It was time to leave St. Augustine, FL, this morning. We decided to head toward Daytona Beach, FL, on the way back to Orlando. We drove south on the coastal highway, A1A. It was a very pretty drive. As we were leaving St. Augustine, we were able to drive fairly close to their lighthouse. When you get close enough to something like this, something that is obviously foreign to living in Kansas, they are pretty cool. 
A little further down the road we saw a sign for the Fort Matanzas National Monument, so of course we had to stop and see what it was all about. We weren't sure if we would ride the ferry over to see it or not because we weren't sure if it would keep Allison's attention. We watched the video at the ranger building and it looked pretty appealing. 
It was a beautiful day. Today is Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, and the area also was used by boaters, and other water sports folks, so it was a neat way to see folks taking advantage of the lovely day. 
Bruce and Allison even got a lesson on how to load and shoot a cannon by a "Spanish Captain", and then climbed to the roof of the fort for a look around. 
This was a cool tree that was out in the parking lot when we were leaving. There were several that had so many branches; it was just a cool looking tree. 
We then continued on down the coastal highway to Daytona Beach. We were just kinda exploring the area, getting a lay of the land, and we ended up near the Daytona Speedway. It was a pretty impressive structure (even to a non-NASCAR person). It looked HUGE.
We then headed back down the highway, to look for a hotel room, preferably with a room facing the beach. We were hoping that we would not have trouble finding one for tonight, with many folks probably having to head back home to work after the long weekend. We ended up at a Comfort Inn or something like that. There are tons and tons of hotels, many that look as they have been here for a number of years. I'm also sure that they take a beating with the weather and hurricanes, etc. It is very cool having a room on the top/5th floor of the hotel with a little balcony facing the ocean. We can walk down on the beach from the swimming pool area of the hotel. After walking through some beach the other day, the sand was much finer and a little more difficult to walk through at first today. However the beach/sand area that has been smoothed down by the tides as well as the traffic way that is allowed on the beach, it was much easier to walk from there. Upon returning to the hotel, there are faucets and shower head to "sand off" before getting into the hotel. 
It is pretty windy and the waves are pretty strong. After spending some time at the beach area, walking and standing, etc., we spent some more time up at the swimming pool. It started to sprinkle, and then sprinkle a little heavier so we went up to the hotel room. The little deck provides a nice little area to enjoy the sight and sounds of the ocean. As I am writing this now, it is almost 9:30 and dark, and it is really not possible to see much of the ocean. I have to admit that's kinda freaky...it's so dark...guess I'm used to land with lights in the background; plus it is cloudy and overcast so there is no moon showing, etc. 
A little further down the road we saw a sign for the Fort Matanzas National Monument, so of course we had to stop and see what it was all about. We weren't sure if we would ride the ferry over to see it or not because we weren't sure if it would keep Allison's attention. We watched the video at the ranger building and it looked pretty appealing. 
It was a beautiful day. Today is Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, and the area also was used by boaters, and other water sports folks, so it was a neat way to see folks taking advantage of the lovely day. 
Bruce and Allison even got a lesson on how to load and shoot a cannon by a "Spanish Captain", and then climbed to the roof of the fort for a look around. 
This was a cool tree that was out in the parking lot when we were leaving. There were several that had so many branches; it was just a cool looking tree. 
We then continued on down the coastal highway to Daytona Beach. We were just kinda exploring the area, getting a lay of the land, and we ended up near the Daytona Speedway. It was a pretty impressive structure (even to a non-NASCAR person). It looked HUGE.
We then headed back down the highway, to look for a hotel room, preferably with a room facing the beach. We were hoping that we would not have trouble finding one for tonight, with many folks probably having to head back home to work after the long weekend. We ended up at a Comfort Inn or something like that. There are tons and tons of hotels, many that look as they have been here for a number of years. I'm also sure that they take a beating with the weather and hurricanes, etc. It is very cool having a room on the top/5th floor of the hotel with a little balcony facing the ocean. We can walk down on the beach from the swimming pool area of the hotel. After walking through some beach the other day, the sand was much finer and a little more difficult to walk through at first today. However the beach/sand area that has been smoothed down by the tides as well as the traffic way that is allowed on the beach, it was much easier to walk from there. Upon returning to the hotel, there are faucets and shower head to "sand off" before getting into the hotel. 
It is pretty windy and the waves are pretty strong. After spending some time at the beach area, walking and standing, etc., we spent some more time up at the swimming pool. It started to sprinkle, and then sprinkle a little heavier so we went up to the hotel room. The little deck provides a nice little area to enjoy the sight and sounds of the ocean. As I am writing this now, it is almost 9:30 and dark, and it is really not possible to see much of the ocean. I have to admit that's kinda freaky...it's so dark...guess I'm used to land with lights in the background; plus it is cloudy and overcast so there is no moon showing, etc. 
I tried to get a photo of the rainbow that showed up after the afternoon rain sprinkle. We could actually see both ends of the rainbow in the ocean...the beginning and the end, or however you want to look at it.
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