My new toy....

...only Cairo is still trying to figure out just how one would play with this new "rope toy"......
I love my new Pawley's Island Hammock!
Now it's officially summer! :)

“The waves of the sea help me get back to me.”

So - we are back. Back to Chicago's version of April. I liked Florida's better. Mid 80's and sunny. Blue skies, gorgeous beaches, good food and a car with a sun roof. Sigh. What could be better?
After flying in to Tampa on Monday night, we spent a day at my dad's - and of course we had to go to Clearwater Beach....and Sonic. :)
Jen and I headed out on our Florida Road trip on Wednesday, with my dad and sister accompanying us as far as Cocoa Beach. We did a huge circular drive of mid to southern Florida via the coast. We ended up driving 1175 miles in just a couple days, hitting Cocoa Beach, Miami, the keys - all the way to Key West, back up and across Alligator alley to Naples before giving in and jumping on the interstate to make some good time getting back to Tampa.
We still found time to eat, hit the pool, watch the sunset, etc. and Jen found time to do two small (4 mile) runs as well as one 16 mile run. How would you like to run 16 miles in 85 degree heat with 50% humidity when you are used to running in Chicagoland where it barely broke the 40's and was super dry before we left on the trip? Needless to say the pool was a necessity after that run!
Anyway - here are some pix. Enjoy!

Clearwater Beach

Sunset at Hudson Beach

Sunset at Hudson Beach

Jen at Alli-Gators

Key Lime Pie to die for

Dixie Crossroads....It's been about 15 years since I've been here.....

at Dixie Crossroads

The famous fish pond at Dixie Crossroads.

Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach

Ron Jon's

The Jungle

Seward Johnson's God Bless America sculpture - Key West, FL

Mallory Square - Key West, FL

There are roosters all over Key West - you should hear them all crowing in the morning!

Sunset at Mallory Square

Sunset at Mallory Square

Margaritaville
the flagship restaurant

Margaritaville

Jen at the Southernmost point in the Continental U.S.

Hemingway's House - Key West

Lighthouse on Key West - across from Hemingway's house

Orange Tree in my dad's back yard

Lemons waiting to ripen on the tree in my dad's back yard

Simon!

Our Lizard friends...

Simon

And my final thought?

So outta here.....

Just in case you're stopping by and wondering why I'm not posting......
I'm on my way to Florida for Spring break. :)
Sun, 80's, family, beach, friend, key lime pie, Mr. Souvlaki's, roadtrip, (after we get to Fla.) what could be better??
C-ya next week...... :)

Our Kentucky Trip - Day 2

For anyone who is interested, Dana has part 2 of our road trip posted over at her blog. Yeah, I'm lazy - but just think of the thousand words implied by my pictures.... ;)
(Includes Sander's Motor Court, Ale 8, Mundts Candy, and Lynn's Paradise Cafe.)

BTW - Dana didn't mention getting her first sweet tea - tho I might not have either if the only place you could find it was McDonalds. And I didn't mention that while she was getting said sweet tea I was encountering a restroom at a McDonalds that was worse than ANY gas station restroom I have EVER been in. Restrooms on this trip were, um, interesting to say the least.

Lynn's Paradise Cafe
Mundts Candy
Bianckes Restaurant, Cynthiana KY
Ale8
Sanders Court and Cafe
Colonel Sanders

We took the road(s) less traveled......

Well, I realize I haven't written about our trip. Sorry. I haven't really felt like writing lately - as you have probably noticed. Anyway. I thought I would put up a few pictures with captions. Isn't a picture worth a thousand words anyway????

In order to avoid traffic we headed out going south on Rt 47 - all the way to Champaign/Urbana. Along the way we saw some pretty scenery - who knew?? I love this picture. Invokes memories of the past - especially in the south.....



Traveling on to Indy, we stopped for a very late dinner at the Mug n Bun. Apparently it's been around forever. Yummy Pork Tenderloin, hand cut/hand battered onion rings (best I've ever had...) and homemade root beer.

We found this sign across from Lynn's Paradise Cafe where we had the yummiest cheese grits - I wish I had had two bowls!

Ohio River

back roads......

I just liked this bridge.....

Dana at the Colonel Sanders museum in Corbin, KY.

farms along the way

Crab Orchard, KY - we ate at the best little cafe here. But I liked this picture better than the picture of the cafe..... :)

No bull....

Penn's General Store in Gravel Switch, KY

Penn's Privy. Apparently it was a big deal a couple years ago when it was "installed!"

Tobacco drying in Gravel Switch, KY. We saw this all over central KY, an area devastated by the collapse of tobacco subsidies and strict anti smoking policies.

Makers Mark Distillery in Loretto, KY

Abbey of Gethsemani, where Thomas Merton lived while in the United States. The abbey is a Trappist/Cistercians monastery.

This was the cool sign at one of three remaining Wigwam Villages in the US. We stayed here (Cave City, KY) in Wigwam # 7.

The View outside Wigwam # 7

Three pictures of a really cool, abandoned - but fortunately still standing - "Modern Motor Court" I love this side of history. I can only imagine what it must have been like - and who might have stayed there..... It was interesting that each cottage had a car port!

I don't get it either.......

Martini anyone??

A "Big John" (as opposed to a Muffler Man") in Carmi, IL. I hear there are still a few of these around this area of Illinois.

Dana - standing in for James.....

Sun's going down, trips winding down. I'm tired. Heading home.
If you want to READ about the trip and see a few other photos - check out Dana's blog!