Just to set the record straight, today the Twin Cities and St Augustine have the same temperatures this morning around 8:00 AM.
Can you spot my bus hiding in the bushes in Naples?

When I last posted, I was getting ready to start work for a client in Naples, a production we’ve done the past 5 years. Upon arrival with the crew, we had our annual quick lunch by the beach to celebrate being in a warm climate. This is a regular occurrence on this project, as it will be the only time outdoors for the next 6 days! So, it’s about 3:30 PM and this woman walks over and just stands at our table.

She says she’s trying to get a better view of the sunset. Ahhhh – the sunset is in 2 hours and 20 minutes.

So, she just stays and begins to tell us her life story.

Parked in front of the hotel, my bus keeps good company with the Porsche’s, Ferrari’s, Bentley’s and Lamborghini’s. Actually, the bus draws more of a crowd each day and it’s the doormen’s favorite.
Linda finally arrives!

At the end of the project I head north to pick up Linda at the Orlando airport and finally off to St Augustine for the week. We won’t get any pity points from our friends up north by telling you the temps were going to be between 30 and 50 degrees for the week.
We’re staying at the North Beach campground, just north of St Augustine and between the Atlantic Ocean and the Tolomato River.

Sweet campground! Probably nicer if we could shed a layer or two. The recent storms in January have wiped out the access to the Atlantic beaches, so we are basically unable to walk along them. Plus, the winds have been so strong and the temps hovering around 40 degrees, it is simply too uncomfortable to be out there.
First evening, we got together with our friends Micky and Jim, who have wintered here for about 15 years.

Dine at a very cute Italian restaurant complete with a small dog who hangs with me for most of the evening.



A clean campsite is a happy campsite.
Do these folks have plastic covers on their furniture?
Micky and Jim love flea markets. So, of course, we obliged them. You can get anything here, including guns and confederate flags 😦 And, probably fleas.


St Augustine is a wonderful city. Oldest city in the US with a rich history. Great architecture, dining, museums, everything you’d want in a get-away spot. If you come, take the green trolley line around the city to get the big-picture background. Don’t miss the chocolate factory tour (you’ll leave buzzed!).

Linda really wanted to see the Alligator Farm – no, it’s not a bunch of hicks wrestling gators.

Very well done, but so cold most were quite dormant, and they cancelled the feeding, which was going to be the highlight – dang!

Great sunrises over the Atlantic and sunsets over the river.

Breakfast in the bus

Linda and Micky hanging with the birds.

Heading to Mount Dora tomorrow, a cute little town on the way to Orlando. It’s known for its antique shops and lovely downtown. We’ll connect with Micky and Jim again as they purchase antiques there each year to bring back for their business in Stillwater.
Along the way, we’ll stop and see the manatees in the Blue Spring State Park in Orange City.
Flying out of Orlando on Sunday after we store the Westy in the Adult Toy Storage (yes, real name). With a number of productions in Orlando this spring, we thought we’d leave it here and do some more side trips in hopes of finally wearing shorts and a t-shirt!
Back at you after we swim with the manatees 🙂
Excellent post and pictures! I especially loved the shots of the little doggie who dined with you and the head/face gear you donned at the Gator Farm. Classic! Safe travels home!
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Thanks Lynae. good news is, you don’t have to wear the face gear at the gator farm, only at the chocolate factory. And, the gator farm http://www.alligatorfarm.com is ” a modern zoo serving the public and the scientific community with educational shows and exhibits, important research, and worldwide conservation efforts”.
My (almost) scientific research of the employees revealed they have significantly more teeth per employee than your typical Everglades gator farm.
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I love this post and all the pictures! It looks like a beautiful site.
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Thanks Bukazoid. I would suggest staying here during the week, but leave on the weekends as the place gets pretty full of those ready to ‘party down’ for the weekend! Although, they all honored the 10PM quiet time last night. It also may have been the 35 degree weather that brought them all inside by then.
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