tough and didn’t seem to mind. Our youngest granddaughter came prepared and wrapped herself in a blanket on the sideline. Bennett played a great game, as did her teammates, and won 3-2.

Helen and I hurried back to the campground after the game, hooked up Dora, and placed Mortimer in the back seat for a five-hour drive to Charleston to spend three more days with the family. It is always difficult to say goodbye to our granddaughters, but after a breakfast of pancakes and bacon, we exchanged long hugs and headed south. Next stop—Jacksonville, Florida.

Jacksonville weather was lousy when we pulled into Pelican Roost Campground inside the Mayport Naval Air Station gates. We were assigned a waterfront campground with a fabulous view from our front window, but there was little to see. Nevertheless, better weather was on the way, and we were blessed with clear skies and 70-degree temperatures the next day. Our view improved considerably.

We took advantage of the delightful conditions with a walk on the beach, a bike ride for Helen, and a trip to Safe Harbor Seafood, where we bought fresh shrimp and a large Grouper filet for dinner.

Mortimer took a nap.

We’ll spend a week in Jacksonville, then drive to Apalachicola in the Florida Panhandle, where fresh oysters abound. Altogether, we will spend about six weeks on this trip, which includes six campgrounds. We’re excited about our winter break and sincerely hope you’ll Ease Along with us. Enjoy the rest of the month, and we hope you stay in touch.