Vacation is over. I have to keep repeating that to myself! It is obvious that it is over: we are home, we are working, there is laundry and grocery shopping and doctors appointments. And it is cold. It is very, very cold! But, I still wake up every morning and have to repeat "we are not on vacation". Maybe soon, but not now!
We are going away this weekend. Not very far. But, we will be on a mini-vacation, on the RV with some friends at a Murder Mystery Weekend. Sounds fun to me. I have never been to a Murder Mystery Weekend. It does sound fun. I am concerned that I will not be able to solve the mystery. I never get all the subtle clues that are generally provided at these sorts of things. And, as a result, I feel very, very dumb.
But, a mini-vacation on the RV trumps feeling dumb!! So we are going and we will have a good time!
Talk to you later.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Last Chapter
This vacation is over. We are home. It is cold and the flowers are not yet in bloom. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed the entire vacation. We are glad to be home. Our only question is: “When should we do it again”!
Maybe October!
Maybe October!
Washington DC – Round 2
We decided to stop in Washington, DC on our way home. We had stopped here on the way to Florida at the end of February. The weather was cold, damp, rainy and snowy. I guess we wanted to see what a difference 6 weeks would make!
We arrived on Sunday and the temps were in the 70’s. Not bad. The cherry blossoms were forecast to peak just a couple of days earlier. So, we were hoping that the view would be great. We got out to do some blossom viewing on Monday and it was cold – by our standards – mid-40’s. It was also gray and rainy. It seemed that 6 weeks did not make a difference! This is not quit true. It was warmer and it wasn’t snowing. But, after Florida, the 40’s felt really cold!
And the cherry blossoms seemed to suffer from the cold, damp weather. They had passed their peak. It was still fun driving along Sligo Creek Parkway in Silver Spring, MD and then walking to the Tidal Basin to see more blossoms. After that we decided to have lunch at the Museum of America History and spend some time at Air and Space Museum.
Our final stop that day was at Arlington National Cemetery. Well worth the time and effort. To the 310,000 veterans and family members that are interred here, “Thank you for your service”. We got to watch the changing of the guard at the Unknown Soldier twice. It is just fascinating to watch. We visited the grave of Robert and John Kennedy, along with Jackie Kennedy Onasis. Arlington is just a quiet, somber place to remember that our nation has survived with the help of many, many people from all walks of life.
We arrived on Sunday and the temps were in the 70’s. Not bad. The cherry blossoms were forecast to peak just a couple of days earlier. So, we were hoping that the view would be great. We got out to do some blossom viewing on Monday and it was cold – by our standards – mid-40’s. It was also gray and rainy. It seemed that 6 weeks did not make a difference! This is not quit true. It was warmer and it wasn’t snowing. But, after Florida, the 40’s felt really cold!
And the cherry blossoms seemed to suffer from the cold, damp weather. They had passed their peak. It was still fun driving along Sligo Creek Parkway in Silver Spring, MD and then walking to the Tidal Basin to see more blossoms. After that we decided to have lunch at the Museum of America History and spend some time at Air and Space Museum.
Our final stop that day was at Arlington National Cemetery. Well worth the time and effort. To the 310,000 veterans and family members that are interred here, “Thank you for your service”. We got to watch the changing of the guard at the Unknown Soldier twice. It is just fascinating to watch. We visited the grave of Robert and John Kennedy, along with Jackie Kennedy Onasis. Arlington is just a quiet, somber place to remember that our nation has survived with the help of many, many people from all walks of life.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
On the Move
Another day of travelling
We left SC at 7:30 this morning and made it to NC by 7:31! South of the Border is just on the border, so the trip to NC was instantaneous. We have gone from SC to NC to VA and are about 100 miles from our destination of Cherry Hill in MD.
The weather has been perfect. Mostly 70's, sunny, clear, blue skies. Great travelling day. But, I still hate Route 95!!
More later!
We left SC at 7:30 this morning and made it to NC by 7:31! South of the Border is just on the border, so the trip to NC was instantaneous. We have gone from SC to NC to VA and are about 100 miles from our destination of Cherry Hill in MD.
The weather has been perfect. Mostly 70's, sunny, clear, blue skies. Great travelling day. But, I still hate Route 95!!
More later!
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Too Many Idiots, Too Little Concrete
Route 95, Miles 5 to 46, South Carolina
That was the description provided by a trucker when we turned on the CB to see what we could find out about the delays. We were in stop-and-go traffic for over an hour for no apparent reason. I really did agree with that trucker. But, I am sure he considered me one of the idiots. On that, I am sure that we disagreed.
Awhile later, another trucker provided this explanation: “I’ve looked around and most of these are drivers from way up north”. I guess that would be me. His comment did elicit this response from someone: “I am from way up north and I ain’t no idiot." With this trucker, I completely agree.
As a result of the “idiots”, we only made it to the SC/NC Border and are quite comfortable at South of the Border. It is considerably less expensive than the KOA outside of Fayetteville, NC and equally as comfortable. We have a drive-through site. We haven’t even unhooked the “toad”. So, we will get a early and easy start tomorrow.
That was the description provided by a trucker when we turned on the CB to see what we could find out about the delays. We were in stop-and-go traffic for over an hour for no apparent reason. I really did agree with that trucker. But, I am sure he considered me one of the idiots. On that, I am sure that we disagreed.
Awhile later, another trucker provided this explanation: “I’ve looked around and most of these are drivers from way up north”. I guess that would be me. His comment did elicit this response from someone: “I am from way up north and I ain’t no idiot." With this trucker, I completely agree.
As a result of the “idiots”, we only made it to the SC/NC Border and are quite comfortable at South of the Border. It is considerably less expensive than the KOA outside of Fayetteville, NC and equally as comfortable. We have a drive-through site. We haven’t even unhooked the “toad”. So, we will get a early and easy start tomorrow.
Goodbye Florida
To all of our friends - new and old - and family that we spent time with in Florida: Thank You! We had a great time!
But, all good things must come to an end and so we have left Florida behind us. We are driving through GA, heading for NC for the evening and then to Cherry Blossoms in DC tomorrow.
But, all good things must come to an end and so we have left Florida behind us. We are driving through GA, heading for NC for the evening and then to Cherry Blossoms in DC tomorrow.
St. Augustine
St. Augustine is an interesting little city. We had a chance to hear some good jazz/swing, walk around Old St.Augustine, eat lunch at a great Cuban Restaurant,The Columbia, see the oldest Catholic Church in the US and , best of all, meet a couple of family members (Brian and his new fiancee, Linda).
All in all it was a great time and a wonderful way to avoid heading for the cold of the Northeast!
All in all it was a great time and a wonderful way to avoid heading for the cold of the Northeast!
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Ft. Myers to St. Augustine
We left Ft Myers on April 1 – yesterday. During our last week, everyone that we met implied that we were very naïve to begin our travels north on the first of April. It is a commonly held opinion that many, many, many snowbirds – especially RVers -travel on that day – the day that monthly March rentals must be vacated. We listened, but we didn’t believe. So, we left the site at about 7:30 in the morning to begin our trek to St. Augustine.
It was pretty uneventful. Not much traffic, except for just east of Orlando. And guess what? There were not really many motorhomes. We did not see any travelling north on I75. The first ones we saw were travelling east on I4. So, to us anyway, the need to avoid travel on the first day of April remains a myth; it just didn’t materialize.
We are spending a few days in St. Augustine. We seem unwilling to leave the warmth of Florida!
It was pretty uneventful. Not much traffic, except for just east of Orlando. And guess what? There were not really many motorhomes. We did not see any travelling north on I75. The first ones we saw were travelling east on I4. So, to us anyway, the need to avoid travel on the first day of April remains a myth; it just didn’t materialize.
We are spending a few days in St. Augustine. We seem unwilling to leave the warmth of Florida!
Reverse Truck Day
Nothing warms the heart of a Red Sox fan more that Truck Day. Usually early in February, this is the day that the moving van arrives at Fenway Park to pick up all the gear and stuff and bring it to Ft. Myers for Spring Training. It is always a sure sign that winter will end and the boys of summer will, in fact, play another year of baseball.
What I never realized – until Tuesday – is that there is a Reverse Truck Day. I coined the phrase; it is not an official day to be celebrated. But, I should have realized that when Spring Training is over, all that “stuff” has to get back to Fenway Park for the start of the season. So, Tuesday was the last game of Spring Training at City of Palms Park. It does make sense, therefore, that the truck was there to cart everything home again.
While my feelings on Truck Day back in February were positive, my feeling on Tuesday were quit negative. Back in February, the day itself was a sign that we would be leaving for our own vacation to Florida to watch Spring Training games and enjoy the warm weather of summer a few months early. But, on Tuesday, all it could mean is that our vacation was ending and there would be no more Spring Training games and no more beach days and no more summer weather – at least for a while. That was depressing. Sure it did signal that the real season would begin next week which is a good thing. But, upper most in my mind was the end of our temporary summer fun.
Oh well, there will be next year. Isn’t that what Red Sox fans have been saying for years!
What I never realized – until Tuesday – is that there is a Reverse Truck Day. I coined the phrase; it is not an official day to be celebrated. But, I should have realized that when Spring Training is over, all that “stuff” has to get back to Fenway Park for the start of the season. So, Tuesday was the last game of Spring Training at City of Palms Park. It does make sense, therefore, that the truck was there to cart everything home again.
While my feelings on Truck Day back in February were positive, my feeling on Tuesday were quit negative. Back in February, the day itself was a sign that we would be leaving for our own vacation to Florida to watch Spring Training games and enjoy the warm weather of summer a few months early. But, on Tuesday, all it could mean is that our vacation was ending and there would be no more Spring Training games and no more beach days and no more summer weather – at least for a while. That was depressing. Sure it did signal that the real season would begin next week which is a good thing. But, upper most in my mind was the end of our temporary summer fun.
Oh well, there will be next year. Isn’t that what Red Sox fans have been saying for years!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)