Day 3 - Homo erectus floridana

Ah, yes. Florida sun. So that’s what a sunrise looks like…

I’ve said before, and I’ll say it again – I’d be happy if I NEVER have to see another sunrise. Ever. I’ve seen some doozies, I’m content.

Apparently the planet ain’t listening. And there’s no window blind, not with the screen door open all night to catch the onshore breezes.

Morning was spent on the balcony. Watching the finned and fishy and feathered neighbors, catching up on the bubbly gossip.

And doing other things, like talking deep philosophy with our friend. (With us, not with the critters.) What she wants, what she’s looking for. What possibilities her life might look like now, since she’s not tied to anywhere or any place she doesn’t want to be.

Looking to re-frame all this mess she’s swum through as a rare opportunity at a completely new life. Which it is, but it’s hard because you’re looking at the bruises you’ve sustained to get there. I get it - it's a process.

Luckily, two hurricanes had already whittled her stuff down to a few piles – furniture that she’s salvaged and would re-home, important paperwork and clothing she needed to take with her, and miscellaneous stuff she couldn’t bear to part with unless urged to do so. Not that the hurricane damaged much; it got some stuff, but not a lot. The bulk was already moved out of range. But the miscellaneous is where we come in.

My mom has about a dozen charities that she’s hip-deep into. You have clothing? Stuff that still has use but you don’t need it, but someone else will? Don’t want to take it to a thrift store for sentimental reasons or ethics? No problem, I’m not here to judge, I’m here to get it out.

So we were getting the tidbits that accumulate – blazers from the 80’s, the jacket bought for a specific purpose but then the purpose went away. Glasses for an anniversary that won’t be celebrated now. Things to do research on and check their worth. Things that have a purpose and are quite useful, but you can’t bear to put in the recycling because it seems wasteful.

No problem, we can find them good homes. And if that’s what it takes to have them released, then so be it.

But, after a lunch of a rather delectable salad, it was time to take a break for a bit of fun!

I’ve never been to Honeymoon Island State Park in Florida. And I’m always up for a new beach!

I collect sand samples. I collect state soils. I collect squishies. I have lots of fun, no matter where I go.

Allegedly there’s a squishie machine here that I missed last time!

But when we finally get there – past lots of signs that say DRIVE SLOW – TORTOISE CROSSING. Hmm…

I’ve never been on a beach before that’s primarily limestone!

Fine grain, almost like you’re walking on cement. Interior sand fine and light, tidal stuff looked and acted like said cement. Most of that is human-made, being a result of shoring up the barrier island with limestone chunks. But it made for a fun, intriguing beach, and we wandered quite a bit.

There were some shells, and some chunks of sand dollar. I also got some nice shots of the teal water hitting the breakwater. There was a swimming beach, and lots of families were out enjoying the day.

So were the… um… honeymooners. There were lots of laughing gulls, and they were enthusiastic about starting a family. On Honeymoon Beach. Now I know why they’re called laughing gulls…

We did check for the alleged squishie machine, but this time, the updates on the app proved to be true. When the hurricanes hit last year, they smashed up the island pretty well, including all the pavilions. The squishie machine rusted out. The pavilions are closed with Caution tape.

Ah, and though wrapped up in linen, a sun hat with an extra-wide brim, and UV reflective arm sleeves, I seem to have gotten some Florida sun. Luckily I also packed aloe and calendula gel, so I shall have a slather when we return to base.

As we were driving out, I decided to pull in at another parking lot. It turns out it was connected to the first pavilion we checked out, but I was enjoying the palmetto scrub area, and we slowly cruised along…

Screech!

I quickly pulled over to a parking space. There wasn’t anyone at the upper end of the parking lot, anyway, they were on the beach end.

Hello there!

I’d never seen a gopher tortoise in the wild before!

This one was having a stroll, occasionally stopping to have a nosh. I’m not sure what they were eating, but they were into it! Even the guy who biked up behind me – we were on the bike path to take pics – stopped for a moment to say, “Well, hunh, how about that.”

I floated as I drove us back. Yay! New creature on the life list!

Dinner this time was pozole, hominy soup with chicken and tomatillos and other nommy things. NOM.

And, well, our friend has been nudging for us to go to Disney. She even offered to drive! And tomorrow would be the day, if we’re going to do this. Because, you know, squishies! Disney is the squishie hub, and my friend has gotten them all for me, with the exception of some machines that other friends and fam have gotten for me…

You know what? Let’s try it! I only have, what, five or six machines left? Why not?

Which means an early bedtime, so night night!