Jonathan Dickinson SP, Jupiter, FL: Well, we were going to go to another Cardinals game today, but it started looking stormy and rained a little bit, so we decided to hit a movie instead. Went to see “Brooklyn’s Finest”, a real shoot ‘em up with lots of sex, violence, and bad language. Oh yeah. Filled up the truck with gas and are ready to leave tomorrow for a county park just north of here. 80 today. That’s more like it!

Jupiter Inlet

Jonathan Dickinson SP, Jupiter, FL: Nice and sunny again today. And warmer—but with a cool breeze. Sat outside for a while in my shorts and tube top reading and getting some sun. Started a new book—Nelson Mandela’s autobiography. Mike grilled some hot dogs and I made a four-bean salad for dinner. Was supposed to hit 74 today. Not sure.

Sunset on the Loxahatchee River

Jonathan Dickinson SP, Jupiter, FL: A beautiful, sunny day—but cool and windy. After hanging around all morning we decided to go see “Green Zone” with Matt Damon. Good movie about the falsifying of the existence of WMDs to warrant invading Iraq. What we did was shameful. After the movie we drove over to Jupiter Island where the obscenely wealthy live. This place is really pretty because there’s still a lot of open, protected land. Drove down to the little park at the end and walked out to the beach. The ocean was a beautiful, deep blue with frothy white waves crashing in. A couple of people were surfing out there. Crazy. Drove back home and relaxed the rest of the day. Think it hit 70 today.

Home on Jupiter Island

Jonathan Dickinson SP, Jupiter, FL: Sunny this morning, but really cool and windy. Larry and Janice stopped by before they left to say good bye. I’m sure we’ll run into them again in our travels. The St. Louis Cardinals do their spring training in Jupiter. So we headed out for the Cardinals/Braves game. I used to live in Atlanta and rooted for the Braves, so I would have been happy with whatever the outcome. The place was packed and we were on our way to buy tickets at the ticket office (standing room only) but Mike bought a couple of tickets from someone outside the stadium. Turns out they were berm seats (a little grassy knoll) and Mike was furious because he was told there would be seats, but no seats. So we just stood by one of the railings. Turns out this area is coveted by the kids because the berm sits right behind the Cardinal bullpen and they can get autographs from the players. So I gave our tickets to a couple of kids who were thrilled and ran down there with their baseballs and pens. Made their day I guess. And I got to see Chipper Jones (Braves) hit a home run with one man on. One of the Cardinal rookies hit a home run also. The final score was Braves 5, Cardinals 3. We tried a new place for dinner tonight—Jetty’s Restaurant. We had to wait a long time for a table, but it was worth it. I had hog fish snapper sautéed in a white wine butter sauce with lump crab on top and Mike had grilled chicken covered in lump crab meat and béarnaise sauce. Delicious!

Our site

Jonathan Dickinson SP, Jupiter, FL: Cloudy and cool this morning. Headed out to Hobe to do the laundry and grocery shopping. While there it started raining. Nasty day. Stopped at Wendy’s for lunch. Driving back in the park we ran into Larry and Janice who were heading out. We met them in the Everglades. They invited us to join them for dinner tonight. We went to the Crab House across the river from the lighthouse. A nice meal and we had a great time exchanging travel stories with them. Back home. Starting to clear up. Was supposed to be 73 today, but on the way back from Hobe the temperature was 59. 

Jupiter Lighthouse

Tue, 3/16/10

Everglades National Park to Jonathan Dickinson SP, Jupiter, FL: Left this morning around 11:00, stopped for lunch at the West Palm service center on Florida’s Turnpike, and arrived at Jonathan Dickinson by 2:30. We’re in the pine grove loop which has been closed for a couple of years because they totally rebuilt it. We’re in a nice site with full hook-ups and a pretty view out our back window. Got caught up on our computer stuff. Left-overs for dinner. I love Jupiter. It’s so pretty here. The high today was 71 (sigh).

Picture by Mike

Sunset on the Loxahatchee River

Jonathan Dickson SP, Jupiter, FL: Rained all night again and still sprinkling a little through the morning. We were supposed to go to a St. Louis Cardinals game today. They do their spring training in Jupiter. However, Mike got the dates wrong. They actually played yesterday. He was not happy. Thankfully it wasn’t me who got the dates wrong. So, we drove into Jupiter and had lunch, stopped at a pet shop and saw a bunch of really cute puppies, and then went to a movie. Saw “Doubt”. Really good. Back and sat around reading for a while. Starting to clear off. We leave tomorrow for Sebastian Inlet—about 80 miles north of here on A1A.

Kitching Creek

Jonathan Dickson SP, Jupiter, FL: Started raining during the night and rained all night long. Hard at times. They really need the rain. Stopped raining late morning. We went to Hobe for lunch and then got the propane tank filled and bought a new mat for outside. Back home and then later went back out to hike the little Kitching Creek trail. The trail meandered through palmettos and pines down to the pretty creek. Kitching Creek was named after the Kitching family who settled here in 1882. The creek is lined with beautiful Cyprus trees and palms. Really pretty. Back home and had a fire later.

The owner of this cumbersome looking yacht had it built so it would withstand the rough waters of Puget Sound--one of his three yachts; Jupiter Island

Where Jupiter Inlet meets the Atlantic

Jonathan Dickson SP, Jupiter, FL: A clear, sunny morning. So, we rode our bikes down to the other camp loop on the other side of the park and down a bike path through a pretty little forest of pines, sable palms and palmettos. There were lots of little ponds along the way and the path finally ended at a golf course a few miles from the park. We saw one gator. And, we saw a river otter crossing the path. He stopped in the middle of the path—as curious about us as we were about him. We never expected to see a river otter. After showering and cleaning up we went to do the laundry and then grocery shopping. By now it had clouded up quite a bit. Hope it rains. They need it badly. After getting the laundry and grocery shopping done we had dinner at a little bar and grill and then back home. Stopped to see if we could get some fire wood, but the campground store was closed already. Put everything away and relaxed the rest of the evening. 81 today.

Someone's boathouse

One of their boats

One of the homes

(those royal palms cost about $20,000 each)

Jonathan Dickson SP, Jupiter, FL: Took the cruise up the intracoastal waterway past Jupiter Island passing some of the wealthiest homes in the country. The town of Jupiter Island has the highest per capita income in the country. #2 is Aspen. The families that own 300 of the properties comprise about 10% of the wealth in this country. Mind boggling. And these homes are used only a couple of weeks a year. Tiger Woods’ place is still under construction. It’s going to be huge. One home has a 1000 sq. ft. bedroom. Unbelievable. It was a beautiful day for the cruise and the water in the intracoastal was the prettiest aquamarine color—especially where it met the Atlantic. After the cruise we had dinner again at the Crab House. I had tilapia and Mike had a steak. Burt Reynolds house is within walking distance of the park. Looks like it needs some work. Threat of rain tomorrow. They need it badly. 81 today. Beautiful.

Jupiter Light House

Jonathan Dickson SP, Jupiter, FL: Pretty cloudy this morning which gave way to a beautiful, cobalt blue sky. Went over to the Crab House for a late lunch—directly across from the Jupiter lighthouse. They had a sumptuous cold and hot sea food buffet going, so we took advantage of that. Sat outside right on the intracoastal waterway. Lots of boat traffic. After stuffing ourselves, we drove over to Jupiter Island—a beautiful place. Lots of the rich and famous have homes over there. These beautiful, palatial homes have two gated entrances—one main and one service entrance. Most of the homes are large, ornate, and very formal. There are, however, a couple of little cottages on the Atlantic side that are pretty old but cute little places. Jupiter Island itself is a really pretty place. Large sections of it are protected land—mostly to protect the sea-grape-covered dunes. No high-rises on this island. At the southern end are a few condo complexes—maybe 10 stories high. There are several new homes going up as well on the southern end. Johnathan Dickson shipwrecked on this island back in the 1600s. The state park we’re staying in is named after him. I think he was a Quaker or a Mormon or something.

Fri, 3/14/08

Jonathan Dixon State Park; Jupiter, FL: Up around 9:00 this morning. Another perfect day. Andy and Carolyn headed out to gas up and find a place to get a quick breakfast. Couldn’t find a place for breakfast, so Carolyn offered to make pancakes. We ate at our site. I set the table and made some juice. Carolyn did everything else. Great pancakes! Then they had to get ready to leave. After they left we sat around reading. Too tired to go biking. Did some grocery shopping in the afternoon. Came back and crashed.

Carolyn & Andy

Thu, 3/13/08

Jonathan Dixon State Park; Jupiter, FL: We sat around reading waiting for Carolyn and Andy to show up. A perfectly beautiful day. They rolled in to the site next to us around 1:00 and we sat around blabbing until I had to leave for my appointment. It was so good to see them! And they not only have a dog, but a cat—a neat cat. Andy had replaced the carpeting in their fifth wheel which turned out beautiful and he built a cabinet for their flat screen TV. You push a button and the TV comes up and then goes back down for traveling. And he put in a stereo system. Pretty talented. We met for dinner at the Crab House across from the Jupiter light house and then went back and we sat around the fire talking until about 2:00 a.m. Fun.

Sunset on the Loxahatchee River

Johnathan Dixon State Park; Jupiter, FL: A cloudy but warm day today. Talked to our Canadian friends and they’ve made a reservation here and will be right next to us—will be arriving tomorrow around noon. We went out on the Manatee Queen for a sunset cruise. Saw a bunch of celebs houses—including Tom Cruise. Cleared off in time for our cruise. Had a beautiful sunset.

Jupiter Lighthouse--still active--first lit in 1860

Naval married officer quarters during WWII

Jonathan Dixon State Park; Jupiter, FL: Well, we got up at about 2:20 a.m. to view the shuttle launch. I felt it and heard it, but we didn’t see anything. Disappointed. Rained some after we went back to bed. Warm but cloudy this morning. When we left the Keys, a woman who came into Lazy Lakes about a month ago (in a site across from us) gave us her card. She has written 4 books—all photo books on fences and gates, dormers, shutters and awnings, and entryways and doorways. Who knew? She is traveling with her poodle, Suzie, in a class C motor home. She is on her second 2-1/2 year trip. When she’s not traveling, she lives in San Diego. Pretty interesting, huh? She’s published 4 books in 2 years. 1000 photos each. Her name is Jo Cryder.

We left around 11:00 and went back to the Jupiter lighthouse. Went through the museum and then toured the lighthouse grounds. Mike went up to the top of the lighthouse. I stayed behind. Don’t do well with heights. Had fun watching a couple of hawks building a nest. This is still an active light and there are 11 families living on the grounds. After that we went across the river to the Crab House for lunch. There’s also a cruise we want to take tomorrow on the intracoastal which is accessible from their dock. While eating lunch I noticed a pelican in trouble. Looked like he had partially swallowed either a piece of plastic or a fishing lure. He couldn’t get it off his bottom beak. So I inquired as to whether they had a bird rescue operation in the area. And they do. They called them and they’re going to try and help the poor thing. As we were leaving he was still trying to swallow the thing—whatever it is. The gal at the front desk of the restaurant is going to call me and let me know how the rescue operation goes. The boat tour will go by Tiger Woods’ property and I guess Celine Dion owns a house on the island also. A beautiful place.

This pretty little trail at the top of the dunes on the beach used to be Rt. A1A

The beach at blowing rocks preserve has a long line of this Anastasia limestone

Driveway to one of the estates

One of the estates on the island

Jonathan Dixon State Park; Jupiter, FL: Went to the Jupiter lighthouse late this morning, but it was closed. So we drove over to Jupiter Island. Jupiter Island is such a beautiful place—lots of money over there. The homes—compounds really—are huge. As you drive down the island, the intracostal waterway is on one side and the Atlantic on the other. And there are several wild areas on the island—wildlife sanctuaries and parks. We stopped at the blowing rock park and walked a couple of trails. We stopped at the Jupiter Club. They have a beautiful croquet court there. A lot of clouds today. Hoping to view the shuttle launch tomorrow morning at 2:28.

Jonathan Dixon State Park; Jupiter, FL: Mike started a fire this morning and I got dressed in sweats and sweat shirt thinking it was going to be really cool. But it was really warm. So back and changed into shorts and a tube top. Sat by the fire for a while. We still have the whole place to ourselves. It’s a beautiful, sunny, but windy day. Went for a walk up the road to a little Cyprus swamp to see if the gators were back. There were two of them. We met a couple from Sweeden while there. They’re over here for the winter. They want to buy an RV and return every winter. Walked back. Sat outside and read for a while. Left-overs for dinner. At about 8:00 p.m. the people started coming in that are gong to be here with us. E-mailed our Canadian friends to see if we can get together with them while we’re here. Waiting to hear from them. They are over by Lake Okeechobee.

Our campsite at Jonathan Dickson State Park; Jupiter, FL

Jonathan Dixon State Park; Jupiter, FL: Well, the day started out bad and got worse. Woke up to rain and wind. As soon as we had a break in the weather we hooked up. Had to pull out of our site, put the bike rack on the camper, and then load the bikes. Then we were on our way. I felt lousy, so Mike ended up driving all the way. The Sun Pass worked great! I’m so glad I got it. It saves a lot of time. We left The Keys at 9:40 a.m., stopped at the Palm Beach service area and got something to eat, and arrived at Jonathan Dickson State Park at about 3:00. Got checked in and then headed to our site—which was in the river loop. Really beautiful with lots of lush vegetation. The site we reserved (back in October of last year) was occupied. Sooooo, we called the ranger station and a ranger came over to tell whoever was on the site to remove themselves—but they were nowhere to be found. So, they ended up putting us in the equestrian campground, which would be great because there are only 5 sites and we’d have the whole place to ourselves. So we went over there and got set up and then another ranger stopped by later and told us there is going to be a work group in here also—starting tomorrow. 20-somethings. But, she said they are up early and work all day, and if they aren’t quiet they’ll be asked to leave. At any rate, we’re here for 6 or 7 days. There’s lots of hiking trails and bike paths. Plus the Loxahatchee River. Should be fun. 73 when we got here. Supposed to go down to the 40s tonight. At least we can have a camp fire. And temps back into the 80s in a couple of days.