The Gang Leaves and Beach Time

Sunday November 30, 2014
Fort Clinch State Park
Fernandina Beach, Florida

 

 I think I left the impression yesterday that “the gang” was troublesome.  Other than the folks right outside our window watching TV until after 10pm, they were just fun to watch.  They really were having a great time on their Thanksgiving holiday.  Everyone was outside playing, adults and kids alike.

But today was pack up day and time for last minute rides around the campground loop on the golf cart trolley.  Then just a little scooter time before there wasn’t a trace of any of them.

 

 

 

 

Winnona is all alone until the next occupants arrive.

 

 

 

While all the pack up is going on, I am inside doing yet another fix to the treasured ancient sweat pants.  Those who have been with me a long time will remember that I have hand repaired these comfy much loved things many times.  But now the threads of the fabric are so thin that it’s time to move to iron on patches.  Nancy Mills suggested I cut out a heart and put it on the back side.  I don’t think she thought I’d do it but I did.   I really have tried to replace these but no one sells sweat pants with elastic at the feet anymore.   The only way the length will fit me is to have elastic.  So the repairs go on.

 

 

 

I know, you can’t believe I would actually wear these.  I do wear them mostly in the house but I’ve been known to go for solo walks on the beach in them.

 

 

 

And that’s what I do today.  I head toward the ocean with my pedometer recording my steps.

 

 

The birds are gathered.  Today it’s gulls, terns and skimmers.  I love the perfectly designed skimmer beaks.

 

 

 

 

I  come back for lunch and this time David comes along – eventually.   When I head down to the beach to wait for him, I see these fellas flying over the beach walk from the campground.  They are having a great time on this sunny light wind day.   One of them shows off for us dipping his craft side to side.  This looks like fun except I’m afraid the constant loud engine noise would be too much for me.  I’m more of hang gliding type.

 

 

Sailing to the moon?

 

David takes this picture when he arrives.  I take one of him when he joins me.   Notice the difference in our attire.

 

David hasn’t been up on the 1/2 mile long fishing pier so we take a walk along the shore to it.

 

 

It’s so long, you can’t really see the end.

 

 

 

There are many more people out here this afternoon than when I was here in the morning.  But this gull seems to live here and doesn’t care a fig for any of the people walking by.   He’s waiting for a fisherman to provide a snack I suppose.  As gulls go, I think he’s pretty handsome.

 

 

As we walk back down the board walk we stop to pick up the fishing line left by careless fishermen.  I’ve read that they are the biggest trash leavers of all sportsmen.  Don’t know if that’s true but I do know fishing line is dangerous for birds and other sea life.   It’s like a roadside or beach litter clean up which we’ve done many times. With these receptacles at every fishing area I’ve seen, it is sad that some fishermen can’t be bothered.  We each have a handful.