Been a while!

Time to get caught up…

Laundry in St Augustine

For those who love order, especially when doing laundry. Is it me or does this seem weird?! Check the last photo, the sign above the door, which most people probably miss!

Travel from St Augustine to Orlando

Needed to be in Orlando for a site visit with a client at 1:00 PM on Thursday. Well Thursday morning was finally dry and sunny and a perfect way to get out of St Augustine. Hopefully when Linda and I get back up there on the 13^th, it will be warmer and a bit dryer since we are camping.

Successful meetings in Orlando and a dinner with great client Jim Brick from RBC. Dined at a restaurant that specializes in preparing your meal by flashlight at the table.

Jim totally amazed at the process.

Orlando to Naples

Needed to make the 240-mile run to Naples in time to meet Eliot Hungracker, the owner of EuroTech, the shop that will do my 2,000-mile valve adjustment and oil change. Got there by 3:45 PM and discussed my bus and an interesting Minnesota connection. Eliot’s uncle was the owner of The Volkswagen Man repair shop in Minneapolis on East Hennepin. As their company vehicle, they had this VW Bus that was chopped, so it looked half as long as mine. Pretty funky looking, but very memorable and a longstanding repair shop in Nordeast.

Worst hour ever!

Leaving there, I accidentally turned onto I-75 South. When I saw the toll booths it dawned on me, but it was too late. I pleaded with the toll booth operator to allow me to turn around. She said no, laughed at me and told me it was only 20 miles to the first exit. When I exited the highway to go to the EuroTech, I remembered a sign that said ‘next gas 50 miles’. Crap – I am on ¼ tank and no way I will make it 50 miles. Drove 45 miles an hour to conserve gas (in a 70 zone) across alligator alley thinking the entire way that I was going to get stuck and get consumed out here as the sun was starting to sink in the sky. Got to the 20 mile exit and turned around. Shut the bus off briefly to see where the gas gauge would go when off, so I had an idea of how much I had left. I was now on the empty line, but there is an ‘R’ beneath that, so I’m hoping I have 1.5 gallons left. Averaging a bit under 15 MPG, I need it all! Well, I made it, but it was a very unsettling experience and made me want to find a hotel and have a drink!

Finally a sunset!

Went looking for a sunset this afternoon (the first on my trip). Heading out, I thought going toward the beach and there would be a parking lot and all would be good. Not so fast in Naples. Everything is gated here! Seems they don’t like riff-raff hanging out at the beach. Amazing – everything is a gated community. All kinds and styles of gates.