LandCruise episode 10: Savanah to Ocala

We left Savanah and headed south to Florida. When you cross the Georgia / Florida state line, there is a big sign that says ‘WTF’ … not what you think, it’s ‘Welcome to Florida’ !! 😉

Our first stop was Jekyll Island, a small Georgian island, one of the Golden Isles of the Georgia barrier islands. It is owned by the State of Georgia and run by a self-sustaining self-governing body.  It is believed that in 1910, 3 years before the Federal Reserve was officially created by Congress, a handful of very powerful and wealthy men sequestered themselves on the Island to actually create what was to become the Federal Reserve – in a way that would always preserve their wealth. An interesting book is “The Creature From Jekyll Island” by G. Griffin gives some very interesting reading material.

Excellent cycling, beautiful beaches, and fun activities – including a turtle hospital for Nat! We found it to be a very fun stop.

Jacksonville is a city on the East coast of FL that is the largest city by landmass in the contiguous USA.  Surrounded by water on all sides, it is a boaters paradise.

We enjoyed a quick visit with Marc and Jen London, friends from Nashua, NH, now living in FL.  Knowledgeable RV’ers, they shared lots of stories and talked politics until we solved at least half the problems that exist!  A chance to play Pickleball for the first time in months was enjoyed by all.

Then a weekend spent with Pam and Jay Wilson.  Pam and Connie worked together at Nashua Memorial Hospital 30 years ago when Connie ran the Hand Therapy department. We were both OTR’s, both CHT’s, both married to guys in IT – pretty obvious we had lots in common and picked up where we left off as if no time had passed.  Sharing time boating, playing pickleball, watching tennis and basketball, the weekend passed too quickly.

St. Augustine, founded in 1565, is considered the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European and African-American origin in the US.  Forty-two years before the English colonized Jamestown and fifty-five years before the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, the Spanish established St. Augustine.

Henry Flagler had a strong influence in the area, building amazing hotels, railroads, and churches.  The Ponce De Leon Hotel, built by Henry Flagler with the help of Thomas Edison and Louis Tiffany, is now repurposed as the Flagler College, a private liberal arts college founded in 1968.  It is a spectacular campus containing tiffany glass windows, Edison wiring and clocks, and John Carrere and Thomas Hastings architecture. Still marveling at all the huge oak trees and beautiful churches.