I loved visiting St. Augustine too, great little town. I like your thoughts and have visited that area near the cross also--its such an awesome landmark. Been looking at this one for almost three years now, have visited a couple times and still working the angles. I think at least we are both in the right area. I do not discount the FOY park, although many do--because you can't really dig there--yet--but I am still partial to that park. My original theory was similar to yours, in that, I felt that the clues were dragging me out toward the coastline. I have since changed my mind--that coastline is an erosive mess. I have seen the island that you talk about--anything is possible at this point--I had never thought about traveling across the water--I guess it never felt right to me. Have you tried to go out there?? I am also haunted by the rock--tree combination, my personal theory is that this is a fine tuning clue, I believe that the tree pictured is actually "the tall tree" and is the final landmark--that the orientation of the rock--tree, when found, will give you the "Eureka! That's It!!" that we are looking for. But I am pretty sure that the tree no longer exists due to hurricane damage. And there are very few rocks in that area. I think that the rock looks like coquina. Your interpretaton of the clues are much more symbolic and poetic than mine--I have taken them more literally. But, until a casque is found--all theories are more than possible. I am however convinced that St. Augustine is our place for P6/V9 and not on the west Floridian coast. We just need to keep at it--and luckily being 44 years old--I can visit again without having to bring my parents.
