The Ribault Monument commemorates the 1562 landing of Jean Ribault. France’s first attempt to stake a permanent claim in North America was at La Caroline, a settlement near the mouth of the St. Johns River in Florida (North of Jacksonville)Que bon! Ribault erected a stone column bearing the coats of arms of his French King Charles IX to claim Florida for France. There is much history to Fort Caroline National Memorial.The Atlantic Ocean ~ an early morning walk before a rainy day.This pine carved owl totem, preserved from around 1400 at Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, is the largest wooden effigy recovered from an archaeological site in North or South America.We had a great campsite where the Live Oak trees dwarfed the van.The camp ground had wonderful bird viewing pavilion.Luckily we didn’t spot any crocs or alligators! But we kept our distance from the wild humans.Beautiful drive in the Timucuan Preserve and its maritime hammock.Azaleas blooming in front the Ribault Club, built in 1928, a renovated monument to the resort era on Fort George Island.We spent the day enjoying the Atlantic Coast and barrier islands, driving through Amelia Island before ending at Crooked River SP in Georgia.
We felt like we had conquered Florida like Hernando DeSoto!Hillsburo Lighthouse near Pompano BeachLots of boats and fishing activity to entertain us.Good Cuban black beans for lunch with Mima.Reconnecting with other family by the pool.The five year old teaching her uncle how to count to 100.Paint the pizza box after dinner – reuse before recycling!
Madam President. A replica of Carter’s oval office in Plains Georgia.1976 was our first presidential election to vote in. We enjoyed the high school museum in President Carter’s hometown.Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon has the only Art Deco visitor center in the National Park Service. These mounds here were excavated by the Smithsonian in the 1930’s.This exhibit demonstrated how much work it was to build the mounds. The baskets when filled with mud weighed about 60 pounds.Governor Jimmy Carter was involved with developing this State Park.A variety of wildlife to see including herons, overwintering vultures, and common moorhens.We stayed 2 nights so had plenty of time to walk the trails.And to stretch our muscles a bit from all the driving!2,836 miles completed to Florida!
We crossed the Mississippi at Memphis. Through the hills of Tennessee…Chickasaw State Park had this great lakeside campsite for us to relax.We found some mound builders! Many tributaries to the Mississippi have mounds.Pinson Mounds State Park had a great museum as well. One of the tallest mounds.At Shiloh National Military Battlefield there was also a trail to the Tennessee River with Indian Mounds.Enjoying sunset at Whitten Corp of Engineer Campground.Birmingham, Alabama Civil Rights Park was worth contemplating.The historic A.G. Gaston motel is being renovated.We visited Tuskegee University as well as the airfield which had a great museum. We spent the night in Opaleka, Alabama – a pleasant county park.
After a few weeks of enjoying the comforts of home…We started a trip to Florida – glad for the dry roads near South Fork.Capulin Volcano National Monument (NM) was our first lunch stop.We walked the rim of the cauldera.We camped at Clayton Lakes State Park with these amazing dinosaur tracks.After a great dinner/camp with family, we paid our respects to Oklahoma City National Memorial honoring the lives lost April 19,1995.We spent the night at Chickasaw National Rec Area. We are going to follow the sad trail to Shiloh. Such tragic history to displace people from their home land.Historic Washington State Park in Arkansas had this magnolia tree planted in 1839.Bois D’Arc Lake near Hope after visiting President Clinton’s boyhood home.We enjoyed relaxing and watching the sunset on Bois D’Arc Lake.We walked around the grounds of President Clinton’s library in Little Rock on the Arkansas River.An interesting art exhibit of climate change globes like this on pollinators.We drove by the 1915 state capitol, a replica of the national capitol.Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site commemorated the bravery of black students that were our nation’s first to desegregate here in 1957.
BLM land south of Aztec, New Mexico is this gem of badlands scenery.A few trails for exploring as well as many natural gas roads.An artistic photo to show off the bright blue February sky.An owl woke us in the morning probably hooting: There are humans in the campground!A peaceful sunrise for my Valentine.We saw two majestic bucks on our way to this picnic lunch spot.Worth a panoramic photo!
We hiked at Rockhound State Park before arriving to hike amongst these large boulders.We snagged a first come first serve electrical site so stayed for six nights in comfort.The Table Mountain in the distance is beckoning us to climb tomorrow.A 5.2 RT hike to Table Mountain to survey the park – volcanic boulders made of volcanic tuft.On the Trail – another beautiful day in January.With reasons to celebrate after that hike.The coconut cake was better than spinach to build strength.Leaving we went over Emery Pass and the gorgeous snowy views.Sunrise with the birds and coyotes in Bosque del Apache NWR.Not as many cranes still here as last year but what a view to enjoy with breakfast. https://tealsky.com/2021/02/08/san-lorenzo-and-bosque-del-apache/Heading north after a wonderful take out of New Mexican food – some of the best food with green chili.A beautiful sunset welcomes us home before the next storm.
In El Paso, Texas we visited Chamizal National Memorial and learned some US-Mexican History.We have a chamizo in our yard! We planted a four-wing saltbush.Presidents Kennedy and Johnson finally made this land border official with the new river route.It is now a cultural center as well with this wonderful mural on the building.We camped 4 nights at Poncho Villa State Park and learned a bit more of border history.The train ran though Columbus, New Mexico (3 miles north of Mexico) – a pleasant small town.Well that’s all folks for close to the border!
Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site commemorated the bravery of black students that were our nation’s first to desegregate here in 1957.
