Pt. 3-Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, Amelia Island

Back at the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, it was time for the Blessing of the Fleet and Best Decorated Shrimp Boat Contest.

1st place for Best Decorated Shrimp Boat went to the Miss Cheryl Ann.

2nd place went to the Island Girl.

One of the festival participants offered to pose with Marlon for a quick picture.

We wonder how much wet water would cost...

Oh, the nostalgia of the Volkswagen Bus. It is always neat to see one again. In Australia and Brazil, this vehicle is referred to as a "kombi".

Thus, the opening line of the 1980's #1 song "Down Under" by Men at Work, makes a little more sense to me now-"Traveling in a fried-out Kombi, On a hippie trail, head full of zombie."

At least now I know what a Kombi is, even if I don't understand the rest...

The Tabby House, built in 1885, is located at 27 S. 7th in the Fernandina Beach Historic District and is one of many buildings in the area on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

As you can see below, the exterior consists of crushed oyster shell and poured Portland cement.

Greetings from a pirate long dead.

This house, built in 1856, was a small cottage until Dr. W.T. Waas decided to make it into a not-so-small cottage at the end of the 19th century.

There were two stages for live entertainment at the festival featuring many different music styles.

The Fernandina Beach Post Office was built in 1912.

Florida House is Florida's oldest hotel, currently operating as a bed and breakfast inn.

Before we left the Shrimp Festival for the day, we picked up some Scooby snacks.

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/may/amelia-island/ pictures 135-165.

To be continued...

Pt. 2-Amelia River Cruise to Cumberland Island

Time to board the Ryan K for our Amelia Island River Cruise to Cumberland Island.

Some of the shrimp boats docked on the island...

Fernandina Beach is Amelia Island's historic downtown area. It is also the location of this operating paper mill.

This house is situated in Amelia Island's Old Town Historic District which dates back to the early 19th century.

Fort Clinch is now protected as a Georgia State Park.

As we approached Cumberland Island, we spotted some of the wild horses the National Seashore is famous for. Here a mother and two male horses stand guard until a newborn learns to stand and walk.

We have come quite a distance.

Views of Cumberland Island National Seashore...

The National Seashore is accessible by ferry or private boat. The island also features The Greystone Inn, a bed and breakfast run by descendants of the Carnegie family who owned the island from about 1880-1970.

They call him Flipper...Flipper...

One of many snowbirds who come to this area of the country in their boats for the winter, much like rvers.

A boathouse on Cumberland Island...

Look what we found...

He saw us and took a dive.

One of the vacation homes of the rich and famous...

Heading back to Amelia Island for the Shrimp Festival...

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/may/amelia-island/ pictures 18-134.

To be continued...

Amelia Island, Florida Pt. 1

Today we journeyed back to Florida-just barely-to visit Amelia Island and its historic Fernandina Beach area.

On our way, we found gas for $1.22 a gallon...or so it seemed. Apparently this gas station has been closed awhile. This station is just one of what we would guess have been hundreds of abandoned gas stations we have seen thus far while traveling.

Welcome to the final day of The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Pirates welcome one and all.

There's that friendly gecko from Geico.

Even at 10 am the streets are jumping with shrimp lovers everywhere.

The Palace Saloon opened in 1903, but was severely damaged by fire in 1999. Billed as the oldest continually-operated saloon in Florida up to then, The Palace is now back in business serving up its famous "Pirate's Punch".

The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival features over 250 exhibits of fine arts and crafts.

Among them is Austrian-born, Miami Beach artist Herbert Hofer. Simply put, his paintings are fun. His art deco style often includes cats in exotic locations. Check out his work at http://www.herberthofer.com/ .

His wife, Randie, visited with us briefly before our river cruise. She was really interesting and had a wealth of knowledge about international politics.

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/may/amelia-island/ pictures 1-17.

To be continued...