Alabama the last of the states in the continental US

We added Alabama as the last state in the continental USA
we visited Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island below is the sign and anchor from the USS Hartford

Part of a very old shipwreck washed up in a hurricane.



there is a blacksmith working daily making all sorts of things just as they would have back in the civil war days.
he made this leave as we watched and talked with him.
One of these days I just may leave Bil in jail -since he finds them so intriguing.
the sign below describes the latrine and shows how it was used and how it was used.

a look at the back side of the fort form the inside

the bridge to Dauphin Island as we approached it.
a side shot of the bridge - rather impressive.
We found some houses that sat on the edge of the water -they lived on the top as usually in this hurricane area has to be above ground and no one living on the bottom.
the houses from the side show just how big they are. But at least they could say they lived on the water.

Ruskin & Panacea Fl

This is some of the hurricane damage along the coast.
When you build on the beach and the hurricane comes you can end up without a driveway to get the garage. If you look close or double click you can see right through the house as the front part is missing.
there was a monarch butterfly season going on in Florida as the great migration of them to the area as shown by the 2 photos below.



different type signs are found around Florida.
This is just one of many docks damaged in a hurricane. This one was in the campground we stayed at.
Bil caught an eel, of course he did not keep it, but who wants to touch them.
Sunset from our Panacea Campground. They were beautiful nightly.
A walk down the beach took us under the road for a little shade.

there are numerous areas in Florida with wild palm trees that look like carpets under larger trees.
There is a hazard on the golf courses in Florida that you don't find in other parts of the country. This one was in a pond in which we had earlier seen golfers trying to fish out a ball with a long pole.
We took a trip to the Sebring race track.
You sure do not want to pick up a hitchhiker in Florida. They utilize their prisoners to the fullest.
We saw them doing construction as well as picking up trash along roadways.

More Florida

A beautiful sky as Bil went on a deep sea fishing trip.
He was well rewarded with this Grouper he caught.
The great weigh in showed it to be about 16 lbs.
Ready to become fillets on the way to the dinner table.
They were really nice looking fillets.
A trip to Kennedy Space center proved educational.
Bil was trying to get out of town fast -- but it was not to be - he was grounded.
This building houses the shuttle between launches. The doors take 45 minutes to open, they are so big and heavy.
The launch pad as seen from a distance.
Several of the missals standing in "Missal Garden'. They are all fully functional and not mock ups.
Sebastian has an interesting welcome sign- double click to read the bottom line.
even if there is no catching the view is great from the dock
Bil trying his hand at fishing of Rudy's dock.
Maria and Rudy have beautiful sunsets from their back yard and dock.
evening viewing from our friends screened Lanai -needed to stay away from the bgs.

into and around Florida

Florida is added and we are down to "all but Alabama." That will wait until the weather to our west is better-less flooding and electricity in the areas we want to visit.
while taking a drive we ran across a cemetery that served the hurricane of 1928 for a mass burial ground.
a couple of interesting mailboxes around the area. there are numerous animals depicted as mailboxes.

A big turtle hiding in the weeds.
Florida is called God's waiting room. What do you suppose the Vultures are waiting for. You want to be quick getting up if you fall down. Well maybe not that bad but close. They sure keep the streets clean.
This gator was not fast enough crossing the road and "bit the big one" He won't be here long.
a beautiful coconut tree with fruit hanging from it.

the water did calm down and the beach was beautiful
in 1715 a fleet went down off the coast in Sebastian
we went hunting for some of the treasure to no avail - even though Bil used 2 detectors. It was to hot to stay out very long. This is known as the AC season for Florida.

Spanish moss hangs heavy on a lot of the trees in Florida and also in Georgia.
Morning moon about 6:15 the morning Bil went deep sea fishing.
Neat trees in front of one of the museums we stopped at.
A couple of shots of high seas caused by Hannah passing by in the ocean.