A day for old houses and old friends

The book ends of this day were historic old houses in Ft. Myers, Florida and old (as in long time) friends from Michigan.

A couple days ago Joan spotted an ad for the “Edison & Ford Winter Estates” in Ft. Myers, Florida. Like many members of my family, Joan loves touring historic old homes. We’ve done many all over the country, but this is one we hadn’t heard of until she saw the advertisement.

As the name implies the tour involved the winter estates of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, who along with being cooperating businessmen were good friends. It was a very interesting tour and we were fortunate to get tour guide “Ryan” who was as funny as he was informative and entertaining.

The tour started in the museum, which had many of the same artifacts as we have previously seen at Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. What was different here were the winter residences of the two families.

Thomas Edison purchased the property in 1885 and he and his family used it through 1947. Another home on the property, which initially was bought by an early business partner of Edison’s, Ezra Gillilland, was remodeled into a guest house after Ezra and Thomas had a serious falling out.

Later, a neighbor of Edison’s, who knew of the friendship between Henry Ford and Edison, successfully offered to sell his home next day to Ford.

The three homes and Edison’s laboratory have been beautiful restored with either furniture that was there or what would have been there. The property fronts Caloosahatchee River (which literally means Caloosa River River) and was the winter escape of the two industrial giants.

Edison, who had more than 1,000 patents and registered at least one new one during each of 65 years of his life, was a workaholic who even while at his winter retreat often worked 21 hours a day and slept in a cot in his lab.

During the last years of his life, Edison was working on finding a substitute for rubber and was experimenting with a number of imported and exotic plants as well as local ones. In the end, he failed to find a suitable replacement for rubber trees. On the other end of his career, his first invention was for a mechanical voting machine for Congress which was a failure because Congress didn’t want something that would get in the way of a good filibuster.

So his first and last inventions were a failure, but as we all know there were plenty of successful ones in between. The Estates were by comparison to other baron mansions we have toured rather modest, but still interesting to walk the property where many tycoons and at least a couple U.S. Presidents had trod.

The gardens and botanical exhibits were also very impressive. The Banyan tree, planted as a potential rubber replacement tree, started life as a four-foot tall bush now covers an acre. The picture of Joan and me with Edison’s statue is under that tree.

Following the tour we drove to nearby Arcadia, Florida, a drive of about an hour to meet with Nancy and Ken Ballard from Davison, Michigan.

Ken and Nancy are friends from our former church and it was fun to see them in their element down here. We had planned to eat at Slim’s, a barbeque restaurant about half way between our two current locations, but when we arrived we found it was closed.

So we went to Chili’s for our barbeque dinner. After a two-hour dinner we parted company and headed back to our respective campsites.

Tomorrow, it’s on to Ocala.

Joan keeps reminding me that I forgot to tell two stories, one about our stay at Jonathan Dickinson State Park and then at Calusa Campground in Key Largo.

First, the Jonathan Dickinson story: We do not shower in the trailer. We could, but the mess it makes is not worth it as long as we have another option which has always been the case at our campgrounds. At the state park in Hobe Sound I went to take a shower one day and found a man AND woman using one of the shower stalls in the men’s room at the park.

That threw me just a little, but I went ahead and slipped into another shower stall and went about my business while the couple showered together. I did notice they spoke in a foreign language, likely French, so maybe they didn’t realize there was a separation.

Secondly, at Calusa we received a list of park rules, as we usually do when we arrive at a new park. One of the rules indicated that the park was family oriented and that as a matter of culture we could expect to hear “celebratory music” at a loud volume during the day. And loud and celebratory it was.

A gator, a woodpecker and a beautiful Venice sunset

Today was a chillin' day. Basically we took our time getting out this morning and when we finally did get out we took a leisurely nature stroll around our park. After that we did our weights and cleaned up.

On our walk we spotted an alligator, a "Woody" Woodpecker, a blue heron and a sunning turtle. The gator caught us by surprise as we apparently walked by it once without seeing it, but then on our return there he was. Not a giant alligator, but 5-6 feet long. Nothing I would ever consider messing with.

I'm going to put several photos at the end of this posting.

We looked for an Anglican church to attend, but none were close enough for today, but next week we should be able to find one.

During the afternoon Joan and I sat in the warm sun and read, she her magazines and me, my latest O'Brian book.

Joan did the laundry and I put the bed back together and did a few maintenance chores around the trailer.

At 4:30 p.m. we headed back to Casperson Beach to enjoy what turned out to be a magnificent sunset. Not an exciting day, but a very fun one.

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, here's 4,000 worth

Our Corona ad re-enactment.

Me and my shadow.

Joan enjoying a day at Casperson Beach in Venice, Florida

The view from my chair.

Good bye Key Largo. Hello Venice, Florida

Sadly, we had to put Key Largo in the rear view mirror this morning. The drive was a little difficult owing to high winds, but we made it with one stop in the Big Cypress Indian Reservation for gasoline.

By the time we are done with this trip I will have literally driven every mile of I-75, except for miles 1-5, which we bypassed this morning. The scenery along the southernmost part of I-75 was beautiful and we saw many interesting wild birds.

Drivers in Florida, to be charitable, are terrible and dangerous. I told Joan in my next life I am going to teach a school on how to merge into traffic from a freeway on ramp. First lesson will be a description of what a gas pedal is for and how to properly press down on it to increase your speed to equal those driving on the freeway already. It seems so simple, yet…… Just love those folks who mosey out on the on ramp and wait until their lane is disappearing to look and assess the traffic situation. Arrrrrrgh!

Our campground is full and we only have a space for four days, so starting tomorrow I need to find our next destination or we will be sleeping in a rest area come Tuesday. We are currently at Camp Venice Retreat and it is a very nice park with friendly managers and campers. At least so far.

Joan mentioned today that she had a taste for pizza and I’m always up for pizza so after setting up camp, which means leveling and plugging in. (Aside: Today we were completely level, but after we opened the slide out and after I had unhooked the trailer settled just enough so that we are on a slight, but not critical angle. One of these days, I’ll get this leveling thing down).

Not knowing the area we punched up OnStar and asked for the nearest pizza restaurants. “Well, there’s a Domino’s….” No, thanks. “There’s a place called Luna Ristorante about 8 miles from where you are.” That sounded good so they downloaded directions and we were not sorry we made the trip.

We ordered a large pepperoni and sausage pizza and decided we would like to have a salad. We ordered the Antipasto Salad for $14 and basically ended up with enough salad for six people. My stepmother Janet has a pet peeve about meal portions and she would have been pretty disgusted over this one. We literally came home with more than half the food we ordered. So guess what’s for dinner on Saturday?

But to get back to Luna’s, it was great. The pizza was outstanding and the salad was equally good. Joan had a beer, which her daughter Elin can attest from previous experience always ends up interestingly. There’s just something about beer than makes Joan just a little goofy. Not so much tonight though.

Anyway, we’re going to watch a DVD (we are roughing it without cable TV for the next few days) and probably go to bed early tonight. No big plans for the weekend so far but stay tuned. (The picture is of our new campsite here in Venice).

Departing Mileage: 55343
Departing Time: 10:07 a.m.

Arrival Mileage: 55597
Arrival Time: 2:55 p.m.

Wild birds, The African Queen and a good steak to top off a week in Key Largo

After a busy few days with Elin and Abby, we had planned to take it easy Thursday in preparation for breaking camp Friday and heading to Venice, Florida.

For the most part we held to that plan, but in the middle of the afternoon we decided to combine a trip to the supermarket (Winn Dixie) with a couple short trips to attractions we had seen advertised but failed to visit in the past week.

The first attraction was the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center. We had passed the driveway several times in the past week and with Joan our dedicated birder we finally found a few minutes to stop by and see what was on display.

Lots, as it turned out. The center rehabilitates and rescues birds which are injured in any way. The center houses hawks, owls, herons, pelicans, etc. until they are well enough to fly and this on their own.

Without planning it we had stumbled into the center just in time for the 3:30 p.m. feeding of the pelicans and other wild birds who hang around the 4 p.m. treat. Buckets of bait fish, which are donated by area fishermen, are fed to the birds for the enjoyment of the visitors.

It was very entertaining and we decided to sponsor an injured bird as a thank you for the center.

The center is in the process of updating its facilities and the caretaker said the place had fallen on hard times after some people took advantage of the founder in recent years.

After leaving the wild bird center we drove back and made a quick stop to see "The African Queen" the boat used in the Humphrey Bogart/Katherine Hepburn movie of the same name. Bogie is one of my favorite actors and that was one of my favorite movies of his so kind of a treat to see the boat up close.

Apparently you can pay to take it for a cruise, but it didn't look very seaworthy to me.

Once back home we pulled out the electric grill and had some great steaks and Shrimp Louie salad. I put away some of the outdoor camping equipment in preparation for tomorrow’s hook up and move.

Joan also got our laundry caught up as the Laundromat is directly across the street from our campsite. We now have enough clean clothes for another week.

Today I also finished Book No. 5 in the Master and Commander series – Desolation Island – in the afternoon.

Key Largo has been a fun stop, especially with the visit from Elin and her friend, Abby. But all good things must end and thus so does this stop. On to Venice.

What would I do without OnStar?

We had it all today. Bad weather, good weather, bad traffic, good traffic, bad drivers, good drivers and we also learned how valuable our OnStar system is to finding our way around.

All good things must end and it was time to take Elin and Abby back to Ft. Lauderdale and their hope that they could catch a flight to Boston sometime on Thursday to get home. Weather in Boston looked pretty marginal and two of their flights, the original one and a back up reservation, were both cancelled on Wednesday in anticipation of the major snowstorm blowing into that area.

We left the campsite about 12:30 p.m. with hopes of having lunch at Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach. I have learned to trust the OnStar directions and they did not disappoint today maneuvering us through several freeways to get to our destination in just a little over an hour.

One look at the prices and Joan and I decided to forgo even a taste at Joe's, but the girls each dug deep into their finances and purchased a delicious item. Elin bought the Stone Crab claws and Abby purchased a Mahi Mahi sandwich.

It was a pretty nice place and the travel book said if you wanted to eat dinner there the wait would likely be two hours or more and would cost you some serious palm grease to the Maitre'd if you wanted anything sooner. No reservations at the place.

I'm lucky, because I don't like crabs, stone or otherwise, so not a big deal for me.

But after the five-star lunch for the girls we took a short walk through the Art Deco section of South Beach and witnessed a little drama from a woman who was loudly and explicitly telling off her former date for loving and leaving her. It was quite a performance and I always wonder if people talking on cellphones don't realize that half the planet can hear their conversation.

Elin kept shushing me as she was taking in every filthy word the woman was screaming into the phone as she walked 50-feet in front of us explaining in graphic details what this man had done to her both physically and emotionally. Made me feel just a little uncomfortable for her.

We took a quick stroll on the beach, just long enough to snap a photo and say we had been there and then we returned to the car in time to avoid an expensive parking ticket.

Then OnStar helped us find our way to the Sawgrass Mills Outlet Mall where the girls wanted to shop. We arrived there about 4:45 p.m. and the girls went one way and Joan and I went another.
When we met up at 7 p.m. to leave Joan and I had spent $0 and the girls each had small purchases from the excursion.

Not that I didn't try to buy something, because I tried to convince Joan I needed a pair of designer sunglasses. The conversation went something like this:

"I need a pair of designer sunglasses," I said. (They were expensive)

"You don't even wear sunglasses," Joan said. (She's right)

"But everyone here wears them on top of their head or hooked onto the front of their shirt," I said.

"What's the point of that," Joan said.

"I want to look cool like they do," I said.

"You already look cool, you don't need the sunglasses," Joan said. (She was lying about the cool part but I knew I couldn't afford the glasses).

Then Joan went shopping for shorts (which considering that we are in sunny Florida should be in ample supply, but are very scarce this time of year). That led to a brief and animated discussion (the animation was on my part) about how stupid the sizes are for women's clothes.

Every time I would find a rack of clothes, Joan would look at me in a disgusted way and say "Those are Misses, you have to be a paper thin model to wear those." or "those are 'women's' sizes those are for large women" or "the medium sizes in that brand actually run small."

My suggestion, for the little it is apparently worth is that women's' clothes should be sized like men's, with just a waist size so a guy could help you pick out clothes. Anyway, she never found any cheap shorts she liked so we left the mall empty handed.

Also we stopped in a J.C. Penney's Outlet at the mall and Joan asked an employee for help in finding 'shorts.' The employee's answer: "No comprende Inglis." In fact, we heard very little English spoken for more than two hours in the mall. Many of the shoppers appeared to be Brazilians and they were seriously shopping.

Then it was off to dinner at Olive Garden in Plantation, Florida where we had a nice, if late, meal and then we dropped the girls off at their hotel near the airport with a prayer that they would catch a flight sometime on Thursday to get home and back to work.

During the two-hour drive back to the Key Largo campsite I was able to catch the last part of the Detroit Red Wings game, which turned out to be a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. My friends Greg and his daughter, Chelsea, were at the game, which I knew, so I was excited for them and it certainly made the drive go faster.

We also remembered out Wednesday night Bible study folks at Taecken's Terrace back home and said a little prayer that they are doing well in our absence. We do miss them and the folks back home a little.

Sometimes I get frustrated with technology, mostly because I don't understand how it works. But on Wednesday I realized in so many ways how it makes life so much easier. For one, we are able to safely navigate unknown places, for another we can stay connected to important things back home like friends and hockey games, but there was one big moment on Wednesday that drove home the convenience of technology as we were driving home.

Joan received a cellphone call from her son, John, who said Addisen, our four-year-old granddaughter, wanted to read us a story. Obviously, I was driving so couldn't hear, but Joan got to hear Addisen read her first story over the phone from 1,450 miles away while driving on a freeway. It was a big moment for Joan, who told Addisen that reading is the ultimate power and how proud she was of her for learning how to read, but I'm sure it was also a wonderful moment for Addisen who was able to share her accomplishment at pre-school with her grandmother.

Probably no posting for Thursday as we plan to just take it easy and do little or nothing, maybe some laundry in anticipation of moving to a new campsite in Venice, Florida on Friday. Talk to you then.

Key Largo Beach Day - Not as good as it sounds

After Monday's excitement in Key West, we decided to take it easy on the beach here in Key Largo on Tuesday. Unfortunately, the weather was not ideal for beaching. We had decent temperatures - 72 - and it was mostly overcast with momentary peeks at the sun, but the wind was blowing a steady gale.

But we toughed it out at Harry Harris Beach (some parents weren't thinking straight) in Tavernier. After an hour of battling the winds we packed up and headed back to the trailer.

Probably due to the weather we had the beach and park pretty much to ourselves.

Elin and Abby started making new flight arrangements home as the weather in Boston resulted in the cancellation of both their original flight and then their back up flight. At this point it doesn't look like they will be able to get out of here until 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Fortunately, they made their own reservations and are dealing with that. That kind of thing really messes me up.

Then about 3:30 p.m. Abby spotted a Manatee floating by our dock. This Manatee was much larger and less scarred than the one Joan and I saw last week in the same place.

For dinner we decided to try a local haunt - Key Largo Conch House - which is literally in an old house. The food was good and ample.

After dinner we headed west on 1 to Islamorada and the Holiday Isle Tiki Bar, which advertises itself as "World Famous" even though we had never heard of it before.

It was karaoke night so Elin performed two songs and then we headed home to the trailer about 9 p.m. The girls had two of the Tiki's signature Rum Runners and Joan stuck with wine. I enjoyed a non-alcoholic brew.

Key West, a day to be framed in memory

In life there are so many days that just evaporate into vapor. But then there are those days, those few 24-hour periods you’d like to frame and put on the wall so you could easily remember them as you walk by.

Monday, January 24, 2011, was just one of those days for us. We (especially me) have been anticipating our trip to the Keys for several years. Part of that anticipation was the expectation that we would visit Key West during that stay. Monday was that day.
It did not disappoint.

Part of the fun was the two hour drive from Key Largo to Key West on the mostly two-lane highway 1 through the string of islands that make up the Keys. Elin frequently remarked that it appeared we were in another country, something detached from the normal by more than just water. I had that same feeling.

One thing about a two-lane road is that you can only go as fast as the slowest car. A little frustrating at times, but I kept reminding myself that we are currently on Island Time.

When we arrived in Key West, the place was bustling. Two cruise ships were in port and there were plenty of other tourists so parking was at a premium, but we located a pay lot and began our journey of Duval Street, etc.

The weather was good (it would later turn a little wet) when we arrived and the girls were a little hungry so we stopped at Upper Crust, a little pizza joint that has a franchise in Boston. Surprisingly, Elin and her friend Abby, haven’t been to the one in Boston, but wanted to go to the one in Key West.

Joan and I had salads, the girls had a salad and a slice of thin crust pizza. For the next three hours we soaked up the sun and Key West and both warmed us. Joan and Elin tried the Key Lime pie at the Key West Key Lime Co. and pronounced it delicious.

We did what no doubt all first time tourists in Key West do, had our pictures taken at Mile Marker 0 and then at the monument to the Southernmost point in the U.S. on the appropriately named South Street. And of course we stocked up on t-shirts and crappy souvenirs.

In between were plenty of shops, clothing stores and an outdoor bar called Mangoes, where Joan, Elin and Abby enjoyed tropical drinks and Margaritas. I enjoyed a non-alcoholic beer. Joan really wanted to sit at an outdoor bar in Key West. It was a reminder to her of similar stops in New Orleans and Lahaina, Maui. The bartender took a nice picture of us, which is posted here.
We watched some drunken party folks enjoying the day life at Willie T’s bar.

Life was good, but it got a whole lot better starting at 4:45 p.m.

That’s when we boarded RB’s Lady, a 51-foot yacht for our private sunset dinner cruise at the Sunset Marina on Stock Island.

Actually, it was not scheduled to be a private cruise for just us, but the weather had turned a little wet, not terribly rainy, but enough spit in the air to make you worry a little. Two other couples were aboard from Alberta, Canada at first but Chef Brian Kirkpatrick graciously offered all of us the option to cancel the cruise without penalty.

The four Canadians sipped a little of the champagne and then decided to try the cruise another day. I had been anticipating this dinner cruise for weeks and was concerned that with only four of us, the captain and chef might decide it was not worth the gas for us to go out. We all voted to stay and go and Chef Brian agreed to sail and cook for us.

Probably the worst part of the trip was over in about 10 minutes as we left the channel from the marina. The weather never cleared up, but the rain stopped, the temperatures were in the low 70s and while we didn’t have a true sunset we had a meal that none of us is likely to soon forget.

Chef Brian was a sous chef at a five-star Key West restaurant in his previous life and now he and his wife live on RB’s Lady and he cooks for up to 20 people on these nightly cruises.

The company name is Sunset Culinaire and if you are ever down in Key West it is worth the $85 per person for the trip and meal. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate a little more for you.

Two of our party had the fresh Mahi Mahi, I had the chicken dish which was unbelievably good and Elin had the flank steak stuffed with spinach and homemade sausage pate that she loved. I’m not exaggerating when I say that every dish that went back to the kitchen from appetizers to dessert were completely clean.

Did I mention that the champagne and beer and included in the price of the cruise and they flow non-stop, which probably helped smooth the waters and warm the air?

I spent a long time chatting with the boat captain and the girls took refuge from the wind in the chef’s living room downstairs and discussed restaurants and cooking on the way back.

We sailed on the west end of the harbor and watched as the two cruise ships set sail. A dolphin even paid us a visit. We also passed by the U.S. Navy Seals training facility in Key West.

We talked on the way home about how we would have missed a wonderful experience if we had wimped out on the dinner as our Canadian friends did. My feeling is always that you can’t have a real adventure, without some risk.

I know Chef Brian and his wife (at one point she said “I hope you’re still this happy when we return”) were concerned leaving the dock that we would be miserable, but we laughed and enjoyed the whole experience.

The framed picture of our day in Key West will be stored in a special part of my brain. All my life I have heard people talk about Key West and the Keys, it has been a special blessing for me to finally experience it. We are truly thankful for all our blessings this week.

A 'chilly' boat tour on the Atlantic

What would a trip to Key Largo be without a boat tour? Well, we took care of that today with a wonderful 3-hour tour of the Coral Reef off John Pennekamp State Park.

Temps did fall into the 40s the night we picked up Elin and Abby at the airport, but it promises to warm up as the week goes on.

Our tour left the dock at 3:15 p.m. and wound its way for nearly a half hour through the Mangrove swamps until we emerged into the Atlantic Ocean. A 7-mile trip across the open ocean to the offshore reef let me know that I should have worn long pants today as the air temperatures were a relatively brisk 65 degrees. Combined with the wind speed and boat speed it was downright chilly.

Just seemed wrong to be in the Keys and wearing long pants and a coat. So I toughed it out with my t-shirt and shorts.

Not Michigan chilly for sure, but cool enough for these old legs. The sea was a little rough so Elin and Joan purchased a sea sickness pill on the boat. The glass bottom boat provided very good vistas of the reef and the tour guide was very informative.

Elin, Abby and Joan slept in (OK, so did I a little) after their late night arrival at Ft. Lauderdale International Airport and the two-hour drive back to Key Largo. I know Miami Airport would have been closer, but because my geography is not always flawless, somehow in my head I told Elin when she was booking her flight that Ft. Lauderdale would be closer. Blame me, not her.

Anyway, we went to a local flea market (See photo of Buffalo above) before we headed to the State Park for the boat trip. At the flea market we bought some fresh fruits and veggies from a local farm market and we plan to enjoy them in the next few days. I think Abby scored a pair of sunglasses as well. I think a pulled pork sandwich and french fries were also involved.

Plans to go out and party tonight faded after the long boat trip and sea sickness medicine left a few of us kind of sleepy. We did watch a little playoff football.

All's quiet on the Southern Front

We spent the morning walking the park and re-organizing the trailer. A little book reading this afternoon and then we pick up Elin and Abby at Ft. Lauderdale Airport. Both are flying down from Boston later tonight.

Not much else to report today. I'm posting a photo I took on our walk of our campsite from across the canal.

Just another day in paradise - Key Largo style

Today was kind of a catch up day for us.

We got up kind of late, did our weight exercises and enjoyed our diet breakfast.

While outside, my friend Kim called from Michigan (to tell me how very, very cold it was there) and as I was talking to him I wandered a few feet to our dock and saw a very, very large creature floating near the surface.

It was a Manatee, the very same creature we have been trying to see on several previous trips to Florida.

Heck, one day last April Joan and I spent an afternoon driving around Vero Beach unsuccessfully trying to find the places people told us we could see them.

As soon as I spotted the Manatee, I called to Joan and she came over, leaned over the dock and began talking to it. You have to know Joan and her affection for animals and science to appreciate how big a deal this was.

I took some photos (a couple here), finished my phone call with Kim and then went back to our exercises. About 10:30 a.m. we got cleaned up and then headed out to check out the Visitor’s Center in Key Largo.

Elin and a friend are flying down her together on Saturday for a couple days of warm rest and relaxation so we checked out a couple beaches for them to lie on. I made reservations for a glass bottom boat tour of a nearby coral reef and also reservations for a sunset dinner on Monday in Key West.

With the pickings getting slim, Joan and I went to a nearby Publix store and stocked up on salad fixins’, fruit and wine for Joan and the girls. Then while she had her nails “filled” I brought the food back to the trailer and then returned to pick her up.

While waiting for Joan I noticed this white bird perched on a nearby truck, so I grabbed my camera and took pictures of it.

Spent a little time on the patio here reading my book , but got chased by some rain showers. Tonight we’ll just chill in the trailer as the rain passes through. It is supposed to clear up by Sunday, so that will be good.

Key Largo welcomes the Smiths

Getaway day at Jonathan Dickinson State Park started early. I took advantage of a late check out time to take another 3-mile hike through the park and get in all my weight exercises.

Hooking up the trailer always takes about an hour because I prefer to do it slowly and methodically so I don't miss a step, like not attaching an important safety device to the ball and hitch, that kind of thing.

I always try to hook up the trailer and then take my shower so I will not be all hot and sweaty while I drive. Because we didn't have a sewer connection in our campsite we made a stop at the dump station and unloaded our excess baggage. No sense dragging that to the Keys with us, not to mention the extra weight and lower gas mileage.

We saw a lot of speeding police cars through the Miami area and later learned they had two police officers killed in a shooting today. Very sad and our hearts go out to the officers' families.

Except for the extra police activity the trip on the Florida Turnpike was uneventful.

After arrival at the Calusa Campground in Key Largo I had a very tight spot to maneuver the trailer into, but made it on the third try. Except that the park management stopped by after I had leveled and disconnected to tell me that I had to move the trailer about six feet to the east.

After I explained the difficulty I had squeezing into the spot, they agreed to send a tractor by to help maneuver the trailer into its proper spot. After that small hitch, we got settled, Joan got our laundry started and I finally got around to working on the computer again after a week's hiatus.

For dinner we enjoyed yet another Uncle Pete creation, a wonderful meaty chili that he sent along for us. The dish included some block Cheddar cheese and some cut onion. Needless to say we had a great dinner. (I'll include a photo here of Joan toasting Uncle Pete before we dug into the food).

We have Internet, Cable TV and a four-foot walk to the boat channel out our trailer door. We are in paradise, at least for a week.

Departure Mileage: 54424

Departure Time: 11:17 a.m.

Arrival Mileage: 54580

Arrival Time: 2:33 p.m.

Catch up time: Our Jonathan Dickinson/Space Coast adventure - Day 6

Jonathan Dickinson Day 6

I started the morning with a three-mile nature hike while Joan slept in. Later, when she got up I joined her for a two-mile walk. After cleaning up we went to the nearby Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge and the Hobe Sound Nature Center and we saw lots of interesting critters and took another one mile hike along an educational trail.

No one can say we didn’t get our exercise today. After that we headed to Uncle Pete and Aunt Judi’s house in Stuart where we visited and watched the Australian Open (tennis) before getting ready to head north to Vero Beach to visit my cousin Kenny, his wife Khlai and son Koa.

Uncle Pete navigated while I drove up Federal Highway (US 1) which was a slow, but beautiful trip along a section of road we had not traveled before.

Once in Vero Beach we drove to Ken’s house where we picked up Khlai and then headed to a local baseball field where we picked up Koa who was practicing with his local team – The Orphans – which is a traveling Little League squad.

We watched a little batting practice and then we headed to the Lobster Shanty along Inland Waterway in Vero.

A full moon greeted us and so did Kenny. We had a wonderful fish dinner, even better conversation and said our good byes and headed back to Stuart.

In Stuart we said our farewells, grabbed a few hugs and then headed back to our campsite to get some sleep before our trek south to Key Largo tomorrow.

Catch up time: Our Jonathan Dickinson/Space Coast adventure - Day 5

Jonathan Dickinson Day 5

Today’s trek was out of this world.

Ever since we were rushed through the Kennedy Space Center on our cruise tour back in November we have been looking forward to returning to the KSC to finish the tour.

Up early, we headed back to Titusville and the KSC about 8 a.m. for the two hour drive. Crowds were light and this time we were able to see the IMAX movie we missed the first time and enjoyed an “Astronaut Encounter” with John Fabian, who flew on Shuttle Missions 7 and 51.

His talk was entertaining and light and the pictures he showed were unbelievable.

Astronaut Fabian was a Vietnam combat pilot and I got to speak to him ever so briefly after the talk and Joan and I had our photos taken with him. That one thing was worth the drive.

The orange gantry photo is the same one used by Apollo 11 astronauts (Neil Armstrong, etc.) to climb aboard the Apollo spacecraft for the historic journey to the moon.

We took the KSC bus back out to the Apollo exhibit and caught a couple of displays we missed the first time through. We visited the “Rocket Garden” which included the catwalk that was used by Neil Armstrong on his historic flight to the moon. Kind of cool to walk where Neil and the other astronauts walked just seconds before they were strapped into the Apollo space capsule and launched into space.

Following the tour of KSC we headed over to the Astronaut Hall of Fame (admission included) and spent about an hour looking at the many artifacts there. I am particularly interested in those involving Alan Shepherd, America’s first man in space, as early in his Naval career he served about the USS Cogswell, DD-651, which I also served on a decade later. It’s a tenuous bond, but a bond nonetheless.

After that tour we headed back to Uncle Pete and Aunt Judi’s house in Stuart. Joan went to a Bingo dinner, which obviously was a dinner that included Bingo. I know, I know, pretty self explanatory. Pete and I stayed home and enjoyed watching tennis on his big screen television and Pete made some wonderful steaks for dinner. If I haven’t said it enough before, Uncle Pete is a five-star chef.

After the ladies returned home, only Pete’s sister Jean came home a winner, we returned to our campsite for some sleep.

Catch up time: Our Jonathan Dickinson/Space Coast adventure - Day 4

Jonathan Dickinson Day 4 (January 17)

Today was full of little adventures. Started the day doing my new weight program, then took a shower. Picked up my Aunt Judi and her sister-in-law and brought them into the park for a nice nature walk.

Following that we drove to nearby Jupiter, Florida and took a tour of the Jupiter Lighthouse and Museum. Joan’s knee is still bothering her from her early morning fall on Sunday so she didn’t quite make it to the top of the lighthouse.

(Photo above is from the top of the Jupiter Lighthouse).

Then we came back to the camp and I washed Michigan off the trailer with the help of a high pressure hose attachment that Uncle Pete loaned to me. The trailer looks a lot better.

About 4 p.m. we headed back to Aunt Judi and Pete’s home where we enjoyed a wonderful Sicilian pasta dinner. Joan, Aunt Judi and Jean went to a line dancing class at the clubhouse at another resort in the area.

Catch up time: Our Jonathan Dickinson/Space Coast adventure - Day 3

Jonathan Dickinson Day 3

With plans to visit my high school friend’s church this morning we were up with the chickens and Joan was almost down for the count when she missed one of the three steps leading out of the trailer this morning.

Still dark, Joan believes she caught her shower shoes on the top step and then stumbled forward, missing the second step and ending up falling painfully down onto our patio mat outside. She laid on the ground for several minute feeling woozy and in lots of pain. We also woke up nearly every campsite within hearing distance of ours.

Fortunately nothing was broken and after a few minutes of being curled up on the cold ground, we determined she was able to make it to the shower.

Even with the fall, Joan was able to get ready and we were on our way to Port Canaveral (actually Rockledge, Florida) about 7:45 a.m. We arrived at St. Michael the Archangel Church at 9:45 a.m. with a little time to visit with Drew and his family before the service started at 10 a.m.

It was a wonderful experience for me to finally get a chance to see Drew “at work” after 37 years of his ministry. It was the first time I ever received communion from my lifelong friend. I was extremely moved by the experience. He also gave a wonderful service on the sacredness of life and Joan and I were blessed to be with Drew and his family on Sunday.

After service we went to a nearby restaurant (Jimmy’s) at a country club and had breakfast and extended our visit with the Wales family. Julie, who is the worship leader at St. Michael’s, is an incredible help mate to Drew and Joan and I have grown to love her in a special way.

The lunch also included their "adopted" daughter whose name I wouldn't even try to spell. She is from Pakistan and living with Drew and Julie for a time.

Following lunch we said our “until laters” and then headed the two hours back to Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

Joan headed to bed to put her leg up and to watch a little playoff football and I started my latest adventures in the “Master and Commander” book series with Book 5 “Desolation Island” sitting outside in the 73 degree warmth, surrounded by palm and pine trees.

Life is good.

Catch up time: Our Jonathan Dickinson/Space Coast adventure - Day 2

Jonathan Dickinson Day 2 (January 15)

Michigan washed down the drain

Since 30 seconds after we left Lapeer on Wednesday the Tahoe has been covered with a layer of salt and mud. My first priority today (Saturday) was to find a car wash and rinse Michigan down the drain.

On our trips back and forth to Judi and Pete’s we looked for a car wash but were unable to find one.

So I called OnStar and they found us one just a few miles in the other direction. It took awhile but I scrubbed 99 percent of the grime off the Tahoe and I, and it, feel much better.

Now we just have to borrow a spray nozzle so I can do the same to the trailer, which is equally coated in Michigan salt and mud.

After the car wash we headed to Aunt Judi’s to pick her and her sister-in-law Jean up for a trip to West Palm Beach and a tour of “The Breakers,” a five-star hotel on the ocean. All I can say is “wow.” Make that “Wow.”

On our budget we would never be able to stay there, heck we didn’t even stay for lunch ($25 for starters) but we did have an hour or so to look around and tour the place. I did make a purchase at one of the shops in the hotel, a $5 pack of postcards.

Then we headed downtown for a walk down Worth Street where the other half not only lives, but shops. You know when you go into a store and they don’t have price tags on anything that you have ventured into a world where you don’t belong.

You know, $500 slacks, $700 sweaters and $5,000 dresses, are a little beyond the Smith budget. But it was fun to walk along the street and watch the fashion models working the restaurant crowds with their attractive ensembles.

Following our Worth Street tour we headed back to Uncle Pete and Aunt Judi’s place for dinner.

Pete, who is a top notch chef, stayed home to prepare a special dinner for us. Marinated Cornish Game Hens, “potato negro” (a variety of potato that are black in color), a Caravella family recipe string beans, homemade bisquits (Aunt Judi made these) and a homemade sugar free dessert.

My Aunt Judi is always looking out for me.

We watched a little football and Joan and I headed back to the campground about 9 p.m. in our spanking clean Tahoe.