The morning started out slow and relaxed but around 2:30 Steve dragged Vicki out of the RV into the (new) rental car for some exploring.
We crossed the Halifax River and drove south to the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse Museum. Steven climbed the 203 steps to the top of the lighthouse, took some pictures in the gusty wind, and then returned to the bottom. He spotted Vicki taking group pictures at the bottom of the lighthouse (and not charging money!) We then explored the museum grounds learning about lighthouses, Fresnel lenses, and how the US government had set up rescue stations for survivors of shipwrecks.
After the museum we stopped along the Atlantic Ocean beach for a few minutes. It was late in the day and there weren’t many people around. But we did get our feet. wet in the ocean. Steven did it mostly to get relief from the Bradenton bug bites.
Dinner that evening was at a seafood restaurant (Our Deck Down Under) where we both had the blackened Mahi-mahi with Jalepeno/cheese grits and rum punch drinks. The food was great, and the drinks were satisfying.
V- taking one look at that lighthouse – I wasn’t thinking about the 203 steps but about the height of the bldg. When I saw Steven’s pictures, I knew it was a good call – I got weak behind the knees just looking at them – both the looking up pictures and especially the looking down pictures. The stories of the lighthouse keepers and their families and the two assistant keepers and their families brought to light all the work it took. They were hauling oil, in heavy containers, up those steps to burn in the lamps so the Fresnel mirrored lights could light a path to those at sea.
While my friends were talking about all the white snow in their yards back home and family in Virginia Beach were doing the same, I was looking at some beautiful white stuff, too – the white sands of Daytona Beach. The weather was warmer today and the sun was brighter. Hooray!!!
Did we mention it was the Daytona 400 Race weekend as well? Restaurants were pretty packed but we found 2 seats at the crowded bar of Our Deck Down Under. We had great views of the inner coastal river and enjoyed the shrimp and grits- 8 blackened shrimp served over jalapeño bacon cheese grits with hush pups.
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