Camping Take Two

Babbitt talked Katie into giving camping another try today in the OCALA National Forest.  She was skeptical until a volunteer at the park told her she could swim in natural springs if she stayed!  The campground at the first spring we came to was already full, but we weren't too worried, because OCALA is the second largest national park in the U.S. and we figured there had to be more spots, especially since the weather was not the warmest.  Well, that was until we drove 20 minutes through the forest and the next spring we hoped to camp at was also full.  The park ranger there let us know that they had three spots left at the last spring about 15 minutes away. Babbitt drove like the wind and we hoped we wouldn't miss out and have to drive to Wal-Mart for the night!  When we pulled up there was a sign that said the campground was full and even Katie was disappointed, but when we got to the information window we found out there were still two spots open and we made Alexander Springs our home for the night!

OCALA National Forest
We took this photo while jogging...surprisingly we've kept it up
Apparently you just run!

Birds of prey are everywhere in Florida
We took this close up picture especially for Papa Mc, who is a bird of prey lover

Alexander Springs
Katie heard HOT springs when she was talking to the volunteer,
not natural springs...this water is always naturally 72 degrees

The O'Babbitt's in Alexander Springs
It was freezing at first, so we had to force ourselves to swim out to the natural spring, but not without a
few screams from Katie...there are real live fish & alligators swimming in the spring

The Rig at Site 33
We spent the day cooking, dining al fresco, swimming, jogging, enjoying
adult beverages, looking out for bears & playing rummy

We aren't campfire people, so we didn't light any fires
We also didn't want to attract the bears apparently they are not shy if you leave food out
When the Park Ranger let us know this Katie was quick to ask for more tips to keep the bears way,
but the Ranger just laughed her off

Our Day On The First Coast

Our second day in St. Augustine got off to a rough start!  Apparently after someone turns 31 they think they know everything about parking in an unfamiliar city.  But seriously, our goal has been to get as much free parking as possible, since Katie can't bring herself to pay when she knows there is free parking nearby.  We ended up moving the Rig three times, but finally settled on a residential street near Babbitt's favorite school, Flagler College.  The newness of our adventure has obviously started to wear off a bit!  Once we settled on a parking spot we checked out Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, walked around our oldest city and had delicious black bean soup & quesadillas at Mi Casa Cafe.  After that we drove to the St. Augustine Lighthouse, checked out the beach and ended our day at the scratch & dent grocery store near by.

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Since we blew our fort budget in Charleston and felt scammed after the
Fountain Of Youth we decided to walk around this fort and not pay the extra entrance fee

Babbitt was in seventh heaven when we came across this koi pond in Lightner Museum

The Seinfeld Gang at Potter's Wax Museum
Our favorite TV Cast was right in the window, so we didn't even have to go inside...
if only Jerry was wearing the puffy shirt

St. Augustine Lighthouse
Our trip here consisted of us taking a picture,
buying a postcard & using the restroom...we were in & out

Babbitt at St. Augustine Beach

Did we mention the budget?
We scored 7 boxes of Katie's favorite elixir at the Scratch & Dent Grocery Store for $.60 each!

The City Of Palatka
We ended up spending the night in this town
We tried to go to a local festival, but it was obvious we were out of towners

Babbitt's Birthday Blowout

We spent the day at the movies in Jacksonville & made our way to St. Augustine the next morning to celebrate Babbitt's birthday!  Although it was raining we made the best of it.  The birthday celebration included a free drink at Starbuck's, a quick bite to eat at French Fry Heaven, award winning wine at San Sebastian Winery, lunch at Cafe Alcazar, water from the Fountain Of Youth, drinks at Scarlett O'Hara's, a free prime rib dinner at the Wildflower Cafe and a Redbox movie back in the Rig.

Babbitt at the Florida Welcome Center
Who knew that along with travel literature they also serve OJ & Grapefruit Juice?

Babbitt & Brian at French Fry Heaven
Brian hooked us up with some delicious French Quarter Fries

The O'Babbitt's at San Sebastian Winery - Our favorite wine was the Rosa
Babbitt also had an interesting conversation with another wine taster...
She couldn't believe he was 31 and grabbed him and said "What do you put on your face?"

The wonderful dining room at Cafe Alcazar
Not only was there a live piano player & Valentine roses for all of the ladies
but we dinned in the "deep end" of a former indoor swimming pool

The O'Babbitt's drinking water from the Fountain Of Youth
We both thought this attraction was a bit over-rated and over-priced
but hopefully drinking the water will restore our youth

Juan Ponce de Leon & Katie
George Costanza can keep DeSoto...
Katie was so excited to finally meet her favorite explorer

Babbitt posing at the end of the 500 Anniversary Bridge
We learned that Ponce actually discovered America in 1513
So much for the old saying "Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492"

We couldn't decide where to eat for Babbitt's birthday, but then we found The Wildflower Cafe
As you can see the clientele was a bit older than us, but we didn't have to wait for a table on Valentine's Day, because we missed the Early Bird Special

Babbitt with his free prime rib dinner...the Key Lime Pie was also very tasty
O'Babbitt Tip:  Visit the Wildflower Cafe on your birthday for a FREE entree & dessert

Camping On The Beach

We are sorry to report that the first O'Babbitt argument broke out today and it may have had something to do with Babbitt proposing to take Katie real life camping in Florida when it looked like it was going to rain.  Katie never thought she would think this, but it's one thing to stay in a Wal-Mart parking lot (mere steps away from running water & working toilets), but it is quite another roughing it in captivity without any hope for sun.  In the end, the sun started shining, the fight did not last long and the camping trip really wasn't camping at all...instead we took the Rig onto the beach with hot showers & everything.  Plus, if you could block out the helicopters constantly flying over, it was actually quite peaceful!

Road to Kingsley Plantation Historic Site on Fort George Island
We accidently took a wrong turn on our way to the campground
and found this hidden gem...nothing like accidently learning something

The O'Babbitt's Footprints at Huguenot Memorial Park Campground
Once Katie could lay out in the sun, her attitude changed very quickly
We also started jogging on the beach today...after eating nonstop food something had to give

We HAD to drive the Rig onto the beach on the other side of the campground
It started raining as soon as we drove onto the sand, so we didn't stay very long

If you look close you can see the helicopter training above
the sunset from the nearby Navy Base

Little bitty stingin' rain... and big ol' fat rain. Rain that flew in sideways.

We decided to soak up some more history and a bit of rain on our last day in Savannah.  We started at the McDonald's walk up window for a large fry!  Then we took a stroll around the city, had a Coke Float at Leopold's Ice Cream and saw the square where Forest Gump was filmed. 

Katie at the McDonald's Walk Up Window
We had made a pack to not eat fast food while on the trip,
but this went out the window as soon as we saw this

Katie reliving her Troop 1470 days at
 Girl Scout Founder Juliette Gordon Low's Birthplace

Katie doing her best Forest Gump impression
The actual bench used in the movie has been moved to a
museum, but we made do with this reproduction

Babbitt posing on a bridge in Savannah

Georgia On My Mind

We were lucky enough to be invited for a much needed home cooked meal in Savannah at the home of the amazing Beau, Chris & Troon Anders.  They really showed us what southern hospitality is all about and the hot showers we took were the best things to happen to us since we started our trip!  They also took us into the city for a fabulous trolley tour of historic Savannah, drinks and lunch on the top of the Bohemia Hotel and back to their lovely community for dinner and to watch Duke beat Boston College!

Old Savannah Trolley Tour
We had a great tour guide named Dennis, who was very proud that Miley Cyrus
filmed the movie The Last Song in Savannah, now we feel forced to see the film 

Beau & Babbitt "golf carting" at The Landings

Hey Y'All!

We made a quick stop to the town of Beaufort, SC for outstanding BBQ at SGT. White's Diner!  After lunch we walked around town for a bit, but didn't stay long, because A.) There wasn't much to do.  B.) We still aren't sure if we know how to pronounce Beaufort correctly.  C.) We needed to hit the road, so we could get to the most important site so far (in Katie's mind anyway)...Paula Deen's The Lady and Son's Restaurant in Savannah, GA!

Babbitt at SGT. White's Diner
Did I mention the mac n cheese and mashed potatoes?
Each meal also comes with unlimited sweet tea and lemonade...
no other drink options available

Beaufort, SC
We enjoyed the swings and the beautiful view

The O'Babbitt's with fake Paula Deen
Even though Katie was sure we would meet the REAL Paula,
her dream did not come true
BUT, with food that tasty it didn't really matter

The O'Babbitt's with the tallest and nicest waiter of all time
Babbitt enjoyed the famous buffet and
Katie had the Bag Lady Lunch Special with a side of Babbitt's
mashed potatoes (there was so much delicious butter, they were the BEST)

Can't Win Them All

Did we mention it rained on our last day in Charleston?  It sure did and it rained a lot!  So much so, that our beautiful Rig sprung a bit of a leak right over our bed.  This left us with no other choice than to spend our first evening in Beaufort, SC at the Port Royal Laundromat & Carwash cleaning our bedding.  This was not the most luxurious Laundromat and Katie had been dreading washing her clothes where other people's dirty underwear had been, but somehow she powered through!  Since the Laundromat was attached to a carwash, we were able to park under the self cleaning port to avoid further leakage, wash our dirties, make our first homemade meal in the Rig and spend the night under cover from the rain.  A HUGE thank you to the employee at the Laundromat who gave us permission to spend the night!

Katie cooking up pasta and red sauce
Please take a moment to appreciate the extremely stylish
Pike High School long sleeve t-shirt

Trees, Tea & Toddies

Saying goodbye to Charleston wasn't easy, but since it starting raining we decided now was the time to head out of town.  On our last day we ended up at Queen Anne's Revenge for lunch, lots of pirate booty and the tastiest nachos around.  Then we drove to see the Angel Oak, the largest tree east of the Mississippi, stopped at the Charleston Tea Plantation and ended at Irvin House Vineyards and Firefly Distillery for great spirits & conversation!

Babbitt at Queen Anne's Revenge on Daniel Island
The owners purchased tons of pirate artifacts to decorate the restaurant
We also heard that this building is haunted, but we are skeptical 

Katie with the Angel Oak on Johns Island
This tree is between 500 and 1,500 years old

Babbitt at the Charleston Tea Plantation helping himself
to his sixth glass of raspberry sweet tea
The tour is free and visitors get as much tea as they would like

Katie enjoying a glass of tea outside the Charleston Tea Plantation
This plantation is the ONLY location in the U.S.A. that grows tea 

The Irvin House Vineyard & Firefly Distillery is South Carolina's ONLY winery
(Thanks to the Stone's for yet again another great recommendation)

The O'Babbitt's in the Firefly Tasting Room
We got to taste both wine and sweet tea vodka
with amazing hosts & an adorable dog named Lucy

Lots to learn in Charleston

Our next day in Charleston did not start out quite as smoothly!  We caught a trolley ride to the famous Jestine's Kitchen, where Babbitt ended up getting a bit of an attitude with unbeknownst to us at the time, the owner of the restaurant.  We saw online that they were open for breakfast, but surprisingly the Internet is not always correct.  Luckily Katie talked Babbitt into waiting an extra 20 minutes to eat, because we got to dine like Anthony Bourdain & Oprah at Jestine's on their 17th Birthday!  Plus, after Babbitt apologized for needing a cup of coffee earlier, Dana, the owner gave us a plate of her favorite corn fritters on the house.  After lunch we headed to Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began for an amazing live history lesson and ended the day in Mount Pleasant.

The Arthur Ravenel Bridge
View from the boat ride to Fort Sumtner

Cannonball lookout from Fort Sumtner to the city of Charleston
We had the most energetic tour guide, named Dennis
O'Babbitt Tip: If you ever go to Fort Sumtner, make sure to ask for  Dennis

Babbitt "shooting" a cannon at Fort Sumtner

It wasn't the warmest day to visit the beach, but we took a trip to the
Isle Of Palms for a lovely walk on the beach

We dined at a great seafood restaurant in Mount Pleasant, named The Wreck
This resturant is off the beaten path and does not have a sign out front,
but does offer wonderful food on paper plates & amazing sunsets

Babbitt outside of The Wreck

We split the #6 Seafood Platter
Shrimp, Scallops, Oysters & Flounder
Plus red beans & rice, slaw, pup & fried hominy square