Day 1 of 166 Days of RV Adventures in the Summer of 2026

We are normally the "take it slow in the morning kind of travelers", but today, it was all about getting north in Florida before the lovebugs woke up. For our northern friends, love bugs are a May and September, sometimes late April and late August pest. Twice a year, pesky, invasive lovebugs swarm Florida. They are my least favorite clingy pair that spend 12 hours having intercourse and at some point they splatter their gooey insides on car hoods and windshields, flying into people’s faces, and even clinging to your clothes, thus bringing a few inside with you, yuck! They traveled to the Gulf Coast and Florida, from Central America. I wish the border had been closed when they crossed! They thrive in Florida, because of our warm humid weather and our ample decaying plant matter.

All that being said, it was 6:15 am, yes, you read that right! I am normally up and walking at this hour, but not Charlie. So, it was dark for the first hour of our two-lane adventure. So, pictures are limited and my narration will have to do. We passed through Zephyrhills on US Route 301 N. Our community began as the town of Abbott on April 18, 1888 and consisted of 280 acres. A voting district was established in 1893 followed by a post office in 1896. In 1909, Captain Harold B. Jeffries, a Civil War Union veteran from Pennsylvania purchased 35,000 acres and created the Zephyrhills Colony Company. Zephyrhills was officially founded in March of 1910 and incorporated in 1914. In 1999, the City of Zephyrhills conducted a city-wide historic resources survey, finding over 400 historic resources. Who knew Zephyrhills is so rich in history?

In the 1870s there was a small town known as Fort Dade. In the 1880s, the railroad bypassed Fort Dade a few miles to the east; the whole town packed up and moved to be next to the railroad. In 1884, the town was incorporated as Dade City. We took the 301 Bypass and skirted along the south side of the town’s centerpiece, the historic Pasco County Courthouse. It was built in 1909 and has been restored a couple of times and it is on The National Register of Historic Places. A prisoner of war camp was located in Dade City during World War Two. The camp was for German soldiers who had been captured in North Africa as part of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korp. The camp operated from 1942 to 1946. It old camp site is now the location of Pyracantha Park Civic Center.

We passed through Bushnell on 301. I kept clicking pictures of the sun rising. Interesting fact about the next town we came to Sumterville. It was the original home to the first County seat and courthouse in Sumter County. However, the only thing that remains of that original building is the historical marker, located alongside US 301.

In Belleview, US 27 and US 441 joined us on Route 301. I never noticed that US 27 was on this route before, and we have traveled this route a great deal. We continued into Citra. Along US 301 is The First Baptist Church of Citra. In December of 1876, Florida was sparsely settled and Baptist were few and far between. It was originally built in 1880. The original church building consisted of one room with three windows on each side and seated about 100 people. By 1893 the membership had outgrown the original building so a new house of worship was erected which forms the main part of the present structure.

Citra is known as the home of the pineapple orange, originally it was called the hickory orange. The name Pineapple Orange was coined in 1883 for the orange with an aroma reminiscent of a pineapple. 

The “Orange Shop” signs boasted that it was inside the orange grove, sadly that is not the case anymore.

North of Citra, we started to see smoke from the wildfires in the area. 

It stayed with us for the remainder of our drive to Cary State Forest. We did take the 301 Bypass around Starke and the new 301 Bypass around Baldwin.

We have passed this State Forest many times... never knew that had camping!

Cary State Forest was established as Florida’s second State Forest in 1937. Cary is known for its scenic mature flatwoods, sandhill and basin marsh. Using sound forest management, the Florida Forest Service provides for multiple uses of the forest resources. The forest is managed for timber production, wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation and ecological restoration. 

Cary State Forest offers the public a variety of passive, resource-based recreational opportunities, including hiking, RV and primitive camping, wildlife viewing, horseback riding, environmental education and hunting.

There are six water and electric sites. They are spaced far apart around a loop and each RV site has a double side concrete pad. Our site was easy to back into, because it was on a curve.  

We are here for only one night. Our quest to leave early and beat the love bugs was a success, there were only a few dead pairs on the front cap of the RV! The screen we put on in front of the radiator helped too!

Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!

Day 20, 21, & 22 - Bluegrass Special - Heading Home

On Saturday 9/27 I enjoyed my final walk with Sheryl in St Augustine. We found a farmer's market setting up in the Amphitheater. We walked through at the end of our walk. It's probably a good thing that neither of us had any money! I was checking out the food and Sheryl was ogling over the metal art!

We came back to the rigs and sat out and enjoyed morning beverages and good friends company! Since Gary & Sheryl did not tow their car, they left first and we followed them into the parking lot, so we could hook up the car.

We headed out on 312 and eventually got on FL 207 towards Palatka. To get into Palatka, you must cross the St Johns River on the Memorial Bridge. Four life-like copper statues, commemorating the soldiers who served, stand at both ends of the Memorial Bridge. They are affectionately known as World War I Doughboy Statues. The statues guard the base of the bridge on both sides. They were erected on the site by nationally known artist E.M. Viguesney of Spencer, Indiana. The statues have been given national publicity and nearly one hundred other statues like them have been erected to date. The “Spirit of the American Doughboy” is the only statue in the world that has the endorsement of the American Legion as being 100 percent perfect. It never was; in fact (endorsed by the American Legion), Viquesney was forced by legal action in 1936 to cease such claims.

After Palatka, we turned onto US 19. We passed by the Rodeheaver Boys Ranch. It is the location where Evans Media Source has an annual Bluegrass Festival. It is always the same time when we are in Key West with Yankee RV Tours. Maybe someday we can attend.

Along this route, it is designated as The Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway. It is a 123-mile National Scenic Byway in central Florida, named for the endangered Florida black bear populations that inhabit the route. It runs east-west along State Road 40 from Ormond Beach to Silver Springs and north-south along State Road 19 from Palatka to Umatilla, showcasing the state's natural beauty through the Ocala National Forest and other conservation lands. The Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway is filled with long, undisturbed stretches of natural Florida and pine-scented air. See an array of wildlife in the Ocala National Forest, the centerpiece of the byway. Designated in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt, the forest is home to rare and endangered plants and animals found nowhere else. 

It is also home to huge springs that discharge incredible amounts of cool, crystalline water that feed clear streams lined with lush subtropical vegetation. Located west of the Ocala National Forest is the Silver Springs Park, one of the largest spring systems in the world. Catch a glimpse of the beautiful views given by the Ocklawaha, St. Johns, and Tomoka Rivers.

I love my "crossing signs." And a Bear crossing sign is perfect to see on the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway! A Bear Crossing Sign is essential for alerting drivers to areas where bears are known to cross roads, helping to prevent accidents and protect wildlife. Florida's biggest bear populations are around Apalachicola National Forest, Ocala National Forest and Big Cypress National Preserve, each with as many as 1,000 bears.

The Ocala National Forest boasts approximately 387,000 acres of varied terrain, from highlands to coastal lowlands. It’s also dotted with more than 600 swamps, lakes, rivers and springs. The forest is also home to a wide range of flora and fauna, including the state’s largest populations of Florida black bears and scrub jays. Alligators, white-tailed deer and numerous small animals—foxes, raccoons, river otters, skunks, squirrels, bats, gopher tortoises, armadillos and more—also live here among the wooded oak hammocks, palm trees and cypress-studded wetland prairies. In addition to being a popular spot for camping and on-the-water leisure, the Ocala National Forest has a few interesting claims to fame. The movie The Yearling was filmed at the Yearling Trail near the Juniper Prairie Wilderness and Juniper Springs. The US Navy does live impact training at its Pinecastle Bombing Range in the forest, and visitors can often see F/A-18 Hornet jet fighters and other aircraft flying low over the trees before dropping their bombs in the designated range a safe distance away. The ghost town of Kerr City—the second town in Marion County, platted in 1884—is also located in the forest, having been deserted after the freezes of 1894 and 1895.

In Umatilla, we passed a sign for the "FL Elks Youth Camp." The Florida Elks Youth Camp is a recreational, outdoor camp that is open to campers who are nine through thirteen years old to attend. What I like best is they are unplugged, with no electronics used at camp for any reason. Campers spend the days participating in large-group games outside and socializing with their peers. We have toured the camp a few times with our Elks lodge. It is a very cool place!

We went through Eustis and followed roads we have traveled many times. We turned onto US 27 and arrived at Encore Clerbrook Golf & RV Resort. Our home for a few nights!

Enjoyed late lunch and a beer at Suncreek Brewery in Clermont. Suncreek was Clermont's first craft brewery located in the historic downtown development district. Together with our three onsite restaurants and an open concept, it offers an immersive and fun atmosphere to imbibe, visit and dine." Suncreek opened on Sept. 18th 2018 but had five years of development before they were able to open. After several locations fell through, they were introduced to Downtown Clermont via the Clermont ‘Master Plan’. After meeting with City Officials and partnering with local developer Paul Fallman - they were off! But, like many 'overnight success stories', it took years to realize the dream of opening a real brewery.

Once the decision was made to try and open a 'real' brewery, they went all in! They were able to move into all-grain brewing and develop the base recipes that are in production and distribution today such as Sun Squishy IPA. While the owner Bill has been brewing since college, developing recipes like Save the Blonde, Sun Squishy IPA, Moonlight Chocolate Milk Stout, and End Run Pale Ale began as 10 gallon batches in a garage - where most breweries get their start. They finally gained enough confidence to share their beer with the public. Their very first beer fest was one of the biggest, the Orlando Beer Fest. It took four weekends of brewing to get enough beer ready.

Downtown Clermont is on the rise and Suncreek Brewing Company is proud to play a small part in the city's downtown revitalization. It's fair to say they're located on the "new" West Minneola Ave - on the Legacy Loop Trail just up from Lake Minneola and the future Triathlon Beach. The brand new facility which holds the brewery along with their partner restaurants Suncreek Cafe, Michael Ali's Coal Fired Pizza and Mac'd Out Clermont.

We drove around Clermont and found these boats moored without a dock. How do people get to them?

On Sunday 9/28 I enjoyed my walk with God. It is truly a refreshing walk every Sunday. After my walk, we spent time relaxing outside enjoying our breakfast and coffee. When the sun got too hot, then we retreated into the RV.

We passed by the Minneola Schoolhouse Library yesterday. I wanted to learn more about it today.  The Minneola Schoolhouse Library in Florida is in a historic building that served as Minneola's school from 1885 to 1915. Later it was a home to local residents before being acquired by the city in 2007. The city purchased it with the intent to convert it into a library. The city opened the library in 2009, making it the Lake County Library System's first new library in decades. The library features historical aspects of the former school, such as its original wooden exterior and floors, and serves as a cherished community resource. I wish it was open on the weekends to peek inside!

We decided to have lunch at the 2nd brewery in Clermont, the Clermont Brewing Company. They boost that they are "your place for Craft Beer, Cocktails, Artisanal Food, and Live Music." No live music on Sunday, but they do offer brunch!

You can see the on-site brewery from the elevated farmhouse inspired indoor dining room. Some families enjoyed the thin crust pizzas made with house made dough from the relaxed, covered front patio seating.

Couples enjoyed the varied selection of appetizers, gourmet salads, and excellent wines, for those who prefer grapes over hops, in the bright and vibrant beer garden!

Charlie loves pretzels with his beer. So, we had pretzel bites and a "Meat Monster" thin crust wood fired pizza. He enjoyed a hazy Evermont IPA and I had a watermelon ale. Truth be told... I had two beers today and Charlie only had one! That is a rare event!

We enjoyed a quiet night in the camper for our last night on the road for this trip.

On Monday 9/29, the rain messed up my walk for a bit, so I tried to get a bit of work done while I waited. That did not work out to well. So, I finished my walk and got ready to meet with the rally coordinator at this park. In January of 2026 we are having the Yankee RV Tours Annual Tour Presentations - Pre-Tour Orientation and Reunion here. Its a new place after many years at Southern Palms in Eustis.

Our drive home is short, just over 50-miles. See you on our next #TwoLaneAdventures

Day 18 & 19 - Bluegrass Special - Alison Krauss Bound

Thursday 9/25 is our first full day in St Augustine. My walk was muggy for sure, but I love the American flag in the old live oak trees! We had some domestic chores to get done this morning... a run to the post office, a stop at the grocery store, and gas in the car. We wanted to get all of that done before Sheryl and Gary arrived!

We have not seen them since we headed north and they headed south from the Tennessee Good Sam Rally in Pigeon Forge in early June! We have talked often, but nothing beats an in person visit! We are not using this time to sightsee. We are relaxing, working a bit on the Key West rally, going to the Alison Krauss & Union Station show and enjoying the company.

I will share some history about the St Augustine Amphitheatre. I found it interesting that when I walked through their parking lot, the Anastasia State Park office and work campers and ranger's house are all attached to the parking lot.

The Ampitheater's history goes way back, as its home lies in the nation’s oldest city — let me take you back in time and give you a glimpse into the story that made The Amp what it is today! Let’s start with St. Augustine itself, the oldest city in the US and the Amphitheatre has been able to call this town home — that’s one fact you’ll probably remember, because no other venue can say that about its location!

Now for a little history lesson: In 1565 the Spanish explorer, Pedro Menendez de Aviles, landed on the shores of St. Augustine and established the first permanent European settlement. The city was rich with resources, including coquina, a sedimentary rock that was utilized to construct numerous buildings in St. Augustine, including the Castillo de San Marcos, the fortress built to defend the city. The Amphitheater sits on land that was once part of these quarries. In 1773, the famed naturalist William Bartram visited the coquina quarries and recorded the flora and fauna of the area. Today, visitors can walk the grounds and find remnants of these quarries — what a cool way to discover a piece of history.

Fast forward into the future… In 1965, St. Augustine celebrated the 400th Anniversary of Menendez’s founding of St. Augustine and the community revamped the historic core of the city, renovating the Cathedral Basilica and restoring the City Gate. The plans also included constructing two key monuments that would live well beyond the city’s birthday party. One was the Great Cross at the Mission Nombre de Dios, and the other was the St. Augustine Amphitheatre.

Although The St. Augustine Amphitheatre is now best known as a world-class music venue, it was constructed for a singular purpose — as the stage and setting for a symphonic outdoor drama by Pulitzer-prize winning playwright, Paul Green. The play, titled “Cross and Sword,” was a retelling of the arrival of Menendez and the founding of St. Augustine. The original building of The St. Augustine Amphitheatre was a true community project. The original site was secured in 1960 by W.I. Drysdale when a 40-acre tract of land in Anastasia State Park was leased to the Board of Directors of Cross and Sword, Inc. from the State Board of Parks and Historical Memorials on behalf of St. Augustine’s 400th Anniversary Corporation. Additional approval was given by the US Department of the Interior, the original owner of the land. 

Big changes began in 1988 for The St. Augustine Amphitheatre, while the 24th season of Cross and Sword ran from June 17th to August 27th that year, for the first time there was a huge push to fill up the calendar with other events during the off season. In the decade that followed, the stage hosted a number of other theatrical productions including “Pirates of Penzance,” “Tom Sawyer,” “A Christmas Carol” as well as musical events. In 1997, after a 32-year run, “Cross and Sword” had its final curtain call. The amphitheater was in poor shape with a leaky roof, holes in floors, damaged seats, peeling paint and more. In 1999, facing $3 million of necessary repairs to the space, the Board of Directors of Cross and Sword asked St. Johns County to assume control of the site. By December, a seven-member Board of Directors was established, with the Board of County Commissioners appointing five members, and the Tourist Development Council and the St. Johns County Recreation Advisory Committee each appointing a member as well.

In October of 1999 the St. John's Board of County Commissioners approved a 30-year lease with the State’s Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund. With the signing of the new lease, the County also committed to a 5-year, multi-million dollar renovation and fundraising campaign that hit the ground running in 2000. In October of 2001, a master plan for The St. Augustine Amphitheatre produced by Fred Halback and Les Thomas was approved. After five years of construction, The St. Augustine Amphitheatre re-opened with a new capacity of 4,100 music fans, four concession stands, a large plaza and an elaborate arboretum with walking trails. I saw the walking trails, but the mosquitos were fierce enough in the parking lot, I was not going to venture down the paths!

Today, the St. Augustine Amphitheatre is a state of the art, internationally known performing arts venue consistently ranked among the Top 50 Amphitheater Venues Worldwide. Musical icons including Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, John Legend, Robert Plant, Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt and hundreds more have taken the stage. We are here to see Alison Krauss & Union Station take the stage. But tonight, Thursday, Weird Al Yankovich is performing there to a sold out crowd.

After a relaxing afternoon with Gary & Sheryl we went into the Elks to pay bills and visit. While we were there, the rain came down! So, we stayed put and waited. After the rain stopped we got in the car and headed to dinner at the Sunset Grille on A1A facing the beach. In 1990, Pete Darios and Mike Rosa made their way to St. Augustine with lofty ambitions and bartending experience in tow.

Out of the dust came The Sandpiper – formerly an old Phillip’s 66 gas station- now transformed into one of the beloved city’s favorite beachside restaurants: Sunset Grille! Since then, it has earned five stars from guests near and far along with multiple awards for its flavorful fare set against a Key West style atmosphere that won’t be forgotten soon.

The owner's unwavering dedication to their neighborhood has made Sunset Grille an iconic part of the local community. Their meal masterpieces have been showcased in events like The Great Chowder Debate, The Taste of St Augustine, etc., earning them acclaim as one of the most decorated restaurants in all of St. Augustine! Pete proudly remarked that they always put forth tremendous efforts during these occasions – making sure to showcase only their best recipes and styles at every opportunity!

On Friday 9/26, we sat outside, enjoying the weather and the company. Sheryl and I did some work on the Key West Rally while Charlie and Gary worked on a couple projects.

All day, the weather looked horrible for the show that night. It rained hard while we were eating dinner and watching the Elks members park the cars. But, it stopped when the sun came out. We headed over to the amphitheater. We are able to walk from the Elks lodge. We saw what tailgaters look like for an Alison Krauss & Union Station concert looks like!

We bypassed the beverages and food, as we were all stuffed from dinner! We found our way to our seats and we learned what "partially obscured" meant on the tickets we purchased. We made the best of it, because you could hear the music well and we were enjoying ourselves!

The opening act for the show tonight was Willy Watson. He is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, banjo player, actor and was the founding member of Old Crow Medicine Show. Watson left Old Crow Medicine Show in 2011 due to a mix of musical differences and the desire to pursue a solo career. He really wanted to focus on a more dedicated form of folk revival music. He has described the situation as a "classic band conflict" where the music itself wasn't speaking to him anymore and he felt constrained in the band's direction. He played some great music and he has an awesome voice! Unique fact, he is from Watkins Glen NY, which is less than 50 miles from where we lived in New York!

Sami Braman played fiddle with Willy Watson for the opening act. Sami teaches fiddle and performs across the US, primarily with her band, The Onlies, and Willie Watson. In previous years, Sami has appeared on stage alongside Watchhouse, Laurie Lewis, Bruce Molsky, Elvis Costello, Darol Anger, Critter Eldridge, Cahalen Morrison, Eli West, Pharis & Jason Romero, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Altan. She has performed at festivals like MerleFest, Freshgrass, and Bristol Rhythm & Roots.

For nearly four decades, Alison Krauss & Union Station have been celebrated as one of the most influential acts in bluegrass and roots music. Known for an immaculately crafted but endlessly surprising sound, the group has returned with Arcadia, their first album since the 2011 masterpiece Paper Airplane—a multiple Grammy Award-winning LP that debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country, Bluegrass, and Folk Album charts.

The members of Union Station are a team of virtuosos, all with thriving solo careers. Krauss (fiddle, lead vocal) signed to Rounder Records at age 14 and has gone on to sell over 12 million albums, earning 27 wins and 44 nominations from the Grammy Awards. Jerry Douglas (Dobro, lap steel, vocals), Ron Block (banjo, guitar, vocals), and Barry Bales (bass, vocals) are all award-winning players, songwriters, and producers who have worked with and are considered some of the greatest musicians in the world.

While reassembling for Arcadia, there was a crisis to address: Dan Tyminski informed the band that after thirty years as Union Station’s guitarist and vocalist, he was not returning and would be solely focused on pursuing his solo career. “The four of us met when Dan left,” says Krauss, “and Jerry asked me, ‘What do you think?’ I said, ‘Russell Moore,’ and they all said, ‘Absolutely!’” Krauss remembers seeing him play when she was a teenager, during Moore’s early days with Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, and recalls it as “a very big deal.” She claims that she didn’t think Moore would take her up on the offer to join Union Station, but then there he was.

Taking over as co-lead vocalist/multi-instrumentalist, Russell Moore is the newest addition to Union Station.  The legendary Moore is the the most awarded Male Vocalist in the history of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), with six honors to his name. As the frontman of Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out—a band he founded in 1991—he has guided the group to over 50 industry accolades, including seven IBMA Vocal Group of the Year titles. Known for his rich, soulful voice, Moore delivers performances that resonate with authenticity while embracing a modern edge. His work continues to captivate audiences, cementing his influence as one of bluegrass music’s most respected voices.

Barry Bales has been a member of Alison Krauss & Union Station since 1990.  He is also a successful songwriter, session musician and producer.  Barry’s awards include 15 Grammys, 23 International Bluegrass Music Association awards - including 4 Bass Player of the Year trophies, 1 Country Music Association award, and 2 Academy of Country Music awards, including Song of the Year for the Top 10 hit “Nobody To Blame”, written with and recorded by Chris Stapleton.  He appeared in the movie “Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou?”, as well as contributing heavily to the soundtrack, and has recorded and performed with such artists as Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton,  Shania Twain,  Kenny Chesney, Dwight Yoakam, Vince Gill, and Wood Box Heroes.

Ron Block joined Alison Krauss and Union Station in 1991, contributing banjo, guitar, vocals, and songwriting. He’s written 10 AKUS songs, including “In the Palm Of Your Hand” and “A Living Prayer,” which received a 2006 Gospel Music Association Dove award for Bluegrass Song of the Year. He’s recorded seven solo albums, a collaborative Gospel album with pianist Jeff Taylor and writer Rebecca Reynolds. Ron’s latest collaboration is with Irish tenor banjo wizard Damien O’Kane, an instrumental fusion of bluegrass, Celtic, and other influences. Ron has also recorded on albums by Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Bill Frisell, Kate Rusby, and many other artists throughout his musical career.

Jerry Douglas is a world-renowned Dobro player, and has played with Alison Krauss and Union Station since 1998. His transcendent technique and his passionate musicality has helped him net sixteen Grammy Awards, three CMA awards and numerous International Bluegrass Music Association awards including multiple Dobro Player of the Year wins. Jerry has performed with everyone from Billy Strings, Phish to Paul Simon, Ray Charles to Elvis Costello. Jerry also produced Alison Krauss’ 1990 album, I’ve Got That Old Feeling, and has also produced records for Maura O’Connell, Del McCoury, Molly Tuttle, Jesse Winchester, Cris Jacobs, and Eric Clapton. As music director for the acclaimed Scottish BBC Television Series "Transatlantic Sessions", Jerry has collaborated with hundreds of artists from the UK, Ireland, and Europe.

The incomparable Stuart Duncan joined Alison Krauss & Union Station on the Arcadia Tour. Raised in Southern California, Stuart took up the fiddle at age seven. Since then, he has chalked up a career that includes four Grammys, six Academy of Country Music Awards, and nine titles as the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Fiddle Player of the Year. Now a multi-instrumentalist with a staggering command of not only the fiddle but also the banjo, the guitar, and the mandolin, Stuart Duncan has built upon his bluegrass roots to become an artist that defies categorization and surpasses the limits of any specific genre. He’s performed live with the likes of Diana Krall, Robert Plant, Lyle Lovett, Béla Fleck, Steven Tyler, and Elvis Costello. Duncan has also been featured on an estimated 900 recordings including collaborations with Dolly Parton, Chris Thile, Edgar Meyer and Yo-Yo Ma.

  

The encore lasted for several songs, about 6 or 8, mostly gospel. It started out with Alison, Ron and Russell. Then Barry Bales joined them. 

By the last few songs, the whole band was back out on stage. They sang around a microphone on the right side of the stage, so we could actually see them all at once.

What a great show at an excellent venue. Next time we will look for better seats!

We walked back to the campers and enjoyed peach cobbler and vanilla ice cream!

Stay tuned for more #TwoLaneAdventures

Day 17 - Bluegrass Special - Alison Krauss Bound

On Wednesday 9/24, we decided to get an extra day at St Augustine Elks and leave General Coffee State Park early. We enjoyed a leisurely morning, before we left. The Park doesn’t have a ton of acreage, but it does protect some very fragile, beautiful, and uniquely Georgia ecosystems. There is a four acre lake in the park that can be used for kayaks, canoes and paddle boats. 

Near the lake there were beautiful white garland lily or ginger lilies. It is typically found growing in forests. Other common names include butterfly lily, fragrant garland flower, Indian garland flower, white butterfly ginger lily, and white ginger. It has heavily scented white flowers. In its native environment flowering occurs between August and December. It may be considered invasive in shallow water systems, along streams and in waterlogged areas. Once established, it is difficult to control due to vegetative reproduction through the underground spread. This species was first introduced as an ornamental to Hawaii around 1888 by Chinese immigrants, and is now considered a serious invader in mesic to wet areas of Maui and Hawaii island.

On Thursday, September 26th, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 Hurricane. That night, it quickly moved across the state of Georgia, leaving a path of devastation the Georgia State Parks Division has never experienced before. The sites with catastrophic tree loss and structural damage were Mistletoe, Elijah Clark, General Coffee, George L. Smith, Jack Hill and Magnolia Springs. 

Major structural damage was done to 25 cottages, 3 park residences, 18 group/picnic shelters, 4 visitor centers, and more than 400 campsites. No sooner was the state clear of Helene than preparation began for the 2,000+ Floridian evacuees seeking refuge in Georgia State Parks from the path of Hurricane Milton.

 

General Coffee State Park was significantly damaged by Hurricane Helene, leading to a closure for repairs. While the park experienced devastating tree loss and structural damage, it managed to reopen within four months due to the leadership of Park Manager and significant volunteer support. However, as of September 2025, trails are not open, though the campground, farm, and group shelters are back in operation.  

What is the #1 fruit crop in Georgia? Peaches, Peaches, Peaches … everyone who said peaches is wrong! Alma is also the Blueberry Capital of Georgia, and blueberries are the #1 fruit crop in Georgia! Alma is also home to the Georgia Blueberry Festival and tons of growers! It is a locally organized festival. Its goal is to honor and recognize the importance of the blueberry crop to Alma and Bacon County and to thank those who are involved in the production of the blueberries. The Festival provides entertainment, activities, and food to local residents and visitors. 2026 will be their 50th year!

Georgia's cotton fields are primarily located in the state's southwest region, where the crop is a significant agricultural commodity, contributing billions to the state's economy and employing thousands. Cotton is planted from March to June and harvested from August to December. Among the US states, Texas is the largest producer, contributing approximately 40 percent of US cotton production in recent years. Other top cotton producers include Georgia, Arkansas and Mississippi. Every time I see cotton, I think of our friend Pattye and her stories of picking cotton as a kid!

Folkston is home to The Okefenokee Swamp. It is a shallow, 438,000-acre, peat-filled wetland straddling the Georgia–Florida line. A majority of the swamp is protected by the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the Okefenokee Wilderness. It is world renowned for its amphibian populations that are bio-indicators of global health. More than 600 plant species have been identified on refuge lands.

We crossed from Georgia back into Florida. I got a picture of the "free" state of Florida sign on the way out... so I went for the more traditional sign on the way back into Florida. Along US 1 there was a historical marker for the Battle of Thomas Creek. It was the engagement that ended the Second Florida campaign. This battle involved the land forces of a two pronged continental attack with the goal of taking St. Augustine from the British. The British and their Native American allies laid a successful trap at Thomas Creek that forced the Continental Army to return to Georgia.

We were avoiding interstates and I thought the GPS had us routed around Jacksonville, but I guess not! Why the heck is there a lighthouse downtown? It was built by First Baptist Church of Jacksonville. Commissioned during the years of Pastor Homer G. Lindsay Jr. and Dr. Jerry Vines. They had built a church without a steeple, so they decided to build a replica of the Saint Augustine lighthouse signifying the mission of the church being a “spiritual lighthouse” to the city. It was met with positive and negative reviews. Just before Christmas, 1998, several homeowners downtown and just to the north in Springfield said they’d “seen the light” and the light made them mad as hell. The light flooded second-story bedrooms from a 100-foot-tall concrete lighthouse replica on the corner of a new parking garage. The “spiritual lighthouse” flashed into the bedrooms of Springfield’s grand historic houses every few seconds from six to 10 o’clock every night. The fight ensued and the neighborhood won! The light no longer shines. The lantern’s been dark for over 25 years. For most of the residents who live nearby, time has normalized the presence of a lighthouse marooned in a sea of concrete, lonely and lost, a nihilistic parking-garage sentinel staring blindly into the sky. The church campus used to cover over nine city blocks, but has since experienced parishioner decline and serious debt. They downsized their sprawling campus to a single block.

 

Jacksonville currently has over 60 murals on display. There are over 50 in the Downtown area plus murals in the Murray Hill, Springfield and Arlington neighborhoods. But these two that I captured near the intersection of N Pearl and US 23.

With so much water here, Jacksonville could easily be referred to as the “City of Bridges.” The St. Johns River and San Pablo River (the Intracoastal Waterway) carve through the city so there have to be many crossing points. From just one room of the Bank of America tower (Jax's tallest building), you can see 9 bridges. To get out of Jacksonville, we crossed the John T Alsop Jr Memorial Bridge. Arguably Jacksonville's most recognizable bridge, the official name is the John T. Alsop Jr. Bridge in 1958, however, everyone calls it by street name or just simply the “blue bridge”. Alsop was a mayor of Jacksonville for eighteen years, the longest duration in the city’s history. Opened in 1941, the bridge is a popular Downtown landmark appearing in many skyline photos. It is the only “lift bridge” or movable bridge in which a span rises vertically while remaining parallel with the deck.

We will be in St Augustine for a few days, so we will talk more about it later. Additionally, we may be here in December too for Christmas. We crossed the Lion Bridge, went past the St Augustine Lighthouse and arrived at the Elks, our home for the next 3-nights. 

Stay tuned for more #TwoLaneAdventures