From Sunny Florida to Snowy Connecticut

FLORIDA AND BACK TO CONNECTICUT

                After leaving the Air Museum in Pensacola, we headed to St. Petersburg to visit with Joan's high school girlfriend, Barrie. Barrie had moved to another part of St. Petersburg since our last visit, and we weren't sure if we would be able to park the VIEW near her apartment. As it turned out, we had a perfect place on a side street at the end of Barrie's courtyard. She lives in a very nice area with brick streets and back alleyways that are used as connectors to homes.

                The next morning, Joan and Barrie walked through her neighborhood and around a small lake. There were birds, geese, and probably a few alligators in the lake, but none appeared. Barrie seemed to know all of the dogs that were out walking their masters.

                The Vagabonds stay with Barrie included a trip to the pier--which the city has plans for a rather ugly replacement. The citizens are up in arms, signing petitions, and carrying signs in protest. The American Vagabonds agree that the change is not for the better, but were not allowed to sign a petition since we aren't residents of St. Petersburg. It seems to us that visitors to the city should be able to give their opinion as that area thrives on tourism! We then hopped a trolley called the 'Looper' and took a tour of the city. For seniors the price of a ride is .25!

                The next day, Barrie suggested that we go to the Manatee Viewing Center at the Big Bend Power Station of Tampa Electric. It seems that where the heated water from the plant is discharged into Old Tampa Bay, the Manatees gather. Spectators can view the Manatees from observation platforms or walk along a boardwalk. You may also see  coastal water birds and marine life--including small sand sharks. There is a picnic area, butterfly garden, and gift shop. Anyone can view the Manatees even from home if you have a computer. Go to: tampaelectric.com/manatee and use the cameras to watch these large gentle creaatures. You can control the cameras (east or west--Joan likes the east camera) for two minutes, or longer if no one else wants a turn.

                Barrie had told us that there was a parade in Tampa called the "Gasparilla" on  Saturday. We couldn't get much information from the local citizens, but we decided to take a chance and go. This is a traditional event where a 'pirate ship' and a group of 'pirates' arrive in the bay and attack the city. After a mock battle the mayor hands over the key to the city and the partying begins.  It seems to be Tampa's answer to Mardi Gras. We got there early, parking away from the parade route and took a trolley to where the parade was supposed to be.  We were quite early, and were able to pick out where we wanted to stand. Needless to say, it wasn't the best place. As the crowds grew, we saw more and more young people drinking and partying. There were some spectators who were dressed in pirate costumes, but most wore skimpy shorts and tops. The parade started around 2:00 PM and was quite colorful with floats of 'pirates' tossing plastic beads into the crowds. The parade continued for at least three hours. We were ready to leave after two hours, but the streets were closed and we had to wait until the  end, while people screamed at the passing floats for beads.  James wrote a letter to the local newspaper expressing his dislike and disapproval of the parade, and comparing it to the much nicer Tournament of Roses Parade.

                We said goodbye to Barrie, and headed to Winter Haven to have lunch with Joan's brother, Carl, and his wife, Tammy, who had left cold Connecticut for sunny Florida. They had found a very nice condo to rent. Two swimming pools and an exercise room are added benefits. We went out to Pizza Hut for lunch and too soon it was time for the Vagabonds to leave if we were going to make it to our next stop before commuting traffic! Next year we will plan a longer visit, if they are still in Florida.

                Joan's cousin, Bruce and his girlfriend Judy, are always a fun stop in Florida. They belong to a dance club called "Boppers" and go at least once or twice a week.  Instead of staying in the VIEW for our visit, we packed up what we would need for a few days, and stayed in the condo. We unloaded the scooter, and went shopping and investigating the area. On our last afternoon at Bruce's, we went swimming in the pool. The weather was quite warm and the sun was shining all the time we were there. It was the only time on our trip that the weather was truly warm!

                It was time for the Vagabonds to start heading north, and a stop at James' son's home in Falls Church, VA. Joan had planned a visit to the archives of the Smithsonian Museum of Art to research a mural by Arthur Covey that is located in the Harwinton Elementary School. We rode the scooter to the Metro Station (a chilly ride), and took the train into Washington, DC. It is always a great place to visit. Our Nation's capital has so many museums, exhibits, and monuments that we can stop at some on every visit and still not see them all!

                We had been watching the weather, and a big snow storm was heading to New England. We had to decide whether to go home before the storm, or wait until all the roads were cleared. We decided to go before the storm, which turned out to be a blizzard, with winds, drifting snow which measured as much as 40" in some areas of Connecticut! Our back deck had a pile of snow 34" deep! The weather continued to be bad, so it is a good thing we headed home, but the American Vagabonds sure do miss that Florida sunshine!

                On this trip, the American Vagabonds traveled 8, 062 miles. We left on November 20, 2012 and returned home on February 7, 2013. We traveled through twenty states. We visited friends and relatives along the way and explored National Parks. It was a super great trip, and we are looking forward to our summer trip, which will begin after Memorial Day.

                Until then, you can Google us, look us up on YouTube (we are SuperTraveler 2012, more videos will be added soon) or check out our website  http://www.americanvagabonds.net, and re-read the blog at http://theamericanvagabonds.blogspot.com.

James and Joan

The American Vagabonds

Beautiful bronze Navy Monuments in Washington, DC.

Geese in the lake by Barrie's.

Manatee coming up for air!

Sunrise along the New Jersey Turnpike.

 

South Along the Coast

SOUTH ALONG THE COAST

It is funny, or maybe strange, how different and yet similar different areas of the country are. We see the same national chain stores, Walmart, Home Depot, Payless Shoes, and all the fast food restaurants. People in different parts of the country dress the same, considering the weather. Then, you go into a Walmart and see entire counter of spicy salsa, or Heinz Chipotle BBQ Style beans, and cans of Hominy and collard greens!

In the middle-Northern states and in the west and mid-west, train tracks are usually close by the interstates and we can hear them rumbling by during the night, sometimes blowing their whistles at road crossings. One night though, we heard a roar overhead. We were parked right at the end of a runway, and jets taking off make quite a noise!

Traveling along I-10 in a winter storm,we arrived in Fort Stockton, TX. Funny, but the last time we were in Fort Stockton, it was cold, and snowy. (Next time we will by-pass Fort Stockton!) We stayed at Walmart with about ten other RVs that wanted to stop traveling during the storm. It was like being in a campground!

The next morning we decided to do something different for breakfast, so we stopped at a little restaurant called 'Pepito's.' It appeared to be a popular place since it was filled with locals. We sat by a window and ordered. Now, this is different. The waitress went to the window and opened it. Someone was in a car outside, and ordered breakfast! It was an 'old style' drive-up window. I guess they haven't heard of microphones. A little later, a town sheriff, who was eating breakfast, got up and went to the window. He opened it and had a friendly conversation with the person in the car. The waitress arrived with the order and passed it through the window, took the payment and off drove the car!

The southern coastal states have  had some major flooding. What was a flat, dry area last time we went through, is now a large lake. This explains the long, long bridges we traveled over. One was 27 miles long! In Lafayette, LA, the Planet Fitness gym had been flooded with 3" of water. Fortunately, the exercise equipment wasn't damaged, but they have to check for mold, and replace some of the floor and wall moldings.

We had seen a flyer for a big flea market in Lafayette, LA, so on Saturday morning, that was our first stop. It was really big, with aisles inside full of vendors and some outside, too. We probably missed some of the booths, but we each purchased a little stool for sitting at parades, etc., Joan bought a pretty bracelet and a floppy hat. James bought some hose clamps. So much for the big shopping trip of the American Vagabonds! Think of the saying that one person's junk is another person's treasure.

Traveling through the southwest, we passed through towns that have songs named after them. "Is this the way to Amarillo", "City of New Orleans", and "El Paso," reminded us of those cities. Then there was Tombstone, of Wyatt Earp fame, and the Rocky Mountains, from John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High". All the old TV westerns and their theme songs come to mind when traveling along through that area.

Along the Gulf Coast, it is everything Cajun and Acadian. In Lafayette we stopped at Walmart on Evangeline Blvd. It reminded Joan of reading Longfellow's poem "Evangeline" about young lovers who were forced to relocate from the north to Louisiana by the British and became separated. They found each other at the end of their lives, and by the end of the poem, Joan was trying to hide her tears from her eighth grade classmates!

We found a dance in Mobile, AL. Actually, it was at a ballroom dance club that we had been to a few years ago. The hall was decorated for Mardi Gras. The dancers were friendly and several spent time talking to us. On to Pensacola and the Naval Air Museum where we experienced a simulation of being on an aircraft carrier flight deck. It was really cool to sit in a chair, feel the 'deck' tremble, and air blow across us as planes on the screen landed and took off! They even 'piped' in the smell of jet fuel. As he promised when we went into the chamber, James could not smell the jet fuel.

From Pensacola we drove along the coast to Florida and St. Petersburg, FL to visit Joan's high school girlfriend, Barrie, brother in Winter Haven, and cousin in Altamonte Springs.  And, from there, we will head north toward Connecticut.

Don't forget to check out our website: http://www.americanvagabonds.net