Heading Home - Sunday, August 3, 2008

Today we did something VERY different. On our way home, we went geocaching! Okay so we only found one cache, but it was a good one. It was located at the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina, where the Marine went through basic training in 1978. We wandered around a bit with the Marine showing the Biologist around his old stomping grounds. After leaving the base, we made a beeline for home, but we all know that bees don't actually fly in straight lines. We took the back roads for a ways to avoid some of the busy and boring highway travel and passed through Savannah where we took photos of a few Georgia Historical Markers, This Old Church that was over 100 years old, and an Atlas Statue (cha ching!). Then home we went. Poor Rascal and Scamp (the best cats in the world) were really glad to see us. They aren't all that fond of waymarking...

Historic Charleston, South Carolina - Saturday, August 2, 2008

The Biologist allowed the Marine to sleep in until 8am (isn't she nice?) then off we headed to the Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site (after a short stop at the historic Magnolia Cemetery that is). What a beautiful park, filled with history, a small Zoo, a nice new visitor center, and... wait for it... a Whispering Giant! We spent a couple of hours wandering around this great place then off we headed to historic downtown Charleston, where we made a quick stop at a cute little Children's Garden.

By the time we parked in the downtown area, it was already after 12:30pm, so we waited outside in line for the reknowed Jestine's Kitchen. If you're ever in Charleston, we highly recommend you stand in line to eat here. It's well worth the wait. Good southern style home cooking topped off with yummy Coca Cola cake.
By the time we left the restaurant, we were into the heat of the day. The heat index easily over 100 degrees. Wandered around the historic streets and took lots of photos of National Register of Historic Places properties (some day the Biologist will find the time to post/visit them all). The architecture here is absolutely awesome! As we stopped to look at the historic Hibernian Society Hall, the Marine spotted something that bore investigating. Turns out it was a section of a pillar from the Giant's Causeway in Ireland. We didn't go In Search of the Celts this weekend, but we found them just the same!

After walking around for a few hours, we were extremely hot and thirsty and spotted an Italian ice stand. Fourteen dollars later (unfortunately we didn't realize 2 large Italian ices would cost so much until after we had them in our hands), we headed back to the car and turned the AC on full blast. Whew, were we hot and a little sunburned. Headed out to find a few more unclaimed historical markers, then back to the hotel for a little Rand R and a good night's sleep.

On the Road to Charleston, South Carolina - Friday, August 1, 2008

At last the weekend had arrived and it was time for our next waymarking adventure! The Biologist had done some more research and off we went to Charleston, normally about a 4-hour drive from Jacksonville. But of course, not when you're a waymarker! We had an important mission during our drive... to visit the Hatch Nuclear Power Plant near Baxley, Georgia. Okay, so we didn't take the most direct route to Charleston, but what self-respecting waymarker would? We arrived at the power plant, unsure what we'd find, but thankfully there was a visitor center. Took the tour through the center and went outside to take some photos. Cha ching! Another icon bites the dust. Back on the road to Charleston...

Stopped at a couple of Georgia Historical Markers on the way and crossed the State border and found a South Carolina Historical Marker that hadn't been claimed by anyone yet. Another icon bites the dust! This time we kept our noses to the grindstone and trekked on into Charleston (mainly because our stomachs were growling and we had a restaurant in mind that we wanted to get to before the dinner rush). Crossed over to Mt. Pleasant and screeched to a stop at the Boulevard Diner! It's located in an old Dairy Queen restaurant and the food was great (good prices too)! With full stomachs, we headed off to our hotel for an early night (and some posting of waymarks) as we had a busy schedule planned for Saturday.

Limping Our Way Home to Jacksonville - Sunday, July 27, 2008

We were both ready to head home today. Friday and Saturday were exhausting! However... late on Saturday night, the Biologist had discovered an internet site that provided information about a former Knights of Pythias Lodge in Orlando so... she waited until the Marine had eaten a nice breakfast and we were about 30 minutes into the drive home before mentioning how nice it would be to post it. Yep, you got it, we made a detour through Orlando on the way home to Jacksonville. What a guy! He's the best husband in the world!

Still Making Our Way from Jacksonville to Miami via Tallahassee - Saturday, July 26, 2008

Today the Biologist let the Marine sleep in until 7am! He sure has it good, doesn't he? A quick breakfast and off we went. The Biologist is originally from Fort Lauderdale so we absolutely had to visit the house she grew up in and the schools she went to. Fortunately one of her former schools, Plantation High, was located near the Plantation Botanical Gardens, which just happens to have a Wind Harp on the premises! Surely you didn't think the Biologist was dragging the Marine all over the State of Florida because she was feeling nostalgic? Puhlease. There was a wind harp waiting to be claimed people! Fortunately, there was enough wind that we were actually able to hear it. Very cool. Next we headed over to the beach to visit a Whispering Giant statue and then made our way down to Miami where we visited a beautiful old Monastery that had been relocated from Spain to the U.S. in the early 1900s. Visited a few more historic places then off we went to Scully's Tavern, another place that had been featured on one of the Marine's favorite shows "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives." After an interesting dining experience, we headed back to Fort Lauderdale for a good night's sleep before heading back home on Sunday.

Jacksonville to Miami via Tallahassee - Friday, July 25, 2008

This weekend we set out for Tallahassee to try to find one of the three Ghost Bikes that had been placed there. We visited all three sites, but apparently ghost bikes are invisible (or at least can't be seen in daylight) as we struck out at all three locations. (The Biologist tried to locate the ghost bike in Gainesville last week, but it was no longer there.) It's too bad that these nice memorials get vandalized or removed as they are very good reminders to all of the need to stay alert for bike riders along the road.

So... we made a left turn and headed south! Made a short stop in the cute little town of Cedar Key and found a few cool waymarks there, including a fierce School Mascot that was really chomping at the bit to get posted as a waymark.

Then off to Summerfield to find a Confluence Spot. Last time we came here, the gates to the business at this location were closed and we were left frustrated outside the gate only about 20 feet from ground zero. Today we were in luck and got there with plenty of time to spare. The Marine pulled into a parking spot and said, "How far are we from the confluence spot?" The Biologist looked at the GPSr and said, "We're here!" He said, "Uh, I know, but how far are we from ground zero?" "We're here! This is ground zero!" said the Biologist. So we moved the SUV to the next parking space and got out to take pictures of the confluence spot. Whew! That sure was a lot of driving (and gasoline) to get here... twice!

Off we went to a hotel in Clermont to get a good night's rest for tomorrow's continuation of this week's waymarking adventure...

Time to Head Home - Sunday, July 13, 2008

Sunday morning has dawned and it's time to head home. But first, we must stop for some breakfast. "How about Denny's?" the Biologist asks. "You love their French toast!" The Marine posed for the obligatory photo at the entrance to Denny's. Doesn't everyone take pictures of the restaurants where they eat?

During breakfast, the Biologist suggested another drive by the Port of Tampa, a Cruise Ship Port. Maybe a cruise ship had arrived in Port this morning and we could check it out... for future cruising reference purposes only of course! The Marine just shook his head and had another cup of coffee. So... we hopped back in the SUV and headed to the cruise terminals. Luck was with us today! The Carnival Legend was in Port... a Ship in Port!!! Woo hoo!

By now, it's really getting to be time to head out of town, but wait. This week a new category for Hindu Temples was up for approval. What if it got approved and we left Tampa without visiting the Hindu Temple of Florida? We'd have to come back, that's what! The Marine put the pedal to the metal and off we went to find the Temple. Hmmm, one might think the Marine was worried that the Biologist might drag him back to Tampa. Surely he had a good time. We did go to Keegan's restaurant for him the night before. Sheesh! Well, we soon arrived at the Hindu Temple, and a worthwhile visit it was. It was an absolutely spectacular building. But now we must head home. So until next time (that is, until the Biologist discovers a key waymarking target that she missed during this trip), hasta la vista Tampa.