Getting Started

So...We sold our business and decided to leave Florida. The weather here is pretty darn good; but, weather shouldn't determine where you live. We're going up to see Bryon and the Boys and Amanda (will Uncle Brad be there too?) but we can't leave Florida too soon because it's still cold in Illinois. (I will NOT be a slave to the weather)

Getting ready to move is WORK! Don't let "stuff" accumulate! We gave away or sold our furniture, except for the book cases (So Many Books!), and we filled a 10' by 20' storage unit.

February 10, 2009 is the big day - up at 7 a.m. - 3 more loads to the storage unit, 3 more loads to Sue and 20+ bags of trash hauled to the curb! We completely loaded the TV, once known as the Expedition herein known as the Tow Vehicle, latched on to the trailer and left Southwest Florida for the last time. It was 11:30PM and we are both bushed! What a Day!!

Sometimes you miss the places you leave and sometimes you don't. Let's just say that we lived in Lehigh Acres, FL for 5 years and I won't miss it. We drove North on I-75 headed for Pensacola, FL. Along the way we drank coffee, ate Bonnie's homemade cookies and reminisced about the places we wouldn't see again, starting with the Caloosahatchee River.

Remember when we rode our bikes there? There's the Rest Stop Brad, Amanda and I stopped at when we couldn't go another mile while bringing the furniture down from Wisconsin - Where's that maniac going in such a hurry? He'll make a good decoy!

"North bound and down, loaded up and truckin' - there's the turn for the Myakka River State Park where the alligator waits under the people bridge looking for hand outs. We really have been all over this side of the state.

There's the turn off for Adam and Connie's house in Riverview. We were up there a lot. Maybe not enough but a lot. Now we're crossing I-4. Orlando that way! We drove until 2:30AM. Both of us are tired. We stopped at a Holiday Inn Express in Brookville, Fl to inquire as to the availability of a room for the remainder of the night. "$105, are you mad? We're only going to sleep for 5 or 6 hours!"

It should go without saying that we bid adieu to that establishment and headed up the road again. The night ended about 5 miles north at a Rest Stop. We pulled in and hunkered down in the front seats. Not a hotel but there will be money enough for breakfast.