Leaving South Florida

Our time here has been visiting friends and relatives, and we have had such a great time. We're leaving here today for the west coast of Florida...and now on our own without visiting. First stop is Ft. Myers.

Can you tell...these are the relatives! They had a surprise Birthday Party for Steve and we're all wearing glasses!

From left back row, Claudio, Neal, Steve, Stan, Randy

me, Aunt Margaret (known as Little Margaret), and Kim

The Ol' Young Republicans of Broward County...we won the best club in the Nation back when...from left, Paula, me, Mary Ellen, Joan, and Jan

In 1972 I met Gloria..we were later roomates and best friends. Here we are joined by her husband Tom and Steve. Coty is their Golden Retriever..a great dog!

We went to Jan's (my daughter Katie's Aunt) and had lunch with her after going to her home and seeing all the work they've been doing. She and Randy hunt, and we saw lots of the results. She lives outside of West Palm Beach.

Also had lunch with a great friend from my Southern Bell days, Coranna. Our trailer was in Delray Beach, Gloria in Boca, met the YR's in Ft. Lauderdale at the Yacht Club, Aunt Margaret at John Knox Village in Pompano..didn't make it any further South. We'll cross Aligator Alley today.

In Delray Beach and Boca Raton

We arrrived in Delray and set up the travel trailer at a site right on Federal Highway (US 1) for those of you familar with the area. Gloria and Tom live in Boca, and we've been staying with them. Gloria and I met here in South Florida in 1972, and were roomates when we were both single...what stories she can tell!
Steve's Birthday was yesterday..we'll be celebrating it for a few days, more on that later.

Leaving Orlando

We are leaving Orlando after a wonderful visit. On Saturday, Steve and Vic went to Bay Hill and enjoyed the Golf Tournament. In the afternoon I heard a boom boom..it was the Shuttle breaking the sound barrier returning to Kennedy Space Center! Sunday Sheila and I joined her lady friends on their monthly outing to see a play..Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice..enjoyed. She cooked all weekend and as usual, feed us 5 star meals!

After moving to our camp ground on Monday, we had dinner with a friend of Steve's, Margaret and George. She is from Rocky Mount where they were school mates in middle and high school.

Tuesday we thought we were going to spring training Houston Astro baseball game, but turned out it was wrong day, so we explored Kissimmee (Steve can now pronounce it correctly!).

Wednesday we went to the Kennedy Space Center..an hour's drive and a very impressive visitor center with a shuttle launch experience..they don't call it a ride..that was awesome. We had dinner with my sister Vicky and enjoyed catching up with her. She has always hated having her picture taken, so wasn't able to talk her in to one...too bad cause she looks great.

Next stop is Delray Beach, Florida.

Sheila, Victor, and Steve & I at dinner Tuesday night

I haven't figured out how to get pictures in order when I load them on this site. This is a tower of stones from all 50 states and 20 countries in Kissimmee. Toured the historic town that was sleepy and known for it's rodeo before Disney moved in. I bought my first cowboy boats (still have them) from this town before Disney..long time ago.

Arrived in Orlando

We didn't have reservations at the camp ground for the weekend, so we tried Sheila and Vic's driveway, and it worked.

Sheila and I graduated from Edgewater High School in Orlando, Florida...long time ago!

We'll be moving to the camp on Monday.

From Okeefenokee Swamp

Here are some of the Swamp pictures..lots of alligators, and they are real!

on the train thru the swamp

Big mouth!

Steve said back up..right...

There are more on Picasa Album so let me know if you want to see them

Leaving Georgia

The Georgia cousins really define Southern Hospitality! For those of you that don't know them, the 4 cousins, 3 boys and 1 girl came to spend summers in NC with Steve's family after their Mom died, so they were raised together. Here are Billy, Charlie, Wayne and Gwen.

In Waycross, Gwen with her Granddaughter Jessica and Wayne with wife Darlene. Missing is Gwen's husband Ricky and their 4 children... also 3 boys and a girl! That's Steve in the back.

Charlie and wife Beverly with daughter Jennie in St. Mary's

Billy and wife Kay in Savannah.

We have really enjoyed visiting them. One of the highlights of Waycross..other than the great fellowship and food, was going to Okefenokee Swamp Park. I've got lots of pictures of alligators and the swamp, but it is getting late and I'll deal with them later.

We're going to Florida tomorrow...no reservation so we will try a friend's driveway.

Waycross, Georgia

We arrived yesterday afternoon and got a spot near the Lake..nice view and finally we have spring weather..in the 70's, sunny and beautiful. Cousins came over last night for a cookout. This morning Steve and I took a nice bike ride and checked out the 1.3 mile trail..we're going to have to do that a bunch of times to burn the calories we're adding. Steve and cousin Wayne have gone to play golf, and Darlene and I are going to get lunch and tour some.