Miles traveled – 2000
State driven – 3
Total photos – 687 (2 phones/1 digital camera)
State license plates seen – 45 (in Florida) & Quebec & Ontario
Heard most often – "Why don’t you google that?"
Total bug funerals - unknown
Total days - 7
Another adventure for the books has now been made. First, I’m firing my co-pilot. Anyone looking for a co-pilot job, please apply. Next trip in the works going west and New England, obviously not at the same time.
If you want to skip the read and just see photos, click here. Highlights only (not 687 photos).
Day 1
We started out with a delayed departure so skipped St Patty’s day at Savannah. First stop Hofwyl-Broadfield plantation. Let me suggest anytime you purchase a ticket for a timed activity to fully read the brochure. Here I thought it was a self-guided tour. Ha, learned that after missing our slot (last one for the day). We seemed to have forgotten our other brain (cameras) as I’m not finding many photos. But we got to stretch our legs, that was the main objective.
I didn’t make any hotel reservations because never knowing for sure how much ground we’d cover. It’s the little bit of gambling I’m willing to do. Sometimes it can pay off well. Others, well…. First hotel had no availability but fortunately multiple hotels at the exit and got a room.
Let’s talk about food. There should have been a suitcase just for that. We’d hardly gotten out of Greenville County before we started munching. So dinner was a simple salad. We’d packed everything from the fridge, cutting board, and knife. Worked great cause the hotel room even had a small table. In all my planning, I forgot to mark times for meal breaks. But we didn’t starve.
Day 2
Sticking close to the schedule, the first stop was Yesteryear Village. It’s where Floridians have donated antiques. Old church, school house, dentist office. It is staffed by volunteers who impart the history for the building they work. They also had a working payphone so called Key West to say I was on my way. They even had a general store. Lunch was a moon pie and coke with Sugar Daddy & Mary Jane for a later dessert.
Next up, Delray Beach. Beautiful but very crowded. It was Saturday but my word, the people on the beach at 4 PM in the afternoon. It reminded me of Hilton Head but without golf courses. At Sandoway Beach I go to touch a stingray (it’s back). The plan was for a beach walk but with the crowds and tide in, we opted for a sidewalk walk. And this is where the schedule began to change. But all for great things. The next day was supposed to be at the Cason Museum. I swear I researched stops beforehand. The museum would be closed on Sunday. So this would become our beach walk time. Driving a bit further down the road and away from the pricey hotels, we stayed at Deerfield Beach.
Still no reservations, found an exit with multiple hotels and traffic was starting to get backed up (unknown if it was a wreck or not). Checked in and the pool would close at dusk. A swim before dinner sounded perfect. And was it. The pool must have been heated, it was like bath water. So shriveled fingers/toes, we were hungry. Pizza would be perfect. We had to find a quick grocery store to get our banana peppers but allowed time for an order. Found a local pizzeria (Nick’s). That was some good pizza. With the pool then closed, I strolled the Home Depot parking lot to walk out some of the calories consumed. With less opportunity for “go to the next exit” for hotels, I went ahead and booked our next hotel on Key West.
Day 3
We started the day with our beach walk at Hollywood Beach. And so glad for the postponement. The tide was out and people were not in abundance too much. They also had a boardwalk. With our morning exercise complete, more riding. Would you believe there was pizza left over from the night before? Know how to warm pizza while driving? Solar oven. Yeah baby!!!
It's the big day. The actual drive to Key West. 42 bridges in total. Passed through a few small showers but nothing earth shattering. This is technically a 2nd visit to Key West, 1st being from the port of call off the cruise ship. That was 10 years ago. My memory isn’t that great to remember everything. But there is “Old Town” and “New Town”. We stayed in “New Town”. We were lucky in that the hotel offered a shuttle service to “Old Town”. Wonderful. I didn’t want to drive the streets. With a cheeseburger in paradise at Margaritaville, I was reminded of my younger days and the Jimmy Buffett concert. With taste testing 2 different key lime pie shops, it was time to head back.
Day 4
As with most tourist towns, Key West has the hop on /hop off buses. Again, not interested in driving the streets in “Old Town”, we took advantage of this. Would you believe it was a chilly morning? Us with no jackets, we found the very best souvenir, sweatshirts. And reasonably priced too (you know I’m a penny pincher). As the morning progressed, crowds began to pick up as a cruise ship had ported. We had lunch at Sloppy Joes and got a “to-go” beer (yea, open container on the streets) for a walk to one last key lime pie store.
Favorite – Key West Key Lime Pie Co.
OK – Key Lime Pie Bakery or Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe
Checkout had long passed but the car was still at the hotel. Shuttled back to the hotel with full bellies, back across the bridges, sun shining, we said goodbye to paradise to make our way back to the mainland.
Day 5
Back on the mainland, the first stop was the Everglades Alligator Farm. Early birds really are the lucky ones. Being the first slot, we had a private airboat ride in the Everglades. No life jackets required, the water is only 6 inches deep. We watched the alligators being fed; no small children were offered. We then drove through the Everglades to reach the other side of Florida.
Some major reworking to the scheduling continued but to many great advantages. A stop in Venice with a true sunset walk after dinner. So which is better, a sunrise or sunset? And when you look at a photo, how do you know which it is? 😊
Day 6
When in Florida do as the Floridians do. We went to an orange grove and got to pick. Prime time is December so we might plan a future Christmas visit. With the fruits of our labor, we then went to Tampa Electric Manatee viewing center. I love free stuff, and this was. We could have watched for hours but more riding was needed. Next up was the Museum of Science and Industry. Obviously more geared towards children as it is hands-on but still fun to break-up the riding. They had a toothpick world. Someone is talented with lots of time on their hands. And then of course there is the homage to Krispy Kreme. But none eaten this trip.
Day 7
After an overnight stay in Gainesville, before leaving Florida, a nature walk in a Florida state park. Having stretched our legs and a few steps in, it was time to leave Florida behind. But we had to make one last stop on this adventure. Whistle Stop Café. Yes, the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. I’d never actually had a fried green tomato. It reminds me of fried squash. But now I can say I’ve tried it. … On the road again (Willie Nelson) or Homeward Bound (Simon & Garfunkel).
You made it this far. As you got the email, you were thought about or talked about in the journey to Key West. From reminiscing of other trips/adventures, funny shirts/signs, wishing you were there, to counting cows and burying them at the cemetery. I hope you enjoyed the trip.
PS: Why I’m firing my co-pilot? She’d get side tracked on googling.
Growing rice, trying to remember all 50 states and their abbreviations, why interstates have the state included on the sign (federally supported or state supported), interstate #s even (east to west)/odd (north to south), Audubon Montana, palmetto trees, checking work email, alligators vs crocodiles, JFK presidency, # of provinces of Canada
So a little smarter and being hand fed while driving, I’ll keep my co-pilot a little longer