Vol 23 No. 9 - 30 November, 2019

November - finally cooler weather, after a hot and humid October.  1 November was overcast and extremely windy at the beach, which made it uncomfortable.  We walked to the beach and back via Main Street to get out of the wind. 
On Saturday, 2 November, it was mostly overcast, but not windy.  A more enjoyable morning walk.to the beach.  The spider lilies are still blooming and their fragrance in the air!

Spider Lily buds - one early flower.

The sun trying to get through.

With the nicer Fall temperatures come the busy weekends of Festivals and Markets. The one on 2 November, we had planned to check out was the Deland Original Music Festival - Delandapolooza.  We were on the motorbike and as we turned to head west - the storm clouds were low and hovering over DeLand.  A quick decision and a U-turn, and then wandered around Canal Street in New Smyrna Beach at the Antique and Vintage Market.

A beer at the New Smyrna Beach Brew Pub, then back to the house, and we did not get wet!
Sunday morning, 3rd November - the end of Daylight Saving, means we start our sunrise beach walk 'earlier', which is preferable to us.  Cooler temperatures and still some clouds.

The volleyball court at The Breakers Oceanfront park.

Sunday we rode the motorbike to Barberville for a Fall Jamboree.
Celebrating the 43rd Annual Fall Country Jamboree - one of the area's most unique cultural events!  At the Pioneer Settlement Village.

Internet:  Join us each year on the first weekend of November where Florida History and Folk Culture come ALIVE!

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The Annual Fall Country Jamboree is one of the longest running events in Volusia County. This event features examples of pioneer living that included blacksmithing, cane grinding and a boil, spinning, weaving, wood working, and many more historical demonstrations.

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The Handmade Arts and Crafts show features the original work from crafters and artists from all over. Local businesses and non-profits set up to share their products.

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The music line up is one that you will have to search far and wide to match. Featuring both well-known established artists as well as the best of the up and coming. Every year we fill all 6 stages and time slots, that’s over 170 performances, and unfortunately have to turn performers away. But that doesn't stop them from just showing up with their instruments and joining in a jam or workshop. With two workshop tents and two jam tents - music is abundant! 

A St Johns River tour boat to see the lakes and rivers.

The old time barn dance in the school house is a foot stompin' good time and good fun for the whole family. Live callers and bands make it a dance to remember. 

The Cane Syrup Shack.

The exhibits were interactive, many inviting children to participate.  A couple here were crushing sugar cane to extract the juice.  Then the cane juice went into a boiler to evaporate the water to make cane syrup or sugar crystals.. 

There were 6 'stages' and several areas where musicians 'jammed'.  Music all around, some solo, some bands, some just people sitting in a circle singing and playing.

The original Barberville Central High School (c 1919), is on the National Register of Historic Places.  Filled with displays and exhibits.  The kitchen held tables of home cooked sweet treats and desserts.

Old school desks and chairs.

A 600-800 year old dugout canoe.

Quilting.

Hand made cast nets (fishing industry).

The store below was originally at the turpentine operation in Bakersburg, Florida.

Making brooms - these are beautiful!

The Wood Shop.

This peacock painting on the barn is fabulous!

The corn boil was our lunch!   The whole ears of corn are thrown in a boiler, then schucked, and rolled in butter.

Many horse drawn implements at Barberville! 

Quarters House for workers in the forestry and turpentine industries.

This Quarters House was c 1920  and furnished and filled with great household items.

Internet:  Built in the 1920's, the house was moved from New Smyrna Beach in 1997. The shotgun style is indicative of the homes built to quarter workers in the Naval Stores Industry (turpentine). The structures were cheaply built and occupants frequently "papered" their walls with cardboard and newspaper to insulate the interior.

Rear of the Quarters House.

Internet:  The convict cage wagon was used to transport prisoners who were leased to corporations for road work, timber harvesting and turpentining. The leasing program was abolished in Florida in 1923, following the death of Martin Talbert, an inmate killed in a turpentine camp as a result of harsh physical punishment.

This cage used to transport convicts from camp to work on the road between DeLand and Daytona.

More entertainment at the Lewis Log House.  

The only building at Barberville that isn't from Florida.  It was built by Mr Jim Lewis in 1875 in southern Georgia, and moved to Barberville Pioneer Settlement in 1992.

A lovely moment of an elderly woman showing a girl needlepoint.

A lot of interesting old machinery.

We left Barberville mid-afternoon, and went to Houligan's to watch the football game and have an early dinner. Houligan's have a television at each eating booth, which is nice to watch which ever game you want.
Monday, 4 November walk to the beach, very windy! 

Strong and consistent wind had pushed the beach sand onto the boardwalk.

It was Diane's birthday, so after our beach walk, we went to Heffer's for breakfast.
For the evening, Jim and I went to DeLand to Brian's BBQ and meet Lis and some of her friends for nickel beers and great BBQ.  Always a fun time!

Tuesday, 5 November walk to the beach.  There was a large storm cloud that contained a lightning storm.  I missed getting a photo because there was no prior warning!

I don't always take a photograph at these windows, because often they are dripping with condensation.  There has been less humidity recently.

That afternoon, Jim and I went to the Regal Cinema in Ormond Beach.  The Downton Abbey movie had been out for 6 weeks, and was not yet showing at the movie at the Oceanwalk Cinemas near us.  Jim and I had watched the Downton Abbey series, so were excited to see the movie.  Going to the next town was required!

Wednesday morning, 6 November, Jim and I left the house early, on another overnight excursion in Florida.
So many interesting, small towns - we avoid the Interstate Highway when ever possible.

First point of interest was Weeki Wachee Springs State Park:
Internet:  One of Florida's most legendary and unique destinations.  Featuring live mermaid shows, wildlife, kayaking, and more.
"Weeki Wachee" was named by the Seminoles.  It means "little spring" or "winding river".
The spring is so deep that the bottom has never been found.  Each day, more than 117 million gallons of clear, fresh 74-degree (F) water bubbles up out of subterranean caverns.  The basin of the spring is 100 feet wide with limestone sides.
From the spring, the Weeki Wachee River winds its way 12 miles to the Gulf of Mexico.

Perhaps the best known symbol of the yesteryear of Florida tourism, and one of Florida's oldest roadside attractions, Weeki Wachee's iconic mermaids perform in pure aquamarine water.
In 1946, Newton Perry, a former US Navy man who trained SEALs to swim underwater in World War II, zeroed in on Weeki Wachee as a good site for a new business.
He invented an air hose method for breathing underwater and trained women as mermaids.  Perry built an amphitheatre, and in October 1947, the first mermaid show was held.

Prior to the mermaid show there was a State Forestry worker with a (non- poisonous) Florida pine snake, she gave an informative talk on Florida snakes and fauna.

On the video monitors was Jimmy Buffet performing "Fins", with the help of four Weeki Wachee mermaids.  A fun fun preliminary video to the show!

The mermaids swim 16 to 20 feet below the surface, the current runs a strong five-miles an hour, it is quite a feat for a mermaid to stay in one place in such a current.
This performance was Disney's "The Little Mermaid".

It was a fabulous show - we both enjoyed it.  There are three mermaid  shows a day.
When visitors aren’t enjoying the mermaids, they can splash around in Florida’s only spring-fed water park, Buccaneer Bay. Featuring four water slides, a lazy river and a floating dock, it gives everyone a chance to cool off in the 74-degree water.
Buccaneer Bay was closed for renovations while we were there (off-season).

There were mermaid statues all through the park. 

Included in the admission cost is a River Cruise in the spring fed Weeki Wachee River.
Narrated, interesting and fun!

From Weeki Wachee, we headed to the Gulf Coast, a look at Homosassa Springs, and there were a couple of things I wanted to see in Homosassa (on the coast), but somehow we missed the downtown area.
The city of Crystal River was our next stop.
Crystal River is a coastal city in western Florida.  Kings Bay, which is fed by springs, is home to the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, sheltering manatees year-round.
We parked in the historical downtown area.
At the corner of Highway US 19 and Citrus Avenue is a reproduction of the sailing scow from the Civil War era, "Spirit".  It was used as a blockade runner.

The Crystal River Boat Builders is an educational organisation which works to preserve and continue the maritime heritage of the Nature Coast of Florida.  Staffed completely by volunteers, the organisation builds replicas of historic boats used along the Gulf Coast, using traditional methods and hand tools.

Constructed Circa 1926 the water tower marked the first central water system in Crystal River,  The building beneath the tower was both the pump house for the water tower and a jail.

The Crystal River Old City Hall is now used as the Coastal Heritage Museum.  

We found one brewery in Crystal River - Copp Winery & Brewery.  It was difficult to find, but turned out to be a gem! 

The exterior lighting are converted 32oz growler bottles.

Firstly we shared a flight of four 4 oz samples of Copp Beer. Jim chose two and I chose two samples.  They were all great beers!  We did not know which one to choose for a pint. 

We booked a motel in Crystal River, on the coast.  The Port Hotel & Marina, overlooking Crystal River and Kings Bay  It is old style, but has been kept up beautifully.

Margarita Breeze was the restaurant and bar next to the motel, and there was a tiki bar in front of that.  We had a great meal there, and watched the sun setting over Kings Bay.

Key Lime Pie!

The motel has a boat rental and dive service.

The sunset and Kings Bay from our balcony.

The early morning 'view' from the balcony was overcast and grey.  Jim and I were out walking early, 7 November.

Margarita Breeze Restaurant from our balcony.

An interesting walk to Three Sisters Spring, we knew we were early and it was closed, but it was a destination for a walk.  Then walked to Grannies for a big breakfast.

A lot of these canals, where most properties had water access.

After packing the car, we drove to Three Sisters Spring to find out that visitors had to park near the old City Hall. and a bus would bring us back to the Park, then a 1/2 mile hike to the springs.  We had already walked almost 3 miles that morning, and another mile would be too much for Jim's knee, we opted out of seeing the springs.

We travelled back to Homosassa, this time we found the 'old town'.  It was busy preparing for one of their largest annual festivals.
I had read about Monkey Island.
Monkey Island was started in the mid-1900s after a doctor captured monkeys and brought them to Florida where they were used to perfect the polio vaccine. Some of the monkeys were rather difficult, always escaping and getting into visitors’ cars, stealing candy and biting tourists.
The monkeys were causing so much trouble on the mainland, they were banished to this small island so they couldn't be a bother to the locals anymore. The group of monkeys have remained on the island because they prefer not to swim and the river acts as a natural barrier.
The first island monkeys have passed away and have since been replaced with the current group.
Monkey Island is quite the popular tourist destination and you can even to kayak up to it. However, you are not allowed on the island and you can't feed or harass the monkeys.
The Homosassa Riverside Resort owns the critters and provides daily food, fresh water and care for them.

It has been described jokingly, as "Monkey Alcatraz".

I counted four spider monkeys, and they were having fun - swinging on the structures, chasing each other.  Obviously happy, and well looked after.

We were too early to stop in at the Monkey Bar & Grill.

Several colourful street signs in Homosassa.

Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins and Historic Park just east of Homosassa.
Internet:  The park contains the remnants of a once thriving 5,100 acre sugar plantation, a forty foot limestone masonry chimney, iron gears and a cane press.  The steam driven mill operated from 1851 to 1864 and served as a supplier for southern troops during the Civil War.
David Levy Yulee was one of Florida's most prominent businessmen in the first half of the 19th century, building railroads and a massive plantation that helped bolster the state's economy.  The mill processed one of the area's major cash crops, sugarcane, into syrup, molasses and rum.

On our way way east, we travelled through Floral City.  The area has a history of phosphate mining and includes historic homes.
The Avenue of Oaks - oak trees planted in 1884 along Orange Avenue and Aroostock Way. 

From the Florida NatureCoaster website:
The Floral City Garden Club has a fund raiser for the upkeep of these oaks - "Yarn Bombing".  Asking people to knit a 12″ square and give it to us with $5.00 or give us $10.00 and we would knit the square. Squares go up in January and remain for 10 days.  Then are removed, washed and reconfigured into blankets/throws, and donated for use by Veterans.

"Yarn Bombing" fundraiser 2017 in Floral City - photo stolen from their website.

The Don Garlits Museum billboard can be seen from Interstate Highway 75, and we have driven past it for decades.  This time when we saw it, we decided it was time to check it out - and WOW, it is a fabulous museum!

Website:  To preserve the history of drag racing, one of the original forms of auto racing  - through restoration, and preservation of historical vehicles, involvement in research of said history, honoring prominent individuals who were sports pioneers, development of a National Archive and Library, collection, documentation of state history, educating the general public on the history and progress of all racing and presenting the uniqueness of this sport auto racing,
Nearly 300 vehicles on display and thousands of artifacts.
Our antique building has one of the largest collections of Ford's, also included are muscle cars and rare vintage automobiles.
Our drag racing building has a collection of world famous, history making dragsters, funny cars, motorcycles, and many other exciting racing vehicles from the early days of drag racing to current day.Spread throughout two buildings is an amazing collection of hemi engines, flathead engines, rare manifolds, and carburetors that have been restored by Don Garlits himself.

Don Garlits was the first drag racer to officially surpass the 170, 180, 200, 240, 250 and 270 miles per hour marks in the quarter mile.

Carburettors!

The Engine Room.

Two 8 cylinder engines!

1902 - a shaft driven bicycle for the cobblestone streets.

On the way back to the house, we stopped at a restaurant we had not been to for several years - Shady Oaks, outside DeLand.  It is beside the St. Johns River.  We had some 'gator bites'!

The Airboat Rental business uses the same dock as the restaurant.

US Highway 44 has a drawbridge.

Then a sunset over the St. Johns river at DeLand.

Back to our morning beach at sunrise walks on Friday, 8 November:

Moto Guzzi friends from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Tom and Cindy, were travelling around Florida and stopped in Daytona Beach, we met them for lunch at DJ;s Deck in Port Orange on Friday, An overcast day, but a lovely catch up with them.

Cindy's photo.

The late afternoon and the evening, it was raining and temperature dropped a little.
Saturday morning, it was raining, so no sunrise walk, but it cleared later and we went to Daytona's 43rd Annual Greek Festival. St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church is two blocks west of our house and beside the Halifax River.  We have attended several times previously.  Always great food and entertainment!

The traditional dancing is lovely.  Several Greek customs I had to Google.  The throwing of money:  Tips, or as the Greek musicians call it, hartoura, is a staple at parties where there is Greek dancing.    cosmosphilly.com
There are many different "styles," to relinquishing your money at a Greek affair.
There is the "Straight Throw" or sometimes referred to as the "In and Out".  This is the simplest of forms and usually is done by a novice to the art of throwing or someone a little embarrassed.  They walk up, throw the money in the air, and walk away - in and out.  The "Water Fountain" is interesting.  Here, the person raises his hands high and releases the money slowly so it "rains" down.  There is "The Peel", usually performed by a more experienced thrower.  They take out a wad of money and proceed to "peel" of one bill at a time, very slowly.  Usually, the "Peeler" does this in front of the band.
A variation of "The Peel" is the "Walking Dead" technique.  This occurs much later in the evening after the guests have imbibed a little too much.  This person stumbles over, takes a wad of money out and then starts peeling off bills, one at a time, really slow, and throwing them on anyone who is near him and just stares like a zombie.  The difference between the "Walking Dead" and "The Peel" is that the Walking Dead uses only $1 bills and the Peeler uses larger bills.
There is also the "Shuffle".  The thrower takes out some $1's and holding them flat on the palm of his hand, using the other hand, slides them off one at a time, but fast.
There is the "Fireworks" throw.  Here, the thrower has a bundle of money and throws it in the air like exploding fireworks.
For the more experience, and older generation, there is the "Lick and Stick".  The thrower takes out a bill, usually a $20 or more, licks it and sticks it on the forehead of the bouzouki or clarinet player.  They have to let it stay there until if falls of by itself.  There is also the "Stuffer"; usually a $20 or more and stuff it anywhere in the musician or singer - breast pocket, top of the bouzouki, the bell of the clarinet, or down the shirt.
Finally, there are also "Exhibitionists" and "Introverts".  The Exhibitionist throws the hotoura so everyone can see it - usually $1 bills - it makes for a grander throw.  The Introvert is the opposite - doesn't want to draw attention.  He tips the band without anyone seeing and is out of there!
By the end of the night, people have run out of $1 bills and just come up to the band, drop a $20 or more, and grab a hand full of $1's and tosses them - these are simply called drunks.

After the dance sessions ended, the money was collected and it goes towards the church fundraiser.
Jim and I noticed most of these styles of money throwing as mentioned above.

Saturday, it was raining on and off all day.
Sunday 10 November, morning walk.  There must have been a wedding the previous afternoon - the 'arch' was still on the beach.

Jim, Diane and I went back to the Greek Festival, for more food and entertainment.  Tom, Cindy and some of their friends joined us.
"It's All About The Food"
Our annual Greek Festival hopes to convey to all our visitors a generous sampling of that renowned hospitality and cuisine which is so distinctly Greek.
Delicious is one of the great pleasures of our Greek culture and today we enjoy many Greek specialities.  Baklava, Pastitsio, Souvlaki, and the Gyro have found their way into the American mainstream.  For Greek Americans, food goes beyond these popular images.  It is an integral and emotional part of the ethnic identity and one of our most satisfying traditions.
Social life often revolves around the table where families bond and friendships are solidified, amid large platters of food.  Both the quantity and quality of the food are important.  A heavily laden table suggests well-being and generosity.  Large quantities of food entice guests to eat as much as they want, and running out of food is considered a great embarrassment.  Guests are continually urged to eat and take second helpings.

Then to the Oasis Tiki Bar to see Jimmy and watch the football game.
Monday, November 11, walk to the beach.

Later that morning, we walked to the Main Street Pier to watch the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from the Kennedy Space Centre at 9.56 am - with 60 satellites for SpaceX's Starlink broadband network.
Website:  The 60 satellites are part of SpaceX's Starlink project - a group of satellites that the company hopes will eventually provide stunningly fast internet nearly anywhere in the world, and they hope to begin services to customers mid-2020.
This 'veteran' rocket has seen space four times. 

Tuesday morning, when I  opened the front door, the full moon was still visible in the west.

The walk to the beach was beautiful.

We noticed there were more jet 'contrails' in the sky that morning.  A change in humidity?

For Tuesday afternoon, Jim, Diane and I went to the Volusia County Fair - the 75th Annual and it goes for 10 days.

I always appreciate the antique tractor display.

 This was the "Youth" section, very talented kids in the area!

The 'table setting' section.

These quilts were in the centre of the pavillion, not done by youths! They are intricate, detailed and colourful.

The entertainment for this day was Chubby Checker.  Two shows, 3pm and 7pm, we attended the 3pm - it was a great show!  Great music!
Internet Info:  Chubby Checker, whose real name is Ernest Evans, grew up in South Philadelphia.  After his mom brought Chubby to see Sugar Child Robinson, a child piano prodigy and the famous country singer Ernest Tubb, young Ernest Evans (Chubby) vowed to enter show business and took his first step toward that goal by forming a street corner harmony group when he was only 11  years old.

By the time Chubby entered high school, he had learned to play the piano, and he could do several vocal impressions.  While working at Fresh Farm Poultry, Ernest’s boss at the produce market, gave Ernest the nickname of “Chubby.”    Henry Colt, the owner of Fresh Farm Poultry, was so impressed that he began showing off his employee to his customers through a loudspeaker.  Chubby was encouraged to do a private recording for Dick Clark.  Chubby sang, “Jingle Bells” for Dick Clark and the song was sent out as a Christmas greeting to all his friends and associates in the music business.  Cameo-Parkway liked it so much that they wrote a song called “The Class” and it became Chubby’s first hit in early 1959.

"The Twist" was not only the Number 1 song, but it introduced the concept of "dancing apart to the beat".  Over the next few years, endless songs incorporating "The Twist" into its name sprang up such as "Peppermint Twist", "Twist and Shout" and "Twistin' the Night Away".  In addition, each new song brought a new dance involving "dancing apart to the beat" such as "The Jerk", "The Hully Gully", "The Boogaloo" and "The Shake".  At the forefront was Chubby with "The Fly", "The Pony" and "The Hucklebuck".

The next few years were prolific for Chubby as hit followed hit.  In 1961, Chubby recorded "Pony Time" written by Don Covay and John Berry. It went to #1 and stayed on the charts for 16 weeks.  In between recording and touring, Chubby took time to add feature films to his portfolio with the releases of "Don't Knock the Twist" and "Twist Around the Clock".

In the fall of 1961, record industry history was made when Checker's original hit record, "The Twist", re-entered the charts and by January of 1962, it was back in the #1 position. No other record before or since has accomplished that feat. Combining its 1960 run with its 1961/62 return, "The Twist" spent an amazing nine-month total on the U.S. best seller charts.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio rewarded Chubby in July of 2008 with a special award presentation. An honored Chubby thrilled a fervent crowd by performing his hits, new and old, to the delight of everyone. A lengthy photo and autograph session followed, which highlighted Chubby's favorite part, getting to interact with people.
At the Volusia County Fair, Chubby Checker spent about 10 minutes interacting with the audience for "Lets Twist Again", and encouraged people to 'do the twist' - so much fun and very interactive for a performer in these times.

2019 - is the 59th Anniversary of  Chubby Checker's 'The Twist'.

We spent another hour or so at the Fair, found interesting food to eat, and as it got towards 5 pm, the midway and rides opened for the evening crowds - it started to get very busy.

The excitement and colours of the Fair are always inspiring.  As the sun was setting, we headed back to the car, and back to the house - we all had a great time!

Wednesday and Thursday were colder and very windy, so we opted not to walk to the beach!
Thursday evening, we met with Jimmy for Pizza on Seabreeze Blvd., Josh the owner stopped to say hello, we had met him a few times in the Daytona Tap Room, next door.  He knew Jim and Jimmy wre Buffalo Bills fans, as he was himself.
Josh had 2 tickets to the Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins on the coming Sunday in Miami, but he had to work.  He offered them to Jim and/or Jimmy, but Jimmy was leaving the next day, so Jim and I accepted them.  We left on Friday morning, 16 November to see a few things along the way south.
First stop was at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum.

The lighthouse was undergoing renovations while we were there, exterior painting, and it was not open to climbing to the top. The lighthouse is at the confluence of the Loxahatchee River, Indiana River and the Atlantic Ocean.  
Jupiter Inlet is the point of land which sits at the junction of the Indian River - for thousands of years had been a meeting place for ancient tribes.

In 1849 the strategic site was recommended as a suitable place for military defenses.

The museum is a restored World War II building and exhibits Five Thousand Years on the Loxahatchee.

The Seminole Wars (1817 to 1818, 1835 to 1842, and 1855 to 1858)  The United States fought three wars against the Seminole people, two battles were fought at the headwaters of the Loxahatchee River.
Research:  The Jupiter Inlet silted shut in 1854, forcing all building supplies to be shipped in light boats down the Indian River.  Work on the lighthouse was interrupted, but the third Seminole War, and completed in 1860, and the light was first lit.

This part of the Florida east coast is known as the Treasure Coast.  Refeterring to the Spanish Treasure Fleet lost in a 1715 hurricane.
Quite a few artifacts from many sunken ships have been found, and on display at the museum. 

The Indian River Steamboat Company operated in Florida and on the many rivers for passengers and industry.

In World War II the lighthouse property served as a U.S. Navy radio station that led to the sinking of more than 60 German submarines that had been torpedoing Allied ships along the Atlantic coast in 1943.
We spent an hour or so in the museum, then followed the brick trail through Florida native plants, a shell mound, and a Seminole Chickee (a shelter supported by posts, with a raised floor, a thatched roof and open sides).
 

The top of the 105 foot (32 metre) tower is 153 feet (47 metres) above sea level.  The light can be seen 24 nautical miles (44 km, 28 mile) at sea.  The lighthouse structure is brick with double masonry walls.  The outer wall is conical, tapering from 31.5 inches (800 mm, eight bricks thick) at ground level, tapering to 18 inches (460 mm, three bricks thick) at base of lantern.  The inner wall is cylindrical and two bricks thick throughout.  Circumference at base is 65 feet (20 metres) and at the top about 43 feet ( 13 metres).  The lighthouse was painted red in 1910 to cover discolouration caused by humidity.

The lighthouse had a painting crew on the exterior, it will be closed for a couple of weeks, and no one allowed to walk to the top.

This huge ficus tree - a Moreton Bay Fig for me!
The Keeper's Workshop and Exhibit is great.  Designed with children and adults in mind - some folders with simplified explanations.

Tindall Pioneer Homestead is also on the grounds.  This is the earliest house still existing in Jupiter.  Originally located a mile up the Loxahatchee River next to an early Plantation on the south side of the river. This 1892 house gives a glimpse of early life along the Loxahatchee for brave pioneering families. They survived by hunting, farming and raising cattle.  This cracker style home is very small and included only three rooms, with an attached kitchen.
I didn't think to take a photo of the outside, so have stolen a photo from a website.

Tindall House - photo stolen from website.

I spotted this sunscreen dispenser in the grounds.

Next stop was the nearby town of Tequesta, the Tequesta Brewing Co. A nice place, and we had the flight of four samples, and chose a beer each from them.

A beautiful old bar in Tequesta Brewing Co.

This Diner is across the street from the lighthouse, and we stopped there for an early dinner.  A great spot!

On our way to the motel in Riviera Beach, we found another brewpub, Twisted Trunk Brewing in Palm Beach.  It was in a new plaza and opened in 2015, it didn't have as much character.

The sun was setting on our way to the motel

The football game was held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on the north side of Miami.  A few interesting murals on the way south.

Hard Rock Hotel is in the shape of a guitar and looks incredible at night.

Internet:  Hard Rock Stadium is a multipurpose stadium located in Miami Gardens, Florida, a city north of Miami. It is the home stadium of the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. Hard Rock Stadium also plays host to the Miami Hurricanes football team during their regular season. Also large venue shows, concerts and events.  Renamed Hard Rock Stadium in August 2016.

From the top of the stadium towards the city of Miami on the horizon.

This was the tenth Buffalo Bills game this season of the National Football League.  After parking it was a bit of a walk to the stadium (140 acres and parking for 26,718 cars!).  Hard Rock Stadium seats 65, 326, we were way up in the air on the 3rd level, it was windy and cold up there.  A lot of Buffalo Bills fans in attendance - they may have outnumbered the locals!!

It was a good game - the Buffalo Bills won 37 to the Miami Dolphins 20, a lot of happy Bills fans.
Super Bowl 54th, will be hosted by the Hard Rock Stadium on 2 February, 2020.
Week 11 of this season - the Buffalo Bills have won 7 games and lost 3, with one bye week.

We got a motel near Fort Pierce that night, about half way back to Daytona Beach.
The next morning we headed into the historic downtown area of Fort Pierce.  The day was overcast and cool temperatures.

A couple of squirrels eating out of the rubbish bin. 

There were several groups of these scooters.  Jim was considering taking one for a ride. When he touched it, it started talking to him, so he opted not to do that!  The instructions were to download the APP, then scan the QR code on the scooter you select, and pay one dollar to release it.  Not sure how much it cost to 'rent' one, but they must be quite popular.

Gazebo Park at the Marina was well kept, with several interesting things.  

Fort Pierce's nick name is the Sunrise City, and I saw this mosaic seat on the waterfront.

We walked to the downtown area, and found the historic Sunrise Theatre, built in 1922 - Jim and I had attended a Dwight Yoakam concert there about 5 years ago.  It was nice to see the threatre in the daylight.

More of the mosaic seats were outside the Sunrise Theatre.

Front.

Back of seat also had mosaic.

The future lineup at the Sunrise Theatre was impressive.

The Braford Steakhouse - very cool signage!  Hard to miss that.

Sunrise Cafe was a nice spot for a brunch.  then we continued back to the water front.
I noticed the retaining wall was made of something similar to the coquina that is used further north.  This is different - it appeared to be made of coral that had petrified into solid rock.

Found some lovely features at the waterfront of the Intracoastal Waterway.

The gazebo in Gazebo Park.

Christmas tree in the middle of the roundabout.

I almost missed this train mural next to the tracks.

A quick stop in Vero Beach - saw a few things we would like to come back and see another time.

19 November walk to the beach a little later than the sunrise, but starting to warm up.

The Oceanwalk Shoppes had started decorating for Christmas, the ground level had a few inflatable figures.

Jim's next surgery was early morning on Wednesday, 20 November, and with success - though it entailed six days in the Advent Hospital again.

Thursday afternoon, 21 November Diane and I walked to the beach in the evening, and relaxed for a margarita on The Roof, and stayed for the music and sunset.

Walked back along Main Street, and saw more Christmas decorations.

23 November, Saturday morning, sunrise walk to the beach.  Set up at the Bandshell were the tents for vendors, exhibitors and participants for the Cycle to the Shore fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis.
Internet:  Bike MS: PGA Tour Cycle to the Shore.  An experience you'll never forget.  This ride takes you from historic St. Augustine, Florida to Daytona Beach and back.  Riders will travel along the scenic Florida coastline and finish with a beach side party at the Daytona Beach Bandshell.

It was a beautiful weekend for cycling - weather and temperature wise.

A 'Fall' leave on the footpath, not many leaves fall in Florida.

Christmas decorations outside Burgey's Tiki Hut Pub on Main Street.

Saturday afternoon was the Annual Sweet Saturday Chocolate Tasting along Beach Street, in downtown Daytona Beach.  Diane and I attended it.  We paid $15 to participate and received a 'passport'.  There were 15 shops that had chocolate.  Many stores had wine, cookies or other samples from their stores.  It was a great way to get people into their stores, many discounts and deals offered.  Diane and I discovered several stores we had never been into or knew they even existed.  Several specialty food stores and restaurants. 

There were many chocolate samples - chocolate covered bacon, chocolate dipped potato chips, chocolate covered cherries, liquors, cookies, mousse, and many more deliciousness chocolate and sweet.

The passport, was initialed at each stop, then  name completed on the back and returned at the end of the day and a chance to win a $75 basket of chocolate.

Most of the chocolate was made by Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory on Beach Street.

It was a fun few hours, and so much chocolate, we had to take a lot of it to eat later.  A very successful event for local and Beach Street merchants.

Sunday, 26 November, was Day 2 of the Multiple Sclerosis Cycle to Shore - participants were up early and enjoying a big breakfast in the Bandshell area.  They had ridden from St. Augustine on Saturday, stayed the night in Daytona Beach, then return ride to St. Augustine on Sunday.  This year there were 1,137 participants - wow!

Monday morning was considerably cooler temperatures, decided to stay in the warmth of the house instead of the beach.  Tuesday, 26th, I walked by myself and it was great to see the Oceanwalk Shoppes decorated for Christmas.

A fishing boat our early.

I saw this mariachi band at the Bandshell for a photo shoot.

The 27th November was cool temperatures again, so I was the only walker to the beach.

There was a large freighter and pilot heading south down the coast.

28 November, cool temperatures again - I walked to the beach by myself.

More inflatable Christmas decorations at the Ocean Walk Shoppes.

Friday, 29 November - again, a solo walk to the beach!

Friday evening, I drove to Lis and Harvey's in DeLand, and Lis had been preparing a feast for their friends after Thanksgiving Day - lovely to spend time with them and their friends and we all enjoyed Lis's delicious food.
30 November, Diane walked to the beach with me, and we enjoyed 'egg nog' lattes at Starbucks.  Nice!