MIAMI, FLORIDA---MORE SUN!!

Sunday, January 29:         

Marriott Courtyard/Miami Flagler Station

            Alligator Alley had one visible alligator today as we drove from Ft. Myers to Fort Lauderdale.  Thank goodness Tim wanted to go to Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise, Florida. Our first stop was Tommy Bahamas. I even found a swimsuit for me, and Tim bought one for him! We may have made other purchases. J  I absolutely love this mall. 

From their website: “Sawgrass Mills is North America's Largest Outlet Mall and Florida’s largest value retail and entertainment center. With more than 400 retailers including internationally recognized brand-name stores, full service-restaurants, entertainment venues and the region’s most sought-after luxury outlets, Sawgrass Mills offers something for the entire family to enjoy.”

            Tomorrow we begin our Cruise Triathlon by boarding Carnival Imagination. Tonight we rearranged our suitcases in preparation for our sail. We will drive to the Port of Miami and meet our ship. We are excited!

 Aside to B1 and B2: We really really miss our girls.

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA--THE HEAT IS RISING!

Estero, Florida

January 23-29, 2012

Boat ride on the gulf, Trivial Pursuit, shopping and more shopping, dog races, and checking out

retirement communities ---we kept very busy in Fort Myers! Tim’s brother and sister in law, Tom and Carol, moved to Ft. Myers in September. They have a beautiful home with a great screened lanai where we could enjoy breakfast every day! The temperature just keeps going up as we travel further south. Tim's brother Tom and his wife Carol invited us to stay for several days at their home in The Cascades off Estero Drive in Fort Myers.

Monday, January 23:              After we left Dade City we stopped in Zephyrhills, Florida to see Southport Springs retirement community. We really liked it here—we could move into a brand new modular home on a golf course, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, golf cart garage, screened lanai, large carport, fully furnished and appliances for $88,000 with $340/month site fee. That was very tempting, but we know nothing about the quality of various manufactured homes. We can do research! I wish this home and opportunity was closer to Ft. Myers. We arrived at Tom’s about 4 p.m. and visited Tim’s nephew and his wife, Jeff and Carmel. We also saw their daughter Trisha and husband Nick, and Tim’s adorable great grand nieces, Kennedy (4 yrs.) and Meadow (16 mos.)

 Tuesday, January 24:             We drove to Ft. Myers Beach, strolled the boardwalk, saw dolphins, and had lunch at a delightful restaurant, Smokin Oyster Brewery (SOB).

 Wednesday, January 25:             The Miramar Outlet Mall has to be one of the best! That said, my charge card survived, unused!    Steak dinners on the grill, baked potato, and tossed salad a la Chef Tom. What more could we ask? Tim is enjoying family!

Thursday, January 26:            Coconut Grove mall condos were advertised in the newspaper ($429,000 condos selling for $199,000 now/$350 or so a month fees) and we made an appointment to look. The condos were nice, and overlook a great mall, granite countertops, screened balcony, and so on, but I don’t think 4^th floor living, even with an elevator is for us. If it overlooked the ocean, maybe. The condo building felt like an apartment house to me. From there we went to Jamaica Bay, a retirement community. This is a popular site with beautiful pools and other community amenities. We could have a brand new modular home for $104,000—3 bedrooms, 2 baths, screened lanai, etc. but the site fee was $800/month. It is good for us to look.

            Mary Lou and Scorchy arrived from Dade City and we spent the evening playing Trivial Pursuit, a family favorite.

Friday, January 27:                 After breakfast at Cracker Barrel and good byes to Mary Lou and Scorchy, we definitely shopped til we dropped. We started at Fleamasters, a flea market I would definitely recommend. 900 vendors!! Gulf Coast Mall is very nice too—Belk’s, Bass Pro, St. John’s, RonJon’s, and lots more. We had the best fried fish dinner at Miller’s Ale House. We returned to Miramar Outlet Mall for a quick revisit! Tim is the most patient shopper I ever saw!!

Saturday, January 28:            What a day!! Jeff belongs to a club where he can order a boat prepared for a ride. We drove out to Ft. Myers Beach, expecting lots of Saturday traffic. Miraculously, it was a quick trip. We spent about 2 hours with Jeff, Carmel, Tom, and Carol on the Gulf of Mexico in a 26 ft. inboard/outboard. Sunny and warm, but cooler when the boat went fast! We saw a sting ray, people fishing off the boardwalk, Ft. Myers beach full of sunbathers, a lighthouse, and fabulous homes. We had a very nice lunch on the water at Doc Ford’s restaurant.

DADE CITY, FLORIDA

January 18-23, 2012

Travelers Rest Resort on Johnston Road in Dade City, Florida is a popular site for retired RV campers. It has a 9-hole golf course, an Olympic size pool, library, ponds for model sail boat racing, clubhouse, and lovely gardens. Tim’s sister and brother in law, Mary Lou and Scorchy, have a 37 ft. camper and comfortable cabana with full bath on lot in this park. There is an additional area with homes for retirement living here, too. With temperatures in the high 60s and mid 70s, it is easy to see why people enjoy central Florida this time of year! By the way, we awake to sandhill cranes whistling every morning.
Wednesday, January 18: We explored antique shops in Dade City. I bought a student lamp.

Thursday, January 19:        We went to a Zephyrhills flea market and I bought used paperback books
Friday, January 20:              Renninger’s Antique Extravaganza in Mt. Dora. I bought a Franciscan Apple relish dish for $6-a real steal. There are hundreds of vendors with everything from Tiffany aurene glass to Star Wars figures. My favorite food vendor sells something I absolutely love, the gran arepa, a little corn “pancake” with mozzarella cheese stuffed inside—a Columbian food. The permanent antique shops are worth visiting too. This is the best and biggest antique show we go to. I should have bought the wire tiered garden stand with grape design for $18. A reason to return next year! We had dinner at Pancho’s Villa in San Antonio.

Saturday, January 21:          The Shops at Wiregrass is an outdoor mall in Wesley Chapel. Dillards, Macy’s, Penney’s, Chicos, Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, are some favorite places to shop. The arts and craft festival there was an extra bonus, and so was the Mexican restaurant where we ate, Cantina Laredo.

                                                 Later we went to Bushnell, Florida, to visit our cruise friends, Sue and Jim from Nova Scotia, at Paradise Oaks RV Resort. Cruise friend Brian figured out that we were in the same vicinity and matched us up!

Sunday, January 22:            Today we took a field trip to Tarpon Springs, about 50 miles away. This town is known for it sponge diving industry established in 1905 by Greek divers. Tarpon Springs is noted for having the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any city in the U.S. It is a quaint town. We had the greatest Greek salad I’ve ever had at Hellas Bakery and Restaurant. I have never seen so many Greek pastries and I did not hold back. I enjoyed a Greek cannoli, Mary Lou had Greek rice pudding, and Tim had a pastry called boureki, made with phyllo and stuffed with custard and honey.

The natural sea sponges were an education, too—wool sponges (they look and feel like sheep’s wool), yellow sponges, finger sponges.

We enjoyed Scorchy and Mary Lou so much—they made certain we experienced central Florida! And we played Trivial Pursuit and euchre in the evenings!

LAKE ASHTON, FLORIDA

Lake Ashton, Florida / January 16, 17, 2012 
Are we ready for a retirement community? Lake Ashton certainly has a lot of benefits. If I were ready to leave Erie and move to Florida, this would be one of my top choices. Our guide gave us no pressure whatever. We checked out several models and loved most of them. For $259,000 we could have a brand new, landscaped, three bedroom, 2 bath house with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, crown molding, two car garage plus attached golf cart garage, a golf cart, and a screened veranda, built to our specifications, about 2400 sq. ft., overlooking a natural lake.  The construction of these homes is superb- 

What we liked:

§         Two private 18 hole golf courses on site

§         Two club houses with fitness equipment, each with indoor pools that overlook a lake; fitness classes including zumba and tai chi; bowling lanes; arts and crafts rooms; theater; tennis courts; a restaurant open for lunch and dinner; so many activities available, e.g. photography club, garden club

§         A sports bar at the golf course

§         Boating and fishing are allowed on Lake Ashton

§         It’s a gated community manned 24 hours with electronic gated entry

§         Even though there are 10 designs for the houses, none look alike because of landscaping and other individual choices. Palm trees grow quickly. The homes are gorgeous.

§         There are three natural lakes on the property, as well as smaller lakes and ponds

§         Lake Wales and Winter Haven are very close-both towns have multiple hospitals, malls, shopping plazas, restaurants, cinemas

§         Area traffic outside the community is easily negotiable

§         The homes are not too close together

§         Sandhill cranes walk freely around the community----other water birds like herons and egrets are prevalent, too.

§         Osprey nests are easy to spot—frequently seen on top of electric/phone poles

§         The community is about 54 miles from Orlando; 52 miles from Tampa; 97 miles to Cocoa Beach; 108 miles to Fort Myers

§         Supposedly hurricanes do not really travel inland at full strength 

What I think about:

Our dear granddaughters and family are 1140 miles away 

Interesting Facts about gas prices along the way:
Grove City, PA:             $3.49/gal / Sheetz

Wytheville, VA:             $3.25/gal. / Flying J

Columbia, SC:              $3.12/gal / Sam’s Club

Pooler, GA:                  $3.27/gal / Sam’s Club

Jacksonville, FL:            $3.32/gal / Race Trac

Winter Haven, FL:            $3.43gal / Race Trac

TROPICAL TRAVELS!

Savannah, Georgia / January 13, 2012
Less driving today and the temperature got to 51F. Two hours to Columbia, South Carolina and we stopped at Fort Jackson, U.S. Army Training Base. Fifty percent of new Army recruits are trained here today. I met Stephanie Sapp, Museum Technician, at the Basic Training Museum. I talked with her before the trip and told her I wanted to do some research on my uncle, Robert Phillips. She was so helpful and I learned much more than I expected. He enlisted in 1941. From his photo, which I brought with me, she showed me that he had been in the 13th Armor Regiment.

While he was in that regiment (World War II), he was in Algeria and participated in the allied counteroffensive in North Africa. The regiment ended the war almost at the Swiss border in Italy. After that the regiment was part of the U.S. Constabulary in Germany from 1946 to September 1947. The museum was very well done and it gave me an idea of life on the base in the mid-50s and 60s when Uncle Robert was there. I would recommend a visit!

Tim and I went to Uncle Robert’s gravesite and the marker indicated that he served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Viet Nam War. I know he was in Korea in 1967 and was active military for over 30 years. I appreciate his dedication and service to our country. I’m grateful that Tim was willing to stop! We spent about 4 hours there. Tonight we are in Savannah, Georgia, and I think it is cold. Tomorrow, Black Shear.

Cocoa Beach, Florida / January 15, 2012
We visited my first cousin, George and his wife Phyllis in Black Shear, Georgia. Phyllis is the very best cook and we had a grand pork roast, real mashed potatoes and gravy, and orange Bundt cake with vanilla ice cream for dinner. George is 85 years old with great difficulty hearing and we get quite a kick out of the two of them. Originally from Toledo, Ohio, they have lived in Black Shear for 16 years. Their property taxes are $150 per year—wish I could say that!!

We were quite disappointed that the Broncos lost the football game even though they beat the Steelers last week. We were rooting for the Saints, too. George and Phyllis treated us to breakfast at Huddle House this morning and then we were off to Cocoa Beach, Florida. I was supposed to know that we crossed into Florida when Tim turned on the Margaritaville channel with Jimmy Buffett. It was 67 F. It’s 20 F in Erie! Tim is absolutely the best travel planner---our Marriott hotel tonight has two bedrooms.

We went to Ron Jon’s and then had dinner at Dixie Crossroads in Titusville, a seafood favorite. Earlier, we saw three cruise ships in the harbor preparing for today’s sails.

About cruise ships that hit reefs or sandbars and topple over. The image of the damaged Costa Concordia lying on its side is very dramatic. We know that ships leaving U.S. ports MUST have a safety drill shortly after leaving port and ALL passengers are required to attend. We are very confident that passenger safety is a priority on cruise ships. We have observed very serious demeanor during every safety drill that we have experienced. We do not understand the incident near the Italian coast and expect more information to be forthcoming.

WE'RE OFF ON A CRUISE TRIATHLON AGAIN!!

EXPLORING THE WORLD PART III / January 12, 2012
Mooresville, North Carolina
Packed the Avalanche and got on the road by 7:25 a.m.!!
10:30 a.m.: West Virginia
12:00 p.m.: Flatwoods, WV (490 F)
12:30 p.m.: Tuna fish sandwiches at New River Gorge, WV, our traditional stop.
2:45 p.m.: Virginia
5:00 p.m.: Mooresville, North Carolina / Marriott Town Place Suites (55 F)

Because of TK’s fabulous planning, we have another great trip planned for January and February 2012, including our 3rd Cruise Triathlon! I am going to try to be more succinct in my writing and I thought I would try to be humorous, but that may be a stretch. I promised friends and family I would give them an itinerary:

• January 12, 2012: Erie to Mooresville, North Carolina (9.5 hours)
• January 13, 2012: Mooresville to Columbia, South Carolina. I want to go to the museum at Fort Jackson, SC to see if I can do some research on my uncle, Robert S. Phillips, Master Sergeant, Active Duty for 33 years, U.S. Army (WWII era, Korean War, and Viet Nam era). The museum office said they were willing to help me. We will also visit the cemetery where he is buried—I have contacted the office there, too. We are then going on the Savannah, Georgia for the night.
• January 14, 2012: Savannah to Black Shear, Georgia to visit my first cousin, George and his dear wife, Phyllis, a fabulous cook.
• January 15, 2012: Black Shear to Cocoa Beach, Florida.
• January 16, 17, 2012: Lake Ashton, Florida (near Orlando). TK has reservations at a retirement village for two nights. That ought to be interesting.
• January 17-22, 2012: We will visit Tim’s sister Mary Lou and Scorchy near Dade City, Florida. We plan on going to the Mt. Dora Outdoor Antique Show on the 21st or 22nd.
• January 23-28, 2012: We will visit Tim’s brother Tom and Carol. They moved to Florida in September.
• January 29, 2012: Miami, Florida
• January 30, 2012: Board the Carnival Imagination
• January 31, 2012: Key West, Florida (we hope to contact Tom’s cousin who owns a bait and tackle/restaurant here)
• February 1, 2012: Cozumel, Mexico
• February 3, 2012: Miami.
• February 4, 2012: Board the Carnival Liberty
• February 5, 2012: Nassau
• February 7, 2012: St. Thomas, V.I. Can I ever restrain myself from shopping here? I don’t even want to try to stop shopping in St. Thomas!
• February 8, 2012: San Juan. We have not been here in a long while.
• February 9, 2012: Grand Turk/Turks and Caicos/Margaritaville, Look Out!!
• February 11, 2012: Miami. We are renting a limo with our California and Wisconsin friends to explore Miami! Could be crazy! Then we reboard the Carnival Liberty for our 3rd cruise of this triathlon.
• February 13, 2012: Cozumel, Mexico
• February 14, 2012:  Belize
• February 15, 2012: Cayman Islands
• February 16, 2012: Roatan, Honduras
• February 18, 2012: Miami. We are driving to Key West for two more days!
• February 20, 2012:
• February 21, 2012: Charleston, South Carolina. We want to explore plantations!
• February 22, 2012: Charleston to Williamsburg, Virginia
• February 22-25, 2012: Williamsburg, Virginia, another favorite destination

TK did a superb job of making tuna fish sandwiches and driving for 9.5 hours. I did a fine job of being a passenger!