Just enough winter

Some scattered thoughts over the last three weeks…

Those of you who live in northern climates are all very thankful for the long and beautiful Fall we had this year. It was nice up to the first week in December. Weather seems so different. Joe recalls snowmobiling over Thanksgiving weekend years ago. Perhaps all part of global warming but we won’t get into that on this a boating blog.

December started with a bit of snow, dropping temperatures and brutal winds. Again, what is with the strong wind year round? Plus, the deadly off-season tornadoes were just horrible. We started digging out winter clothes to take Miss Coconut out for her walks and to fill the birdfeeders.

Next, we get more snow about 8” in a brutal, windy weekend but one week later it was in the 50’s Bye bye snow.

At any rate, this winter weather has us back to planning to head South. We have decided on a departure date of January 4. We are thinking a route through Iowa to St. Loius and then straight to Panama City Beach in Florida. Its Cold outside. Lets get where its warm FAST. Ooh, just had a fleeting thought about last year in the panhandle and Texas… They were literally freezing. Couldn’t happen again— could it?

So it looks like we will experience about a month of winter at home this year. Apparently we are old. We used to enjoy so many winter activities. Not so much anymore. Well truth be told, I recall a few “up north” snowmobile trips in below zero weather that were really not all that wonderful.

Cable Wisconsin a few years ago. Winter Wonderland!

Is it an age thing? On a few of those days with the wind still blowing and the temperature dropping to 10 degrees with a fierce wind chill, I didn’t want to leave the house. Oh my, it is cold, I rescheduled a lunch date!!!

I am going back to planning that route South. Especially since a very, very evil friend recently sent a sunset at Siesta Key in Florida. Where are those suitcases????

We are taking 4 days to drive to Cape Canaveral where our boat is stored, arriving on the 5th day. Once there, we have rented a beachside condo for 2 days to give us time to get the boat uncovered, etc. We are in the non-working storage yard and they are pretty persnickety about what you can and cannot do to the boat there. One person Joe talked to said putting up our biminis would be considered work as would hooking up the batteries; therefore, they would want to move our boat to the “working yard” and then launch us from there. This area would add charges of $150 per day. I think not! We will take the cover off and launch! I can think of many places around town to better spend those dollars!!!

January 4, 2022

One nice thing about cruising down the road hour after hour is excusing one’s self from reading every news story that pops up on the screen.  As you all know, 95% are not good news.  I like to give myself a break—enjoy the music and scenery.  Many sweet towns in Iowa.  Just drove through Waterloo. Lots and lots of small, older homes.  there was something big going on here about 50 years ago. Joe guesses something with shipping.  I’m thinking farming.  Coconut says its time for a treat!  Don’t want to leave you hanging over this quandry…. Are you bored yet?

We were both right… There was Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Company, the Rath Packing Company, the Illinois Central Railroad, agriculture and an automobile manufacturer, the Maytag-Mason Motor Company. John Deere is there and is still a major employer.

Are you still there? Ok, here’s something better from the road. Dog friendly hotels have started a new practice which I pray to God never happens with people for overnight bookings.  We use an App called Bring Fido to find hotels.  It has vastly improved in the last year.  You put in your destination and it lists pet friendly hotels and their policies.  They guarantee price, pet fee and that a room will be available.  While still home, I booked a room in a Best Western Hotel, with a $20 pet fee.  Reasonable priced room, reasonable pet fee, I booked it.  It really makes finding rooms easier.  A day later I get an email from Bring Fido confirming that we meet the hotel’s policy about pets.  Your dog has to weigh less than 20 lbs at this particular hotel. Now us girls don’t like to be asked about our weight but Coconut had just been to the Vet; she’s 18 lbs.  She then mumbled something about holiday treats and lack of exercise due to miserable weather adding some weight….oh wait, that was me.   

Not really sure why a dog’s weight matters.  I also don’t know why some pet “cleaning fees” are up to $100 per night but i do know we love our girl and play the game to have her with us.  I liked this message I saw somewhere from a hotel owner:

“I’ve been operating this hotel for many years. In all that time, I’ve never had a dog steal towels, bedclothes, silverware, or pictures off the walls. I’ve never had to evict a dog in the middle of the night for being drunk and disorderly. And I’ve never had a dog run out on a hotel bill. Yes, indeed, your dog is welcome at my hotel. And, if your dog will vouch for you, you’re welcome to stay here, too.”

Our driving route through Iowa, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama then Florida has been extremely nice.  No traffic!  So much more relaxing to avoid hours of semi trucks, RVs and crazy drivers.  Maybe a covid positive is that there wasn’t even much traffic in St. Louis at rush hour.  As y’all (i’m in the South now)  know, driving in traffic is stressful and that makes you tired so you want to stop earlier to rest …. or get a drink.   Not so this trip.  The plan we hatched during that brutal cold, windy and snowy day was to leave a day earlier than planned and drive fast and South to a beach!  We chose Panama City Beach on Florida’s panhandle on SIL Donna’s recommendation.  21 hours from home. Good weather, an early start and easy driving got us to St. Loius yesterday–About 9 hours.  We hope to do the same today, which will get us to the beach before noon tomorrow!!  Dang, the forecast is for rain (good rhyme); we will make do.

We got another early start. The hotel breakfast offerings these days are pretty lame. A stop at Dunkin’ for coffee and back on the road. We had about 3 hours on an Alabama State Highway. Gorgeous horsey-type estates and cattle ranches. A very enjoyable drive. A few things that tell you your in the South: palm trees (of course), boiled peanuts, alligator jerky, live oaks and Spanish moss, brahma bulls, produce stands selling oranges, houses with front porches, seafood, acres of kudzu vine, magnolias, confederate flags and…. ok, probably time to stop!

We have arrived!

Got to PCB just before noon. Goal met. Rain held off until after our walk on the Beautiful, dog friendly beach. Next stop Pompano Joe’s for Mahi tacos and beachy drinks. ahhhhhh…… mission accomplished.