Fort Myers Florida

We were set up in our new RV Park early enough that we could go out again and check the beaches before the hockey game. Fort Myers looks like a place I could stay all winter, too bad it is too far from BC to travel to for a winter vacation. There was a man fishing here and he caught a sting-ray, I got a photo of it just before he got the hook out and put it back in the water. Here are some photos of our first night in Fort Myers.

Spring Hill

We drove to Spring Hill today and planned on staying at Wal-Mart but went to a RV Park instead. We were set up early and decided to drive around town before Ernest watched his hockey game ( love the time difference as the games start late here). We ended up at the beach and saw a beautiful sunset. I took some photos and while watching a father with his kids, (looking for shells in the rocks) I thought of Ken and Brad at home with their kids. I miss my family. Here are a few photos!

Tallahassee we visited the Pebble Hill Plantation in Georgia

I love touring places like this and while Ernest watched a horse jumping show I walked the grounds. Here is some history of this plantation that I found on the Internet and a few of my photos, these are only a few of the buildings on the property!

Thomas Jefferson Johnson; author of the bill creating Thomas County, and founder of Thomasville; built the first house on Pebble Hill about 1827. Julia Ann, his daughter, married a local planter named John W.H. Mitchell and inherited the plantation after her parents died. The Mitchells expanded the cotton planting operations, and in 1850, replaced the original structure with a house designed by gifted young English architect John Wind.

Following the Civil War, Mitchell died and the strong-willed Julia Ann maintained the plantation. After her death, Pebble Hill was sold in 1896 to Howard Melville Hanna, an industrialist of Cleveland, Ohio, who was attracted by the winter climate and quail shooting. Later Hanna gave the property to his daughter, Kate. She married Robert Livingston Ireland and turned Pebble Hill into a showplace. Kate and her second husband, Perry Williams Harvey, continued to make improvements. Abram Garfield, architect and son of President James A. Garfield, built gatehouses, a country store, and a Jersey barn. By the 1920´s Pebble Hill stood a glorious testimony to the sporting life.

An accidental fire in the winter of 1934 consumed all but the east wing, although the furnishings were saved. The undamaged section was incorporated in to the present house which Garfield completed in 1936. When Kate died, her property was divided between her children, Robert Livingston Ireland Jr., and Elisabeth Ireland, or Pansy as she was always known. Miss Pansy inherited Pebble Hill.

Like her mother, Pansy was generous and hospitable. She preserved the Plantation, and it became famous as a haven for guests and friends. House guests included many distinguished artists such as sports painters Ogden Pleissner and Richard Bishop; Gina Bachauer, international concert pianist; presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Jimmy Carter; ambassadors, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor; 1930´s writer, actress and dramatist, Cornelia Otis Skinner.

Tallahassee visit to Goodwood Museum and Gardens

This estate began in the 1830's as a cotton and corn plantation that ultimately encompassed 2,400 acres. The plantation's agricultural emphasis declined after the Civil War and by the 1880's the remaining 160 acres, home and garden served as an elegant private residence. In 1911 Goodwood's ownership changed and the house and garden underwent major renovation, securing a place among the fine homes of the Country Estate era. The estate's style and elegance was further enhanced by Goodwood's owners in the late 1920's. Restoration efforts focus on this turn-of-the-century Country Estate era, ever mindful of Goodwood's rich 19th-century history. These are only a few of the buildings on the property!

Tallahassee Florida, town market

We went into town to get information on some Plantations to see and we found this market. We bought some vegetables and I also bought some "collar greens" and cooked them for dinner. We did not mind them but even though I cooked them longer than the recipe called for they were still coarse and chewy. Anyway did try them, I think Elvis Presley loved them.... Also here are a few photos of Oak trees with Spanish Moss hanging from them which I thought was very beautiful.

Tallahassee Florida

Here is a photo of the drive to Tallahassee, we can not get over the way they build highways down here....Canada could take some lessons on building freeways and bridges.

Mobile Alabama

I was not impressed with Mobile, I thought the city was dirty and depressing. The only thing we went into was the Mardi Gras Museum and we found it very interesting. We were shown the tradition of Mardi Gras with its Royalty. A King and Queen are chosen and their costumes were spectacular. The Mardi Gras in Mobile is very family orientated not like the party atmosphere that New Orleans has. If you ever get the chance I would suggest you visit this museum. I could not take photos in there and they did not sell post cards of the costumes although they do have a nice gift shop although it was pricey. The market in town was very reasonable, you could buy 5 Mardi Gras masks (full of feathers) for $10.00; similar masks in Yuma sold for about $9.00 for one.

New Orleans Day trip from Biloxi

We did not want to stay in New Orleans so we did a day trip back to there while we were in Biloxi. There was not much to do in Biloxi so the day away was a good choice. I just took a few photos in New Orleans as this was not a place I enjoyed that much. I do not like looking at the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Biloxi Mississippi

Here we are in Biloxi, and wouldn't you know the first drive we did to checkout the city we ended up in a Casino! This town has a lot of damage from Hurricane Katrina. I should of taken some photos but I feel sad when I see the devastation of other peoples property and lives. Anyway on a happier note I have some photos to show you, these are taken as we drive to Biloxi! The road is elevated over the swamp lands.

Galviston Texas visit to NASA Johnston Space Center

Yesterday we drove to NASA Johnston Space Center, on the way there it was very sad because we saw a traffic accident. We were stopped at a red light on the highway and Ernest pointed out to me a car speeding down the ditch on the other side of the road all smashed up in the front. It finally came to a crashing stop when it hit a post. Two young guys jumped out and the one quickly sat down and the other was walking around the car kinda dazed. Then the light turned green and we went through the intersection and just a few yards ahead was a man lying face down right in the middle of the road. There were a few cars stopped already and a man and lady were looking at the man on the road but not touching him or doing anything for him, (I think he was dead there). Another car was upside down in the ditch on our side of the road. I told Ernest it was good thing he took the garbage out and delayed us a bit or we may of been the ones in that accident. After we did our tour of the Space Center and we came home the red marking from the police were all over the road where the accident happened. I checked at the office of the RV Park and they said the man was thrown out of his car and was killed.

There is tight security at the Johnson Space Center, both at the gate and when you take the tour but after we left and stopped for lunch we saw three helicopters flying and stopped in the air over the Space Center area. There were also lots of Police cars along the road, parked but facing that area. On the news that night they said a worker came in with a gun and held two hostages and ended up killing one and himself. I wonder how he got in with a gun!

This was a depressing day but here are a few photos from the Space Center anyway.

Galveston Texas Oceanstar Oil Rig

Today we visited Oceanstar, an oil well museum. We also went to Moody Gardens, Ernest was a good sport about walking around the gardens. I was disappointed because they do not have the butterfly exhibit any more. Later in the day we went for a drive along the ocean, we tried to go on a dock to watch the men fish but they were charging to go on the dock even if you were not going to fish so we passed it up. Ernest did find a fellow fishing from the rock breakers and he had a chat with him.

San Antonio visit the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch

We took an afternoon trip to the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, taking the back road behind our camp ground it was only 6 or 7 miles from us. It was nice to see the animals free and us in the car as we wound around the ranch. There were no spectacular animals there but it was nice all the same.