2022 USA - Here we go again!!

On the road today, the shortest drive yet....one hour from Crescent City to St Augustine... Checked into the Campsite....seemed to take forever to set up...not sure if it did or not...lunch....little shopping....little drive....dinner and now chilaxing with a glass of 🍷.....thought I better update the blog as ...just like my momma my memory sucks sometimes....and then realized...not a single picture taken by either of us today...that's a first! Not sure how the shortest drive yet could result in the most unproductive day yet? Maybe the break we needed.... 😵‍💫

The storm was over by morning...it's going to be another warm muggy day...it's a really nice spacious campsite and cheap at $25 a night..love that Passport America. Almost all of the beaches near Flagler are dog friendly....really trying to make Lu into a "salty dog" but not sure that's going so well...shes always at the very end of the leash.. The beaches are so vast here that sometimes you are almost on your own. These two pictures are taken to the north and south of us....Almost empty....💓 Lu reluctantly did go swimming and by the end of the day the leash got a little more relaxed  and she was walking in the waves instead of running from them.  👣

It was a day of phone calls and thoughts and plans and more thoughts...and more memories and thoughts...she lived a long healthy life right to the end......we are all blessed for that, no pain, no endless hospital stays, no bedside care...just went to sleep happy and never woke up 😌 we all dream of that ending and for mom...it came true..... The weather was unsettled, we did not go far today, just drove to a small town and went for a stroll at a State Park outside of Crescent City Florida where we will be for a few days. The rumble in the sky and the first drops of rain made it a short walk. Memorial day is coming soon so the little town of Palatka was getting ready for their Blue Crab Festival. The petting zoo was getting set up so we got to watch this little baby goat annoy his momma by escaping all the time.  Crescent City where we are staying is pretty quiet. Most of the beach camping at Flagler Beach was fully booked so we opted...

We all know one day...we never quite know when...but we will loose our mommas....and that day was today for me. 96 years came to an end for her....she always said...."I want to go to sleep at night happy and just not wake up"...and that wish came true. She left this world her way💓 We don't know where she got this saying....but she said this all the time...."I am ready for Freddy"🙃 She was strong, honest and the hardest worker I have ever known. She raised her family through some really tough times and she just found a way to "get it done" no matter what. As her memories faded so did the names and faces she once knew....but she would look at me and with a puzzled look...and then she would say you look familiar....is that you Linda?  Yes, it's me mom...and then one day that would change too. We had many talks when we would leave on long travels....if "that day came while I was away" ...then I  would come home....but Mom....well she said i...

Back to the vet as apparently in Florida the Dog Flu is a thing....most Doggy Daycares require an Influenza vaccine and a few other tests.. so here we are again...first time seeing this as the exam table is remote like a hospital bed...so cool Then off to Doggy Daycare again so we can play! No more than 5 minutes into the kayak and dolphins appeared.... I ❤ dolphins...they swam around the kayaks the entire time,  sometimes we could even see them swimming right underneath the kayaks!!! Totally unexpected. And then the manatees appeared....also totally unexpected as we understood they had moved on as it was getting too warm. They swam right under the kayaks several times and they were huge....cool but scary! Paddled through the canals for a while...love having Google maps working on my phone....the waterways here are a real maze.... Saw this big green iguana...we were s...

Found Lu a Doggy Daycare so we could play at the ocean a bit.  First stop was breakfast and this little island Cafe and all their tables were a shadow box style filled with shells in all different patterns. First shelling beach was a good one, the waves were pretty strong which made for  quick hands when you spotted a good one! Parking is at a premium on Sanibel and Captiva Island. Absolutely no parking outside the few parking lots. Beach parking here....$5 an hour.  Many people here have the shell cage sticks for grabbing shells....we did it the old fashioned way....lots of fun. Drove down this one small island road with a vacant lot and it was absolutely covered in these large green iguanas. They were scurrying everywhich way.  Apparently they are quite invasive and the islands have been having them captured and removed. Stopped for a coronarita and snack....it's a margaritta with a mini bottle of Corona t...

Today we thought we would give Lu a break from the sun and heat. She's been doing pretty good but a rest day is always good. Super dog friendly outlet mall really close by so took advantage of it.  Most stores are concrete or tiled floors so all good for 🐕 accidents but Lu did find one carpeted store to 🤢 on...luckily I am a pretty prepared person so no one was the wiser😁 Went to Fort Meyers Beach, a small town just a few miles from the RV.  The Pier and Beach are not dog friendly so just a quick view for me. Got Lu another Dairy Queen "Pup cup" but this time we think she got Brain Freeze and after the first few  seconds of eating she stopped and stared and then wouldn't eat anymore🤣 Stopped for a cold one and an appie and listened to some music along the way. Almost every place had live music. Well maybe stopped at a few places... ✌️

The last few days and the expected next few days have and will be about 34 degrees, 75+% humidity and storms in the late afternoon and evening.  Today was biking with Lu on Sanibel Island, they have 26 miles of paved bike paths with rest/water stops along the way.  Also this is one of the very few places that allow leashed dogs on all beaches, what a treat. Lu appears to be a bit scared of the waves, but hoping she will one day enjoy the water. Lots of shells on the beaches of Sanibel. I have a large collection at home already from our previous visits here...so mostly enjoyed looking and just kept a few. Happened upon a Gopher 🐢 on the bike path It was funny he looked really slow....as we think they all are, but this guy was speedy crossing the path to get to some greener grass! This was a really neat Shell Heart in the Visitor Center. It is called "In my Heart of Hearts" by Ginny Dickinson. ...