April 17, 2015

Hello everyone.
We finally arrived back home on Thursday the 16th after making a stop in Norway and New Gloucester to see our children and grandchildren before heading home.  It lightened up the car load as we dropped off a container full of summer clothes and swimwear used by one family that stayed with us for a week in Cocoa Beach (2 boogie boards and a child seat included).  It also included a big box of clothes from my sister that was dropped off to another daughter... thanks April and Mike.  As clothes sizes change from grandchild to grandchild, they will get a lot of use.  That is convenient when the grandchildren are 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 4 and 3 in age. What great family planning.  Enough grandchildren around to prevent Grammie from thinking about moving to Florida.

Out trip covered 5695 miles and with gas prices lower this year we managed to save 4 cents per mile.  We did manage to bring back home some additional weight equal to about 1 thousandths of a pound per mile over the 8 weeks that we were gone.  We won't say if that was per person or per couple.

We did see both of Tom's sisters in the same final week on our trip back home.  Visiting with them took up one week of the total trip.  We got to see our son Doug in Columbia SC for about 4 hours which made Grammie's day.
Things that were good about the trip were seeing new places (Charleston SC especially) and old (not old but long established) friends.  Together we spent more money on playing golf that we did on buying new new fabric and yarn.  Grammie did find School House Fabrics in Floyd Virginia.  She said that it was the best ever.  Most golf courses don't cost that much (wink).

Things that we would change.  Don't plan to see the Blue Ridge parkway in the Spring.  We did drive through a section on our way back home but felt that it would not be as nearly beautiful as it will be in the Fall.  We tried not to get tied up in planning way ahead to see specific things on certain days which worked out better for us but, when we tried to see friends along the way we realized that things in their lives sometimes change plans to connect and maybe longer planning is more necessary. In the case of long distance travel it means a long time before you see them again...or never seeing them again.

Our best unplanned event was seeing Mike Farrell playing the role of Norman Thayer Jr. in the production of On Golden Pond in Jacksonville Florida and our best planned event was to see a longtime friend of Alice's parents also in Jacksonville who will turn a centenarian on May 29th.  Both wonderful opportunities we jumped at.

We did have several people ask us "When you coming down", meaning moving to Florida and we realized that for us, it will probably be never but, when you get sick of snow, there will continue to be the right time to get away from Maine for a bit.  For us it is still what we look forward to, just to get in the van and go..and to all of those along the way who wished us a safe trip back home,  thanks.  We made it.

April 13, 2015

Good evening everyone.  We didn't get lost for the last 4 days.We spent them at Tom's sister Kathy and Steve's house helping them to get settled.  We got a new floor put down in one of the rooms and worked hard to get the wallpaper off in the master bathroom.  There is still a lot of work to do there but it sure gave them a boost to get the house where they want it to be.

Today we made our final plans for the end of this trip.  We left Columbia and ended up in Salem, VA which is real handy to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We originally wanted to do all of it this trip but, after finding part of it closed and trees still on the way to reaching full springtime beauty we decided to hold off until a later time.  There are Rhododendron plants all around but none have bloomed.

On the sides of the highway, the Redbud trees are most prominent right now.

We drove a 20 mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway on the way to Salem and found another couple who were willing to trade camera duty.

With about 4700 miles down and about 900 left we decided it's time to be home.  Two more stops along the way will put us back home on Thursday.  Tomorrow it's goodbye to the shorts and sandals for a while.

April 8, 2015

Good evening all.
Yesterday when we were visiting Geoff and Georgia, they told us about a play at the Alhambra in Jacksonville.  It was a dinner theater and play of the movie On Golden Pond.  We decided to go and were very pleased that we did.  Mike Farrell (M.A.S.H.) was wonderful playing the part of Norman Thayer Jr.  There were many funny lines from the movie and some added lines that were very funny as well.  A great evening. For more, see Alhambra

Thanks for keep an eye out for Grammie

April 7, 2015

Good evening everyone.
We finally left Cocoa Beach and headed to Tavares where we met up with Tom's sister.  After a couple of nights there we headed through the Ocala National Forest over to Port Orange.  We took a short hike on the Timicuan trail at Alexander Springs which brought us out to some crystal clear water in a stream. It is a popular spot for locals to do a bit of canoeing.  On the trail, we saw several different types and colors of reptiles.

We then headed to Port Orange where we have been for the last day visiting some friends who live there.  We got a chance to see some Sand Cranes.

Later on we drove into Daytona where we ate at the North Turn Bar and Grill famously known as the location for the Daytona Beach Race.  The Reuben fish sandwich was great.  Later we took a walk on the
boardwalk.

 The boardwalk was not terribly crowded so we went to find an Ice Cream.

Tomorrow we are going to a Dinner show in Jacksonville.  More tomorrow.

April 3, 2015

Good evening everyone.
Yesterday morning we dropped off our daughter and family at the airport.  After a delay at JFK they finally made it home safely.  It was a pleasure to have them with us for the week.

Today Tom's sister and husband drove down for a visit and are staying with us for only one night as we are leaving Cocoa Beach tomorrow and begin our trek north.

We took a walk on the beach and even though college break is over, there were more people on the beach than ever.  There is a surfing competition going on and there are quite a few competitors here.  For more info, click on the link  Sundance Ranch
This person was working an a maze that was about 3 times of what you see.

 Although this picture was taken after dark, the camera managed to do whatever it wanted.  Actaully the camera takes a series of pics and creates a picture from it.

 In this picture, you are looking at the same moon as we are.  Is your view different from ours?

 We had our dinner at the Fat Kahuna.  It is a very small mom-pop restaurant that had 5 tables for 4 people and bar seats for another 10 people inside and 3 more tables out on the sidewalk.  It was recommended by friends and the meal did not disappoint.  Even though there were plenty of restaurants around the area there were people waiting on the sidewalk waiting for their chance to eat.

Thanks for following us and Have a Happy Easter weekend. 

April 1, 2015

Good evening everyone.
Today was the last day of vacation for our daughter Caroline and family.
We went to Ron Jons today.  It features summer wear as well  as tourist things and also surfing equipment.  It kept the kids occupied looking at things while the parents were busy saying "put that back".

 Dad, do you really want me to cover up my Red Sox hat???

When you are given the responsibility to keep track of a 4 year old you better either stay sharp or put the store in lockdown.

 On a walk back from shopping, Grammie found a good picture spot.

 

This last sequence features a last couple of late afternoon hours at the beach as well as a goodby to the ocean.

 The beginnings of a new activity?

 Goodby beach.

 Priceless

One last thought.  Yes today was April Fool's Day.  Who would have thought that  9 and 7 year olds would be clever enough to come up with a joke to play on Grampie.  Well, their Dad and Grampie were some what surprised when they came out to give us a Double Stuffed Oreo. Definitely a favorite. Got to admit that it did look pretty good until we went to take a bite.  The stuffing had been replaced with toothpaste.  Good work girls.  We still love you.