The End

Hi Everybody,

We woke up this morning to rain on the roof and thinking that the end of the ride would be like the beginning--wet.  However, by the time the guys were ready to ride, the rain had stopped and the sun was starting to shine.  We started on a state route to see how busy it was and when we got to the turn off to the more scenic route along the St. Johns River it was decided to ride that way.  Paula got her bike out and rode with the guys for about 12 miles.  It was very picturesque and we stopped in Riverdale Park along the river for lunch.  then it was on to St. Augustine.

What a charming and beautiful town but mobbed with tourists.  It was difficult maneuvering the RV and trailer down the narrow streets, finding the places to turn, and a place to park.  We finally drove back out of the middle of town and waited for the guys to catch up and decide just where to go to take pictures.  We finally met up in a bus parking lot and walked to the Castillo de San Marcos, a fort along the bay.  there is so much to see and do here--some of it is very touristy but with lots of history involved.  We hope to come back tomorrow to see some more.  We took pictures at the fort of the bikers at the end of the journey, although tomorrow we will take the bikes to the seaside to dip their wheels into the ocean.

We drove out of town and south along Highway 1 and then out to the beach communities.  In Ocean Beach we got into our RV park and then called our friends Dave and Gloria Botton who have just (Wednesday) moved down here from Concord, MA.  They drove over to pick us up and then back to the beach just out from their new house to celebrate the end of the journey with champagne.  It was so good to see them and they were excited to be able to welcome and congratulate us properly.  We then went back to their new home here in Ocean Beach in a community called Sea Colony.  They have not brought the majority of their belongings down yet, but have a table and chairs, some wicker furniture and a few other things.  Their home is so lovely and much larger than what they had in MA with large rooms, screened porch, open porch, a two-car garage with a full apartment over it, and great closets, sculptured hickory floors, beautiful fixtures, and nice landscaping.  We had a terrific enchilada dinner and will see them tomorrow for breakfast and the ceremonial wheel-dipping and touring St Augustine.  They are such wonderful people and what a gift to us that they are here.

Where have the last 6 weeks gone?  As we went through the pictures tonight with the Bottons it was such a blur.  It was hard to identify some of the scenery or remember the names of towns.  I am sure glad that we took lots of notes along the way.  Sure hope that they coincide with the pictures!  We are so thankful for all your prayers, emails and encouragement along the way.  With the internet and cell phones we always felt connected  with you.  We hope that you have visited the website and gotten more information about Camps Farthest Out, Camps Farthest Out International, and the United Prayer Tower.  

Love and blessings,

Lana