Part #10...the Florida Trip, Final Chapter, Heading Home

Heading Home, with one more glitch...

Got up before sunrise on Sunday {October 27th} and took the Jeep for a ride to Tom's workplace, the Stables between Astor and DeLand, Florida...River and Horse Country for sure. Tom introduced me to several of his co~workers, some of the horses he takes care of, and then we said our good~byes, and I head back down the muddy sand road and back towards Highway 40...I had the phone GPS plugged into getting back to I-75 and off I went towards Ocala.

I had plans to stop and spend the night somewhere in Tennessee or southern Kentucky, but as it turned out, I was making great time...so I stopped south of Atlanta to get some Currant Jelly for Patricia and her Christmas Cookies....she used to make thousands a year, but has cut that back to several hundred, still a lot of baking...lucky for us she gives them as presents to family and friends, and I get to look at them and enjoy a couple, but not many, thus allowing me to keep my weight down over the Holidays....I stopped for gas and the jelly at an old place called the Magnolia Plantation...it's been

there for years, so long that we used to stop there on our way back to Florida from our Ohio Vacations, back in the late 50s and early 60s...Brother Mike and I would buy several boxes of Fireworks, illegal in Florida at the time, and take them back to Venice, and raise some Hell in the neighborhood.  The old building, located just off I-75 looks much the same as it did 60 years ago...located near Tifton, Georgia, back in the day it was located on US 41, which still runs next to the Interstate in that location.

The traffic on this Sunday, at least heading north, wasn't that bad around Atlanta this time...so before I knew it I was in Tennessee and got to Kentucky before dark...so it hit me...I might as well head for home.  If the traffic stayed steady, I would make it home before Midnight...well, the traffic was OK, except for some major construction delays in southern Kentucky before Lexington...however, the Jeep had one more "surprise" in store for me as I got closer to Ohio.

After getting past the Capitol City, I stopped for fuel and coffee between Lexington and Cincinnati...and that's when I heard the noise...a major clicking sound, in what I though was the right front wheel.  Well Hell, it was Sunday Night, I could drive on and see what shook out, after all I have had AAA Plus for well over 30 years, and the towing is free, if I got to within 100 miles of Celina {I was about 175 out at this time} I could just have it towed home, so on I went.

As I crossed the bridge into Cincinnati over the Ohio River...BANG! A pop and the ABS and several other Yellow Warning Lights went on...they weren't Red, so I figured I could maybe make it to the Rest Area some 15 miles north.  I did, called youngest son Hal, who lives about 15 miles north of the rest stop, he told me he would make up a bed and I could stay there if I made it....I did.

Actually the probably, although expensive{another $335}, was not disabling, so I spent the night, went fishing with the Grandson's, who didn't have school {they switch between home schooling and a Christian School on rotating days}...we caught several, as Hal joined us at lunch.  I had read up on the ABS problem and realized that it was not disabling, so after lunch I headed home, arriving early afternoon...the Jeep would eventually get back in the shop, not once, but twice, for other issues...the most costly part of the trip was the Jeep, at around $1500 in repairs{one with the 4WD was not trip related however}...I still have not got my "refund" from the coverage I had placed on the Wrangler when I purchased it...but that will come, hopefully, before Christmas.

Anyway, that is it...my 3 week adventure was done, just in time for Cold Weather to arrive here in Western Ohio....

If I don't post again before the New Year, Merry Christmas and a Happy 2020 to all...

back later>>>>actually I will post one more batch of  photos, some of my favorites, from the trip, in the next couple of days....today, you have the Jeep, before it's issues, the Old and Somewhat Famous, Magnolia Plantation, Patricia's Cookies, and Kasyn the oldest grandson...not from our fishing that day, but earlier in the summer on Grand Lake...

Back with a full house of trip photos....later!

part #9 Florida...heading North

Heading to North to DeLand...

I left Venice about 8:30AM Saturday 10/26/19...heading up I-75 and some back roads in the central part of the state,  towards the DeLand area and a stop at my old Buckeye Buddy, Tom Friedly's place near DeLand, Florida, along the St. Johns River...Tom works with Trotter and Pacer racing horses there, and now lives in Florida full time.  I wanted to leave early and get there in time for the Ohio State vs Wisconsin game...I arrived about half way through the 1st quarter...the game ended up being a Buckeye blowout so not a problem with the late arrival...

Have known Tom for 35 or so years, since my early days in the Health Department at Celina...he has a nice rental place on the River with his landlord living next door...after the game we toured the landlord's {who is 74 and divorced} garage collection, which includes a cherry red 1963 Corvette in prime condition, after that we headed to a local bar, grabbed a bite to eat and returned to watch more football and a bit of the World Series between Houston and Washington.

It was good visit, I stayed in the guest room, and slept well after the beers and giant burger at the bar...

Up Sunday early, took a drive down a muddy road and checked out some of the ponies that Tom works with...said our good~byes and I worked my way back to the main road and headed west back to I-75, home to Ohio, after nearly 3 weeks in the Sunshine State, but there was one more "Glitch" on the Jeep I would have to deal with...the trip home coming up in the final part of my story.

back later>>>

Photos-a couple of views off the Dock at Tom's place at Sunset...a bit of rain had moved into the St. Johns River, but managed a couple of decent shots...

October in South Florida part #8

After a great, relaxing 18 hours at "Drop Anchor Resort" {a decent motel, but hardly a "resort"} on the Atlantic side of Islamorada, I pulled up "anchor" and headed north in the Wrangler....still undecided which way to go, or even where....my first decision was a mistake that cost me time, but not much else.

I was deciding whether to go deep into the Everglades for some photo shooting or not...with the construction on the 'by pass" FL997 I opted not to on this trip and decided to take US 1 back to the Tamiami Trail {US 41}...who would have thought that 4 lanes {8 total in both directions} could be so plugged and crowded between 10 and 11am?  Not me, silly me...I can only imagine what the traffic on those roads will be like this weekend, with the influx of Key West Travelers and those heading for the final NASCAR Race of the season at Homestead???  What a nightmare...!

I finally jumped off before I got to Miami and found my way back to 41...I should have went into the Glades, I would have not wasted any more time than I did on Highway 1...what a mistake {one that I won't make next, if there is a next time}.

The rest of the drive on 41 and FL 29 to I-75 was a breeze...however as I got to the Fort Myers area I noticed some major storm clouds moving from east to west and did my best to out run those...I did, for the most part.  I had planned on getting towards the Tampa area and beyond and then make a quick and shorter trip to the DeLand area on Saturday to see my old buddy Tom Friedly from Rockford, Ohio...he works with Trotters and Pacer Horses over that way, and now lives in Florida full time...but I got to my old hometown of Venice and decided to stop for gas...once there, on the outskirts, I figured "Hell, it's only 3 or so hours to Tom's, even from Venice"...so I checked the prices at the Holiday Inn Express next door, got a decent rate...bar/restaurant next door...I was set to go.
After checking in, I waited out a storm, that dropped a couple of inches of rain along the Interstate...with another one coming for later...but that gave me enough time to head down to my old haunt from the Fifties and early Sixties, Venice Beach, and wait for the Sunset...I was awarded with some of the photos on here today.

Back to the Motel and I decided to grab a six pack, took that to the room and then over to the Bar/Restaurant next door, a place called "Brew Burgers"...a nice little dive with friendly staff, good burgers, and cold craft beer...I stayed for an hour or so, then headed back to the room to watch some of the World Series...the next morning it was up early, breakfast downstairs, which the motel had a good one, and then it was back to driving north, as my trip was winding down...

Up Next #9...off to Tom's...

back later>>>>>

Photos:  All Friday Evening Sunsets at Venice Beach on October 25, 2019...

Florida Trip Part #7...Islamorada in the Keys...

Leaving the Everglades, I continue on Highway 41, the Tamiami Trail, and east I headed towards the outskirts of Miami, and then south towards Highway 1 and the Florida Keys...

I jumped off 41 at Florida 997 to avoid the traffic on US 1...a move I should have made on Friday's return trip....997 had plenty of major construction but was still a better route to pick up US 1 south of Homestead.


I still arrived at Islamorada before 3 pulled into a bar parking lot and begin to search for last minute

deals on places to stay via the phone...I finally found one, just down the road...a place call the "Drop Anchor".  This was a motel being refurbished … from it's 1950s styling.  I ended up taking the Internet deal for about $90 and heading down a back beach road, found the place...the guys at the desk announced they had "Upgraded" my reservations and gave me a lower floor room with access to the beach and pool through the sliding glass doors.  My only complaints about the place, were that the bathroom was small, and if I was any bigger than my 5' 10" 185 pounds, I would never have fit into the toilet area if having to take a #2...also the Beach was nice, but really had no access to the Atlantic...the water was there, but the beach ended and you would have had to climb down into the water...not a problem for me, I wasn't there to swim anyway, pool or ocean.  I was there to take some photos, drink some beers, and smoke a good cigar...Mission Accomplished!

I first visited Islamorada in 1997 or 98 while the family was returning from Key West on our first or second visit in those years.  It had attracted me, due to the movie "Key Largo" with Bogart, Bacall,

Hurricane 1935 Florida Keys
and Eddie G. Robinson, which had mentioned the 1935 devastating Hurricane, which destroyed much of the Middle Keys, including Islamorada, and left hundreds dead....the total will never known for sure, due to the train of veterans being knocked off the tracks and many bodies never recovered.  We had stopped at the Hurricane Memorial {top photo} and read about the story:  This Link covers it pretty well:

After Checking in at the Drop Anchor...nice but not what I would call a "Resort"...but hey the price was right and location was great.  I drove to the nearest Public Market and got some beer and groceries for the evening and breakfast next morning.  Returning to the motel I grabbed a glass, some beer, a cigar, and cameras, and went about the task of enjoying all of those …

Drop Anchor "Resort"

The seasonal sunset and sunrise were a bit off from where I would have liked them to be...but hey,

you have to work with what you are given, and many of the photos reflected what I had to work with...not perfect, but some came out pretty nice, IMO.

Part # 8 I will leave the Keys, head into some miserable traffic on Highway 1 into Miami, and then back through the Glades and finally on to I-75 and head north for the final portions of my trip.

back later>>>

Photos-{top} the 1935 Hurricane Memorial  {2} View from my Room...{3} View from the Beach...{4} There was a nice hammock, but Hell, I ever have felt safe in one of those, so it went unused by me...the rest of the photos{below} are from the various sunset {October 24} and sunrise {25th} from the room and beach, along with some room views.

Florida 3 weeks...part #6 Quick Trip Everglades...

Whenever I get to South Florida, I try to get some time and photos through the Glades....this year, even though I had nearly 3 weeks, I did not set enough time up...in a hurry to beat the Miami/Homestead Traffic to the Keys...I passed up on my usual side trips to Everglades City, and longer looks along and off the Tamiami Trail {US 41} through the area....I did jaunt down a few miles on Loop Road, but even then, not the entire route as planned...the time, I felt I needed, and the record heat {still going on as I write this on November 6th} that kept much of the wildlife hiding, kept my visit short by my usual standards.

Leaving my Sister and Brother-in-Law's place in Naples late morning{10/24}, I quickly hooked up on 41 and headed south and east....50 miles into the trip I found my favorite haunt in the Glades, Loop Road...although, admittedly, it's not the same since the Classic Old Tourist Trap, Monroe Station burned down a few years back, after sitting empty in all it's glory, for several decades.

I only drove about 5 miles south when I realized that the Gators and other Critters were just not out in force...the Hot, Humid, but Dry Conditions had them hiding in the swamp...so I stopped, relieved myself at the picnic area and turned around after snapping some Swamp photos and a Marsh Hawk lurking in the trees hoping for a rabbit, mouse, or some other small critter to make a mistake and become "lunch".  I headed back east on 41 I did stop and snap a few Gator Photos, along with some water birds....but for the most part it was a disapointment on my part, as I would not even make the planned trip down the 35 miles from Homestead to Flamingo, deep in the

Glades...Oh' Well, maybe next trip...maybe!

Instead I avoided US 1 as long as I could{I should have done the same on Friday Morning's Return Trip}...and then headed for my planned stop in Islamorada.  Looking back I made some mistakes in my timing...but all in all it worked out....those mistakes will be avoided in the next go around, which, God willing, I will make before I assume Room Temperature.

What I didn't really want to do was go all the way to Key West...as much as I enjoyed the crazy place with the family 20+ years ago...a solo white haired old white guy might look like or be mistaken for the many perverts and LBGT losers that hang there...my ego would not allow for that...so I decided not to make that trip this time around.  Islamorada and photographing the Sunset and Sunrise on both the Atlantic and Gulf was really what I had planned and I found a near perfect spot for that...that story up next.

Back Later>>>

Part #7...Islamorada in the Keys

More photo from the Everglades....{top}  The View Off Loop Road of the Swamp...{2} the Old Monroe Station from my visit back in 2006...it was torched {probably arson} a few years ago{3}Gator Eyes me...{4} a Gator cooling off in the creek along Highway 41...{5}the Loop Road Turn Around {6} a Gar Fish along the Ditch on the Tamiami Trail  {7}  A Marsh Hawk looking for Lunch...{8} and a Blue Heron, we have thousands up north here along Grand Lake, looking the same as his cousins, only a bit warmer in the Glades...

Part #5...13 Days in Naples

My assignment was to keep the house standing and the critters alive and well for nearly 2 weeks...That proved successful.  I also managed to get the kinks fixed in the Axle of the Jeep Wrangler, which had showed up on the way down to Florida.  I got some fishing in, albeit not as successful as I would have liked, plenty of beers down, including a 16 gallon keg that brother in law had left for me in the Lanai Bar....some good food fixed on the grill, and one trip to the beach, a couple to Wally World for supplies and to stock up the beer garden, etc.  For the most part however, with the exception of seeing my buddy Butch Mellinger and his Wife, Eran,  {who had lived near Venice, and was one year ahead of me at Venice Elementary and Junior High, back in the 50s and early 60s} at the Three Fisherman's in North Fort Myers, I stayed close to the house and did what I had traveled 1200 miles or so to do....kept the house and animals safe.

The Happy Wallet took care of my Axle problem{s}, as I had them go ahead and change out both seals, instead of just the leaking one, at a cost of $770, most of which I will {hopefully} get back, since I had bumper to bumper extended coverage on the Jeep....a move I had to make to justify paying what I had for a 10 year old Wrangler back in January, one with 64,800 miles on it.  Another problem would crop up as I neared home on the return trip...the right front ABS system alarm sounded...that gets taken care of tomorrow....again, "hopefully".

I spent much of the time, depending on rains, heat, and humidity, rotating between the living room, sitting at the kitchen bar, but mostly on the dock by the harbor, or the screened in Lanai, with a beer and hand rolled cigar in my hands....despite being alone for most of the trip, it was a relaxing time...if I do something like this again, Patricia will likely join me....but if Sis Kelly or Denmark Mike need me in a pinch...I am more than ready to head back down and do it all again.

Kelly and Mike returned from Denmark on Tuesday night October 22nd...I would stick around until Thursday morning, then head for the Everglades and Keys...not exactly sure how long or exactly where I would go....I missed a few opportunities, but with a storm coming, I was ready to work my way back north.

Coming Up Next part #6....Everglades, Loop Road, and Islamorada...

back later...  Photos{top} and 3rd Almost every night had a view to photograph at the Dock at Sunset....The pups, Belle and Alfie, hoping I would drop some steak their way in photo #2...the Rest....top to bottom:  A Medium Rare piece of meat I cooked up on the side grill where I enjoyed a "few" beers at the same time...a life worth living indeed...the Lanai Bar and TV where I watch mostly sports and enjoyed cigar and beer, most days.  Also The Birds, Sweet Pea, and Lola{whose name sounds like a girl but he's a guy}  :)  and Zowee the 21 year old cat, who game me no problems...and finally the view looking out of the Lanai, from the bar.

3 weeks to Florida and Back...part #4 Off to Naples

The purpose of my nearly 3 weeks in Florida was actually not vacation related...I had agreed to spend nearly 2 weeks in Naples and my youngest sister and her husband's place on the Harbor Channel, while they visited his homeland and family back in Denmark.  I agreed to keep an eye on their place and watch and care for the 2 small dogs, one old cat, and 2 birds...while I sat on the dock, drank beer and grilled out on their Lanai …  pretty simple work in the sunshine, mainly keeping the animals healthy and alive, and working on my tan and my Cigar Smoking and Beer Drinking Skills.

I also had listed some friends to visit...some I got done, others it just didn't work out, but all in all, even with the axle related issues with the Jeep, most of the trip worked out fine...

I left from Venice before Noon on Saturday October 12th  {damn has it been that long ago already?} and arrived early afternoon.  They were flying out for Europe on Sunday and I needed to get instructions, etc...I might note the weather the entire time was Hot and Humid, even for South Florida in mid October.  I did have 2 days of hard rains the second weekend, October 19th and 20th...but all in all, the weather, despite the heat, was enjoyable. I spent much of the time, especially in the early evenings, out on the dock and the large majority of time, after dark, at the Lanai Bar, watching baseball, football, and enjoying beers and a few good cigars.

The first Sunday {10/13}while Kelly and Michael were preparing to head to the airport across the state at Fort Lauderdale, I headed north to North Ft. Myers to the Annual "Nam Jam" for Vietnam Vets at the Old Shell Factory {a place my Grandmother Houseworth frequented many a time back in the 1950s }.  There I hooked up with my Vietnam Buddy John Claflin, aka:  "Johnny C" whom I was stationed with, but only about 3 or 4 months, at Nha Trang, but we became lifetime friends, and we finally got together last April at the Dayton "Sky Cop" Reunion I host...we hooked up again for a few hours at Ft

Myers, then after the "Jam" we went out to eat at the Gulf Side Bar and Grill called the "3 Fisherman's Restaurant"

Once done there I headed south to Naples, where I would begin my 12 days of "work"...

I would spend much of the next days lounging around the place, watching a selection of Westerns and other old movies on the tube that I could pull up at anytime...that was during the heat of day, as mentioned before, the rest of the time was near the water or at the Lanai Bar.

I also searched the local listings to find a good solid repair shop with same reputation to have the Axle Leak looked at and worked on...."Happy Wallet" was the place I chose and it worked out well...more on that later.

More on the Naples portion of the trip in Part #5...


Back Later.....

Photos...{Top} The Naples Pier...made one trip to here during the stay...the previous weekend storms had stirred up the usually Clear Blue Waters...{2} My usual evening/Sunset View...off the attached dock, where I tried, usually without success to fish...I did catch a few, but mostly damn Salt Water Catfish...not what I was hoping for...{3}Me and "Johnny C" ...at Fort Myers at "Nam Jam" and {4} 50 years, almost to the day earlier, standing on the roof of a local Steak House and Hotel in downtown Nha Trang, RVN, October 1969...we both, at the time, were working with the 14th Security Police …  Me in Law Enforcement, John in Security...in the 1969 photo he is on the left, while I'm on the right, just the opposite of the 2019 photo....{5, 6, 7}  From the dock and Lanai I captured this Big Guy hanging around the dock and shrubs, one of the Damn Catfish, I had to cut loose...and a nice big piece of meat on the grill....I used it {grill} on more than one occasion to fix "supper"...