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Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - St. Augustine Redux
40 miles. Jacksonville, FL to Uncle Chuck and Aunt Ann's, St.
Augustine, FL
We left the great hospitality of Mark and Sue at
around 10:30 since the run down to St. Augustine on U.S. 1 is only about 40
miles. The fog lifted by then and rush hour was over so traffic was
moderate, tho' much heavier than when we sneaked into Jacksonville. Once
you get out of Jacksonville there really is nothing for 25 miles to St Augustine
since the land drains so poorly and is swampy.
Reaching St Augustine (pop. 11,692) was like greeting
an old friend. Because of our tour of two days earlier with Mark and Sue
we knew right where we were going. We cruised right past the old Fort,
Castillo de San Marcos and crossed over the historic Bridge of the Lions onto
Anastasia Island where Joan's Uncle Chuck and Aunt Ann live.
This area is a popular tourist Mecca but this is
definitely off season. Rates are low right now and will remain so until
the Canadians start swarming south after the New Year. Americans tend to
go farther south but St. Augustine is far enough for our cousins from the north.
We had supper with Joan's aunt and uncle and they
entertained us with stories of their travels abroad and with their knowledge of
Florida, both St. Augustine and Naples, and the History of this oldest of all
American cities
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