The time flew by

Monday December 22 - Wednesday December 25, 2013
Sebastian Inlet State Park

 

 

It’s been a whirlwind stay.

 

 

Carrie arrived on Solstice Day Saturday December 21st and had to leave on Christmas Day.  The cost of the flight to come just before Christmas and stay after was over twice what it was to come several days before and leave on the day.  She wasn’t able to take the entire week off so we packed as much into her time with us as we could.

 

 

 

 

 

Monday was our third GREAT beach day.

 

The weather was wonderful enough to spend Monday on the beach and swim in the Atlantic where the waves were BIG.  We had another fabulous time….and in December…..amazingly terrific!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We played games of Save the Everglades but it was hard to get funding to combat all the pollution.  We sang Santa Baby along with Eartha Kitt from 1953, watched the Grinch steal Christmas and Kermit & Miss Piggy play Bob Cratchit and his wife in a Christmas Carol with the Muppets and Michael Caine as Scrooge.

 

 

 

We saw herons and egrets, terns and skimmers in the air and on the water.

 

 

We saw groups of pelicans and this group of wood storks.     Hmmmm  which one does not belong.

 

 

 

 

 

On Tuesday the weather took a big turn.

 

 

 

The temperatures plummeted, the wind gusted to between 20 and 30 mph.  Not a beach day for sure.  The McLarty Treasure Museum is in the park and seemed like a great place to be inside.  There we found out why this area is known as the Treasure Coast.

It seems that in the early morning darkness of the last day of July 1715, a hurricane destroyed a Spanish fleet on its way from Cuba to Spain.  Over 1000 people were killed.  1500 survivors of eleven ships made it to shore and camped at this spot. Attempts to salvage the expensive cargo began almost at once. English pirates raided the salvage camps.   The ships still rest off the barrier coast in this area along with some 30 other wreckages.  Thus it has become known as the treasure coast especially because of the 20th century reclamation of some of the Spanish treasure. 

 

The ships were almost forgotten until the late 1950’s when a building contractor from Cincinnati Ohio named Kip Wagner found a piece of eight on the beach near Sebastian Inlet after a hurricane and decided to find out where it came from.  The story of his finding the fleet is an interesting one and can be read here.

The museum itself is small but does an good job of telling the story and showing some of the things which have been found.  There is another local museum in Sebastian on the mainland which also displays some of the booty.  The 45 minute film is an excellent introduction to the history and the museum.  See it first.

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to the film and the informational panels and dioramas, there are miniatures of three of the ships amazingly complete to the last detail.

 

 

Much of the loot was said to be the dowry for the new Queen of Spain who supposedly would not consummate her marriage until it was provided.   I always thought the bride provided the dowry not received it.  Guess I’d better do some more checking into history here.  There were religious articles, precious gems and stones, jewelry and a great deal of gold and silver.

 

 

 

Also those famous pieces of 8 apparently by the barrel full.

 

 

 

The walls also have some beautiful art work.  My favorite is this oil painting of a storm tossed ship.

 

 

 

Although the museum is located on the water behind the dune it does not have a path to the beach.  It does have a great boardwalk through the maritime forest to an observation deck in the shape of a ship’s bow complete with wheel.

 

 

 

The strong winds are causing the captain to have to lean into steering our vessel.

 

 

The beautiful shore line along which in as little as 15’ of water, you too might find sunken treasure like a family did in September of this year.   Check it out!

 

 

 

Wednesday, Carrie’s final day with us, begins with chocolate chip pancakes on the griddle.

 

 

 

 

We walk down to the beach and find the wind is again in control of things.

 

 

 

But wind doesn’t stop these hearty ocean-o-holics!   We have to leave to take her to Orlando airport by noon but that leaves just enough time for ONE MORE visit to the water.   The temperatures are in the 70’s today rather than the 80’s of Monday or the 60’s of yesterday.   It’s good enough for us.

 

 

 

The waves are rolling.  We all check it out but only David decides to go on in. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’re especially glad we passed when we find several of these Portuguese man of war washed up on the beach near where we are sitting.  But David says he saw none of them, the water was warm, but the waves were strong and tiring.

 

 

Carrie expresses her opinion about the day and we wrap it up with one last picture of the 3 of us.

 

 

 

Then we’re off for the 90 minute drive to Orlando made a little more tense by a last minute stop for gas.  We see her into the hands of the TSA agents and head back on the road arriving home in time for sunset which is a beautiful one this evening.

 

 

 

The pelicans and dolphins are both out as usual at sunset.  The only thing missing is Carrie.  These pictures are especially for her.

 

 

 

 

The after colors in the sky are beautiful.

 

 

Just for you sweetheart, the spot we came to every evening while you were here. It’s missing you.   Me too!

 

 

 

Up in the air junior bird men!  Don’t we wish it were we three.

 

 

 

What a great time when you are here.  Hurry back soon!

   Love Mama and Papa

I miss you when you go!!