St. George Island

St. George Island is a barrier island about 30 miles long and a mile wide at it's widest spot. It is located on the Gulf coast just off the Florida panhandle. The island is divided roughly into three general areas. The eastern third is State Park. The middle third is houses and condos. The final third on the west end of the island is high end homes, a golf course and airstrip. Access to the island is by way of a four mile causeway connecting the island and the mainland. Wendy's parents rent a condo just about in the center of the island right at the end of the causeway. You can easily see the ocean from their third floor balcony. We chose to camp at the State Park about eight miles away.  The Park is a combination of sandy coves, salt marshes, shady pines and oak forests.


 We checked in at the gate and then drove four miles along the dunes to the campground. The speed limit along this section of road is 25 and it is strictly enforced. The St. George Island State Park is probably the nicest State Park I have ever camped in!  The campground itself has spots for about 60 campers with each site having water and electric.  We had site 26 which was close to the bathrooms and showers.  Nice, because if you remember, there is no bathroom in the truck camper.

We decided to take the camper off the truck for a couple of reasons.  First, it frees up the truck for side trips without having to button everything up in the camper.  Second, it places the camper closer to the ground so life is easier when entering and exiting.  Anyway, taking the camper off the truck turned out to be an excellent decision.  So by Monday evening we were all set for several days.  All we needed was great weather, and boy, did we luck out.  Sun and 70 plus weather for almost every day we were there.

With over 10 miles of beach and barrier sand dunes, the park is a great natural observatory.  We saw zillions of birds along with crab, dolphins and even a couple of eagles.  However, to preserve that kind of habitat, the beach is off limits to dogs.  Zoey could hike the nature trails with us though.  To spend time in the surf she had to travel to the public beaches where dogs are allowed.  And love the surf she did!  At first she was afraid of the waves, but as time went on she learned to "jump" them.  By the end of the trip you could throw a tennis ball out 100 feet and she would go out for it.  She was one happy dog. That was the up side. The down side is a wet, salty and sandy dog in your camper.  Zoey insisted on rolling in the sand after a romp in the surf.  I guess it's in their genes. Usually, a good soaking with a fresh water hose would help remove the sand and salt.


St. George Island's history is based on oysters.  In fact, the local radio station refers to itself as Oyster Radio, much like our local stations call them self as Wolf or Froggy.  The other old industry was turpentine.  The pine trees were "tapped" for the turpentine sap, much like our maples are tapped for the maple sap.  So far, the island is still pretty much resisted the trappings of the typical "Myrtle Beach" venue.  However, the locals fear the commercialization of the island.  It is still quaint and quiet, but that is slowly changing, I'm told.  I hope that the State of Florida will resist the urge to develop the East end of the island.  Even though it is probably worth billions in development, to maintain it in it's natural state is worth even more.

Winter Break 2011: Prologue

Old Man Winter finally got to me! We have been having what many call an "Old Fashion Winter" in Northern New York, reminiscent of the winters of the '70's. A 33 below zero in January and having to plow my driveway more times than I like to remember has pushed me over the edge. I'm yearning for some warmth and besides, I need to start practicing the life of a soon to be retiree. :-)

My friend Wendy and I started looking at ideas for Winter Break travel. Somethingwarm was very appealing. Also, her parents winter in St. George Island on the Gulf Coast of Florida. A surprise visit to them seemed like nice idea as well. I wanted to camp so I went online and made reservations at the State Park on St. George Island for four nights. My original plan was to take the larger 5th wheel camper, but the amount of snow in my driveway and the pending snowy forecasts steered me in the direction of taking the smaller and more maneuverable truck camper. Now, traveling in a truck camper is not for the faint of heart. Mine is SMALL!! It is a 7 foot x 12 foot box on the back of a truck. Many tents are larger. This particular camper has no bathroom. It does has a refrigerator and a two burner stove. Even more important, it has an excellent Queen size bed. So while Zoey (my petite and blonde Golden Retriever) and I had traveled to Montana for 32 days a couple years ago, this time we had to fit another adult in and still manage to get along with each other.

Wendy and I left Gouverneur Saturday morning, the 19th, to a driving snow and wind storm. It was white knuckle driving all the way down Interstate 81. By the time we reached the PA border, the snow ceased, but the high winds held on. We counted 23 cars in the ditch off 81 between home and the PA border. We pulled in to a KOA in Broadway, VA about 8:30 and in the dark. There was no snow, but the temperature was 20 degrees when we woke Sunday morning. We got started about 8:30 and made to to another KOA, this time in Forsyth, Georgia, and this time in the daylight. Also, it was a warm 65 degrees!! This KOA was a busy one right Interstate 75. After a relatively short drive of six hours on Monday, we drove onto St. George Island about 1:30 Monday afternoon to sunshine and 70 degree ocean air.

The Times They Are a-Changing

As the title of the Bob Dylan song says, the times they are a-changing. I "officially" retired from teaching January 31st, 2011. However, after a mandatory one day of retirement, I am back to work as a long term substitute for myself until the end of the school year on June 24th. Then I'm retired from teaching for good. I've jokingly told friends that I farmed for 21 years, then taught for 21 years, now I have to find something else to do for the next 21 years. I'll be 85 then, and I'll start to think about my fourth 21 year career when that time comes. :-)

It has been almost two years since Kathy, my wife and partner of over 40 years, died. I have recovered very well. I think that is just how human nature works. I have learned to get by on my own. I have learned how to look back over the thousands of photos of us and smile and laugh.  We humans are social creatures. We aren't meant to operate alone.

I have several projects to finish up before my teaching career ends. I will make maple syrup with my students one more time. I have been asked to help chaperone the Potsdam High School students when they travel to France for two weeks in April. I chaperoned the trip last year as well. You can check back on some of the previous blog posts to learn about that trip. The art teacher and I have a landscaping project with our students to finish before the school year ends. Finally, I have to clean out 21 years of personal stuff and old student work from my classroom. That may be the hardest project of all. As I go through boxes and piles, I tend to get bogged down reading old student papers and projects. There are so many old memories that make me smile.

But, I am also smiling about the prospect a different life next year. I want to read more. I want to learn more about solar energy and other sustainable living projects. I want to see my grandchildren more. I want to help my sons with remodeling projects on their homes. I want to keep abreast of the changing computer and phone technology. I want to visit friends in Maine and Wisconsin. I want to travel and camp during the off season when the crowds are smaller. I want to downhill ski more.

Gee, it's starting to look like my third career will be working on my "I want to" list.