Sunday, February 13, 2022
Green Cove Springs, Guana River WMA, Vilano Beach
This was our last day of fun before heading home. We filled it with a few big random sights we hadn't yet seen and one last bike ride.
First stop, the St. Augustine Lighthouse. We'd been driving past it for days but hadn't taken the time to stop until now. It was especially picturesque on this cloudy morning. At 165 feet tall, this is the seventh tallest lighthouse in the United States.
St. Augustine Lighthouse
Next we we drove over to Green Cove Springs, where on the bank of the St. Johns River lies a discarded 154-foot-long Space Shuttle external fuel tank once used for stress analysis tests. (Any fuel tank used for launch burned up on reentry.) When the Space Shuttle Program ended in 2011, this tank was among the relics auctioned off by NASA.
It took a 200-foot barge and two tugboats to transport the tank from Kennedy Space Center to Green Cove Springs, where it was offloaded to shore by crane. The tank was then to be towed to its new home, but the logistics proved too daunting, and it's been abandoned by the side of the road near the port ever since.
Abandoned Space Shuttle fuel tank
Dry dock in Green Cove Springs
Half a mile away from the abandoned enormous Space Shuttle fuel tank sits an abandoned enormous hovercraft! In 2005, a company called ATLAS Hovercrafts had plans for a fleet of hovercrafts to ferry passengers on the St. Johns River and neighboring waterways. After countless hours, dollars, and hype, by 2008, the project was defunct, and all that remains is a ghostly 100-foot fiberglass hull sitting on the tarmac of a decommissioned airfield.
Hovercraft skeleton
Our last quick stop in Green Cove Springs was at the Military Museum of North Florida, outside of which stands a 62-foot-long, 26-foot-wide LARC-LX. This Vietnam-era amphibious cargo vehicle could carry up to 100 tons of cargo or 200 people at a time through the surf onto undeveloped beaches. It is massive!
Little Tom, large LARC
Finally, the cloudy day gave way to sun, and it was time for our bike ride. The Guana River Wildlife Management Area is a large protected area near the coast, midway between St. Augustine and Jacksonville. Our only map of the area was a photo we took at the trailhead, but it was impossible to get lost on the wide trails.
One last bike ride
Wet wilderness
Into the jungle
There are miles of unpaved trails through the marsh and pines of the WMA, with ample opportunity for wildlife sightings. From an observation tower at Lake Ponte Verde, we spotted several huge crabs in the water and watched as one of the crabs caught a fish bigger than he was!
Lake Ponte Verde observation tower
Marsh island
Lake Ponte Verde
Leaving the observation tower, we spotted an armadillo in the undergrowth. Then we spotted two more armadillos. Then we started seeing armadillos everywhere. The place is overrun! It was a nice last ride. We finished with 13.5 miles.
One of MANY armadillos
Tom rides a grassy section of trail
Varied vegetation
Back into the trees
Just after sunset, we reached Vilano Beach, north across the Matanzas Inlet and Tolomato River from St. Augustine's historic downtown. There was just enough time to walk out onto the fishing pier before dark. I liked the vibe here - very laid back.
Vilano Beach waterfront
Jana with the Bluebird of Happiness
Bridge over the Tolomato River
We had dinner a few feet from the pier at 180 Vilano Grill & Pizza. The pizza was outstanding! As we waited for our food, Tom noticed there was a football game on. We forgot it was Super Bowl Sunday! We watched most of the first half before heading out.
Lastly, we crossed the river to downtown St. Augustine and spent some time driving around to see the various old buildings lit up at night. Some of the businesses still had their white Christmas lights up from St. Augustine's annual Nights of Lights celebration, while others stay lit year-round.
Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church
That was it for the vacation funsies. On Monday, we spent 10 hours driving home on I-95, I-26, and I-40, via Jacksonville, FL, Savannah, GA , Columbia, SC, Asheville, NC, and, finally, Knoxville, TN. At least we were able to avoid Atlanta!
THE END
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