July 13 - Miami

Thursday was our last full day in The Villages, we spent the morning repacking and making a run to the UPS shipping center to send a box with the camping gear from last year's trip (which we had stored in The Villages) back home.  Since we drove across but are going home without a car, not everything will fit in our suitcases.

We also made a trip to the Goodwill store to donate the things that didn't make the shipping/packing cut but which were not quite ready for the trash.

Then a nice lunch at Cane Garden and a trip out to Leesburg for a quick checkin with the doctor for Tom. 

For dinner, we headed over to Roger and Donna's house and had a fabulous salmon dinner.  Their dog Molly played with Sassy while we all enjoyed our food.

Since I still needed a few steps, I walked the few miles home while Albert, Mom, and Tom headed home in the car.

Friday, we did a few quick things around the house and then headed down to Indiantown to meet up with Marilyn and Lew for lunch.  We enjoyed our short visit and then continued our trip to Miami.

We met up with Rachel and some of her friends at a bar/restaurant on campus.  Albert had a couple of beers with them and dinner - but I was still stuffed from the lunch with Marilyn and Lew - so I stole a couple of fries and had a Diet Coke but mostly just visited and watched the dogs playing in the waves below.

After dinner, we headed up to our hotel. I worked out in the hotel gym while Albert headed over to the grocery store to pick up a couple of things. 

Today we spent most of the day with Rachel.  She went early to pick up a variety of donuts at her favorite donut shop.  We taste tested a couple - DELICIOUS!

Then we took a nice walk with the dog, Penny, that she is dog sitting. 

Then we went back to the house and watched a little tennis before heading out to her house to pick up a few things and went out to lunch.  Next we stopped off at Anthony's house to meet Olive. 

After a short visit, we headed over to the Miami Zoo.  Rachel had never been, and, of course, neither had we.  It is a nice zoo.  We spent a few hours checking out the animals - sadly, it closed at 7, so Rachel will have to go back another time to see the "Australia" animals.

After the zoo, Albert and Rachel had some nitro ice cream, we stopped back at Rachel's house to get her snorkel gear for tomorrow, we dropped Rachel off at her dog sitting house, and we are back in our hotel for the night. 

Tomorrow, the plan is to snorkel off the beach on one of the keys.

July 10 - The Villages

This morning, we spent a couple of hours at the pool.  Thanks to a generous dose of sunscreen, the two hours in the water did not result in a lobster-like body.

After pool time, we did a little grocery shopping and then I did a little reading and laundry inside while avoiding a huge rainstorm.

Then, it was time to get a haircut.  While I do appreciate the ease of throwing my hair into a ponytail or bun with very little effort - it had become scraggly and a trim was definitely in order.  After some consideration, I decided that I would go for a little more than a trim.  So, I am now living the shorter hair life.

After my haircut, we headed out for dinner at a Mexican restaurant nearby.  I managed to skip the Margaritas tonight.

Then, it was another night at one of the town centers for Mom, Tom, and I and again, I walked home while they rode on the golf cart.  Another lovely night in the Villages.

Tom and Sassy were waiting up when I arrived.

Tomorrow a little repacking needs to happen so that Friday we can head out again.

July 9 - Travel Days

Yesterday morning, we bid a teary farewell to Kathy.  Ric had left earlier in the morning to beat traffic before a long work day that would end in Washington DC. 

We spent the day driving from Virginia Beach to Atlanta.  We didn't have any travel troubles, but it was a LONG day in the car.  We arrived a little while before Scott and Shelly made it home from work, so I took the opportunity to take a nice walk in the park down the street from their house.

They live in a great neighborhood that is right near midtown but hidden among lots of trees.

Once they arrived from work, we had a snack of cheese and crackers and ham and olives (very Spanish) while we visited.  Then it was time for dinner in a Mexican restaurant close to their house.  We have really missed Mexican food and thoroughly enjoyed it.

After dinner, we headed back to the park for a walk - this time with their new dog - Bean.

Then to bed to prepare for the next day of travel.  

This morning, we woke up early, played with Bean said goodbye to our hosts and hit the road again.

Today's drive took us from Atlanta to The Villages in Florida where my mom lives.  She was making dinner when we arrived (yum Corn on the Cob).  After dinner, Albert headed over to the gym while Tom and my mom and I rode over to one of the town squares to listen to some live music.

After the concert, Mom and Tom headed home in the golf cart, and I took a nice walk.

No big plans for tomorrow - maybe we will even sleep in....

July 7 - Sunday Rainday

This morning, Albert and I took a walk down to the Walgreens to pick up a few things.  We have been trying to buy as little as possible since we still have two plane trips before we get back to Walla Walla and our suitcases are pretty much maxed out, but some things (like toothpaste) just can't wait.

We made it home just in time to settle in to watch the final game of the Women's World Cup (soccer).  Kathy had boiled some shrimp and made cocktail sauce and she had put out some cheese and crackers.  Along with the leftovers from last night, we had LOTS of food.  And, the US women won 2-0!!!!

This afternoon, I took another (longer) walk.... down to the beach, along the sidewalk art show, around to lots of the statues of the Norwegian Lady, Seashells, King Neptune ....

I headed in a little earlier than I planned making my walk a little shy of 5 miles because the clouds were looking very dark.  I made it home just as the first drops were falling.  

We went out for dinner and then headed home for an evening in.  With the rain continuing to fall, we skipped ice cream tonight.  Instead we just hung out for a nice evening at home.  We said goodbye to Ric before he headed off to bed, he will likely be gone before we get up in the morning.  Our plan is to leave at around 7:30 with the hope of arriving in Atlanta in time for dinner.

July 6 - Beach Time

Today was about as vacation-y as we have been in a while.  I walked to the grocery store this morning while Albert did laundry, but this afternoon was beach time.

After our afternoon on the beach, we headed in and had an amazing dinner that Kathy and Ric made.  Mmmm flank steak, couscous, and asparagus.  I ate way too much.  But, when it came time for after dinner margaritas, I made room.

And, what summer evening would be complete without ice cream... so Albert and Kathy and I headed out to the beach for a short walk and the two of them had ice cream- after the dinner and margarita, I was too full - maybe tomorrow night.  Tomorrow, the plan is to watch the world cup final game.

July 5 - Virginia Beach

This morning we had a bit of a lazy start.  I took the opportunity to review a little Spanish grammar in bed.

Although we hit a lot of volume.  We had a relatively uneventful drive down.

After visiting a bit, we walked along the beach.  There are lots of new art installations.  I like the different "LOVE" paintings - this one was done by a local high school student.

We went with Ric and Kathy and met my Dad and brother for a really nice dinner.  It was nice to catch up and hear all about the classes that my Dad has been teaching at a local community college.

Tomorrow we are hoping for good weather and maybe some beach time.

July 4 - Baseball, Hot Dog, Rain Rain Rain

We headed out from Jimmy's house this morning.  With the exception of one traffic backup, the trip was pretty good. 

We met up with Megan and Meredith for lunch while Kris was working at a local pool.  After lunch, Albert and I headed over to check in to our hotel and do a quick gym visit.  Afterward, we headed over to visit - it had started to rain and thunder so Kris had gotten off early with the closure of the pool.

After a couple of hours the rain let up and we headed over to the ballpark.  Sadly, the rain had delayed the 4th of July minor league baseball game for nearly two hours.  We hung out and ate a little ballpark food while we waited for the crew to get the field ready.

After the long delay the field was ready, the pre-game festivities were done, and the first pitch was thrown out.  Sadly, at that moment the sky opened up and all of the field prep turned out to be for nothing.  We waited for a little while under cover until things lightened up a bit so that we could get to the car without getting soaked.  While we waited we watched some of players and grounds crew make the best of a bad situation, using the field tarp as a HUGE slip and slide.

We went back to the house for a few minutes to say goodbye before heading back to the hotel.  Tomorrow, off to Virginia Beach.