Around the Campground
We both slept extremely well last night. The CG was very quiet and very dark. This morning we had a light breakfast of hot oatmeal and waited for the temp to get up over 40 degrees. The sun was shining so it warmed up nicely but not above 53 degrees.
We took Jewel for a walk to the edge of the beach. Dogs are not allowed on the beach in most state parks. We skimmed the beach border and enjoyed the sea breeze. Then walked along a hiking trail. Interestingly enough, besides alligators there are bears in this part of Florida. Yes, I did say bears – who knew!
We stopped to speak to several people next to us with lots of small dogs. There were seven dogs in total. One couple owned six of the most adorable little dogs. They were all nicely dressed in their sweaters and coats and very well behaved. Jewel, who doesn’t like her coat, was in her glory with all of the dogs because they were either her size or smaller then her. Two of the dogs were real mini- schnauzers. One was white which is very unusual, just like Jewel. After seeing those schnauzers’ we believe that Jewels’ papers are wrong – she is probably a schnauzer and westie mix. After some barking and petting we were on our way.
CAPE ST. GEORGE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE
LINK: http://www.stgeorgelight.org/index.cfm/m/1/dn/Home%20Page/
After a one hour hike we headed back to the MH for lunch. Ron napped and then we took off to view and climb the Cape St. George Lighthouse. We love lighthouses and can’t pass up a chance to climb one. By our standards this was an easy climb –only 97 steps with the last six steps a very tight fit through a very small hole to the actual viewing area.
The Cape St. George Lighthouse is located in the center of St George Island and is the fourth construction of the historic lighthouse. The first was built in 1833 with reconstructions in 1848, 1852 and 2008.
The lighthouse was originally built on the western tip of the island to help guide ships into the cotton port of Apalachicola. The first light was hard to see for maritime traffic approaching from the east. After suffering storm damage the lighthouse was dismantled and in 1848 rebuilt on Cape St. George the southern most tip of the island.
The hurricane of 1851 toppled the lighthouse with the third reconstruction done in 1852. the lighthouse was built 500 yards inland from the water’s edge, but by the 90’s the beachfront between the lighthouse and the Gulf of Mexico erode down to less then a few hundred feet. Hurricane Andrew hit in 1992 and after a succession of Lighthouse Keepers tended the light for more then 100 years and 60 years after an automated light was placed the Coast Guard deactivated the light in 1994. For the first time in 160 years the the light was dark.
Hurricane Opal continued the destruction in 1995 when a powerful tidal surge washed the lighthouse from its foundation. The lighthouse began to lean at 7.5 degrees but the St. George Island lighthouse Society raised funds to “Save the Light.”
Subsequent years saw continued erosion and by the Spring of 2004 the lighthouse was completely surrounded by thrashing Gulf waters. Before the structure could be shored up or moved it collapsed around noon on Friday, October 21, 2005.
Private contractors and local volunteers with government funding salvaged pieces of the lighthouse including all of the visible bricks on the interior walls of the current lighthouse.
The fourth Cape St. George Lighthouse was completed in December 2008. It stands as a tribute to those people committed to the preservation or its maritime history. The light has been fully re-commissioned and recognized by the Coast guard. The light can be seen 15 miles out into the Gulf of Mexico and continues to guide mariners safely around the island.
THE ORMAN HOUSE
APALACHICOLA,FL
Next we stopped at the Orman House Sate Park featuring the 1838 antebellum home of Thomas Orman. The wood for the Orman house was precut near Syrcuse New York and shipped to Apalachicola by sailing vessel.
By mansion standards this was not as ornate as some we have seen but impressive anyway.
Thomas Orman was an entrepreneur who made and lost money and made it again with a variety of ventures including the cotton industry.
Across the street is the Chapman Botanical Garden, however because of the unusually cold weather nothing was in bloom.
Located in front of the Orman House is the Three Soldiers, Detail statute , a one of a kind detailed bronze sculpture made from the original mold of The Three Servicemen Statue that is part of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C.
DOWNTOWN EASTPOINT, FL
ON THE BEACH
The forgotten coast LINK:
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