Country To See: January 2014

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Check out this video!

This describes a reason for the trip - especially for the Shivers!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E2CNZIlVIg&app=desktop

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

After we returned from Colorado we lived large for New Years by traveling west to Clearwater to see Winter, from Dolphin Tale, the movie. She is very inspiring due to her recovery from losing her tale and I am glad we made the trek. We also lived it up by going to see Frozen and eating out at Red Robin in the nearest mall. After that we were feeling a bit directionless since we had no campsite or anything planned, and here it was Dec 31. Hannah suggested we get a hotel room so we could watch the Rose Parade and that is just what we did. It was a huge hit since we got to watch Dolphin Tale at night and see most of the parade in the am.

Not my picture

There were other recovering animals as well - turtles, river otters and pelicans.

Believe it or not, one of the hardest parts to the trip is not having consistent friends and family around. So when we get to be near the Shivers, we jump at the chance. They were in Naples so off we drove to spend a few days. Together we took a tour of Ten Thousand Islands in the Everglades, sang all the songs in Frozen, went mini-golfing in the rain, walked and rode around Naples and had dinner and a game night. Totally made us feel good to have others around.

Date night for Kim and Scott while we whooped it up in the rain playing golf!

Walking on the beach the next day.

Driving around to see the homes, or mcmansions!

Not sure when we will see the Shivers again as they head north and we spend another 6 weeks plus in the warmth. Hope it is sooner rather than later.

Highlights by Mom:

Being with the Shivers
Seeing the excessive wealth of homes in Naples
Kilwins ice cream, yet again
Having Cracker Barrel near towns that dont allow Walmarts to house us overnight
Winter and her inspiring story
Staying in a hotel - its a vacation!

Saturday, January 4, 2014

North Florida had tons to do!

We started off in FL at Jax visiting cousins, seeing our first home, eating alligator and getting together with our "best man", Bob Williams. We even went to the Prin Sing in Jax.

Cousin Cheryl and Jeff hosted us in Jax. It was great to catch up.

Beach time at Atlantic Beach in Jax.

We built this house in Orange Park, near Jax, in 1995. It was a dirt lot with no vegetation.

And then I took them to our local fish dock. Alligator really does taste like chicken.

Hannah wouldnt even try it.

Then we had a nice dinner with Bob Williams and his family. Bob was our best man and we havent seen him for years. It was great to see his kids and how they have grown.

If only Mike could have come.

One of our overnights has become Cracker Barrel. Owen and I ventured in for pancakes and he discovered the peg game they keep on the table. And we see fun things.

And then we headed to St Augustine.

Then we hit the Alligator Farm - here's the story... When we got to South Carolina we camped near a swamp/pond with lots of vegetation. There were signs that said "beware of gators". I have never been afraid of gators, but when Owen says to me that he knows how to wrestle alligators cause he read it in a book, my fear-o-meter soared. He didnt seem to take it in that gators are meat eaters and he is tasty! After a 1/2 day at the Gator Farm, with giant Maximo (15 ft, 2500 lbs) moving when Owen tapped the glass, and then running into Hannah unexpectedly, Owen was cured of wanting to see a gator in the wild cause he was freaked out. Actually they were both freaked out, but anyone who knows Hannah knows I wasnt worried about her trying to see a gator.

Maximo, the giant crocodile.

Across the street was the St Augustine Lighthouse. It was beautiful.

Next was Daytona, where for a mere $2400 you can camp in the inner circle during race week!

Lastly we headed to the inner coastal to see Cape Canaveral/Kennedy Space Center. The bus tour and Atlantis were the highlights.

The crawler-transporter - specs: weighs 6 mill lbs empty, eight tracks and each shoe weighs a ton, holds 5k gall of diesel and uses 125 gal/ml, which is about 42 ft/gall!