3 MONTHS !!!

It seemed like we had so much time when we set out on November 1^st with the intention of coming home by Purim. 

The first two months we proceeded leisurely. 

About a month ago we realized that if we wanted to do much of what we planned, we needed to pick up the pace. So much so, that we have had very little spare time these past few weeks.

You may have noticed I haven’t been blogging. Haven’t had time.

I try to write down what we do every day so I don’t forget what we did and when, and I haven’t even been able to keep up with that.  I will try to put together a record later based on the time stamp of our photos, and receipts.

We are going to slow down from now on. It sounds ridiculous that we don’t have enough time with a month left to go, but we don’t. So instead of continuing to cram as much in as possible as in pre-retirement vacation days, we are going to take it easy from here on. There were things we wanted to do on our way back north that will just have to wait for some TBD future trip.

We are still in Florida. (Currently just south of Lake Okeechobee.)  Have been in Florida for over 2 months!   

This has been our route in Florida, more or less. We are working out way back north.

So in honor of Florida, I have put together the following top ten list: 

Top 10 Ways to Know That You are in Florida

1. Ridiculously long wait for traffic lights to turn green.  I can go to the bathroom, Bob can go to the bathroom, I can make lunch then change into biking clothes, all at one red light  

2. There seems to be the highest number of personal injury lawyers per square mile anywhere, based on all the billboard advertising 

This is a particularly entertaining one:

3. High rise condos going up everywhere 

4. Ubiquitous pink flamingo objects 

5. Lots of mosquitoes 

6. Weather is unbearably hot and humid and the locals tell you it doesn’t get hot for another 2 or 3 months

7. Tourists get super excited by alligators

8. Place names are either unpronounceable Seminole names (Apalachee, Chassahowitzka, Fakahatchee, Homosassa, Myakka, Osceola, Tallahassee, Wakulla, Wakodahatchee, Weeki Wachee (been to them all)) or contain at least one of the following words: Beach, Island, Palm, Ocean, Harbor, Bay, Key, Spring, Lake, Saint, or Fort.  

9. Lots of mosquitoes 

10. Everyone you meet was originally from NJ 

More Flamingos ...

You Don't Need an Eye Doctor, Just Take Off the Stupid Blindfold! Duh!

Taken in Sarasota, Florida

This Post is For My Granddaughter Ruth Who Loves Owls

On January 1^st, 2020 (not only the first day of a new decade, but what feels like a date from a science fiction novel,) Bob and I spent the afternoon on Honeymoon Island State Park. (We also were there the next day, but that will be another post.)

Being at Honeymoon Island State Park was very appropriate on January 1st because on January 3rd, we celebrated our 38^th wedding anniversary (all our family celebrations start at least a week early).  

(FYI, the reason I married Bob was because he had been to Yellowstone and helped me plan a trip - and clearly we still love to travel.)  

Anyway, on the Honeymoon Island Nature Trail we saw not just one, but TWO great horned owls! Which was very exciting because our granddaughter Ruth LOVES owls!

We saw the mother sitting on her nest and the father directly above us in a tree. Which made it hard to take his picture because of the weird angle, and also felt a little dangerous standing right beneath him (if you know what I mean.)

The nest was pretty far away so the mother isn't clear...

But the father was very close...

We also saw two bald eagles watching over their nest (the photo only shows one)

And more ospreys than we could count

 Including this one eating a fish

But... TWO great horned owls! 

(Regarding what I said at the beginning about science fiction future, for some reason the year 2020 feels much weirder than the years 1984, or Y2K, or even 2001 did. Anyone else feel this way?)  

Jan 1st - Two Months on the Road - Happy New Year!

Hard to believe it's been two months since we left home!

We’ve been in Florida since November 22^nd. After going through some of the panhandle, we have been moseying south down Florida’s gulf coast. We are currently in St. Petersburg.

Our status:

• Still not bored.
• Still talking to each other.
• So nice to sleep in my own bed every night.
• My phone died a few weeks ago. Don't text; Email me. 
• We have spent one night in a motel.
• Constantly grocery shopping. Due to limited space, we have to buy only what we need in the next few days. Costco sizes not going to fit.
• I have been trying to buy a pink plastic flamingo to put in front of Our V when we camp. So far, can't find one.

Time passes strangely. Each day flies by, but we are constantly saying, “Wait, was that just yesterday? Seems like days ago!” Yet it doesn’t feel like it’s been two months.

Florida - Gulf coast, barrier islands, very long bridges, kitsch, springs, sinkholes, manatees, birds, gopher tortoises, alligators, sawtooth palmetto, live oak, palms, mangroves, and sand.  Lots of sand. Not just at the beach, but inland also. Scratch the surface anywhere and there is sand. An eighth inch under that grass - sand. We are constantly sweeping sand out of Our V.

Have visited many tourist attractions that were put out of business at some point after Disney opened in late 1971, and were bought up by the state to be state parks. 

Many bike rides. A few boat rides, canoe, and kayak. Lots of walks. Hard to call any of them hikes when there is no elevation gain. 

Most days are bright and sunny with temps between 50 and 80 and it is a joy to be outside. I forget it is winter. It has rained a few times, not a problem. 

But when the temps get over 80 and the humidity is also over 80% I am ready to pack up and head for Wisconsin.