Made it to Florida!

We are barely inside the great state of Florida.  Our second choice for our beach getaway - Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island.  It is 85+ degrees and really nice....Nags Head is about 20 degrees cooler.  So even if we have a little rain the next couple days it will be warm!

Slept pretty good at the Bluff in Savannah.  The air system made a wind blowing sound and it kept Jane awake off and on - either that or the side effect of a short term medication to help my back and knees.  Anyway pretty good sleeping in until 8:30!   Breakfast and on the road south about 10.  We only had 120+ miles to Fort Clinch - our first stop.  We passed by St. Simons, Saint Mary's and Cumberland Island....all places we have enjoyed so we should like Amelia Island too.... Ben had been here once for a short trip with the scouts but he remembered little about it.   

After getting off I-95 we searched for a Krystal - why you ask - Ben had it on his mind and there was one showing on google maps - but we never found it - so made a quick stop at a What-A-Burger - another place we seldom stop...decent hamburger and nicely managed restaurant.  Such a difference from yesterday's lunch.  Not traveling much over the past year has made Jane a bit rusty on her internet navigation skills!

Since we would not be checking into the hotel until 3:30 or 4:00 we headed to Fort Clinch State Park to tour the fort and hike around a little.   The park was so very nice - palms, live oaks, and Spanish moss. It was sunny and hot!   

Fort Clinch - Pandemic Viewing!

Up with the Canon

The Parade Ground

Looking across to Cumberland Island

Ben investigating the Spanish Moss

Beautiful

At the fort we toured around their small museum outlining their long history of protecting the US coast from before the Civil War through WW2.  Reminded us of many other forts we have toured of that era.  They have done a good job of restoring it.  Ben says when he and the scouts took their overnight trip on the nuclear submarine USS Maryland from Kings Bay Naval Station they were on the deck headed out to sea right past this fort.  

We climbed around the fort, sat out in the sun a while, and finally made it back to the Visitor Center.  Drinking lots of water but the time in the sun was really taking it out of us!  We drove around enjoying the scenery and then headed to our hotel.  Remarkably it was only 5 minutes from the park entrance.

After some rest and research we selected Salt Life Food Shack for dinner.  It was 1 block away from our hotel and had great reviews and the food we wanted - so you couldn't beat walking a short distance.  We are 1 block from the Atlantic.  This restaurant has great ocean views although we did not go to the upstairs deck this visit.  Great sax player on the deck, and an informal fun atmosphere.  Ben wanted raw oysters but not too many....so he tried an Oyster Shot - it was a shot glass with beer, cocktail sauce and a  huge oyster.  He said it was great - Jane did manage taking the photo.  

Ben's Oyster Shooter - that is one BIG oyster

Rain Forest Mahi

Chili Lime Mahi

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Great Music on the Deck at Salt Life Food Shack - Atlantic in background

Our dinners were super great - not sure they topped last nights, but were equally good in their own way.  Jane had Chili Lime Mahi - grilled with a white rum coconut sauce and grilled veggies.  Ben had Rain Forest Mahi - blackened, served with black bean orzo and plantains.  We both ate nearly every bite!  It is going to be hard not to go back there again!  We had a pineapple upside down cake dessert to go and finished it up a bit ago....sorry forgot to take a photo before it was gone....

Watching a little TV but think sleep will come early tonight!  

Haven't seen a sign like this since we were in Alaska!