Winter Escape 2023 - Week 5 (Flagler Beach)

 Monday, February 13th we packed up the RV to get ready to move to another site at Beverly Beach Camptown.  Parked it in a temporary spot and went to Tom & Beth’s to pick them up and make our way to Blue Springs State Park to see the manatees.  Arrived at around 9:00 o’clock with no line and able to park up close.  Then, we received the greatest gift that could be.  A number of Florida manatee rehab agencies were in a day long release of rehabbed manatees from Ohio and Florida.  We were able to watch as they unloaded, prepped and released a ½ dozen of the dozen manatees to be released that day.  It was truly a site to see.  

As to watching the manatees in the Blue Springs (with a constant water temperature of 72 degrees), you could see shadows, but I did not see any up close, the way in which Tom and Beth were able to.  After walking through the restored Thursby house and walking the boardwalk to the gift shop, it was late morning and we’d seen what we had come to see.  As we left the state park, there were crowds in several parking lots and lines of cars coming in from both directions, at the entrance to the park.  We timed it just right.  

We made our way back towards Flagler with a stop at Bantam Chef - 101 E Court St, Bunnell, FL for their famous fish sandwich.  It’s a small brick building with picnic tables under their awning and an add-on awning out front.  The “famous fish sandwich” is just over $10 but comes with choice of condiments and somewhere between ½ to ¾ pounds of fresh fried white fish.  A small order of tater tots (served hot) and an unsweet tea completed this amazing meal.  Note – in the south there is unsweet tea and there is sweet tea.  (Note - Sweet tea in the south is made by adding lots of sugar to hot tea and it is “sweet”.)  After lunch we made our way back to Flagler for afternoon naps.  That evening – with a cold front having come through, there was a cool wind blowing – but we made our way to Sally’s on A1A for ice cream to finish out the evening.

Tuesday, February 14th we said good-bye to Tom & Beth, who were on their way to see her dad and step-mom near Phoenix, AZ.  Nancy and I made our way to Anastasia Island (St. Augustine Beach) to search a couple of resale/antique stores and to eat at Osteen’s another restaurant that receives great reviews.  It’s a cash only restaurant and when we pulled in there was a parking spot close, but there was a line 10-15 yards long.  We joined the line and awaited the opening of the restaurant at 11:00 a.m.  We made the initial cut and picked up the last two seats in this small restaurant.  We ordered shrimp with sides and we weren’t disappointed with the meal which was completed with rice & gravy, apple sauce and hush puppies.  Since they had Key Lime pie – a slice was a must and it was worth it.  After lunch we made our way to County Line Produce to pick up Datil chili sauce and some orange blossom honey.  Then it was over to Palatka and Palm Coast for a couple of quilt shops.  Nancy was able to sign up for a class at the Palm Coast shop for Thursday afternoon.  Back to the RV to hang out for the rest of the evening.  

Wednesday, February 15th we got up and around.  We left for Mims/Titusville to meet up with Michael & Bobbi (one of my cousins) at the LaGrange Church cemetery where our grandparents, an aunt & uncle and his dad are buried.  We raked leaves, clean the stones and lifted three stones and put some sand under them to bring them back above ground.  After completing the task at hand, we made our way to Honeysuckle Restaurant in south Mims or North Titusville for lunch.  I had what is a rarity in today’s restaurant world, a fried bologna sandwich on wheat.  It was a good choice.  After eating and talking we gave up the table as there was a line of the lunch crowd waiting for tables.  Going out front, struck up a quick conversation with a couple of gentlemen and found that one of them was the pastor of another of my cousin’s churches.  It truly is a small world.

With plans to meet up with Michael and Bobbi on the 25th of February to celebrate Bobbi and Nancy’s birthdays, Nancy and I made our way to the Titusville Antique Mall to pick up an item for my brother.  From there it was another quilt shop and then back to Flagler.  Nancy signed up for a sewing class at the RV park at 6:00 p.m. After a quick nap and dinner Nancy spent the evening working on the project of the week.

Thursday, February 16th after getting up and around, time was spent putting some things away and then a trip to Palm Coast.  Needed to pick a grout color for the Eureka Springs bathroom tile and pick up a pot for a Datil chili plant that I had bought.  From their it was to Walmart for a couple of items and the Winn-Dixie for another couple of items.  After dropping Nancy off at the quilt shop for her class, I made my way to the gym for a work out.  Then I went back to the RV and figured out the cable connection, ate lunch, took a nap and worked on the blog post.  Picked up Nancy at the quilt shop and then after a quiet evening we went to Sally’s Ice Cream in Flagler for a treat.  Another good day in Flagler.

Friday, February 17th began with an amazing sunrise over the Atlantic.  After that it was laundry and listening to the stories of five guys from somewhere up north who were in town for the Daytona 500.  Nancy had a late morning appointment at Ocean Bliss Spa and I spent the morning working on computer stuff and took a nap.  Once Nancy was back at the RV, I made my way over to the gym for another workout.  

Late afternoon we went to Crescent Beach for seafood at Safe Harbor Restaurant, a branch of the one that we like in Mayport.  It was shrimp and fish, hushpuppies and cucumber/tomato salad and a slice of Key Lime pie.  After dinner, instead of going to the RV we went into St. Augustine.  Crossing the Lion Bridge was a breeze with no traffic, however in the first loop there were no parking spots to be found.  Went by the fort, Ripleys and turned at the city garage and onto a side street.  Slipped into a parking lot with a mix of permit and metered parking.  Not only was there a metered spot just a ½ block west of St. George Street, but it being after 5:00 p.m. the parking was free.  Stopped at several shops on St. George St. to pick up some things for the house and friends.  With a quick look at the weather app and the sky – made a wise purchase of an umbrella as it was to start raining in 8 minutes.  Finished walking and shopping most of St. George Street in the rain.  We made our way to Gate City Distillery where we did a quick tasting and bought some gifts for family.  Made our way back to the RV in the midst of a light rain.  And this ends another day in our Winter Escape.

Saturday, was a fairly early day to start, as we were going to Renningers Antique Extravaganza in Mt. Dora.  Getting there was about a 1 ½ hour drive and parking was still abundant.  Then the walking starts.  There were over 800 vendors in the antique section alone, of which we saw probably 2/3 of them.  Made all the purchases that our sand buggy wagon and our bank account could handle by early afternoon, so it was to the car to unload and to pick up an item that was too large to carry.  Being that the grounds were now crowded, so much so that the management was getting ready to shut the parking entrances off, decided that we’d forgo the flea and farmer’s market.  We headed to Bunnell and the Bantam Chef for another famous fish sandwich, Cole slaw and a small order of tater tots.  We were not disappointed.  After getting back to the RV late afternoon, Nancy got a haircut and I spent some time at the Atlantic capturing some photos of the wind-swept waves.  The wind has been constant for the last 24-36 hours.  We passed on dinner for another trip to Sally’s for an ice cream treat.  And the end of another day comes to a close.

Sunday, February 19th began with church at Flagler United Methodist and their early praise service.  For the early service – there were just over 40 people who gathered.  The sermon was conversational style that was easy to relate too.  It was supposed to be a praise service – though the music was interesting, to say the least.  One of the joys of being in different parts of Florida is being able to enjoy worship at different churches.  Each has been a blessing.  

After church I made a trip to the gym.  Mid-afternoon we left for New Smyrna Beach with a stop at the Bu-cee’s in Daytona.  From the packed parking lot you could hear the roar of the cars from the Daytona 500 track that was several miles further south. Blackbeard’s Inn in New Smyrna Beach was our ultimate destination for dinner with my cousin, Martha and her husband Tom and their son Ryan.  Shrimp was again on the menu.  Martha brought a delicious birthday cake to celebrate Nancy’s birthday (February 25th).  We had a great time with food and conversation and will do this again.

If you are trying to figure out the importance of the cousin connection during these Winter Escapes – in the late 50’s, 60’s and early 70’s we came to Florida for a month every other year and spent considerable time with Florida cousins in Orlando, Daytona, Mims, St. Cloud and Ft. Pierce.  Some of the Parker cousins now live in the Carolinas, the Dakotas, Indiana and Arkansas but there is still a group that lives in Florida.  Reconnecting with cousins and connecting with their children and grandchildren is a joy that I look forward to each year.

Back at the RV after a great evening, avoiding the Daytona 500 crowd by going north on US Hwy 1 and A1A, I did some scheduling, watched a bit of TV and did some computer work bringing to an end those close of week five of this Winter Escape 2023.  Five weeks in Florida are not complete and our time is beginning to wind down.  For those considering adventures like this, plan for it, but more importantly do it while you can.  Time passes to quick and tomorrow is never promised.