Happy New Year!
After our friends from Raleigh departed, Ray & I continued touring St. Augustine with our friends from m/v Griffin before they cruised north.
St. Augustine Lighthouse: We had warm, sunny weather for our walk across the Bridge of Lions to Anastasia Island. We stopped at Conch House for lunch in a Jamaican styled grass hut overlooking the salt run.
St. Augustine Lighthouse: We walked a little further to the lighthouse, built in 1874.
Then we walked/climbed 219 stairs to the top!
Above, is the fuel bucket the light keeper would use to tend the light. It held 5 gallons of fuel and weighed 30 pounds. He would heat the fuel in the room at the bottom of the lighthouse, then "tote" it up the 219 stairs to fuel the light!
We enjoyed gorgeous weather for a different kind of "light-seeing".
View of the salt run, from the other side of the lighthouse.
By now, we had done plenty of walking/climbing, so we called an Uber for the short ride back across the bridge to have a treat downtown.
I had to have another Bananas Foster milkshake from Prohibition Kitchen! And my mv Griffin "dessert-loving buddy" enjoyed one too!) Here's a picture of that treat again.
Flowers of St. Augustine: Along the way, Ray has been photo-journaling (well, just photographing) a variety of flowers. Neither of us has taken time to identify those we aren't familar with.
Banana tree: I spotted this fruitful banana tree and had to get a picture (looks pretty wierd).
Churches of St. Augustine: I have been fascinated by the churches.
This stained glass window of the gospels of Matthew & Mark pairs with another window of Luke & John to flank one of the entrances to Trinity Episcopal Church.
Established in 1821, Trinity Episcopal Church is the oldest Protestant congregation in Florida.
Ten windows, including the "Triptych" above the altar (pictured included below) were made by Franz Mayer & Sons, Munich, Germany. One window, representing Cornelius and an angel (Acts X:IV), is signed Louis Tiffany.
For more photos/history of the church's stained glass, refer to https://www.trinityepiscopalparish.org/our-stained-glass-windows.
This massive copper dome is the crowning feature of Memorial Presbyterian Church, built by Henry Flagler in 1890, as a memorial to his only daughter, Jennie Louise Flagler, who died in 1889.
Its design is based on the Basilica of St. Mark in Venice, Italy.
The mausoleum adjacent to the church is where Flagler, his daughter, granddaughter and first wife are buried.
We already shared a few photos of the interior of Cathedral Basilica (where we saw the Community Chorus Christmas concert).
The photo below was captured from https://www.trolleytours.com/st-augustine/historic-churches-st-augustine
History of Cathedral Basilica: During the mid-1560s, the Spanish Empire expanded northward from its Caribbean strongholds, to what is Florida today. Spanish settlers began immediately to establish a Catholic church. The early colonists had little experience in architecture, so the first church of St. Augustine was built with very simple in design and a variety of materials. This building and the 2nd were destoryed by fires.
A third attempt to build was made in 1605. By this time, more experienced architects and builders from Europe had begun to make their way to the New World, and this third church stayed intact for the next 95 years.
St. Augustine Carolinas Connection: In 1702, the catholic church building was burned down (along with most of St. Augustine), during a failed English effort led by South Carolina colonist James Moore to take over the city.
Corruption: The King sent a large sum of money for the church to be rebuilt, but the funds were never spent on the church as intended—they were spent instead on provisions, back pay for soldiers, and public officials taking a cut.
It was not until 1793 that construction of the current building began; it was finally completed in August 1797.
Anastasia State Park: Ray & I rode our bikes (some pedaling and some use of the electric ride) to Anastasia State Park. We took a couple of short nature walks and stopped for a break at the ocean overlook.
We also took a hike at the Spanish Coquina Quarries (at the park entrance). This archaeological site dates back to the 1700s, when coquina was sourced from these quarries. Coquina is a variation of limestone consisting of sand and mollusk shells. This material was used to build the famous fort, Castillo de San Marcos, and other buildings in the Spanish colonial town of St. Augustine.
Great Harbour Owners Meet-up: Our Tanuki friends organized a meet-up for owners of 3 Great Harbours in the area. m/v Journey (a GH N47) was nearby on their way to the Floriday Keys. Ray & I bicycled to meet them at the Farmer's Market then a local brewery.
Emergency - Capsized Boat on the Waterfront: We are not sure what happened, but a fishing boat that was anchored by the bridge capsized. By the time we realized what the yelling was about 2 of the occupants had begun swimming to shore, and the 3rd was drug to shore by a dinghy from a boat moored nearby. Ray called marina on marina's hailing channel and they contacted emergency crews (most of which are stationed in the marina, so they arrived within minutes.
The 3 occupants were OK, and Tow Boat eventually cut loose the anchor and towed the boat away. Nearby dock hands were concerned about the low water temp. I was concerned about the lack of an easy way out of the water, which is bulkheaded and filled with oyster beds. I don't know how they made it to land, but they had to have gotten scratched up a little. ☹
Local Musicians: Ray & I had comfortable weather for an outdoor dinner at O.C. White's -- one of our favorite places in St. Augustine. This outdoor pergola is covered with huge jasmine vines. I bet it smells amazing in the spring! Maybe we'll get to check it out on our way back through St. Augustine in April......hmmm.
Then we enjoyed local folk musicians known as "The Obscure Brothers" (not really brothers): Bob Patterson & Charley Simmons.
When we found out they play here every Thursday night, we convined our Tanuki friends into meeting us there for 1 last outing before leaving St. Augustine.
(Well, it didn't take alot of convincing. 😁) At their recommendation, we actually caught another local musician that afternoon -- before heading back over to O.C.Whites.
Water sports: Ray braved the wind and currents one day to kayak over to the fort. (I was a wimp.)
Notice the rocky water's edge the capsized boaters probably had to contend with.
"Get off the boat": Ray & I had a special night out for dinner at a 5-star restaurant -- Collage, thanks to a thoughtful Christmas gift from our son Carson. This is the first place I've been offered a sorbet palate cleanser. Fancy!
We both had lobster, and, after a lengthy debate with myself, I had creme brulee for dessert!
Thanks again Carson! 👨👩👦🎄🎅
We are carless! 😕😲😟👍 (That's a hitchhiking thumb - not thumbs up.)
Late January, Ray & I took a really quick road trip to drop off our car at my dad's house in Greenville, SC. Thanks for the parking space, Daddy!
Thanks, sis, for starting her up occassionally!
We drove a rental car back to St. Augustine and provisioned one last time (hardware and groceries) before returning the rental.
Florida Weather in January: While the weather was pleasant and warm most of January, we endured about a week of cold, windy weather from a noreaster in late January. That's when we decided to make that car-elimination trip.
When we returned with our overnight bags and all the groceries, there were 30-40 knot gusts. The docks were ROCKING (reminded me of the rolling waves on a swinging bridge)! And the whitecaps were washing over the docks!
(I didn't dare get out my phone for a video; I did not want to lose it!)
Almost time to leave: We have enjoyed our nearly 2 months here, but I think we are both itching to leave. The noise from locals riding across the bridge (30 feet away) with their music/bass maxed out, or their muffler sawed off is becoming annoying-- along with the wedding DJs (and their music) blaring across the marina from the outdoor patio venue across the street.
Comments