Entries about stjohnsriver

Had a great trip down. It kept getting warmer through each state, just the way it should. Stopped for a nice lunch at a Farmers Market in SC.

Julia Belle's

Blue Plate Special

4 Sides Blue Plate Special

Flower Market

Flower Market

Yum - fresh local strawberries

Huh? Wonder where Cadeau is off to?

We're official!

Met Scott's sister Julie for dinner at St. John's Town Center.

Scott and Julie

Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve

Thursday was our exploring day.

Fort Caroline Huguenot Fort

The fort was in a nature preserve right on the St. John's river. Built by French Huguenots in 1564. I was surprised at how much history is in this area. I knew about the Spanish and St. Augustine but didn't realize the role of the French Huguenots earlier and the British later. For those that don't know, my heritage is French Huguenot. My ancestor landed in Jamestown, VA in 1700.

Ft Caroline Path

Ft Caroline Oven

Fort Caroline Entrance

Ft Caroline Marker

Coast Gaurd Cutter from Ft Caroline

Nature Walk

Kingsley Plantation

An early Florida plantation that was only mildly successful. The family turned to an early tourism effort and built two clubs on Fort George Island. The first was next to the plantation house. The house is interesting because it was originally just the center two rooms with the four corner rooms that were only accessible from the porches. It was built this way so that every room could catch the river breezes.

Kingsley Plantation

Kingsley Plantation Club

The slave buildings were made from Tabby - aka oyster shell concrete.

Slave Quarters Kingsley

Slave Quarters remains 1

Slave Quarters remains 2

Ribault Club and St George Church

The Ribault club was the other club. It is a beautiful building that has been lovingly maintained. It is also right not he St. John's.

Ribault Club

Ribault Club river side

St. John's from Ribault

There is also an historic Episcopal church on Fort George Island that dates to later when the British had thrown everyone else out and claimed the area.

St George Church Marker

St George Church

Huguenot Memorial State Park

This state park is basically just a big sand spit that you can drive out onto and is a big kite surfing area.

Huguenot Memorial Park

Kite Surfers off Huguenot Park

Little Talbot Island

Last we went to Little Talbot Island. It's part of the state park and is a barrier island that is mostly reserved for wild habitat but there are a few places to walk out to the ocean. You can't swim though because the currents around the area are very violent.

Little Talbot Island Beach

Little Talbot Island

Dinner with Julie at the Sandollar

Finally, we hooked up with Julie again for dinner at a great fish house on the St. John's across from Mayport. We watched the ferry, the huge cargo ships that come up the St. John's headed for Jacksonville, and looked across to the pretty lighthouse.

Good times at the Sandollar

Julie and MayBe

Cargo Ship on the St. John's

That's a BIG ship!

Mayport Ferry and Lighthouse

Peilcans 2

Outside at the Sandollar

BEACH DAY!

And then it was time to relax. Explored Jax Beach and just hung out. There was a Blues festival at the pavilion and live music in a lot of bars. Cadeau hung with us all day like a champ. She got a treat because we forgot her food so she had "Beef Chunks in Gravy" from Walgreens. Ha! She never gets that stuff. Must have been like an outing to McDonalds for us.

Jax Beach

Wake me up when you're ready for the next bar

Rum at a Tiki bar right?

Hey that band is good!

Love the big wide beaches!

Boys of Summer

And today it was off to the next stop, Redington Beach. Stay tuned!