Drifting down the coast from Georgia, I decided to spend a day on Amelia Island, near Jacksonville, Florida, for no other reason than that it was a convenient stopping point.  I got a camping site at Fort Clinch State Park, right on the beach, and it turned out to be an outstanding location.  The drive back to the camping area through the trees hung with Spanish moss was like forging into a forgotten world.

I had arrived fairly early, so spent most of the afternoon just wandering along the beach.  It was a perfect day, not too hot or too cold, and I had the beach almost to myself, except for the occasional surf fisherman and the little sandpipers running along the water’s edge.

I took my shoes off, rolled up my jeans, and walked for miles in the water, just looking at the shells washed up in the sand.

For a while I made a game of collecting the nicest ones, and when I got tired of that I just wandered.

This is the view from my camp site as the sun set over the water on the mainland side of the island.  This is one of the most peaceful places I’ve ever been.  I didn’t do much there.  I just existed and enjoyed.  It was wonderful.