Pelican Preserve

Jungle Trail

Sebastian Inlet SP, FL: Rainy again this morning. We were going to take our bikes out since there are many miles of bike paths in this area. But the weather didn’t cooperate. At 4:00 it finally cleared and we drove up to the treasure museum. This area is called the Treasure Coast because of all the Spanish galleons that wrecked along this coast. According to my friend, Jack, they still find stuff being washed up on the beaches. The museum was just about to close but they let us go in for a few minutes. It’s pretty small, but still interesting. After that we drove over to the Pelican preserve which was established by Teddy Roosevelt in 1903—the first wildlife preserve to be set aside in this country. There are several trails to walk, but we just walked down to the Indian River and out on the boardwalk overlooking the river and the islands just off shore which are also part of the sanctuary. Then we walked back to the truck and drove down the “jungle trail” which is a dirt road that meandered through a pretty large uninhabited area and then through a very upscale golf community. Actually it was two golf communities—the road went right up the middle of them. But there’s so much vegetation I’m sure most of the people that live there don’t even know it exists. After meandering through these upscale communities it continued along the Indian River for quite a way. There were beautiful, upscale homes on one side and beautiful boats on the other. Then it would go through a patch of “old Florida”. A very interesting drive. Back to the campground and had grilled chicken for dinner. If it’s nice tomorrow we’ll probably take the bikes out.

Navy Seal

Jack warming up

Sat, 3/21/09

Sebastian Inlet SP, FL:

Rainy, windy morning. Jack came over this morning at 11:00 or so and we headed out to the Seal Museum in Ft. Pierce. A really interesting place. Bought a book entitled “Lone Survivor” about a seal team in Afghanistan who had a desperate fight with the Taliban until they were all killed except one. It’s currently being made into a movie. Should be a great read. We also ran into an eighty-nine year old gentleman who is a veteran of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He was MIA in France for two years during WWII after his plane was shot down. The French hid him in a basement for two years. Amazing. Drove back and on the way stopped and walked out onto the beach. Frothy waves rolling in under threatening clouds. And someone was actually out there swimming. Had pasta and hot dogs for dinner. After dinner Jack brought out his guitar and started playing. He is very good. I was so impressed. A really fun day.

Burt Reynolds home--across from Jupiter Island on the Intracoastal

Fri, 3/20/09

Jonathan Dickson SP, Jupiter, FL, to Sebastian Inlet, FL: Left Jonathan Dickson shortly after noon and arrived at Sebastian Inlet SP and were set up around 4:00. We drove up Rt. 1 which went through several towns and we hit one light after another. Finally turned off onto A1A just north of Ft. Pierce and didn’t encounter any more lights but the speed limit was much slower. Beautiful drive though with the Atlantic on one side and the Indian River on the other. And saw some very impressive homes—especially on the Atlantic side. A very pretty area. Called my GE friend, Jack Lunden, and he came over in about an hour. Sat around drinking and catching up and then went out to eat. Had dinner at the New England Pub and Eatery about 15 minutes north of Sebastian Inlet. We decided to take in the Navy Seals museum tomorrow which is just north of Ft. Pierce on A1A. Jack is going with us. We’re meeting here at 11:00 tomorrow morning.

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.