Saturday - April 15

 Tah Dah….we arrived at Lake James around 4 this afternoon.    Today was much better travel-wise, although the first 45 miles on 95 were very busy.    Mark does not like to take Interstate 26 (bad from 95 to 77) so my logistics guy had us routed on 16 around the Statesboro beltline, then 301, 25, 520 (beltline around Augusta) and 121 – traffic was very light most of the time.   

After 3 months of summer-type weather in Florida, North Carolina is so pretty with springtime beauty – trees are budding out, azaleas and other flowering trees  in bloom.

We have returned Miss Blair safely to her parents and so appreciated our 3 boys all being at Philip’s to help with backing Flo into her space (it is sometimes a challenge), but so nice to be settled and done traveling for a few weeks.

Blair was a trooper and we sure enjoyed our time with her.    She’s happy to be back home and looking forward to seeing her friends Monday in school.

With the help of all 3 boys, Mark got Flo settled

Happy to be back with Mommy

The welcoming crew

Mark, Michael, Brooke, Ryan and Philip way back there

Ryan invited us to his place for wine and so pleasant sitting on his deck under all the stars this beautiful evening.    Philip, Annette and kiddos joined us and later we played 5-handed euchre with Mark and me the winners.

Ryan and Mama

Cuddling sweet Maeve under the stars

Our kiddos....Philip, Annette, Ryan

Friday - April 14

We left Cypress Trail at 8:04 this morning taking bunches of great memories for this 2023 winter season   Blair rode with me all the way - she's a great little traveler.    I listened to 60's Gold (oldies) and she had her devices and snacks

However, we hadn't gone too far (North Port) when the traffic came to a dead stop - we lost 30 minutes on this stop 'n go, but throughout the day, traffic was very heavy on 75 and 95.    We took 301 which was pretty good, but just so many people on the roads AND it was Friday, so....

We arrived at the Inland Harbor RV Park in Darien, GA at 3:45 (almost an hour later than planned).    Settled in and then went for an early dinner at Skipper's Fish Camp - have been here several times and always soooo good (very fresh shrimp, ribs, sweet potato souffle, potato salad, cole slaw and green beans + hush puppies, ALL delicious!!!) and Blair's chicken tenders and fries. 

Our little caravan - Little Navy, Flo, Big Red

Low Country

Great place to eat in Darien!

She loves to pose!

Drove around town a bit and showed Blair where we had docked Catrina back in 2017.

Despite the heavy traffic, it was a good day and tomorrow, Lake James, here we come - 370 miles away.   

Happy to hear that our little great nephew, Beckett is home from the hospital after a 15-day stay.   Still waiting for more test results, but for now, very happy he can be home with his family

Thursday - April 13

 After the cool, wet conditions yesterday, today was hot 'n sunny.    After breakfast, we went downtown and while Grandpa was getting his hair cut, Blair and I enjoyed le macaron for some delicious macaroons (she chose 6) and Grandma had a latte.    We then walked across the street and shopped at the Franklin Shops - fun things here and imagine my shock when I saw Josh, our neighbor a year ago here at Cypress Trail.    Josh and Gary sold their RV and bought a condo in North Fort Myers a year ago - they are on the 6th floor and ok, but over $10m in damages to their building from Ian.    These guys have 2 shops in Blue Ridge, GA which we visited a few years ago.....awesome - one is touristy stuff and the other, home decor.

So, these guys are now going to have 2 areas at the Franklin Shops and Josh was starting to set up - it will be called Fort Myers Cotton Co.   I'm very excited as I'm sure they will do well in their new endeavor here in Fort Myers!

We stopped at a few more spots and on home.    Got the she shed all ready for the mini cricket which our neighbor Alan helped get inside.    All tucked in for the summer.   Flo and Big Red are hooked up and we hope to be outta here tomorrow around 8 AM

Tonight we went to "Two Meatballs in the Kitchen" - 1st time visit!    Good Italian fare and a busy place.   `

Yummy....ready to dig into that pile of spaghetti and big ole meatball!

One final walk in the park...it's been a wonderful winter, but time to move on!   Said good bye to neighbors, Penny and Bill and Liz.

Luke decorated his own cookie cake

Check out this sweet girl and her dapper brother in front of Pa's 1957 Chevy.

 

Wednesday - April 12

 What a WET day......the rain started at 6:05 AM and was very heavy later in the morning.    Mark wanted one more Hardees fix for his biscuits and gravy, so away he went.    Blair and I wanted to stop at Target and we left around 10:15, but oh my, we got soaked, had to drive and walk thru big puddles and my umbrella got turned inside out!    Yikes......it poured all the way there, while we were there and finally let up around 1 and much lighter.

After Target we drove to Eggcetera and met Beth.   Blair had breakfast and Beth and I had lunch.    I had wanted to have Beth and Blair meet - Beth formerly taught 4th grade so they had a good visit.   Beth has quite a collection of Madame Alexander dolls and had Blair pick one out for she and another for Maeve.    How nice and thoughtful of her.  And then good bye to my dear friend till this fall.    

Blair, Pat, Beth

We met Mark downtown and Blair was checking out the candy shop and also popcorn, but not much of a popcorn selection compared to Port Clinton.

On home and worked in the she shed getting our things packed away for another season.    It's supposed to be sunny and warm tomorrow, so we'll finish up with the last few things.

Blair prepared naan, cucumbers and grapes for appetizer - and then we finished off some leftovers.

Brooke and Brady are visiting colleges this spring break - U of VA, VA Tech, Wake Forest and Duke.

Tuesday - April 11

 A very busy fun day.....starting with breakfast and then off at 9:30 for our airboat ride on the Peace River south of Arcadia.    John was our tour guide and this tour was all about alligators compared to the mangroves in the Everglades.   Because it was very windy today, the older big alligators were staying in the water.    With the wind, their eyes dry out, so they can stay under water up to 24 hours.   We did see a few big ones, but mostly much smaller and babies.    

Grandpa and Blair ready to board the boat

Our airboat with John, our guide

Lovin' this ride

John

One of the biggies just chillin'

We went under this bridge......during hurricane Ian, water was totally across the road!!!   All the buildings at the airboat company were up to the rooftops with water

Blair and Belle (her mouth is taped shut)

Next stop was at Joshua Citrus for some delicious orange/strawberry juice and some ice cream for Grandpa and me.

We stopped at Square Scoops in Babcock Ranch for Blair to have her fudge brownie ice cream.    I had a latte and Grandpa had a cheeseburger/fries.

Back home and pool time....

Although it was very windy, the sun was out off and on and water was nice 'n warm

Then back to Flo and started putting our stuff away.    What are the odds?    We have had days and days and weeks and weeks of beautiful warm sunshine but the days just before we are leaving, all this rain is predicted.    We really don't want to put wet stuff in the she shed.    SO.....set to work and got chairs, umbrella and grill put away.    Plus all the critters which made Blair sad (Tillie, Trixie and Izzy the Turtles, Betty the Bunny and Freddie the Frog.)

Blair and Tillie

Our little chef prepared some interesting, but delicious appetizers tonight - spinach/artichoke cheese on warm bread, small bits of granola bars served with cut-up oreo cookies and grapes.

Miss Susie, the chef/waitress cutting up the 

oreos

Meanwhile, back in Illinois, Luke, Maeve and parents are visiting their "Nana" and "Pa"

Fun car that Pa built

Pa and Maeve coloring eggs