2014 Vacation - Day 14

Before we left on "Vacation" I had told Himself that I thought a two-week schedule would be just about right.  Counting the first day that we went to the cabin in Mo through yesterday when we got back to Creston, we were 'out' 13 days. What??? what happened to my two weeks? 

So today, I told Himself forget it, I'm on vacation.  ha ha  It didn't keep me from doing my chores and gardening, but -- still!  I am on vacation.

Side note -- I went over to see Aunt Alice this afternoon.  It had been too long.  We gadded a bit and caught up on news.  I'm pretty sure you would be surprised to hear Aunt Alice talk when we are on a country ride.  I sure do enjoy taking her out and catching up.

Vacation Recap --  including Iowa and Missouri, we drove through one-fifth of the United States.   We hit 10 states and drove almost 4,000 miles. 

Is that crazy? or what?  4,000 miles!  3,746 miles to be exact.  I love it!

Himself is still stunned since doing the math. He is expected to have a full recovery. 

That is the longest vacation we have ever had together.  That is the longest we have ever been in a car together.  We did really well tho.  I just make sure to eat a little bit of something every two hours and when I say "it is time to eat lunch", we eat lunch.  I do not like being that way but 'it is what it is' as they are saying now-a-days; the new mantra.  It is what it is. 

We travel with a cooler and a picnic basket and lunch is usually on-the-go or at a picnic area, church or cemetery.  It works.  And we love the free 'Continental Breakfasts" offered at most hotels anymore. 

Some observations -- We drove through a town in South Eastern Arkansas where we saw 0 whites.  It was unusual.  It was what it was -- just unusual.

We saw Civil War era plantations and creole architecture.

We saw a Shanty Boat life style in Louisiana.  Miles of water with shacks and cabins and boats.

We saw the tourist traps of the Gulf Coast.  Pink Flamingo alert!! and Beach Shops 50% off.  You probably remember those areas.

We saw miles and miles of farm/ranch/grazing lands.  Middle class Americans earning a living from the land and it was mixed in amongst all the other climates, in every state.

We saw swamp land and two alligators. 

We had Spring on the way south.  Redbuds and Wild Plum.  Dogwoods, tulips, then iris and peonies.  We had spring again on the way home.  Redbuds and Wild Plum.  Dogwoods, tulips, then iris and peonies.  Then we got home and get to have Redbuds again and tulips and still have iris and peonies to look forward to.

We had soft, silky white sand on the Gulf and Florida's beaches.  We had Palm Trees and tropical plants.  We had Spanish influence and Christopher Columbus and Don Juan Ponce de Leon.  Remember him?  Did you really ever know that his first name was Don Juan?  no, not me, either.

We got teased with a Mullet Throw. 
We got stuck in traffic in Alabama.
We got rode out of New Orleans on a rail -- Friday rush hour traffic!

We had the Tide ebbing and flowing and the roar of the surf.  A time or two I wondered how I could turn that ocean noise off.  (I suppose, just like a train, I would get used to that in time.)  Other times, I wished I could open my bedroom window so the ocean surf would lull me to sleep.

We walked on the beach.  We lay on a chaise under a beach umbrella for some and in the tropical sun for others.  We watched people. 

We drank from the Fountain of Youth and climbed 200+ steps up to the top of a light house. 

Our best meal was at the Fountain of Youth park, an outdoor lunch counter.  Himself had a Cuban Burger and I had crab cakes and the best salad ever.  Really?  This could happen in Creston, Ia.  Why not? 

Life is full of pleasant surprises.  My advise to my loved ones is to  roll with the punches when the going is a little rough and be steadfast when times are ordinary so that you can enjoy with open arms the unexpected pleasures like a Cuban burger at a State Park. 

Travel often, my friend.  Travel safe.