Last Days of Our Trip

Monday, March 16,2009
We left Norris at 8:45 after having coffee and bagels at Jack and Loy's. The first 2 hours of our drive were filled with rain and heavy, thick fog...the kind that you cannot see 20 feet in front of the car. I was driving about 45 mph while everyone else sped by at 70 mph. Somewhat nerve racking! It seemed like 4 hours of fog not 2 hours. It rained until noon but skies cleared for the rest of the drive.

Made stop at Cinci for cigarettes and liquor. We were home about 6:00...safe and sound. Everything looked good at home ...Thanks to great neighbors, Mike and Pam, for watching over everything and stocking the kitchen with food and cookies. We unpacked the car and made a frozen dinner.....a big change from what we had been eating. Always good to be home to our bears and our own bed.

This was a good 6 weeks in Captiva but missed our family and friends who were with us in past years.

Sunday, March 15, 2009
We had a complimentary breakfast of waffles, juice and coffee in the motel lobby and then left for the drive to Knoxville to visit Cecilia, Rob and Beth and our great nephew, Jacob who is now 10 days old. We met Cecilia at Stein Mart because she had to work today. While at the store, Al bought shoes, 2 tee shirts, shirt, and grill press. Cecilia is thrilled with being a Grandmother. After spending time with Cecilia and shopping, we drove to Rob and Beth's and met Jacob, who is a beautiful baby boy with lots of brown hair and undetermined eye color....maybe green or blue. New Parents Rob and Beth beamed with pride for their little Jacob.

We then headed to Norris, TN about 25 miles north to visit Jack and Loy. We are spending the night at their friends' garage apartment where we have enjoyed staying before. We had dinner at a local Mexican Restaurant that serves authentic food, not anything like a Taco Belle. Fave place of Jack and Loy's since it is so close and the food is great. Spent fun evening catching up with them and exchanging stories. They promised that they will visit us soon and make the trip to Captiva next year.


Saturday, March 14, 2009
Saturday morning we were on the road by 8:30 after a quick breakfast of toast and juice. It was a sunny morning as we crossed the causeway and left the islands. Al sang his pelican song as is our tradition when we cross the causeway and see a pelican. There were many fish boats under the bridge as we left. We made a stop at Sun Harvest to buy oranges and grapefruit. Al drove the first leg of the trip headed north to our first layover in Carterville, GA at the Best Western at 5663 Highway 20 NE room #318. We arrived there about 8 o'clock shortly after sunset. There was rain on the last 3 hours of our trip at which time Al was driving again. We were slowed down by about 3 accidents. The drive through Atlanta seemed easier than the drive through there on the way down even with some fender benders slowing the city traffic. Al was quickly checked into our room. It has cooled down to the mid 40's...missing the warm temps already.

We went to a nearby Ruby Tuesday's for dinner. The food was great...started with Asian Dumplings filled with a blend of chicken and seasonings, then steamed and served with peanut sauce. I had Jumbo Lump Crab Cake. Al had Shrimp Scampi & Steak served with fresh, steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes. But the service was as bad as the food was great! A Good dinner ruined by really bad service!



Friday, March 13, 2009
Tomorrow we leave! These 40 days have gone very quickly. We began some serious packing this morning and started loading the car. Every thing was loaded except what we need for today and for our trip home. We had brunch around 11 on the porch...I made an omelet with corned beef. Al checked our reservations in Cartersville, GA. This was a beautiful day to spend on the beach for our last day. No dolphins today... and not many people either...just a quiet day relaxing with each other...sunning, walking and listening to the radio. We left the beach about 4:30.

Rene invited us over for a fish fry tonight. He and a couple from Toronto had been out fishing this morning and caught several sheephead which is a tropical climate fish. Also invited were Josh and Michelle, the couple from Toronto, and Ella(his mother). Rene did the deep frying of the fish in a beer batter. Margarethe served a first course of pasta and tomato sauce. She made a German tartar sauce made with finely chopped apple for the fish and served a mixed green salad. Josh,a wine connoisseur, brought several bottles of white wine. The dinner was finished with a plate of cheeses and crackers. Dinner was great....you can't get fresher fish than this!

The sun sets on our Captiva visit.