The Long, Long Day - Thursday, November 4, 2021

Thursday seemed like it would work out well when we planned it. However, we lost an hour in the Time Zone change. Even though we decided to do a 5k walk in Biloxi instead of a 10k (which saved us an hour), we didn't arrive in Daytona Beach until after dark.

This is where we parked and
started our walk.

It was a great 5k walk, even though it was chilly. We loved walking along Beach Blvd. for the first few blocks and seeing the Gulf of Mexico. The homes were glorious as was the White House Hotel.

This site is in the parking lot at
the Biloxi Visitor Center.

The lighthouse is across Beach
Blvd. from the Visitor Center.

A historic home overlooking the Gulf.

The Gulf of Mexico view.

First Presbyterian Church on Beach
Blvd. in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Another beautiful home with a view.

The photo below is of Beachwalk of Biloxi. These look like apartments or rentals. If I lived in Biloxi, I would enjoy living here. These are really cute!

Beachwalk of Biloxi rentals.

Beach Blvd. home.

A grand home with a circular drive
and showy entry staircase.

The White House Hotel incorporates
seven buildings.

History of a ca. 1840 house destroyed by
Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

There was a stiff breeze
along the shore making it 
feel colder.

Another home along Beach Blvd.

After turning off Beach Blvd. we passed the Harrison County Law Enforcement Training Academy and the natatorium. 

Law Enforcement Training Academy.

City of Biloxi Natatorium.

Biloxi Water Department.

From here we went through cute neighborhoods and part of the "Old French" or "Biloxi City Cemetery." 

A crypt in the cemetery.

These are substantial headstones, 
probably granite.

This is a unique crypt. It could be
marble or a patterned granite.

The sign caught my eye.

Such a cute house. I love butter
yellow houses!

This is the point where we decided to make our 10k walk a 5k. Across the street from the above house was a park with a boardwalk. It looked like an interesting place to explore. We were at 4k and knew we could find 1k more. 

Biloxi Lighthouse Park boardwalk.

Another house across from the park.

A very nice view of the 
lighthouse from the entrance
to the park.

Information about bayhead forests. 
We hadn't heard of these before.

Biloxi Lighthouse Park info.

There were a number of homeless people sleeping in the park. That may be why our walk did not take us through it. We added this place on our own.

To finish up a 5k walk, we walked across Beach Blvd. to the beach, Lighthouse Pier, and stopped in the median of Beach Blvd. to view the lighthouse up close. Our walk instructions gave this history of the lighthouse:

"The Biloxi Lighthouse was built in 1848 and has been kept by female keepers for more years than any other lighthouse in the United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and declared a Mississippi Landmark in 1987."

The Biloxi Lighthouse historical marker on Beach Blvd. by the Lighthouse Pier states:

"Since its construction in 1848, this cast iron lighthouse has been the landmark for which Biloxi-bound vessels sail. Tended by the Younghans family: father, mother, and daughter, from late 1866 until 1929."

The beach at Lighthouse Pier. 
(Photo by Susan Medlin.)

Look at how many hurricanes this
lighthouse has survived!

Biloxi Landmark #1061.

Biloxi Lighthouse is very
photogenic.

Do not attempt to walk on this pier.
It's for the birds!

Looking across to another lighthouse.

Biloxi Lighthouse.

The beach at Lighthouse Pier.

The beach at Lighthouse Pier.

The above encompasses the first hour of our day. It was time to hit the road. 

We drove and drove and drove. I took a three-hour shift, then Susan M. did a three-hour shift. We had lunch at What-a-Burger. Then we split up the rest of the drive. I-95 south of Jacksonville had a wreck so we took I-75 south to FL 40 east.

We had Blizzards at DQ for a break from the car. FL 40 east is called the Florida Black Bear Scenic Highway. By now it was pitch black...no lights on most of this highway. Every couple of miles there were warning signs with a black bear on them. We never saw any bears, but we did see about six deer along the way, all next to the road. 

It took us forever to get to Daytona Beach! We were happy to finally pull into the hotel! Yay. Check-in was quick and bellboys took our luggage to our rooms.

Susan Medlin brought a cooler with us so we could keep our milk, cheese, and fruit cold as we traveled. We added ice as we went, but hadn't drained it. She took the cooler to her room to unload her stuff, then I went to her room to bring the cooler up to my room. I grabbed the handle of her cooler (which has wheels under it) so I could roll it out. The cooler up-ended, came open, and all the cold water spilled out on her tile and surrounding carpet. It made a little flood. She grabbed her bathroom towels to soak it up. Sigh. What else could go wrong?

I was hungry, so I ordered room service. The Classic Turkey Club arrived with three pieces of soggy bread (they looked toasted or grilled, but it must have toasted hours ago), completely wilted lettuce, and the turkey in rolls on the sandwich instead of laying flat. It was weird. The bacon was cold and didn't seem cooked. I took off all the bacon and the middle piece of bread. The "small" Hearts of Romaine Caesar Salad was huge. It tasted okay, but was incredibly salty. It also came with French fries which were cold. I threw most of them away. The menu said a $4 service charge would be added along with a gratuity of 21.5%. When the bill was presented, it showed a $4 service charge and a 21.5% service charge. There was also a separate line for a tip. Really?

Anyway, I don't think I'll be using room service again.

The room is huge and comfortable, but I had no heat last night. I turned the wall unit up to 80 and the appliance kept spewing cold air. I called the front desk and asked them to send someone to fix it today (Friday). They said someone would be here by 10 am.

The pedestal sink in the bathroom comes to my mid-thigh! It is so low! There is no counter to put all my stuff on. I stuck my hair dryer in the closet and put other stuff around the room.

That's all I can think of for today. Time to get sleep. G'night.