Category: Travel
-
The Great, The Good, and the Ugly
Reading Time: 5 minutesThough we left New Hampshire on Friday, we still had a few more days in New England before we began the meandering trek home to Florida. At least, meandering was our intention for the trip back to Florida. Our first stop, recommended by a friend who lives near us and is from… Read more
-
Surely You Can See What I See
Reading Time: 2 minutesOur week in New Hampshire ends today. It’s been great. On Wednesday we visited the Atlantic coastline of three states in the space of about an hour. It was an interesting, fun, and unique experience. The beaches in the northeast are so different from those in southwest Florida. There were no shells… Read more
-
It’s the Journey…
Reading Time: 5 minutesThe posts for the next few weeks will essentially be travelogues. We’re discovering, for the first time, parts of the country we have never experienced. Come along on this journey with us. After spending 5 restful days in North Carolina, we begin the journey north on Sunday. Our destination, as you know,… Read more
-
Cary, NC
Reading Time: 2 minutesRandy’s sister Kristine and her husband Gary have lived in Cary, NC for more than 45 years. I always thought of it as a sleepy little bedroom community supporting its metro area, Raleigh. In 1980 its population was not quite 22,000 people. As we drove in this week I commented to Randy… Read more
-
New England, Here We Come
Reading Time: 5 minutesWe booked a vacation rental house in New Hampshire about 8 months ago for the Fall 2024 leaf peeping season (yup, that’s a thing). Now, only a week out, I’m amazed that I correctly guessed which week the fall colors in New England would be at their peak. I’ve been looking forward… Read more
-
Tulum, Mexico Policia Shakedown
Reading Time: 4 minutesTrip Advisor says Tulum, Mexico is one of the most Instagrammed (since when is THAT a verb?) spots in Mexico. There are stunning beaches, luxury accommodations and restaurants, incredible flora and fauna with ecological adventures, and ancient Mayan ruins. Supposedly, it has become the “Go To” place in Mexico over the past… Read more
-
Florida to Wisconsin. The Hard Way.
Reading Time: 5 minutesI have a nickname (in the vein of Native American names like Sitting Bull, Wilma Mankiller, or Crazy Horse) in the Grathen family…. Maps Are My Life. Randy’s sister, Kristine, calls me this because I love road maps. I especially like them when we’re traveling by car, which, if you’re a regular… Read more
-
Goodbye, Xenon
Reading Time: 2 minutesThis week we said goodbye to a good and faithful servant, our 2014 VW Passat TDI (diesel engine) who we named Xenon. She was the second diesel Passat we owned. In 2012 we bought a new one, silver, from the dealer in Springfield, Missouri. Randy was in love with the diesel engine… Read more
-
Spring Break on Boca Grande
Reading Time: 5 minutesMichele (one of my best friends and my most consistent beach buddy) and I went to the beach on Friday. It’s early in the year and we haven’t been to the beach, one of our favorite places, for a while. Our normal beach of choice is the 9th Street beach access at… Read more
-
The Guest Test
Reading Time: 5 minutesWhen you live in Southwest Florida, weather wise, winter is the most magnificent time of the year. Someone once told us that there ARE two seasons in Florida, wet season and dry season. I contend that dry season could also be called guest season because dry season in Florida coincides with winter… Read more