Florida
- Day 3
Sunday 26th October 2025
Participants: Tam, Kev, India, Georgia and Charlie
[Kev - we agreed before the holiday that Tam would write the first parts at St Augustine and Anna Maria Island with me taking over when we get to WDW.]
Normal early jet lag and I wake up 4am ish but get up at 7am to unpack.
Kev drives to the Ragga Surf Cafe, which is a lovely waterfront spot with airstreams serving breakfast choices. We all go for the breakfast sandwich on sourdough and lattes. Ind buys some ground coffee as she'd read how good it is.
On to Target for some breakfast essentials for coming days and beer and snacks.
[Kev - we can't believe how expensive everything has got in Florida. Gone are the days when you would stock up on cheap goods to bring home. Everything from food to clothing is at least as expensive as in the UK and in some cases much dearer. $6 for a box of cereal!]
We drop the groceries back at our accommodation then drive to a beach to try and catch a Starlink satellite launch.
[Kev - Inds is paying careful attention to all the launch times and this pays benefits later in the holiday.]
The sun is in and out, it's not cold, but
not the lovely Florida weather we're used to. On the road
it's like Florida roadkill bingo - possum, armadillo, racoon,
squirrel and seagull.
We sit on some amazing rocks called Coquina formations, formed by
crushed shells compacted and glued together by the motion of the
waves. At just before 11am Ind follows the countdown and a
few minutes later we see the trail in the sky as the satellite
goes into the sky. Also saw some beautiful pelicans fly in
formation above us.
Next stop is Washington Oaks state park. It costs just $5 to park. Walk through to the inlet,through trees hanging with Spanish moss. Ind spots the sign about what wildlife lives there including rays and manatees. We sit on a bench and enjoy the peace and quiet, soaking up the sun when Ind spots a Manatee swimming by. Just the top of the head and body not their cute face unfortunately. What a result. Then walking back we spot a couple fishing and they hook a ray which they throw back. Walk through the formal garden there are lots of roses, unfortunately going over a bit but still some beautiful blooms and scent. There are other parts with water and little fountains with birds of paradise flowers etc.
We take a short nature trail which should just be a short .7 mile loop. Straight away Ind spots a small tortoise with beautiful shell markings. She's on form today as our wildlife spotter. Unfortunately we've no idea how but we end up off the trail and walk further than planned before heading back to the car.
[Kev - Unfortunately for India there are many nasty insects buzzing around on the nature trail and she gets bitten quite badly. Unusually for me I escape the little blighters.]
It's a lovely drive back on the A1 to the house. We spend a while by the pool as the sun is now warm and enjoy beer and crisps to snack on and a swim. Some of us enjoy a snooze but I can't divulge who. Shower and change as the plan is to go out early as we have tickets to see Cole Swindell later at the St Augustine amphitheatre.
[Kev - We didn't choose this gig because we especially wanted to see Cole Swindell, we just fancied seeing someone at the amphitheatre.]
Walk to the Iceplant. A great cavernous old ice plant building all decked out for Halloween. We all have a Halloween themed cocktail and share pimento cheese dip with garlic bread, fish dip with homemade crisps and shrimp ceviche with crispy tacos. All the food is delicious and comes to $140 inc tip.
We get an Uber to the theatre for around 5.30pm. Great set up with lots of drink trucks and some food. We have good seats in a great setting surrounded by trees.
First band are the Handlers (a band made up from Cole's road crew), Greylan James and Priscilla Block. Throughout the gig we are convinced they are saying Priscilla Black and we're waiting for her to sing Step Inside Love. We are sat by a nice couple from Jacksonville my side and Kev has a father and his tiny daughter probably about 2 on his side. She had on the cutest trousers and cowboy boots and sensibly ear defenders.
[Kev - I must admit it was a bit strange. The seats next to me are empty until just before Cole Swindell comes on when a 6 foot plus guy dressed in all black and wearing a cowboy hat arrives carrying a really small child. I talk to him briefly and he tells me that he's already been to several gigs with his daughter. He looks after her very well and leaves before the end to miss the crowds.]
In front are a couple of very enthusiastic young ladies who are very excited. It's a good atmosphere and everyone stands up for Cole. Rain starts but luckily we're under cover. We realise that the sound isn't great on the left hand side and they could do with extra speakers.
[Kev - Tam's understating the rain. It smashes it down and most of the people in the areas that are not covered come down to try and shelter under the awnings and roofed areas.]
[Kev - I've got to say that this is a great place to watch a gig. The outdoor setting is lovely and they have so many places to buy food and drink that you never have to queue.]
It's still raining at the end and we leave and book a Lyft to Candlelight South where Ind and Kev wanted to watch the end of the Packers game. We share a platter of garlic parmesan wings which are delicious.
Again one of us may have shut their eyes for a while at this point. [Kev - Shut her eyes? Ind and I had to stop her head dropping into the plate of chicken wings!]
Uber home feeling just a little squiffy.