St. George Island, Florida

Wed. Feb. 9—Thu. Feb. 10: We took Hwy. 98 along the coast all the way to Apalachicola on Wednesday. It was more scenic and more direct than going up to I-10 but it probably didn’t save us any time. We drove right past Dick & Lynn Hensens’ winter home in Destin but they weren’t home when we called mid morning so, although we talked later in the day, we weren’t able to see them. About 3:00 at Apalachicola we took a bridge over the inter-coastal waterway and then a longer bridge over the bay to St. George Island. After passing by a few miles of mostly empty rentals on two levels of the beach, we continued east to St. George Island State Park. The campground is 4 miles beyond the gate house where one registers. There is just one small loop of about 50 campsites with a few empty sites but the ranger gave us one right next to the bathroom that turned out to be a Handicap site. After setting up, we chose to take a walk back out to the road and to the Gulf Beach. There was a car stopped on our way out and it turned out they were photographing a bald eagle that they told us comes to the pond next to the road at that time every day. We continued out to the beach and were once again all alone. It was in the low fifties, as it would be for the rest of our time on the island. As we left the area we ran into a woman with a walking stick who asked if we had been out to the end of the island yet. She had hoped to go out there but decided it was a little too late and her husband didn’t really know where she was. Back at the campground we made dinner and spent the evening reading and watching a Northern Exposure because there is no internet, virtually no TV and not even good radio reception out here. It’s nice to feel so remote. Sarah texted us that Analyn was doing better and they were returning to the regular pediatric ward to continue her recovery, which was a great relief to know. Thursday night it rained nearly all night but the morning was just cloudy and 47°. We spent a leisurely morning and then heard from Sarah that the doctor wanted Analyn on one antibiotic for 5 days total and the other for 7 days total, so they were probably going to stay in the hospital until Monday, at least. Marv and I drove back over the bridges to Apalachicola and found their library so I could book a flight to go to Indianapolis. I will fly out on Monday (Valentine’s Day) and return the following Saturday (that being $100 cheaper than returning on Friday). By the time all the arrangements were made and we returned to the island it was nearly 3:00. Harry A’s afforded us a good steak burger (Marv) and an alligator tail basket (Peggy) and good draft beers. It was after 4:00 when we got back to the campground, but not too late for us to take our bikes out to the east end of the island. There is a barrier gate that prohibits vehicles but allows pedestrians and bikes. The (old) GPS suggested it would be about 4 miles out. There was some pavement but mostly hard packed sand and fine gravel over a wire mesh. It made for pretty easy peddling through rolling dunes and beach oats except we were heading into a northeast wind that caused us both to put up our hoods under our helmets. About halfway out I saw a bald eagle gliding with the wind along the coast to our left. Around the 4 mile point on the GPS it mapped us as biking in the water! The road actually went about 4.6 miles before ending in a parking area right near the beach. One other man on his bike arrived there about the same time we did. From the end one can see the mainland and, off to the right, Dog Island, another barrier island. After walking the beach and picking up some shells we found the return trip, with the wind, a bit easier. As we got back to the campground the bald eagle was perched in its usual spot near the pond so we got a picture. The whole trip was nearly 10 miles and it was about dusk. I took a quick shower to wash my hair in the unheated shower house; a bit brisk but doable. We weren’t very hungry after our large lunch so we finished the hot dogs without bread or buns and had a salad. Ken kept us apprised of the Men’s and Women’s basketball games, both of whom beat Penn State, with Draymond Green picking up his first triple double, only the third Spartan to accomplish it (Magic Johnson and Bell were the others). The rest of the evening was pretty much a repeat of the day before.