Here’s to a Healthy, Happy New Year for All!

Woke up in Savannah on the 31^st and something caught my eye out the window!

Was very excited about the drive yesterday as I would be off the Interstate highways and onto State and County roads.

I averaged 62 to 65 mph on the freeways, but was simply blown past by most everyone else.  Also, I was finally in Florida, 5 days, 1,543 miles later and that part of the trip was done.

Got to Florida and got some essentials at the gift store!

Picked up A1A at Amelia Island and headed south.  Traffic was at a minimum and comfortably cruising at 45 and 55 mph and suddenly I come upon a sign for the A1A ferry.

Evidently that dotted line I saw on my phone was not a bridge after all.  Just as I pulled up, the ferry was heading across, but 15 minutes later I’m boarding the St John’s ferry.

Short run across for $6.00 and back on A1A.

Found a quirky motel just outside St Augustine that had a room for New Year’s Eve.

The people running it (own?) are very sweet, welcoming and accommodating.  Photos of them in short order.  It’s nice and clean and quiet.  Problem is my cell service is almost nil and I’ve got calls beginning tomorrow.

Meet the young woman in the room next door to me.  She has just travelled from San Diego to Key West and the up to St Augustine in her mid-80’s VW Vanagon.  Problem is she blew a water pump arriving here and is staying until the parts arrive.

She’s got an interesting story…for the past 20+ years she’s sold sailing yachts based out of San Diego.  Most recently she has been privately assisting clients with the purchase and build of boats in the $10+ million department that take a couple years to build.  Once she finishes the bus and puts it into storage she will embark on a year-long trip supervising a boat build in New Zealand, while also working on a few more projects in Europe.  The economy for these big-ticket boats is quite strong and she is now experiencing an uptick the past few months.

Stay warm my friends!  I am commiserating from here.  Raining sideways, 39 degrees, wind at 25 mph.