Wednesday 16th August
Eight hundred and eighty eight days
Since I saw your smiling face
Missing you so much my Angel
Mem’ries no-one can replace
xxxxxx
Early morning at the fountains
Dancing water
Blue sky through the trees
Charleston bridge
North Myrtle Beach
Tuesday 15th August
We revisited Harbour Town this morning: a picture perfect location on the southern end of Hilton Head Island.
The lighthouse stands tall, complete in its red and white livery; the various boats, yachts and gin palaces in the marina compete for attention; red rocking chairs are placed in the shade, for hot and weary travellers to rest a while; and the ice-cream parlour with many scrumptious flavours is there to tempt tourists.
It is the tree swing though, that brings back so many memories of you. Having parked the car, it was the first thing you saw when we walked towards the marina. You loved to sit, gently swing back and forth, whilst reading your book.
Today Grinch and Frankie Angel Bear sat there. Did you see? Were you there too? Did you sit beside us? I think you did.
We love you so much
We miss you every day
Our darling Angel son
xxxxxx
Grinch has found the swing
Grinch and swing
Grinch and Frankie Angel Bear
Frank enjoying the swing ~ August 2013
Frank and Dad on the swing ~ August 2013
Three of us on the swing
Harbour Town lighthouse and marina
Harbour Town lighthouse
Rocking the shade
Great place for people watching
Trying to seek shade
The quiet reader ~ just like Frank
Grinch and ice cream ~ salted chocolate crunch and Bourbon pecan
The wonderful lighthouse
Terrific tones and textures of the bark on the trunk
A huge, most revolting bug!
My view, in the afternoon, under my umbrella
Monday 14th August
Thirty five years we’ve been together
It’s our anniversary today
You were here for thirty of those years
But now in heaven is where you lay
You should be here celebrating
But it was cancer that took you away
I tried to save you my darling
But I just couldn’t make you stay
We miss you sweetie, Angel son
Love you forever, is what I say
xxxxxx
Beautiful wispy clouds this morning
Looking towards the beach
Fountains making fabulous shapes
University President’s Ball 1974
Us today
Sunday 13th August
We went to our favourite coffee shop this morning, only to find it has changed hands, has a new name, and different furniture and decor; but it does still serve great coffee and food nonetheless. Think it will become our new favourite for the morning caffeine hit.
Some retail therapy was next on the agenda, and it was good to venture into cool, air-conditioned stores to escape the midday heat. Shorts, shirts, t-shirts, and dresses were duly chosen and paid for.
The pool, beach and sea beckoned later in the afternoon, and we enjoyed a relaxing time just chilling and lazing about.
We think of you all the time
We miss you all the time
We’ll love you ’til the end of time
Beloved Angel son
xxxxxx
Walking to coffee this morning
Reflections
Beach this afternoon ~ still busy at 5pm
Looking south
Pelican formation
Sunset through the trees
Saturday 12th August
We left Daytona Beach Shores this morning and drove four and a half hours north to Hilton Head Island ~ two hundred and eighty miles, stopping once at the Georgia/Florida state line.
We have stayed many times here, and you loved the quietness of the resort, the pools and beach. Oh, and the fountains at Coligny Beach.
August 2010, the fountains leading down to the beach
Miss you so very much sweetie
Precious Angel son
xxxxxx
Dames Point Bridge, Jacksonville, over the St John’s River
Driving into Georgia
Driving into South Carolina
A thundery sky on arrival
The sign in the Piggly Wiggly always makes me smile
Friday 11th August
This morning we drove (slowly, at the speed limit of 35mph on the A1A), sixty miles north of Daytona Shores to the oldest city in America: St. Augustine. In the 1500’s Pedro Menéndez explored and colonised the city, on instruction of King Phillip II of Spain. In the 1700’s English troops besieged and then burnt the town to the ground ~ a reason why there are no buildings older than 1702 in St. Augustine today.
We began by checking out the Visitor Information Centre, and armed with a map, we began our stroll in the midday heat down narrow streets lined with tourist shops, bars, restaurants and palm trees. Spanish colonial influence was everywhere, from the names of the streets to tapas bars, and even in the public toilets where a ‘potted’ history of waste disposal is given!
We walked down St George’s Street to the basilica, across to the marina, and back again. It was hot; we felt wilted. We had a great lunch at the Bull and Crown pub, along with copious amounts of iced water, and completed our eating with a wonderful tub of pecan and toasted coconut ice cream from a gelateria just around the corner.
Our drive back was much faster, as we drove down I95 at twice the speed of the outbound journey.
The late afternoon was spent walking along the beach and paddling in the sea, watching pelicans fly and dive for fish, right in front of us.
I think you would have liked St. Augustine, my darling, with it’s ancient cemetery, torture chamber museum, ghost stories, pirates and dark history. Not sure about the heat though ~ it was sweltering.
We miss you poppet
Love you forever
Beloved Angel son
xxxxxx
Sparkly sea this morning
The oldest schoolhouse in America
Typical tourist stores
Casa Rodriguez
The basilica
Cathedral and basilica
Looking down St. George’s Street
The Grinch came to lunch
And also enjoyed the ice cream
Restroom information
The old city gates
St George’s Street
Threatening looking sky as we head towards I95
Back on the beach ~ Daytona Shores looking north
Daytona Shores looking south
Beach selfie
Thursday 10th August
This morning we drove a few miles south to the Ponce de Leon Inlet lighthouse, an historic 1880’s brick and granite structure. This was the result of a recommendation from another fellow blogger at House of Heart
And thank you so much for the terrific suggestion. It was great to see this national landmark.
175 feet tall with 203 spiralling steps, that become noticeably steeper and smaller as you reach the top; and climb them all, we did, and were greeted with spectacular views from the gallery deck. New Smyrna Beach and the inland waterways sparkled in the warm sunshine.
I think you would have liked to climb the lighthouse steps with us ~ a few years ago you enjoyed clambering to the top of the lighthouse in Harbour Town, Hilton Head Island, especially when you were rewarded with a large ice cream afterwards!
The afternoon was spent on the beach, beneath a large umbrella giving welcoming shade. You would have splashed about in the sea, or walked up and down the sands.
Missing you, my lighthouse buddy
Love you sweetheart, so much
Precious Angel son
xxxxxx
Standing tall
Looking up
Looking down
Looking up again
Looking towards New Smyrna Beach
Across the islands and waterways
Hot at the top
Back to the beach in the afternoon
So quiet and relaxing
A pretty sunset this evening
Wednesday 9th August
Leaving Orlando this morning for Daytona, we took a detour to DeLeon Springs, a state park, and the Old Spanish Sugar Mill restaurant, where you cook your own pancakes and eggs on a griddle set into your table.
This was on an excellent recommendation from fellow blogger Nananoyz
And such a wonderful place it was, off the beaten track; we would never have considered stopping here, merely driving on through, on the Interstate, to our destination. Thank you so very much for the great suggestion to explore this terrific area.
Upon arrival, the board at the entrance to the park stated a one hour wait for the restaurant. After parking and making our way to the eatery we were told an hour and a half. We walked around the natural pool, fed by spring water, enjoyed by many swimmers, sat in the shade of magnificent live oaks, and waited for our name to be called. As it was, we only had forty five minutes to wait, and we were seated.
We opted for the all-you-can-eat pancakes option, with added apples, blueberries, pecans, cinnamon, crispy bacon and eggs. And wow, what a feast we had. Pouring the batter on to the hot griddle, set into the table, adding toppings, flipping the pancake over, and covering it with maple syrup. Just fabulous. So yummy.
You would have loved making your own pancakes, I’m sure. You did like apple and maple syrup such a lot. Wish so much that you were with us to enjoy this experience.
I wonder if you have pancakes in heaven?
Love you sweetheart
Darling Angel son.
xxxxxx
Magnificent live oaks covered with Spanish moss
Sitting in the shade
Swimming in the spring waters
The Old Spanish Sugar Mill Restaurant
Requisite selfie
The St. John River
The longest river in Florida
Cracking eggs and first pancake
With apples, blueberries, pecans and cinnamon
Now drenched in maple syrup
Amazing trees hundreds of years old
Daytona Beach where cars drive on the sand
The view looking inland
Tuesday 8th August
Lunch in Cocoa Beach
With Frankie Angel Bear
The Grinch came along too
You’re with us everywhere
A walk across the beach
Many memories to share
We miss you my darling
Heart’s full of love and care
xxxxxx
Monday 7th August
We stopped for an early morning coffee at Starbucks, parking the car just over the road from Sea World. We could see the tops of the rollercoaster structures, and hear the screams of the riders on Kraken and Manta.
We both stood for a moment. And watched. And thought of you. And reflected. And wished.
You would go into the park, and immediately make for Manta, queuing up, wanting the exhilaration of the twisting, turning, speeding experience. Then you would do it all over again. Then again.
After a while you’d wander round to Kraken, and queue for that ride. To be repeated many times over.
Maybe you’d come with us to the Antarctica section, or to watch the dolphins, seals and whales. Sometimes you’d join us on Journey to Atlantis, the amazing water flume drop. There was so much to see and do, you never became bored. You were so happy and safe, exploring on your own.
It was strange, just being there this morning, thinking about how much fun you used to have, and continued to do so for many years. You enjoyed the simple pleasures of theme parks well into your late twenties, and we were able to share them with you.
And now it’s just so very different. Without you, we are just a couple on holiday. With you, we were a family having fun. Just so very different.
Missing you sweetie pie
Love you forever
Darling Angel son
xxxxxx
Kraken, 7th August 2012
You had so much fun on this rollercoaster, five years ago today
Upside down and inside out
Standing at the entrance, waiting to go in…
The Journey of My Left Foot (whilst remembering my son) 