DAY #138
Yesterday started by finishing up a few chores, and then it was off to check out a slice of Florida’s Atlantic Coast.
Finished up the laundry (sheets/comforter) that I started yesterday, stopped at the local CVS to pick up my prescription refill, and then followed google as it led me to the distant shores of Ft. Pierce, on the Atlantic. Actually, the coast is only about an hours drive through a backdrop of rural Florida in all its diversity.
Made it to Fort Pierce and the first thing I did was to mail a letter at the local post office. I had to get out of the truck and go inside the building to mail the letter (the injustice of it). It’s the first Post Office I’ve been to where they didn’t have a mailbox outside that you could utilize from the comfort of your own vehicle.
Driving around the city, my thoughts were; this is an older, mature city, that even in the best of times had modest expectations of itself. It mirrors a lot of city’s across America, what with it’s inner city’s neglected, abandoned, and having seen brighter days. No longer desirable to the “Haves” and claimed as their own (by default) by the “Have Not’s.”
Even though it may have seen better days, it was still interesting to drive through and get a look see. The streets are narrower, the houses smaller, and the ambiance a bit edgier. Even in its present condition, it offers it with color and character. Its kind of like seeing the ghetto from an ‘Old Florida’ state of mind.
From there it was off to check out the Atlantic Ocean.
Leaving the mainland brings you onto Hutchinson Island. From the island, you get the views of the ocean, and also the bay between the island and mainland. It’s a long island, I decided to check out the southern half of it. Starting out, you notice immediately the hi-rise condos and general development on the island.
I was surprised to see as I drove along, the number of state and county (you go through two county’s) parks. It was great to see so much land set aside for the public, and the chance to remain in its natural state. It was unexpected to see on the southern part of the island a fair amount of undeveloped land, much of it for sale. I’m thinking that if you wanted ocean front, here’s your chance but you’re going to pay beau-coup bucks. Having reached the end of the island on its southern end, I crossed back over to the mainland and headed north, driving back along the bay.
The roadway heading back along the inner side of the harbor was just the opposite from the island. Instead of wide, straight, open roads flanked by new development, it became one of narrow, winding, tree shaded roads running through mature neighborhoods of upper middle class homes. It was interesting to see when getting closer to Fort Pierce, the homes slowly giving way to long established trailer courts for snow birds, along with ever more modest housing.
It was nice that on the bay side of the road, except for a few areas, the land wasn’t deep enough to build on, so it gave nice views of the bay.
The road brought me back into Fort Pierce and from there, back to the campground. I enjoyed the day, seeing a part of Florida I’d only read about, and now having gotten the chance to experience in real life. Memory’s were made today, good memory’s.
The Journey. 