Saturday, November 12, 2011

HOME

The past three days have been split into 18 hours of driving and camping. Last evening we finally pulled up in front of Thumbelina. We had just enough time to shower and meet our dear friends for an 11-11-11 celebration at 211 Clover...it's the number thing. The evening was outstanding.. My dinner was divine. I devoured the parmesan flan, followed with grilled sweetbreads in a very light tarragon sauce...My fellow guests had the grouper & the blue cheese filet...Delicious all around. On our last day of driving, we were fortified with peanut butter & crackers and copious amounts of coffee. A civilized dinner felt very, very good, indeed. Troy, the chef at 211 Clover, is consistently the best of the best in Louisville's excellent dining scene.
We left 211, heading toward Caffe Classico for a special concert by my friend, Graciela Perrone. She is just a delight. Her artistic skills include, but not are not limited to, flamenco dancer, singer, artist, great mother and a beautiful woman. I feel honored to know this incredible performer. By the end of the evening, Louisville's finest flamenco dancers were on the floor dancing as Gaciela sang a lovely Spanish song accompanied by Brent,one of the best Spanish guitars around. Ole!
My best friends forever, Marion and Charlie, held our seats while we gathered our wits and friends for the performance.. Cousin Richard from Chicago joined Mary Ann, Romeo, WFS & me as we rocked the night away.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

UP,UP and AWAY


WFS,Momo and I settled into our blissful camping spot at Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park... Our camping neighbors had a little dog named Sam, so, immediately Momo had a friend. Good omen. The first day was spent lolling about, walking, reading and resting after three days on the road. Day two: adventure calling. We packed a snack, the tiny dog, towels and started down the overseas highway toward KEY West. Mind you, we were NOT heading for Key West....we drove about 50 miles to the small village of Marathon. My info said Marathon had a dog friendly beach. Momo loves the beach. So do I. WFS prefers a shady palm tree surrounded by cement but for his BFF,he makes an exception. We found a great spot, spread our towels and arranged our snack... Immediately( literally from out of the blue) a huge black cloud lurked over the horizon. In less than 5 minutes we were pelted by huge raindrops. WFS gathered Momo & I gathered the grub. We dashed to the shelter, arriving soaked to the bone. We huddled with other beach goers & a few vagrants until the cloud moved out to sea. The three of us returned to the damp sand to daydream the afternoon away. Food is always on my mind but finding a market(other than Publixs) is a daunting task on this tiny spit of land. On our way back from Sombrero Beach I noticed a sign saying: Fine wines & gourmet foods. 'twas a lark but WFS turned around and zoomed me back. I found butternut squash pasta, fresh greens & a very nice Sauvignon Blanc ... A short stop at Publixs yielded fresh sage & heavy cream. Dinner by firelight was divine.
Day three: we awoke early, what time is it, anyway? We took a long walk through the hammock on the tamarind trail. Momo loves the sand, sea and woodsy trails. We think it is pretty cool, too. Later we boarded a big boat, (full of tourists) and headed out to sea, searching for the Coral Reef. These guys know the way, they go there three times a day, 365 days a year... WFS is a seafaring soul & I might have been a mermaid~~ As tour boats go, this one was very professionally managed and had a terrific staff. Seeing the coral reef through a big opening in the floor of a boat as it chugs and sways is simply not my idea of viewing options. I always feel as if the creatures of the sea are looking up at feet, cameras and brightly colorful garbs thinking, "goodness, Maude, who brought the carnival to town?" Alas,I prefer my nature viewing a little less organized. The reef is an awesome sight but I returned to the deck to watch the blue horizon and the expert aerobatics of the sea birds following the tour boats.
Day four: Long bike ride with WFS & MOMO.. Kayaking through the mangroves in lazy, dappled afternoon light. A swim in the sea, a long hot shower and dinner in a nondescript little Cuban Cafe located in a strip center. The parking lot was filled with Latinos. Good omen. We had a fine dinner of fish tacos, plantain rellenos, beer and caffe leche.. Proving ,yet again, the old adage: you can't judge a book by the cover or a restaurant by the glitter. A moonlight walk with Momo before bed made the perfect combination for my dream day.
We shook out of bed today at 6:30a, packed it in and headed north on the Florida Turnpike for Anastasia State Park for a night of camping on the beach under a near full moon.

Friday, November 4, 2011

SNAIL'S PACE SUITS US

I am blogging this from John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo, Florida. Yep, that Bogie & Bacall place. Back when sexy was a gentle pouf of the lips.
I am straying from the point. Snail's pace. It is very well known that we are a bit sluggish when traveling. Roadside attractions, scenic views, historic markers, Starbucks, Target...any and all of the aforementioned & we detour, possibly detouring from the detour. I love "no particular place to go".. On this trip, however, we had particular places to go & specific times to arrive. We had to make a vast number of miles per day. Our first night took us slightly north of Atlanta, GA. This lovely, lovely campground beckons us again & again.We camped deep in the woods overlooking Altoona Lake. We arrived after dark. Setting up camp in a dark, chilly woods is an adventure all unto itself. We ate grilled cheese sandwiches & collasped into our bed. The next morning a very perky Momo wanted to chase squirrels and race through the woods. Thrilling woodland trails led to a misty lake vista. The views were breathtaking in the early morning light. Alas,we had to scurry back, the Tincan was ready to roll south.
We drove the entire day( okay, we did stop for coffee! And that great Georgia Farmer's Market with fresh pears & freshly made peanut butter) And then, the picnic to eat our delectable goodies. Anyway, we did drive the entire day, arriving in the Ocala National Forest around 5:00p. Friends, this Federal Campground is a very secluded spot. Finding Salt Springs, Florida was a formidable task, indeed. GPS does not recognize this section of the world~~The journey was worth every mile. Arriving at the campground was a huge relief. The wonder of Salt Springs was just beginning to unfold. A huge mineral spring feeds a small lake. Diving into those cool springs and swimming in clear, pristine waters with huge fish jumping about was an ephemeral moment to be stored in my memory forever.
We hiked, sat in the warm sun, and took another late afternoon swim in the spring, just as the last light was fading. We returned to camp, ate dinner by a roaring fire & slept like babies.
Today we drove down I95 & Federal Highway to Key Largo. We ate fried fish & key lime pie to celebrate arriving on time to our final destination., John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. We are immediately going into THE SNAIL'S PACE. Perhaps we will pick up our pace in about seven days. Or, maybe not.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

TRAVELING THE BLUE HIGHWAYS

One year ago WFS and I embarked on a life adventure. Hindsight is 20/20, I have been told... This is what I know one year later. Any thing you want, anything you change, anything you dream is a process.
Our process: last August we listed our home for sale. In the worse downturn of housing in a very long time.
Last October we bought a dreamy little cottage, so small I named her Thumbelina.
Last November we were found by a trembling little Lhasa Dog.
Winter, spring, summer and fall was devoted to our grand scheme... Buy a tiny home, take the tiny dog, hook up the airstream and travel the entire USA.
A few things changed in our process. Thumbelina had a voracious appetite and took a year of toil and more money than we could have imagined.
The process had a mind of its own, so to speak.
The tiny dog has a mind of his own, too!
The two old souls spearheading the process forged forward.
We have, generally speaking, survived without murder or mayhem or madness.
Right now we are gracefully floating down 175 toward the land of palms and senior snow birds. I don't mind. The cheeky girl from Pulaski County looks pretty fetching in a mumu.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Coals

On an October Thursday night I found myself in the mood for pizza. But I had a feeling the pizza I was craving was not a one I'd tasted. Maybe I was in store for a pizza that REALLY wasn't a pizza. Like a wolf in sheep's clothing, sometimes you can have a wonderful Thai dish that calls itself pizza. Or a pizza could be a mission fig preserve basted piece of perfectly grilled flatbread freshly removed from the intense heat of the mammoth coal burning oven. A pizza really is a loose term nowadays. It seems over the last 10 years pizza has shaken off the pepperonis for much more sophisticated ingredients. Since pizza is a staple in American diets I assume it was only a matter of time till the full transformation of the italian based approximation occurred. And occurred it has.

Coals Pizza, near the Vogue Theatre in St. Mathews is one of the latest denizons to enter the sea of establishments trying to push the envelope for the newest melding of flavors. The warm welcoming colors were good for a night that was ushering in the autumn winds. As I saw the Cherokee pizza I began wondering what beer I would use to cool down my taste buds. But further inquiry revealed the spice factor was unfortunately absent. I decided I was still in the mood for something different and ordered it. The pequillo peppers provided great flavor to the red curry sauce and the shaved parmesan. The thickness of the pie is perfect to my liking. The table also was adorned with a Waverly pizza. Prosciutto, asaigo, gorgonzola, all meeting that fig jam with the balsamatic reduction and tantalizing the taste buds made the Waverly excellent. The triangular shaped object would usually trigger a taste for marinara, but surprises the taste buds with much more aromatic and foreign flavors. The Arancini appetizer (7 bucks) was another heart warming dish from the appetizer menu. The perfectly fried balls of risotto with fresh mozzarella were light and prepared the pizza a nice little pillow in the stomach on which to land. The coal oven wings (8 bucks) also offered a very meaty meeting of rosemary, garlic, and lemon. Washing down all these flavors ended up calling for Kentucky Ales around most of the table. Kuddos to the boys in Lexington on one of the best beers in the country. A Schlafly pumpkin ale would have served proper for the meal also, but this establishmnet's well represented beer list was not offering this particular brew. At $14 a pizza the prices are good for that extra night out that tends to pop up during the week. The servers were decent, the hostess gracious, but the oven staff topped all showed pride in their trade and in the coal burning oven that gently lends its aroma to the dining room and bar area.

Coals is a very good spot oat 3730 Frankfort Avenue and offers plenty of parking. Too bad Lotsa Pasta isn't open later, because it is a short walk away and offers the finest ingredients to Louisville's very vibrant craft food stores. So enjoy the pizzas, the pizzas that really aren't pizzas, and the beautiful journey and constant discovery that cuisine will always evolve with. And most of all enjoy life to the fullest for it truly is a gift.

AE
***

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Wedding Day

The McClorey's hosted an amazing, locally produced rehearsal dinner at their home last night. The bride and groom were radiant. A more loving family gathering could not have been possible. Our evening had postcard perfect weather.
After the rehearsal dinner we returned to our new camping spot on a bucolic hill about two miles from town. Our friends(old and new) gathered in our makeshift party area outside the TinCan for some late night reveling. We discovered photo booth on the Mac. Lordy what fun ensued. We giggled and wiggled through many wild photos. I will post those when Internet is available.
The nearly full moon and star filled night prompted a late night walk through the meadows. Momo trotted happily along. It has been a long time since I could truly apply this word, magic.
The low hum of happy voices, the crisp evening air, the bright autumn moon and the glorious love of friends made for more magic than a Las Vegas Show.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Are we there, yet?

We pulled into our camping spot about six. The heavy clouds lifted and the full day of misty rain evaporated, right on cue. Momo was exceedingly glad to be out of the car. Dan loped off toward the lake. WFS & I set up the camp. Dan returned with wild flowers for the table.
The cocktail hour was resplendent( don't you love that tacky overused word)with cantelope, prosciutto and a dazzling Bordeaux Blanc. In an instant, we were civilized!
Dan built an amazing fire( everything was drenched) and we had a great dinner of chili, cheese and wine.
We decided we would take a long stroll along the lakeshore. The lake was pristine. In the distance were swans. Swans. Graceful, gorgeous swans. The last light was fading as we climbed the hill back up to our camp.
The guys poured another glass of wine and I cleaned the dishes( do not repeat this, my equality stand will be compromised)...
We sat by the fire listening to the sounds of night, marveling in the magic of escape.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Rainy Day Travel

7:15 am ... Drizzling rain. 7:30am... Perro and Daany Boy loaded for kennel. 7:40 am....first work crew arrives. 7:45... Dan & I have coffee, two cups each. 8:00 am... Loading & final food supplies hauled to TinCan. 8:15 am... Second work crew arrives. Painters. Lots of decisions. 8:35 am... Plumbing inspector, final inspection, passed. Tagged. Finished. 9:00 am... Hammering,nailguns,saws. Rain. Full throttle. Reviewed the list. Check. The list finished. 9:45 am...Load Momo in car. Dan loads himself. WFS makes a final swoop of house, vehicle, TinCan.10:00 am... I need coffee. We bump into Starbucks half mile away. Off we go. 11:15 am...
64 miles north on 65 WFS says, "did you get the garment bag?" "wwwwhat garment bag," I say through clenched teeth. "The one I filled with our 'good' clothes" he replies. "wwwwwhat?!
"I put our good clothes in a garmet bag and put it in your closet." say WWWWWHAT!
We are now 70 miles north of Louisville with camping clothes and no finery for the wedding.
Dan says, "you two are crazy, I just saw a sign for Outlet Malls. I have never been to an Outlet Mall, it should be interesting.."
I am grimacing at the thought and the non shopper,WFS, is saying, " I could use some new black trousers." Momo is the only sane one in the crowd.
1:15 pm......
One hour later, four shopping bags, three bendictines on pumpernickel,two lemonades and many homemade brownies, we are back
on the road... No worse for the wear and a hilarious experience to log into our TinCan
travels.
We are camping in the rain tonight.lord help us!
Stay tuned

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

The year of extremes

The past year has been one of extremes. First, we bought a house( dilapidated little Thumbelina)and proceeded to do an extreme make-over. We sold a house, in an extreme down market. The work has been EXTREME. Period.
Let's talk about the weather---A cold, cold winter. A soggy wet(wettest April on record)spring and then the heat of summer. 100+ for six days. Not to mention the storms, hurricanes, earthquakes & droughts. Extreme.
Autumn weather is here. Likely these
temperatures will not last, but a break in 102 temps has certainly made the work crews jump for joy. This girl included.
We had some extreme travel, as well..... Not as much as we had planned, but.... we are dusting off the TinCan, loading her with goodies and beginning to live our dream of rambling about, seeing what we can see.
Our journey will take us to Michigan. Our dear, dear friends, Meg and John, will watch their handsome son Chris wed Naomi this weekend. Their lovely daughter Meriwether will be there, also. This will kick off ten days of nothing. Or maybe something. A large body of water and chilly nights~~~~ that's about enough for me.
Stay tuned.

Monday, March 14, 2011

MUSINGS

Oft the words I hear are: I could NEVER camp. I cannot explain the multitude of reasons why we love the open road, ending at a secluded or not so secluded state or federal campground. We rarely, if ever, camp at private campgrounds. We love hiking the trails, skirting the edge of a river bed, the vistas from mountains or the endless excitement of the sea. I have a method of finding our camping areas. It takes hours of research and reading. I do not gamble with our accommodations. My "bible" is The National Geographic 100 Best State Parks. My companion book is 100 Best National Campgrounds. Slowly, we are working our way through the 100~ and more slowly through the National. Sometimes, when dusk is falling and we are weaving through uninhabited country-side, I wonder... Why are we doing this and will we ever see the light of day, again. We arrive, saddle sore and exhausted(a plush vehicle helps) to a darken circle of like minded folks milling around a circle much like the old western conestoga wagons. I always insist on our having a decent dinner at the end of a long day. As WFS sets up camp, I start the fire and begin our meal. We have a sip of wine, eat our dinner, enjoy the embers and hit the sack. Sleep comes quickly and it never fails, as first light drifts across the horizon one of us will say, isn't this the best life? Whether we are waking up in the woods or in the sand or in the prairie.... we always greet the day and our new surroundings with wonder and a feeling of magic. How can we be so lucky?
WFS makes coffee and delivers it to my warm bed, Momo occupies a place near my feet. I love the stillness of morning. I love the feeling of nowhere to go. I love being in a tiny space with the big expansive world around me. I love creating a day of nothing. I love that we are insulated from all the hyper nonsense called life..
Our days take on a certain rhythm. I plan our meals, WFS plans our adventures. We laze around, no need to hurry... Sometimes we don't do a thing.
The next few weeks will be filled with fraught and frantic days. I have an uncanny ability to forge forward and stay focused. The dream of a clear night sky and a distant whippoorwill keep me sane.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

MASSIVE ATTACK

I am enjoying a leisurely day cruising down 1-75/1-16 toward Savannah, Georgia. WFS And I will stop for a splendid late lunch somewhere in that fair city. After lunch, we'll go due south, hugging the coast until we arrive in Fernandina Beach, Florida. This little hamlet in northern Florida is one of our favorite places for camping and relaxing. Fernandina is a beautiful beach town. Add to this lovely town an incredible wealth of exciting restaurants~~~~thus, making this location pristine and progressive!
Friday night we'll join our friends, Romeo and Mary Ann, at the Ritz Carlton( Salt Restaurant) on Amelia Island for a taste of pure luxury. I could go on and on about Salt. I probably will AFTER we dine. Fine dining is a departure from our open-fire-cooking at our campsite. I need a fancy free evening & relish the thought of anticipated pampering.
And then, our little respite will end on Sunday and next week the MASSIVE ATTACK on Thumbelina will be full throttle. I am beginning to believe we can pull this crazy renovation off by the 18th of April. Did I say renovation... Truth be told, we are building a house. We blew past renovation in January.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Blueberry Almond galette

CELEBRATING MY BIRTHDAY

Life zings along, does it not? As simplistic as it sounds, the years have flown by. I have seen many suns and moons, orbiting....I love it. Not when my bones ache, not when I feel too few hours in a day that must(somehow) end earlier and earlier each year. It's a stamina thing! Yet, I awaken each day, feeling more energy than I can invent ways to use. So, I invent. Ask anyone in my wake.
This brings me to my birthday. I am inside my house. I am quiet. I am not accepting invitations today (tomorrow or anytime in the future is fine). I am reading the NY Times, in luxury. No interruptions. I am hugging my puppy. I am making no plans. I am not building wings on houses. I am not cooking. I am listening to great new music, the Decemberists, Amos Lee, the Secret Sisters, Liz Janes...Flo and the Machine, Herbie Hancock. Loud. I am alone. I love it. I need it.
Tonight WFS will come home, we will do our usual evening.... this is very good. I want leftovers from the dinner I made last night for WFS, Cari, David and Polly. I want to watch stupid tv, WFS snoozing near-by. I want to take a long, hot bath. I want to be in my pj's by nine.
All of this makes me happy. I am a senior citizen. Senior Citizen Sally. Grandmother to Colin and Jaxon. Mother to Christopher and Jason. Joe and Cebah's daughter. What could be better? I blunder less in life, more in my stride. I love purely, I am less complicated and more demanding. I like me.
The next threshold in my life promises to open many doors. All I ask is: please, dear friends, stay with me and be there. You make my life one hell of a ride.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

JOURNEY'S END

We left Louisville sixteen days ago on a snowy morning. Our travels have taken us to climates exceeding 80 Degrees. We have explored beaches, rivers, mangroves and scrub pine hideaways. We've dined at beach shacks, fine dining(restaurants and camp), and found a few great coffee houses. We've met some great folks, greater dogs and unusual characters along the way. Snowbird(Snowy), the little white poodle, made a lasting impression on Momo. Snowy's owner, a sweet old man, was sitting on a bench near the entrance of the beach. Two hours later when we left the beach, Snowy and his owner were still on the bench. " See," said Snowy's owner, "I told you your buddy would come back."
And it is true. We do whirl around, but, we always come back.
We are ensconced in the mountains of Georgia. The temperature will be in the high twenties tonight. Our little airstream is as cozy as can be. I am simmering Thai noodle soup outside. Soon we'll eat our soup. We'll take Momo for one last camping walk in the chilly night air. Then, the three of us will sleep in our warm beds, dreaming the dreams of wandering souls entwined by the love of the journey.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

WHEN THE SUN SHINES

The Midwest is experiencing the worse snowstorms in history. Flights cancelled and cars buried under drifts of snow. Our friends and family( Chicgao, Monte Vista, Louisville, Philadelphia and New York) have kept us posted by email and Facebook... It sounds absolutely terrible. I did find a NYTimes paper in Publix today. The unrest in Egypt overshadowed(somewhat) the blizzard.. As a complete newspaper junkie, it feels quite odd to be disconnected. I occasionally check the news online but mostly we spend our days hiking, biking and strolling on the beaches with Momo. A typical day is coffee and a short walk, then breakfast. We decide what bike ride, hiking trail or beach we plan to explore...then, we head out to spend the day. We return to the campground around 4:00, we read or catch up on emails and then build our fire to prepare dinner. We've had some scrumptious meals. We've also met some great folks. Tonight two campers from Ashville, NC joined us for dinner.
The great thing about camping is meeting fellow travelers, inviting them to join you for nibbles or dinner or whatever. They arrive, bringing a great bottle of wine to share around the campfire.
Tomorrow promises another day in the low 80's... When the sun shines, it is very hard to think of heading north toward home...
We'll begin that trek on Friday, slowly winding our way back to winter's brittle reality.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Friday, January 28, 2011

A DAY AT THE BEACH

WFS and I crawled out of bed at 8:45 today... A great beginning to a spectacular day. We had coffee sitting under the live oaks surrounding our campsite. Our state park has miles of hikingtrails. We picked a three mile trail, hooked Momo on leash and headed out. The skies were incredibly blue and the birds very active. After our walk in the interior, we decided to take Momo to Paws Beach. It is a long stretch of beach specifically designated for dogs. Dog heaven. Our little fellow was so happy romping in the sand and surf with literally dozens of dogs. Not one dog growled or misbehaved. Dogs were zigzagging everywhere!
We stopped by the fish market to buy fresh caught red snapper for dinner. We grilled the snapper with the last of our cherry wood ... Yummy! We had a split of champagne that our dear friend Robert provided for our fireside pleasure.
Night has brought three tired campers.
A hot shower and a warm bed for me...... MOMO and WFS sound asleep. Life is good. Very good, indeed.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

HOW DO YOU FEEL YOUNG?

The past two days have been very active. Tuesday morning we awakened to the most incredible colors over the Gulf of Mexico. Pale shades of lavender and aqua bathed the morning sky. Heavier grey clouds were drifting in from the south. Suddenly, we heard a prehistoric sound from the marsh. A slate colored heron flew into the sky, emitting other-worldly sounds. We both stood spellbound. We stood silently watching the birds making their morning flights. How do you leave a place so fine? The call of the wild, I suppose. Always a new adventure just around the corner or down the road.
We packed up quickly as the skies were taking on a darker hue. We made our exit just as the first large drops of rain appeared on our windshield. WFS tuned in the radio... Yep, rain. In copious amounts. And, the rains came and the winds came and the tornado warnings came and the Duckie Express whipped about....... WFS powered on. We made our destination safe and sound.
We are camped under a canopy of live oaks, palmetto and chirping birds. A wonderful canoeing river meanders through the park. We'll explore hiking trails and the river today. Tomorrow we'll explore the beaches.
Now I am sure you are wondering, what does this have to do with the title of this blog?
When you are a girl of a certain age hanging with a man of a certain age and you begin to notice you are not as youthful as you used to be and, and, and....
All one needs to do is head south with the snowbirds... When the most exciting thing in your day is the pancake breakfast at the Nature Center...and the topic of conversation is your latest ailment/ surgery and the dog exchange info on walks is the best of all conversations.Not to mention the insider info about cheap eats! If you are the youngsters amongst the campers....
THIS IS HOW YOU FEEL YOUNG
It is awesome! The sweetest people in the world inhabit state park camping communities.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Something to crow about ~






Hello. I'm Sarah's ghost blogger. Don't be afraid though, I'm only here to post some of the gorgeous and outlandish spectacles that Sarah and WFS are enjoying, even as we gaze at our monitors. And don't worry, Sarah will return soon with her own inimitable style of blogging.

ST Joseph's Peninsula, Day 3

Yesterday was a long haul of nearly nine hours. Four over my limit. I tend to do the five year old, "are we there,yet?" The day was sunny, albeit a bit chilly, so, being in the Duckie Express wasn't all that bad. I love the nomadic life! I just need instant gratification on getting there. WFS, on the other hand, is a gem of endurance.. Weaving through traffic, detours, small roads, hauling our silver egg flawlessly. I assume the role of NAGvigator..turn here, no there.. Etc.
Once we came to the end of the road and turned left onto th St. Joseph's Peninsula Road, I would have traveled forever to see the sun setting over the bay. It is almost incomprehensible how beautiful the world can be bathed in an orange glow.
We pulled up to the entrance to the state park at 6:28.. The harried young lady informed us the gates LOCKED at sunset or 6:30pm! We had two minutes to beat the deadline. Of course, she accommodated us.. Thing was, she was locking and leaving in two minutes! That means we would have missed our moonlight walk on an empty beach with MOMO wrapped in WFS's jacket and the utter beauty of awakening to the swaying palms, filled with chattery birds, just outside my window.
Welcome to paradise.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Day 2 of the most excellent adventure

Last night we pulled into the campground "feeling 'bout half past dead," as the song goes. For all my camper friends, you know this means we still had at least 30-40 minutes of setting up and getting organized. The dusk was turning to dark and we needed to work quickly. Little Momo wanted a walk and exploring rights to his new surroundings. The brisk air was perfect for a romp through the woods. When we returned to campsite, WFS had completed the outside set-up and was chatting with the park ranger. Neither of us had the energy to build a fire, so, we scooped up Momo and a bottle of wine heading into Elsie, the Tin Can,for warmth and relaxation. I put my domestic goddess desires on hold, preparing a great chunk of cheese, crackers and delicious wine for our dinner. I topped my dinner off with a steaming cup of hot chocolate.
We found our books, pluffed up our pillows and read until exhaustion took us to dreamy land. Momo made his bed near my feet and did not move the entire night.
Morning brought bright sunlight filtering through the trees, hot coffee in my warm bed and a new adventure on the horizon.
We are scooting down I 65 toward one of my favorite places on the planet.. St Joseph's Peninsula on Apalachicola Bay

Saturday, January 22, 2011

COME ON BABY DRIVE SOUTH

John Hiatt's great song is running through my brain. We are driving south, albeit a bit of a zigzag through! ALABAMA! Last night we reviewed the weather and it appeared to be 10 degrees warmer around Birmingham. Hot 'Lanta ain't so hot! To be honest, neither is Birmingham! We made a short stop in Nashville to have pizza with Jason and Jaxon. Could I help it we just happened to be across the street from Toys r Us? Stuff happens on the way to Birmingham.....
We are camping near a huge lake in northern Alabama. WFS was born in Mobile... I'm just sayin' this girl has found little to love,except WFS, in or around Alabama....
We'll be in Florida on Sunday~~~