Pelican's Roost RV park on the Naval Station at Mayport is one of the best places to spend a little time that we've found. Originally, when the reservation was made, the staff said that we'd be "on the grass" between two regular spots and sharing a sewer hookup on the third row back from the water. The park stretches along the south jetty wall at the entrance to Mayport's naval basin on the St. John's River. Every ship and boat that uses Jacksonville has to pass right in front of us. We're not more than 75 yards from the edge of the channel itself. Close enough to see the expressions on the sailors' faces behind their M-60 machine guns as they leave. A quarter-mile out is the main commercial channel going to Jaxport and the Blount Island terminal. If your car or truck was shipped in to the East Coast it came through here or St. Mary's, Georgia', with the majority going here. And that includes Detroit "iron"! The "Green Bay" is US-flagged and hauls US production exports to Europe and South America.
But when we got here, they placed us right up on the front row under three palms facing north.
Micky and I enjoy riding our bikes. We bought two "Giant" 'comfort' mountain bikes a few years ago. Micky has a very short inseam so finding an adult, 14-inch frame, high-quality bike, cheap was a treat. We try to be careful and insist on helmets and proper reflective stuff. On military bases everywhere, pedestrians have right-of-way on even the main streets, and we take advantage of the crosswalks by dismounting and walking the bikes across. We were doing just that yesterday around noon. I went to mount the bike and pushed off with my right foot when I heard a distinct "pop" followed by pain severe enough to nauseate me. I mananged to get out of the street to the Navy Exchange gas station, pulled my helmet and backpack off and sat on the curb. A Navy Master-At-Arms (MP) had seen me go down and came over to ask if we needed help. I knew that I'd probaly torn or otherwise damaged the Achilles' tendon. Acceptance of help was willing and immediate. Two ambulances and two fire trucks later, Mayport loaded me into the ambulance. Micky assisted in carting the bike back to the motorhome and given a map to Baptist Beaches Hospital. "Beaches" is closer than the Naval Hospital and the clinic on-base doesn't have an emergency room. X-rays and a fiberglas splint, crutches and a painkillers. I didn't separate it from the bone so they call it a rupture.
The doctor didn't want to let me ride home and be seen Tuesday
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