3. Florida: Along The Eastern Shore to Key Biscayne

Day 6 - Sunday, May 7

Getting from Savannah to Florida isn't much of a special trip. One takes either I-95 or US 17, and neither road has much scenic beauty to offer. I chose US 17, because there are a few attractive stretches along the way.

Got off to a late start because I enjoy Sunday morning TV talk shows. Had an absolutely great shower, enjoyed eating breakfast outdoors with bright sunshine and temperatures in the low sixties. Was on the road by 10:15 AM. Once in Florida, took A1A to Fernandina Beach - usually a pretty beach town with a lovely historic area. However, today they celebrated their 37th annual shrimp festival and traffic, parking, and sightseeing were impossible.

Continued on A1A south to Mayport and took the ferry ($2.75) across the St. Johns River. This is a much better way than going through Jacksonville.

Stayed on A1A to St. Augustine via Ponte Vedra Beach. Pretty views of dunes and ocean along the way. Drove through St. Augustine without stopping - am saving the sightseeing until I have a bicycle along. Went to the Anastasia State Recreation area and got a very level and private site ($17.44, water hook-up).

This park might well serve as an expample of what a park should be like. The sites are well-shaded by beautiful old trees, and while they are somewhat close to each other, there are plenty of bushes and shrubs to provide privacy. The bathhouse looks well-kept and clean.

Bought gasoline in Georgia for $1.299/gal - about 30 cents cheaper than what seem to be prevailing prices in Florida. Got 17.7 miles to the gallon on the last tank. Drove 220 miles, was on the road for 6 1/2 hours. Lowest temperature was 62F during the night, the high was 85F, and the evening temperature is in the mid-seventies. A good evening for grilling.

Day 7 - Monday, May 8

Got up at 7 AM and enjoyed a very pleasant shower. After a leisurely breakfast, got under way by 9 AM. Stayed on A1A and made Fort Matanzas National Monument my first stop.

A lovely setting, an interesting history. The fort was built in 1740 - 1742 by Spain to guard the backdoor to St. Augustine - Matanzas Inlet - against British attacks. It did so in 1742, and never fired its guns in battle again.

Continued on A1A, with mixed results. The stretch to Flagler Beach is quite scenic, but staying on A1A for Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach is a waste of time. I'l know better next time.

A1A reconnects with US 1 and then splits off again at New Smyrna Beach. Don't take A1A here - it's a dead end. Stay on US 1 for a little while longer and a few miles after Edgewater, when US 1 turns inland, take the poorly marked turnoff to the left to the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge and National Seashore. In time you will see the NASA facilities ahead of you, and I got a spectacular view of the successful launch of a Titan IV rocket.

Unfortunately, NASA does not allow through traffic, so had to go inland to Titusville and then go back out to the Cape on the causeway. Continued on A1A past Patrick Air Force base to Melbourne Beach - not a particularly attractive road.

The stretch from Melbourne to Vero Beach is mostly a waste of time, while the St. Lucie to Stewart stretch is quite scenic.

Then took US 1 to Hobe Sound and the nearby Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Good sites, quite level, shaded and well separated. $14.98.

It started to rain a few miles north of the park, and there was a major downpour when I set up. Got a weather report on TV and it showed the only rain area in southern Florida. It was centered right over the park.

Drove 270 miles, was on the road for 7 1/2 hours. Nighttime low temperature was 60F, 85F max during the day, and evening temperature is 72F.

Day 8 - Tuesday, May 9

Spent a hot and sunny day exploring Florida state route A1A. The stretch from Palm Beach to Delray Beach is quite interesting - opulent mansions, some even quite pleasant to look at - line the road. There are also beautiful sections with terrific views of a deep blue Atlantic. But from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami - not worth it unless you like to look at apartment buildings and hotel towers.

Made it to Key Biscayne and would like to note for the record that it is possible to travel from New Jersey to southern Florida without using I-95. Of course, it took me 7 days instead of 20 1/2 hours, but much of it was worth the extra time.

Our townhouse on Key Biscayne is currently rented. Just stopped by to pick up the bicycles so that we can take them along on future camping trips. Decided to spend the night here, so parked next to the clubhouse and the pool and settled in for the night. The clubhouse has a phone line I used to get e-mail and upload. A great shower is also available.

Only drove 110 miles today, was on the road for 4 1/2 hours. Bought gasoline at $1.499/gal - got 18.5 miles to the gallon.

Temperatures ranged from the nighttime low of 72F to the high eighties during the day and the mid-seventies in the evening.

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