St. Augustine, FL-Bartow, FL 11/7 181 driving miles; 7.6 walking

We met two lovely examples of "best" humans straight away this morning. They were the barristas working  at Kookaberra's. They were lovely in part because both were from Washington State. Michelle is from Kennewick and Cheyenne is from Prescott, which for the geographically challenged is a few miles Northwest of Waitsburg. They were also very cordial, sweet one would say. After coffee, we ate a medium tourist breakfast at a busy little thirty seat cafe on the water front. And then we walked the one historic district in town we hadn't visited yesterday: Nice colonial homes, a historic military base, and some exquisite old trees. We finished our tour of St. Augustine with a tour of the famous fort, Castillo de San Marcos, a stone and tabby structure with four diamond shape corners, walls thirty feet high and sixteen feet thick surrounded by what looks like a former moat. The highlight of our fort visit was the cannon shooting demonstration. Lots of regimen, cool, authentic uniforms, and two loud boom booms to finish. Living history at its most impressive. Then we ran the three hour gaunlet down five lane wide I-95 to Daytona and across I-4 through Orlando. I didn't have time to see Mickey, dueling as I was with the "big dogs", but we made it without incident to David and Donna Kent's house in Bartow. Donna killed the fatted calf, which David then barbecued, so naturally we dined heartily on another portion of thin gruel. As has become consistent with this family of "JVC (Jesuit Volunteer Core)", these two are as gracious as can be, even though David married into the "family". After dinner, Ed and Donna slipped right back into good old Mission days talk, while David and I talked pets, baseball, politics, psychology, socialism, and other what naughts. I was in heaven, loving a good jibber jabber session as I do. Essentially, life is good, especially today.

Cheyenne and Michelle.

150 cannon of various sizes provided what they called an interlocking field of fire, which made the fort impregnable.

 Prepare to fire. The hat covers the flame so the wind doesn't blow it out.

The cannons of old fired a variety of projectiles.

The cannon crew retiring from action.

The fort remains protected for another day.

Selfie of the day: Castillo de San Marcos behind.

Donna's welcome sign.

Donna, just as she was in her JVC days.

David, posing in front of his latest painting.

The Kent home as taken from lawn chairs while we noshed on shrimp before the BBQ.

The thin gruel (Feast): Steak, Chicken, Salmon, Baked Potato, Mixed vegetables, and sweet treats. Life is truly a trial-get that tongue out of your cheek!

My portion. Life is good.

Art shot of the day: Give thanks.