Well folks, The Man and I survived a drive of over 2400 km from Ontario to Port Charlotte, Florida.
Wow what a crazy drive that was.
Interstate 75 is just as busy as the 401 in places and it was interesting with the transport trucks on the route too. Not to mention the motor homes and land cruisers towing vehicles and boats and bikes and ...you name it.
The weather was quite snowy through Ohio and then, once we reached Kentucky, it cleared and the drive was nice and sunny. I really applaud the people that tag team drive all the way to Florida for March Break. It is really a long way.
For us it was uneventful. Thankfully.
We spent time looking at the licence plates going by, reading the Route 75 book I had bought for the trip and it was very handy in finding the odd place to stop and for neat restaurants.
I had to get some fresh pecans (said as pee-CAWN, don'tcha know) and we spent a bunch in the store. I love pecans. There was a cotton patch there too and we took some pictures of it. Okay, it was a touristy thing to do.
I'd like to take a little bit of time to explain how lousy the hotels were that we were staying in.
On my other trips I had booked through CAA on line. Located the place I wanted to stop and then picked the place that looked the most appropriate. Having that experience I did the same thing again! I wasn't as fortunate with my picks this time.
I did pick "known places" that weren't in the back of beyond.
But they certainly didn't add up to what we'd expect.
Let's see, the last place we stayed, in Gainesville Florida, a Days Inn actually, had the vanities nearly completely detached from the wall. The rust at the bottom of the bathtub where it meets the floor was quite interesting and the old metal doors needed some serious attention. The linens were clean though and that's all that mattered.
The first place we stayed on the trip, in Florence Kentucky was equally as "tired" and in need of some real TLC. The lobby area and the breakfast area was lovely but the rooms and hallways needed some help.
I was dismayed at the state they were in. I will follow up with CAA and find out how they do their ratings and let them know what we found. They always want to know because if it is really bad then they won't rate them.
Regardless we did arrive in one piece and the beloved Equinox was stellar in it's work for us. It is in need of bath right now but we'll get to that another day.
The home I have rented for our Florida adventure will have me a "temporary resident" of Port Charlotte for 3 months; The Man, 2.
Port Charlotte has so much to offer and today we only scratched the surface finding the grocery story and the ABC liquor store (right ON!) We stocked up on just about everything we need for the next few days at least as we don't want to go anywhere! It's new years! Yippee!
So, arriving with 77 F temperature and the pool at 86 F we knew we had found the best spot. The Hibiscus plants are in bloom and the palm trees really make the whole place. I post pictures on my next post once I figure out how this computer works (the home owner left his for us to use!) at taking my memory card from my camera.
I am officially a snowbird! Okay, a very tired one at the moment but I am escaping the snow and cold for the first time in my life. Wow! Now there's a concept.
I'll fill you all in on more tidbits as I think of them. I'm a little brain drained at the moment.
Cheers all!
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