It's day 295...It's also February 25th, 2020....and we are in Fernandina Beach Florida.....and...what's a Pandemic?

It's day 295...It's also February 25th, 2020....and we are in Fernandina Beach Florida.....and...what's a Pandemic?

I didn't make it to Fernandina Beach that next morning. There is just so much of St. Mary's to Get to.....and deal with....Like....

Cumberland Island.....

And that Naval Submarine base just up the road....

Enjoying a February rainstorm.....

And ...... the great no see um adventure of 2020

I did get to Fernandina Beach....couple weeks later....But ....First up....Cumberland Island. .....

Let me start with a quote from the folks over on the YouTube channel....Georgia Outdoors....

There are few places where you can walk miles....and miles ..... of the Atlantic ocean.....without seeing a hotel...a condo....or even another person.....this is the beauty....of Cumberland Island....waves .... roll in as they have for centuries.....yet...alone at the edge....you feel... as if you are the first person to witness this soothing ebb and flow.......Cumberland island has been host to Indians, slaves, soldiers, and millionaires......today....the national park service protects the island....and it's heritage......close quote

Now....I haven't gotten around to taking that 45 minute ferry ride to the island personally.....but I have snapped photo's of it from the St. Mary's Marina and waterfront.....watched hours of video....and learned....

that Cumberland.....is the largest of Georgias coastal....or barrier islands. ....pretty massive in comparison to Jekyll Island....at nearly 18 miles long.....and over 36000 acres. It's also home to a variety of wildlife.....white-tailed deer,manaties....various species of sea turtles and even wild horses, and of course....the American alligator.....oh....and yea....the snake thing....Cumberland is also home to snakes...of the venomous variety.....the cotton mouth....other wise known as the water moccasin......so it seems one should best be careful when traversing those inland lakes and marsh areas.......and....most definitely shouldn't leave out that the island is home to one of the largest maritime forests remaining in the entire US.....and what does maritime forest mean I wondered......if I got it right.....a forest....typically within a half mile or so of and ocean.... in which the canopies of the larger tree's of the island......protect the lower lying vegetation on the island from the salt sprays off water....ensuring the over all health and balance of the vegetation......and thus...the eco system of the entire region....the plant species tend to be of a more hardy nature...given the harsh environments they are exposed to....dang....mother nature always seems to have these things figured out...

But going back a bit.....here on Cumberland....it would be yet another subculture of the Timucua....here....the Tacatacuru people..would be the first to discover.....and inhabit the island...and archeological records...tell us their arrival dates back 4000 years.

In the early 1500's...Spanish explorers would arrive on the island naming it San Pedro...they would go on to establish missions in the area solidifying their presence in the region for over a century.

It wouldn't be until the 1700's when the British would arrive and begin building forts on the island during the colonization of Georgia. A treaty would be signed in 1763 in which Spain would officially cede the area to Britain.

British rein over the area would end as the US won their independence and the region became part of the brand new United States of America.

And as Jekyll island was picking up the likes of the Rockefellers.....over here.....it would be the Carnegies.....or....as I've just learned Carnaygies if I'm being proper....and in tune with the Scottish heritage of the name.... (insert the cut up of the clip of Scottish people saying the name).....the Carnegies would take a shine to Cumberland island...when....in 1884 they bought up most of the island.....including an existing home....the Dungeness Mansion... and would go on to renovate, and ad on to the home creating A quiet little 59 room winter getaway...that would become the full time residence of the widowed Lucy Carnagie....and her nine children....until a fire destroyed the mansion in 1959.....Lucy would also build new estates...for many of her children...including....an estate called plumb orchard....a 22,000 square foot ..... you know.....starter home type situation.....built as a wedding gift for one of her sons......and...fun side note here...Cumberland island would also be where JFK jr. would marry Caroline Bisset some 112 later....in 1996 in the First African Baptist Church....a church built by freed slaves in 1893......

And the naming of the island introduces yet more native American people to the mix. Cumberland Island was named by a young Yamacraw Indian named Toonahowi, who suggested the name in honor of Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, and the son of King George II of Great Britain.

so how would it come to be that a young Yamacraw indian....a tribe I'd not even read of yet...would name the place.....and there's a whole other story....for a different time maybe....but for now......

In Short....it seems the Yamacraw were a small band of Indians to emerge in the late 1700's ...... originally in the Savannah region.....they disagreed with how other natives in the area were interacting with European settlers....would break off....and explore on their own. When it came to Cumberland....and the British development of it....young Toonahowi.....would become a critical element in the negotiation process...which led.... to his suggestion for the name.

And fast forward to Today, ....well....first....Cumberland Island.....would be established as a National Park....and Seashore in the 1960's....placing it's ownership with the National Park Service. There are still some private properties on the island, mainly owned by descendants of folks like the Carnegies. These private properties are leased back to the owners for their lifetime, and eventually, they will revert to the National Park Service

And then there's that Naval Submarine Base at Kings bay....just up the road from us.

A massive 16000 acre facility established in 1978....becoming fully operational in 1989.

The base serves as the home port for the U.S. Navy's Atlantic Fleet of ballistic missile submarines

It also includes facilities for the Strategic Weapons Facility Atlantic

and.... Submarine Group 10.....which is a critical component of the nation's strategic defense, housing 8 Ohio-class submarines armed with Trident missiles....those are the nuclear ones....

and the base.....is home to over 10,000 personnel....

From most any measure I could find......it's the largest facility of it's kind in the entire country.

And then....there was the great noseeum event of 2020! A pretty valuable lesson....learned the hard way!

So....one of the first things I'd noticed as we settled in here in St. Mary's....was how everyone always had their windows closed.....but not just closed.....covered. Always curious to me as I'm a more windows wide open sort....always figured....windows.... were there for a reason....not so much to shut out the outside...but to bring it in..... Living here in particular....why would ya not wanna look at all this....all the time. I also noticed that even if folks had decks....and porches.....those were covered up too....not just screened in....but covered up....here in the RV Parks it was different to....I was seeing ..... for the first time.....screened in tent structures outside RV's.....hmmm....never did really figure that one out....just figured maybe they were gonna be here for the summer....getting ready for mosquito's? Never bothered to ask....maybe I shoulda...

Cause ...... me....like I said....windows wide open....and it was awesome

Until....

That one morning.....

Woke up blurry eyed.....stretched.....getting ready to go make coffee.....and as things came into focus....I realized....that the entire ceiling in the motor home....was sort of moving.....covered with....bugs?

Hopped outta bed for a closer look.....and pulse rate was climbing a bit as I realized everywhere I looked....from screens...to countertops....and the ceiling....was covered with these tiny little bugs.

Now....I had just woke up....no coffee....so basically....just reacted....didn't really have the capacity to think things through at that point. First thing....Dougies Collar and Leash....Billie's Harness...and out the door. With the boys tethered in their usual spots...it was back inside for their food and water dishes. Rinse and dry em out...fresh food and water.....close all the windows and back outside. Sat there with the boys for a minute and decided it would be a quick run into town for some bug bombs.....and coffee....

An hour or so later.....inside the RV.....every cabinet door open......and three bug bombs had been deployed....and the boys and I sat outside....and waited......at least I had coffee.

Instructions on the bug bombs said that I needed to wait two hours or so.....and we were just about there when Tom rode up on his bike......Mornin Boss.....And .....I don't think I've written about Tom here. He's a young guy....curious sort....looks to be late 20's...says he lives up the road with his Mom and Brother....he rides by on his bike 2 three times a day....at least.....and even though he knows my name....he always calls me Boss....

So today....was no different.......He said he was headed into town for a job application.....The new Dollar General next to the gas station is hiring. I wished him luck and explained my day day was gonna be spent cleaning up some sorta bug invasion.....before I went any further.....

Ahh....you got no-see-ums? No-see-ums? I asked. Yea....you know...sand gnats...some callem bitin midgets.....I call em No-see-ums...cause ya can't see um...till they bite ya!.....they like the same weather we do......these days comin on 80....they'll crawl right through your screens....

Huh....Sand nats.....I said again.....and a whole bunch a questions had all been answered....all at once. As Tom rode off.....I thought....Kinda wish the term sand gnats...no -see-ums.....or bitin midgets had come up in conversation earlier.....I guess folks just think ya know......and...now I know.

An entire day.....spent cleaning. Cleaning everything......Every dish....every piece of silverwear....every nook and cranny vacumed....mopped and wiped down. Two bags of clothes and towels had been dropped at the laundry for pick up tomorrow. Probably....the cleanest 'ol Vacilando had been since we started this adventure.....some 295 days back.

And you you know I had to hit the internet and check this sand gnat thing out.....and sure enough...everything Tom said.....and more. A microscopic little bugger of the flying sort....and they do like to bite...They also love areas rich in moisture.....marshes....swamps.....river areas....ya know....St. Marys.....Kinda like mosquitos I guess....but a lot tinier....and from what I can tell....a lot more of em....

And.....nosin around the internet looking for sand gnats.... your gonna read about a few more pesky cohabitants.....here...Chiggers.....or some say Red Bugs....another microscopic insect that has affinity for attaching itself to us humans...and our pets....chewin on us till we're all scratchy.....at least those buggers don't fly. And fire ants....yuck.

Spose like everywhere else..........we all deal with bee's....hornets....wasps......ticks......spiders......flys....but here.....couple more.....bitin midgets.....and red bugs! Dougie and I had just learned a lesson....and our walks might look a little different from now on......stick a little closer to the pavement.....

Eventually.....an afternoon drive and I'd make it that 30 miles south of St. Mary's....and find the exit to Amelia Island.....northernmost of Florida's barrier islands...and a member of the Barrier Island chain known as the Golden Isles. These islands stretch from Florida to South Carolina.

And Fernandina Beach is the largest community on the island....13 thousand or so call the place home and .....It's also home to several buildings on the National Historic Register…most of which are still in use today.

The town is a popular tourist destination year round. I enjoyed an afternoon of walking through the downtown area studying the structures and reading about activity dating back deep into the 1700's. Another area first discovered....and inhabited...by the Timacuans......seems the French were next in line...before being run out by the Spanish....who would ultimately cede to the British.....just before the Americans began runnin the show in these parts.

And it would be during my walk around the town this afternoon.....that I would read the term....the Isle of 8 Flags. I'd also read of The Fernandina Pirates Club.... a civic and charitable organization based here in Fernandina Beach......the club was Established in 1973 and is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich pirate history of Amelia Island.....

Pirate History?......we'd passed through a few coastal areas......and I'd not yet read of Pirates. Well here in Fernandina Beach....Pirates....and their history in the area.... are a thing.....a big thing....

I'd first learn..... that the region around Amelia Island is one of the few deepwater ports in the area....and for centuries has provided ships....from across the globe....including pirate ships....safe harbor from mother nature....and what at times....can be the rage of the Atlantic Ocean.....Amelia Island is also the only piece of land in the United States that has been governed under 8 flags.....Now I was impressed to learn of the 6 flags that had flown over Texas....but 8?

Talk about a fun read....

Now...there's for sure a whole lot more detail here......but just the summary of it all....was fun to read through....

According to the Pirates club.....and now.....hang with me here....cause there are more than a few twists and turns here.....

The first two nations to hoist their Flags over the island would be France...then Spain. Turns out Spain had already claimed the region as their own...they just hadn't made it to this particular island yet....France was unaware of this as they sailed in and began their settlement of Amelia Island.....nor were they aware that this would all be put to an end by the Spanish once they discovered the presence of France...just a couple years later......So France.....then Spain.....thats two....and over the next 300 or so years....

Britain....the country that would name the Island Amelia......and become third on the list of Flags to fly over it......then.... after a bit of back and forth between Britain and Spain....the island would land back under the Spanish Flag....until those folks were over thrown by the first Pirates to show up in the area.....now there's tons of stories here around the United States secretly supporting this first band of pirates....essentially using them, and their vessels for the military benefit.....because.... the US Flag would be raised over the island just one day after....those pirates had ousted the Spanish. But turns out....Spain wasn't havin any of that either.....and would retake the island....bring down that American Flag....and replace it with their own....marking the third time the Spanish Flag had flown over the island....and I think maybe this would be around the time Fernandina Beach would be named...in honor of King Ferdinand VII of Spain.

Then.....a short time after the Spanish had completed their first fort on the island.....a young....and ambitious Scottish Soldier of fortune....along with 55 of his closest friends and musketeers would storm the island ...... take down that Spanish Flag...for it's last time.....and hoist the Green Cross....and second pirate flag over the island....Spanish forces would indeed return ...... with a force of over 300 men in an attempt to take back the island.....but this time....that Scottish guy....McGregor.....had rallied the locals....who it seems were fed up with the back and forth and all those years of Spanish rule.....and Spain....would be sent packin this time...for good.

And just when McGregor thought the place was his......yet another rogue pirate....would show up....defeat McGregor's forces.....and add the third pirate flag to the islands history....

And through it all....those Americans kept watching....because.....in quick sucession .....the third regiment of Florida Volunteers....a part of the US confederacy..... would take the island with their flag.....But within a year.....the US Union Army would show up.....and the US Flag would would take their place...as the final flag to ever fly over Amelia island and Fernandina Beach.

History.....can be pretty cool....just thinking back through....and trying to visualiz all the nuttness....the back and forth....the business of man...wanting what another man has.....and just takin it.....and I just keep learning....somethings....never change ..... do they?....man....wanting what another man has....and just takin it....I think maybe the only thing that changes.....is how we do it.

And here I am again....walking around a town with centuries of history....a town that has evolved into an impressive tourist hub....a town that welcomes millions each year...and is excited to share with everyone....a deep native american history....here....it would be the Napoyca people...it would be thier centuries old villages that would transition into the settlement years...in which the town would live life as a strategic outpost for the Spanish.....the British....and eventually the Americans...and woven into those into all that.....The Pirate Years!

Ahh....good stuff....great day.....

Rolling back into St. Mary's that evening....it was all...smokey. Fire somewhere.....walked around outside a bit trying to figure out where all the smoke was comin from....I mean...No sirens...no hub bub.......couldn't see anything that looked like the source.....but there was definitely that smokey smell in the air. Finished a walk with Dougie ...... still not sure where it was coming from....but it had been a long day....and we hit the sack....

Next mornin...still...smokey. After the morning walk with Dougie......I hopped in the car and set out to see if I could find where the smokey was comin from.....

Didn't get far.....entrance to the Crooked River State Park actually when I found the the source of all the smoke.....and a bunch of Firefighters.......but theyse guys weren't putting out the fire....they were starting it......And learned about....controlled burns....or as some call them.....prescribed burns

Fascinating to watch these guys lighting fires on one side.....and carefully snuffin it out on the other side....

in a quick conversation with one of those forest service guys......he said it was a scheduled thing......they come through during the winter months....every few years.....and burn off under growth.....keeps things cleaned up....healthier vegetation means less prone to accidental wild fires. And easier to get control of if it does happen.

I told him I was confused.....how can you light the ground on fire.....but the tree's don't catch on fire.....it made sense.....once he explained that burning the vegetation on the ground ... carefully....didn't effect the trees...keep the fire close to the ground...and away from the tree's vegetation....and the reality is ... a mature tree can live through multiple small fires......it's the big fires that take out entire forests...and old growth.....usually because the surrounding vegetation is years old....providing the perfect fuel....

And when I asked.....you all were at this all night? Yup....best time actually.....we watch weather and wind patterns closely....when conditions are right.....night time burns are easier to manage....because...well....they're easier to see.

I thanked him....and got out of his way.....nice of him to even take a minute....I mean after all....he was setting a state park on fire.....would'nt want that to go wrong.....

As soon as I got back to camp....I had to dig around a bit about this.....I mean......on the west coast....all I've heard....year after year.....is wildfires....and bad ones.....and each year they are getting worse....I hadn't heard so much about wildfires on the east coast....and over here....they are setting state parks on fire...on purpose....but carefully....and strategically.

And yup....another fascinating topic....turns out...prescribed burns are a thing everywhere....which I maybe knew...but had just never seen.....Georgia will do just over 58,000 of them this year alone....and California will do somewhere in the vacinity of 40,000 And maybe I've heard more about wildfire activity on the west coast....because...well...I lived on the west coast. Wildfires....they happen over here to.....but there are differences.....and far less loss on this side of the country.....climate...more humid weather....being a big part of it.... Maybe I'll come back around to this ..... in more detail another time.....some fascinating stuff out there but I didn't have the mental bandwidth at the moment to dig much deeper.

I shut the laptop and stepped outside with a beer.....just in time for Jim to pull up....I was about to go back inside to grab him a beer when he dangled a six pack out the window and blurted....got ya covered!

As he dropped the tailgate of the pick up....grabbed a seat.... we chatted a bit. Talked about what I had just learned about this controlled burn thing......he said...yea...they do that quite a bit around here.....Any bad wild fires around here I asked....None that I can remember.....I think all that stuff happens up north.... and more western part of the state....

Then......Jim asked what I thought about all this virus stuff? Virus....I asked....

Yea....bein hearin of it here and there......President says it a houx.....I think it's a bunch a hooie....sounds like a dang flu to me....we got that every year.

Haven't heard anything.....but haven't been watching the news much.....I'll have a look I guess....

Jim rolled out a few minutes later....and I went straight back to the laptop......and turned on the TV.....we were getting the news channel outta Jacksonville here.....and if they'd mentioned it....I'd missed it....

But online...

On January 23,...wow....a month ago....CBS....said this....

$ https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2020/01/24/coronavirus-outbreak-china.cnn-business$

On January 28th....Fox News said this.....

$ https://www.foxnews.com/health/coronavirus-outbreak-cdc-travel-recommendation-update$

And then.....I came across an Article published on February 11th.....by the BBC....Title....China....and the Virus that threatens everything. Hmm....I thought....A Global news organization was telling me of...A virus that threatens everything? What did that even mean?

Well....from the article....lemme quote....

On a cold Beijing morning, on an uninspiring, urban stretch of the Tonghui river, a lone figure could be seen writing giant Chinese characters in the snow.

The message taking shape on the sloping concrete embankment was to a dead doctor.

"Goodbye Li Wenliang!" it read, with the author using their own body to make the imprint of that final exclamation mark.

Five weeks earlier, Dr Li had been punished by the police for trying to warn colleagues about the dangers of a strange new virus infecting patients in his hospital in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

Now he'd succumbed to the illness himself and pictures of that frozen tribute spread fast on the Chinese internet, capturing in physical form a deep moment of national shock and anger.

There's still a great deal we don't know about Covid-19, to give the disease caused by the virus its official name. Before it took its final fatal leap across the species barrier to infect its first human, it is likely to have been lurking inside the biochemistry of an - as yet unidentified - animal. That animal, probably infected after the virus made an earlier zoological jump from a bat, is thought to have been kept in a Wuhan market, where wildlife was traded illegally.

Beyond that, the scientists trying to map its deadly trajectory from origin to epidemic can say little more with any certainty. Close Quote....

I'll put a link to the article in the show notes......it goes on to map out a detailed timeline between the first documented case in .... late November of last year.....to February 11th of this year having documented over 30 thousand deaths in China. The country seems to be in full on panic mode....even having somehow managed to build and 2600 bed hospital within days.....and locking Wuhan down.

$ tps://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51449675 $

Dang...I really don't like this....a lot.

I take a couple a weeks break from the news.....only to learn that some virus.....born in a place called Wuhan China....has been potentially unleashed on the world.......

And for a second I thought....dang....Spanish plague....again......cost us like 700 thousand lives back in the 20's......and that was just us.....globally.....some 20 million died....maybe more...you know...record keeping back in the 20's and all.....

But then within minutes.....I'd stopped reading about folks that had died across the planets history as the result of pandemics....and realized.....

hey....we're in Georgia.....St. Marys.....

Some pretty cool stuff.....and a lot more to see......so I'll just keep an eye....and an ear on things....see what happens.

Tomorrow's a new day......not sure where I'll head....

But I wonder what I'll learn there