St. Augustine, more

Well, we expected a real storm last night, but it didn't amount to much. There was a tornado watch this AM, and high wind warnings, but nothing much developed. There was some morning rain that we waited out with free coffee and wi-fi in the campground lounge. Then we drove into St. Augustine to finish the rest of our tour tickets from yesterday. First up was the St. Augustine History Museum, followed by lunch in what had been the deep end of the world's largest indoor swimming pool when Henry Flagler installed it in his Alcazar Hotel in 1889. Now the building is the home of the Lightner Museum. Lightner was a wealthy "collector of collections" from Ohio who bought the hotel to house his extensive displays. We enjoyed a demonstration of many of Lightner's mechanical instruments - they were much too varied and elaborate to be called "music boxes." Besides a nicolodeon and hurdy, the docent demonstrated a commercial machine that played large tin discs, and one that included both an automated piano keyboard and an automated violin! The oldest house in St. Augustine was also an interesting stop. What a lot of history there is in this town!

We finished the afternoon with a drive through Anastasia State Park and were very impressed with the campground. We may go back there tomorrow for a bike ride.

The skies have cleared, but it will be COLD tonight - perhaps close to freezing. Glad we have the furnace!