Surf and Turf in St. Augustine

   

Our view of St. Augustine from the harbor

   The modes of transportation may be different; one a sailing yacht the other a land yacht, but the lifestyles are to a certain degree parallel. A recent stop in St. Augustine offered a rendezvous opportunity with cherished friends, Christine and Donald from New England. For some reason it's more exciting reuniting with friends in a place other than the familiarity of home. Christine and I have a friendship that goes back many years to a work setting with a maniacal leader at the helm. Those days bonded us and we often reminisce about our shared experiences. The coup de grace resulting often in hysterical laughter and retrospections.

Chris & Donald's RV at the campsite on Anastasia Island
St. Augustine, Florida

 
       Now that we have been freed for a number of years from work bondage our lives have once again become more or less parallel with fewer aggravations weighing heavily on enjoyment. Joe and I sail the Atlantic coastline to the Bahamas. Chris and Donald travel in their RV during winter months along the eastern seaboard to Florida. The course being similar in that both circumscribe the Atlantic coastline. They have a truck which tows their RV. We have a sailboat that tows our dinghy.

   



   

Chef Donald

     Last week our paths crossed during coincidental migrations north in St. Augustine, Florida. Chris and Donald called and invited us visit them at their campground on nearby Anastasia Island to see their new fifth wheel RV! They recently traded in their older model for the new improved, roomier, with all the bells and whistles version. This one has two massaging recliners! Not exactly roughing it. Their invitation included a tour and a steak dinner! Christine had been following our blog all winter and assumed we might be tired of eating all the fish Joe caught. Dinner was perfect. Grilled steak, potatoes and salad. Just what we'd been craving.

Great food, wine and friends

   

Michele & Chris enjoying G&T'a

   

Donald & Joe taking a break from the surf

   
   
      During the afternoon the boys went boogie boarding at the beach behind the campground. For the next hour Christine and I enjoyed conversations that drifted down old roads while watching our boys in the surf all from the comfort of our beach chairs.
   

The Lightner Museum
and Cafe Alcazar

    The highlight of our get together came a couple of days later when Christine suggested meeting for lunch in St. Augustine at Cafe Alcazar located,in the bottom floor of the former Alcazar Hotel now the Lightner Museum built in 1887 by Henry Flagler.

The largest indoor pool in the Alcazar Hotel
now the location of Cafe Alcazar

    The cafe is situated in what was once the world's largest indoor pool. The setting and lunch was as Christine described. Elegant. White tablecloths, attentive waiters, aromas of garlic and fresh seafood and a fine guitarist entertained us with his eclectic repertoire.

Cafe Alcazar as it is today

Christine & Donald enjoying great food,
wine and music

     The lunch was exceptional and the food exceeded all expectations. We lingered over wine well into the afternoon knowing that soon we'd all resume our separate migrations. Christine and Donald will be back in New England within a couple of weeks. We on the other hand will travel much slower possibly another month. Travel speed and weather restrictions hamper our progress. As of this weekend tropical storm Ana has restricted our travel plans. Simple Life has been hunkered down in the Stono River near Charleston, SC for a few days while the storm formed north of the Bahamas and took her time gathering strength and momentum north. She is expected to make landfall Sunday morning 50 miles north us us at Winyah Bay, SC.

As tropical storm Ana churns off the coast we
hunkered down near Charleston, SC 

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Location:St. Augustine, Florida