Then the winter blues hit. They came earlier and even harder this year. I sh*t thee not. So I begged and pleaded with the mate, please let me go. It gave me something close to focus on. It meant he would have to deal with the household on his own for about 10 days. He travels for work, and I hold down the fort, but this was the first time I was gone for more than a weekend. He survived, my fur-kids survived, his relationship with my son *did not.* Another story, another time, maybe.
Mike said "meet for dinner to plan the week on Sunday night." I booked Saturday night at the resort so I would be there, rested, when the tour started. I left Virginia Friday morning the 3rd. Air temp was 7 degrees, had 25 miles per hour winds, and my entire rack system was frozen shut. It took an HOUR to load my boat and bike, something that normally takes 5 to 10 minutes. I left town at 5:45 am, 45 minutes late.
Now, the google said it would be a 16 hour drive, 1170 miles long. I knew the time was an under-estimate as I work with a gal from the Keys and she said 19-20 hours minimum. Still, 16 hours, I can drive that in a day. Nope. I stopped at a Holiday Inn one exit south of Ft Stewart GA, 12 hours into my trip at 5:30 pm. When the speed limit is 70 I tend to drive 65 if I have boats on the car. Yeah, I am one of "those old ladies."
I don't normally care about hotels or accommodations but this place wowed me. King sized ultra comfy bed, sofa and divan, huge desk, hi speed wifi. I tried to catch Ancient Aliens after giving a trip report to the Lorax but I was asleep on the Weather Channel by 8 pm. I was up at 4:40 and wasted an hour perusing the 'net. Got a leisurely (free) breakfast at the hotel, unfurled my wings and took off.
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| Just before take off. Notice the salt encrusting my trusty steed? Mine and a family from Quebec were the only vehicles that looked like that. |
The google (my Android phone, gps app uses google maps) continued to lie to me. The last four hours of the trip it said "1 hour remains," liar liar pants on fire! My husband has used this same trick to keep me moving on long hikes when I would rather lay down and be eaten by bears.
The Keys were having some of that same weather system I was running from, when I arrived. Those really are some "breezy palms!" The room was adequate although quite close to the road. If I stay there again, and I probably will, I will pay a bit more to get away from the road. Oh, and the shower was handicapped accessible with a large redwood bench inside that folded up when not needed. At first I was not sure about the set up, but later I would really appreciate not having to step into a tub and having a bench to sit on would also be handy.
Short story, Mike delivered on the resort. The pool was heated. The place was clean, well-maintained, and and the staff was lovely, very kind. Two thumbs up!
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| Breezy Palms Resort, breezy alright!! |
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| My lanai off my room, as seen from the center walkway of the resort. |
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| One of the common areas, and the well maintained "beach." |
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| One of the docks at the resort's marina. There were many "resident" cormorants and iguanas. |
If a photos speaks a thousand words I think my readers would therefore prefer to see photos. Here we go:
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| First post to fb upon arrival was "Insanely large lizard!? Hallucinations!!?" |
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| Please forgive me but this fellow made a great subject, very tolerant of me. |
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| He appeared to be drinking ocean water here. I know the iguanas in the Galapagos excrete sea salt from their tear ducts. I am guessing it's the same here. |
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| "Big Boy's" harem, or companions, kids...? He was at least a second lizard larger than all these. |
Those of us in town already: Mike, Brian, Marilyn and Peter, my "room mate" Jean, and myself went to dinner as promised Sunday night at Robbie's Hungry Tarpon. We would return there several times on the trip. I highly recommend the Cobb salad and the yellow tail hand roll was to die for, best I've ever eaten.
Sigh. I finally felt unwound. I've arrived.
Lorax approved
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