I was woken by the boy camp, but they weren’t being too boisterous so I wasn’t bothered. I made breakfast then got on to finishing the surfboard tie down. After the half-baked job of yesterday, it had come loose while driving so I was determined to do it properly this time. Thankfully there wasn’t too much mucking around and I had it done. I am confident now that it will stay in place and there shouldn’t be any indents in the foam.
I drove north out of the forest and back north to St. Augustine. Having checked the surf, I knew there were no waves to be had and definitely nothing up north so I decided I wouldn’t go back to Jax, but work my way south from Augustine where the waves were supposed to be building up over the next few days.
Once I got to St. A, I drove around in circles until I figured out that there was nowhere to park for free and the visitor’s centre kept eluding me. The visitor’s centre parking garage was asking $12 flat rate for the day, not that I would have paid it even if I could fit under the roof with my bike on top. I eventually found an oversized carpark for buses, RVs and campers. That’s me! No mention of money here either.
I walked over to the visitor’s center and after getting in trouble for getting a brochure out from inside a booth, I perused the city map, then asked a man for some advice, which was all very helpful. He told me that the state of Floriida pays for one field trip for each primary school class in the state. Turns out most of those field trips were happening today in St. Augustine so he advised I avoid the main attraction, the fort, until the afternoon when it would be less crowded.
I wandered St. George street, the main part of historic downtown where there were shops, tourists and children in abundance. Even a pirate or two. It was all very pretty, but a shade of what it would have been back in the 1700s for the most part. The Flagler College (previously a grand hotel) was a beautiful place, with a picturesque courtyard and beautiful terracotta turrets. Walking into the foyer I could smell the aromas of early lunch in the dining hall and watched the students milling about the corridors. I was taken right back to my college days. I think I could still fit in if I had to!
Onwards, I dordelled to the less travelled part of town to see the oldest house in all of America. You know, I didn’t even take note of the date, I think it was 1752 and it was definitely nothing flash! Of course, there were tours offered of the inside of the house, but they weren’t getting my money! I walked back towards the car and the fort along the waterway and marina. It was jacket weather, but the sun was out so I was happy.
I got back to the Fort around 12:00 and there were still plenty of children around but they were kept well in check by the national park tour guides. Castillo de San Marcos was built and first occupied by the Spanish, then the British, then the Spanish again and finally the Americans. It never once saw battle. Each time it changed hands it was because of negotiations and agreements between the different sides. It was interesting to wander the different rooms, but too many tourists for my liking, I prefer the forts I saw in Georgia where I was the only one there.
Though it was tempting, I decided not to stick around for the 1:30pm firing of the cannon because my tummy had other ideas. I got back to the car where the oversized parking was not chockers with buses and drove over to St. Augustine beach. The visitor’s centre man had told me about a free parking spot, which I found without issue, right next to the pier in the centre of the beach. I made lunch and took it towards the pier where I found it was $1 for entry! So I went onto the beach instead and sat on the tidal wall, watching the world go by and enjoying the sun.
Without waves, I pondered what to do with the rest of my day and toyed with the idea of slacklining under the pier. When I discovered loitering under the pier was not allowed, that option disappeared, so I thought I’d just go for a walk along the beach and sneak in to Anastasia State Park, which was just up the sand. While I was putting my lunch stuff away in the car, I had a long chat to a fellow van camper who was parked beside me. We swapped all sorts of stories and I told him about freecampsites.net. I was aghast he hadn’t heard of it and was happy to give him the power!
I walked along the beach, toes digging deep into the sand and it wasn’t far until I was on Anastasia land. I walked up the sand dunes to get a peek at the park and I was stoked I hadn’t paid money to get in. It is literally just a carpark behind the dunes so you can get to te beach. Rip off! I wandered back the way I’d come, speaking to Kevin as I went. It was nearly 4pm so I was sort of looking for a camp, which I knew would be a challenge around here, but I said goodbye to Kevin and drove on south.
I stopped in at Crescent beach and found South Beach Grille, as recommended to me by Craigslist Larry. Crescent beach was just as flat as Augustine, but I came away with something when I looked in the “Leave a Toy, Take a Toy” box, operated by the life savers. Inside, there were two books. I’d been hanging out for a good paperback book, so I figured this was fate! I read the blurbs of both and picked the better one and went back to my van to leave a book that I had in its place.
When I saw South Beach Grille had Wifi, I decided to head in for a drink and do some overdue blogging. The bar was packed, so I sat at a hightop and ordered a Coke to refresh me. I soon found out the Wifi did not work, so I finished my coke and carried on. After stopping in at Fort Mantaszas, which was literally just some ruins you could look at from across the river, I found a Starbucks near Flagler beach and parked close enough so that I could sit in my car and use the internet. I stayed here for a few hours, blogging and sorting out a bunch of stuff for my house. I probably should be taken off the body corporate committee since I always seem to be catching up on what’s going on.
It was nearly 8pm by the time I left and I was starving and not optimistic about finding a good camp. When I saw “Cracker Barrel” on the map, I remembered that Chris, my camping neighbour from a few nights before had said they let you park overnight for free. I pulled in, apprehensive, but saw a sign for Bus/RV parking and sure enough, out the back, there was an RV parked. I made dinner, then decided that yes, this would do, but kept it pretty incognito with my lights turned low.