Oldest City in the Country

We flew across Georgia not unlike General Sherman to get to the southeast corner. We had unfinished business from last year's travel in Florida - St. Augustine. Our haste is driven by our experience with spring weather with tornado warnings keeping us awake every night for a week as we exitted Florida and we were on a mission to see the sights in this area before the tornado season descended upon us and our frail house on wheels!

We drove right past St. Augustine to the site of a Spanish fort, Fort Matanzas. While not very spectacular, another story unfolds of the fighting between French and Spanish for territorial rights along the southern coast. Before exploring the fort however, we were treated to a nice surprise - a great horned owl nesting with a young owlet - right outside the entrance to the park office.

See the baby to the right of the mama? We should have taken a picture of all the spectators observing this little family in great detail. Apparently, several snowbirds have taken interest in these creatures to make a daily jaunt to monitor the owlet's growth and development. Our camera wouldn't capture the dad in the nearby treetop - he was heavily camoflauged and perched very high. On to the fort - across the channel from the visitor's center and not very spectacular, but very well placed to protect the 'back door' to St. Augustine. The story of an occurence of a Spanish victory over French challengers demonstrates the wisdom of the fort's placement. French challengers sailed toward St. Augustine from a slightly northern position to challenge the Spanish defenders, were caught in an untimely storm, shipwrecked south of this fort and were attempting return on land. The 250 French men were killed and thus the fort earned it's gruesome name meaning 'slaughter'. The fort structure was constructed much later to protect against a new Spanish enemy, the British.

We enjoyed the natural setting more than the history at this location - and easy trees to climb!

On to St. Augustine, we were reminded of another annual event this time of year in Florida - Bike Week in Daytona. Harleys and other impressive motorcycles were everywhere with a wide variety of enthusiasts, some more well-preserved than others. Lots of 'Wild Hogs' with greying hair, pot bellies and wide expanses of black leather with fringe. But...to each his own (and not all fit our stereotype...we just couldn't help but chuckle a bit).

A new drawbridge was under construction with special attention to architecture reflecting the Spanish heritage.

And just across the river, Castillo de San Marco, a well preserved monument to demonstrate the military presence of Spain.

Good thing we had set aside a few hours to tour here - just look at the boys' faces in anticipation! Thanks guys, for patiently posing for your mom's photo first!

The presentation is enhanced by park staff and volunteers performing a detailed canon firing demonstration.

The ranger told us that the schooner photographed below 'fires' their 3-lb. cannons at the fort as they provide tours from the water side of the port. They didn't do so during our visit, but we had fun imagining firing the cannon at them from this vantage point.
Fort touring appetites being satisfied, we took a brief walking tour of Old St. Augustine with the cobblestone streets and very old residences and storefronts.
We found the country's oldest school house, among many 'firsts' tucked in the old streets.

And, of course, we couldn't leave without our own search for the Fountain of Youth. We didn't actually go in the very tourist-y presentation, but the drive down the old streets with the moss-draped canopies was well worth the drive!

Finally, we could close the chapter of Florida in our journeys and move on to explore a bit more of Georgia - and BEFORE the tornadoes! Mini-mission accomplished!