We left the beautiful beaches of St. Augustine, Florida for the 235 mile drive to our new home for the next six weeks, Hunting Island State Park. It took us probably twice as long since we did the scenic route and stayed off the freeways. I love the ride just outside of Jacksonville along the coast route Highway 105 all the way up to Fernandina Beach. We arrived at the park, checked in and were assigned to the Campground Host Site #148. We would be working three days on/three days off helping with camper registration here at the park.
Our timing couldn't have been better for our first hosting experience. Camping in the park was a group of 5 couples who have been hosts at the park over the last seven years; they love the park and do the job in the hot summer months but this time they were here just for fun. They had spent the month at the park and they welcomed us the moment we got the motorhome parked! Paul took the satellite out to set up and the guys were all there to give advise in finding the signal. The day was warm and beautiful and we had 2 days before we were to start our new job. Everyone helped explain what we would be doing as we joined them for shrimp dinner at Boondock's and around the campfire that evening. What a fun group to be a part of!
Thursday morning I joined Kathy, Jane and Doris for a walk near the Nature Center to look for the eagle's nest they had spotted a couple of days before. Once we crossed the bridge we could see it sitting tall in the nest right in front of us. (That's the photo below) As we walked closer it flew off the next into a nearby tree, what a beautiful sight!
From there we walked out to the beach with a look across the water to Fripp Island.
The beaches are so natural with all the dead logs, tress and debris left, not scraped off. We walked over, around and through it all for beautiful views.
Even tried a selfie…but the others I took of all of us didn't turn out.
As we walked they told me about the history of the island and the changes that have happened over the years from hurricanes and storms. The park once had over 70 cabins but now only one remains. The rest have been washed out to sea as well as several privately owned homes that were moved from the island due to the erosion.
This one house remains standing in the water, unaccessible. That's how much the shore line has washed away. The uprooted trees are beautiful!
As we returned to the car this was the view of the lagoon perfect for kayaking. Once we get some warmer days we'll give it a try.
The park is home to large numbers of deer, raccoons and feral cats. Most evenings around the campfire we were visited by them all.
The path to the beach is right down from our campsite and a perfect place for a morning walk with our coffees. I like going early before the wind comes off the water later in the morning.
Within the first day or two of being in the park, Paul was feeling the affects of the pine tree pollen falling everywhere! When a rain came through it washed the pollen into puddles of green. It only lasted a couple of days but everything was covered in the yellow-green dust.
Our campsite is huge with beautiful view towards the beach.The morning light filters through the trees and we have afternoon sun out in front.
We started our new job Friday morning with the amazingly wonderful help of all our new friends who came out front with us to help us get started. They were so sweet giving their time to explain everything to us, then staying to answer any questions we had. Don't think we'd have had such an easy start without their help. But within 2 hours a thunderstorm rolled in and we were done for the day. Saturday morning we gave it another try and by 2 that afternoon we were on our own and doing fine. The rain was gone but the cold wind from the water kept us bundled up.
Saturday night we were in for another fun new experience, an oyster roast!
Jane and Dave showed us how to use the blue handled knives to open and scoop out the oyster. I loved it!
Paul had a few then went for the homemade chili.
By Sunday, our third day on the job, we were both feeling more comfortable with it all. The weather got really chilly so Paul brought over our little portable gas campfire to keep us warm. Since Sunday is very slow once everyone checks out, we decided to keep busy by sweeping the area in front of the store, helping the time go by faster. Sunday night dinner out was at Duke's BBQ, a family style all you can eat buffet.
Foster's been getting some wonderful walks each morning down the long sandy beach.
Another fun new experience with our new southern friends was lunch Tuesday where we were having "Poke Chop Sammiches". This is the fryer used after we battered the thin pork cuts. Don told me he knows the oil was hot enough by throwing a match stick into it, if it lights, the oil's ready for cooking! I don't think I've ever seen an outdoor cooker like this before.
Don, Stephen and I worked getting the pork chops cooked up for the gang of 12. It didn't take long to do about 3 dozen with the two fryers going.
The "Hunting Island Housewives Cabana" was all set with the toasted bread and other fixin's. Since the weather changes constantly the covered area worked perfectly for eating and setting out food, as well as an easy hit by the raccoons at night.
The nightly Happy Hour-Campfire was always a kick!!! I was busy keeping track of as many new southern phrases as I could keep up with as we all laughed! What fun that was. Dave built the most wonderful fires each night, warm and so inviting. Doris is a Lighthouse Host and her campsite is at the other end of the park, so Jane and Kathy drove her home in the mule as campfire time ended.
The week went so quickly and by Wednesday night we were celebrating the end of their time in the park with a fun steak BBQ hosted by Doris and Steve. Paul joined the guys on a trip over to Parris Island Commissary earlier that morning to get supplies. The girls all had their boas and tiaras, and even one for me.
Here we are in our finest!!! Top L-R: Anne, Norma, me, Doris, Jane. Seated: Kathy and Cindy.
Thursday the first groups pulled out, Jane & Don to Rock Hill, SC and Kathy & Dave to Georgia. We were all out front as they packed up when PK brought out his chocolate chip cookies right from the oven for everyone. The best ever! That evening the rest of us went out for a delicious seafood dinner at Johnson's Creek Grill right next to the park. Friday morning Cindy and Stephen packed up and drove all the way back to Beaufort, (that's only 10 miles away) Saturday Anne and Chuck left for Tennessee, Norma and Mike moved over to a new site and we were left all alone in the park…way too quiet without the laughter of friends and our fantastic nightly campfire. How lucky we were to arrive for that fun week and make such wonderful new friends. Hoping we'll get to see them again next year when they meet up in northern Florida for the month of February. A huge hug and thank you to each of them for making us feel so welcomed and for all the fun memories!
1 comment:
What fun!!!! love, Eli and Laura
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