Travels with Sasha Day 19

February 7 

I wake thinking about getting home. Google maps and weather.com are studied. It’s four and a half hours to Scranton, Pa. with the weather saying 39 degrees and rain. It’s six hours from Scranton to Bradford, N.H., but the weather forecast for Monday is lots of snow. No matter what, tomorrow will not be a good travel day. 

I check out the breakfast around 7:30. Ugh, nothing appealing and the thought of sitting there listening to the TV blaring depressing news is something I am not going to do. Why do places have to have TV blaring everywhere now? Can’t people do anything without being bombarded with negative happenings? I refuse to listen and return to my room. 

I spend the entire day editing, working on the community calendar, and writing my column. I periodically check messages and answer. I finish up before 4:30 and because I haven’t eaten, go to the front desk for delivery menus. There’s no one around the pool and it looks so inviting that I hurry back to the room to change into a swimsuit. 

Oh, the water is warm and feels so good. Up and down the length of the pool, sometimes face up and other times swimming; back and forth until I’m tired… at least 15 times. Then it’s over to the hot tub where the heat warms muscles and bones. So good! 

It would be nice to have some conversation, but traveling alone leaves a lot of silent times. I get out and dry as well as possible and head back to the room. I feel better than I have in days! 

I order delivery and enjoy another good meal, then settle to watch TV for an hour or so. A good day!

 

 

Travels with Sasha Day 18

February 6 

I can’t wait to be out of this crappy hotel! The one good thing, the bed was very comfortable and I slept well. The bags are packed and loaded in the car as soon as it is light. I go back inside to have a biscuit and gravy. That is as dull and dry as this hotel. Ugh, I can’t even eat it. Even the gravy is tasteless. Maybe it’s just me and I’m ready to be home. I throw my breakfast in trash and in turning I lose my balance and fall against an older woman. Good thing I don’t knock her over. 

I’m on the road by 7:30 and the temperature is 30 degrees. Google maps said Fredericksburg, Va. is six hours away. The Santee River is crossed. How beautiful! This would actually be a nice area to explore – someday – like I say all too often. The driving is tedious and I push for North Carolina before stopping for gas. (I should’ve stopped before the border because gas there was $1.98/gl. and on this side, $2.14 (I do find one for $2.09.)  

The speed limit in North Carolina is only 65; funny how dropping 5 mph feels so much slower. The driving is a bit tedious and just before Florence, the speed limit goes up to 70, then later drops back to 65. Many vehicles don’t even bother to slow down while others stay in the middle lane and drive slow.  

I take a break in Selma to visit a historic train station, but then I don’t explore it. I do take a couple of train photos, though, as it’s still an active area. My feet and legs are aching and it helps to walk about a bit.  

The Virginia border is crossed at noon and the lady at the VIC says Fredericksburg is two hours away. She gives me the Hotel Coupon booklet for the discount at the Comfort Inn & Suites then shows me a flyer dropped off by Wingate by Windham reps about a special they are running. Most hotels charge an additional $10 or more a night for Fridays and Saturdays and I’ll be checking in both of those nights. Regular nights for both hotels are the same, but Wingate is only charging $5 a night more for the weekend. Plus, they not only have an indoor pool, but also a hot tub. Oh, my. Wouldn’t a hot tub feel nice on my aching body.  

Oh, dear, what a decision. Comfort Inn & Suites has that wonderful mineral pool and they were so nice to me in 2013. But this trip is supposed to be different. Why should I think the Wingate wouldn’t be as nice? Well, I’ll make the decision when I get there. 

I opt to take I-295 around Richmond to get photos of the Varina-Enon Bridge over the St. James River. This had been the first Oh, My, God bridge I crossed in 2013 and back then I didn’t realize I could take pictures while the vehicle is moving. (Don’t tell anyone.) Fantastic! I love these bridges. If I wasn’t driving, I could get more and better pictures. 

I was one hurting puppy by the time I reached Fredericksburg. Oh, was it difficult to walk! Good thing I have the walking stick. The Wingate is chosen and I’m assigned Room 424. Bonnie says it will be quieter after I explain that I’m the editor of a local newspaper back home and I work on Saturdays. I also need to do laundry and she tells me how to get to that room.

This room is great! It’s spacious and the light by the bed was on when I come in making it a warm welcome. There’s room for both suitcases, plus a good-sized work desk, an easy chair with footstool in the corner from where I can watch TV, plus other amenities.   

The dirty laundry is dragged to the laundry room. Everything costs four quarters. I put the money in the soap dispenser machine, but the little box doesn’t drop down which mean I hobble down the hall to the front desk where she hands me a box. Everything fits in the washer, but a couple of items. I hide the suitcase behind the door and return to the room where I work for half an hour, then go back to tend to laundry. 

The dryer is loaded and four quarters are put in the machine for Bounce. Again, nothing and I hobble back down the hall to the desk and then back to the laundry room. OK, set, and it’s up to Room 424 where I order delivery of fettucini Alfredo, Caesar salad, and tiramisu which arrives in half an hour and is delicious. 

I return to check on the laundry. Not dry and I’m out of quarters. Crap! Another hobble to the front desk and back and the dryer is restarted. Up on the fourth floor, I finish dinner and clean up the work folders. An hour later, I’m back in the laundry room. Noooo! Still not dry. By now, I can hardly walk. You’d think with all the walking I’ve done the past two weeks that this wouldn’t be happening. Somehow, though, the day’s driving did a number on me. One more trip to the front desk. 

Third time was the charm and the clothes were finally done. However, I had little energy left and took care of the clothes in piece meal; do a few items, sit. But I got it done. Oh, that bed felt so good when I got in it!

Travels with Sasha Day 17

February 5

I leave St. Augustine at 8:10 a.m. to begin the trek north. The temperature is 56 degrees and it’s raining. Only a right-hand turn is allowed and then it’s a scoot across three lanes to the left to do a U-turn, then I-95 is an immediate right. It’s a good thing I asked because my sense of direction is off. I thought north would be a left onto the interstate, not right. 

Traffic is heavy, but moves along in spite of the rain. I’m not going to be able to get photos with the windshield wipers going. I decide to take the I-295 beltway around the city of Jacksonville. That might not be a smart move as the traffic is stop and go, bumper to bumper, for half an hour.  A Patti Griffin CD keeps me from boredom and the singing helps the time go by. When was the last time I sang? It feels good. The beltway crosses Marion Creek and the St. John River on the N. Dames Point Bridge; a huge cable-stayed bridge like those that had so thrilled me on the 2013 trip. Up and up and over; aieeee! 

Forty five minutes later, I am back on I-95N. 

The St. Mary’s River is crossed at 9:30 a.m. and a quick stop is made at the Georgia VIC. I am sad leaving Florida. I wanted more bird pictures. I wanted to explore more. I get a little weepy. Stop! No regrets! I did what I did and loved it. There will have to be other times to come back and make new discoveries and revisit favorite places. The plan is to drive through this state and get into South Carolina before stopping for the night. I take a little stretch and am soon back on the interstate.  

The rain becomes lighter and more periodic. Many creeks and rivers are crossed and I hold the camera up to catch shots of the Brunswick and Turtle rivers. By now, I’m quite hungry as I didn’t have anything for breakfast. I stop at I-Hop in Brunswick for strawberry and banana pancakes. I can’t eat them all and I’m back on the road by 10:50 a.m. after getting gas for $2.09/gl for a total of $20.09. How’s that for numbers? 

The Savannah River is crossed into South Carolina at noon and at 1:45 p.m., I check into a Comfort Inn & Suites in Santee at Exit 98. The temperature is 61 degrees and I’ve driven 1,596.3 miles. At first, the desk clerk said I couldn’t check in until three, but then found a room that was ready. This woman is probably the least friendly person I’ve come in contact with on this entire trip. She didn’t make me feel welcome at all. If I wasn’t so achy, I’d continue to the next Comfort Inn. 

I settle in to a less than great room. There was a bit of a musty smell when I opened the door. It’s dark, drab, and depressing. The bathroom door slams shut and makes me feel I’m being locked in. It looks like it might have, at one time, been a hallway door before they went to card keys. There’s one easy chair squeezed into the corner between the bed and wall. There’s no way to watch TV from that corner and the large footstool that matches the chair wouldn’t fit beside the bed and the heater. The desk chair, when I push back, hits the bed. Do I sound crabby? I am. I’m tired, achy, and I am used to friendlier people down here. 

I get my work started for the week as I plan a lot of driving tomorrow to make Fredericksburg.

 

 

 

Travels with Sasha Day 16

February 4 

Today I want to do the Alligator Farm, but it’s raining. It wasn’t supposed to rain until afternoon. As I wait for the shuttle, a yellow cat is by the door, so I go out to talk to him. I sit on the bench and he gets up beside me and for some attention. He makes me miss Pele even more.

Pam is the shuttle driver and when I explain my problem getting on and off the trolley yesterday, she says the front car usually has one of two wider seat entrances for people with walkers and such. She’s right as I climb aboard the last seat in the first car. It’s still an effort to pull myself up, but it’s much better than yesterday.

The rain isn’t heavy and the temperature is warmer than yesterday. I get off at Stop No. 16 and wait about 15 minutes for the bus to the beaches on Anastasia Island and the Alligator Farm. The trolley driver said the bus drivers are not tour guides and do not tell stories, however this guy chats and it’s good. Gosh, I wish I could remember all the stories and information that all these people provide. He’s good at explaining about the return, too. The Alligator Farm is the first stop, so I don’t get a chance to see the beaches.

There are many more alligators than I remember. Lots of pictures are taken along with different signs so I can make identifications later. There are many different types of ‘gator and even a few crocodiles. I’m eager to see the rookery and all the birds and make my way around in the opposite direction from my visit in 2013.

Unfortunately, the rookery is a bit of a disappointment. There were many herons and roseate spoonbills, but they were all sleeping. But the alligators! Oh, my God, are there alligators! They are more interesting and there a little food machines along the way so people can feed them. There are so many! Thank heavens that the boardwalk is high above the ground and waters. There are alligators everywhere and all different sizes!

I also photograph Galapagos turtles and some African birds. Some of the exotic birds are behind thick mesh fencing so pictures are impossible. That’s disappointing. It starts raining a little harder. Good thing I’m near the end. I pass through the gift shop and sit on an outside bench awaiting the bus back to town.

Of course I am aching from walking the Alligator Farm, but when I get off the bus, I head down Aviles Street, one of the oldest streets in St. Augustine. This road has areas set up in old Spanish style like an old hospital. Pam, the shuttle driver from this morning, had said to see this, but at the moment, I don’t feel like paying any more and keep walking… and walking. I cross King Street to the waterfront and make my way back to the bridge. I’d love to walk across to get pictures, but there’s no way. I hobble back to the trolley stop.

There are two places back at Stop No. 1 for which I have tickets. Thankfully they came with the three-day trolley pass because the Tea and Spice place wasn’t doing a tour until later and the Old General Store Museum had a tour in progress. I didn’t want to hang around and Pam took me back to the hotel. She tells me, on the way, that St. Augustine is all decked out in white lights in December and January and they give special night tours. December is very busy, but January is their slow month. She says I should come back next January.

She drops me at Blondi’s, a diner in the parking lot. I haven’t eaten all day and enjoy a delicious burger, fries, and a glass of white zinfandel. Then I hobble back to the hotel. Oh, I ache after another day of a lot of walking, but St. Augustine is a wonderful place and worth every step.

 

 

 

 

 

Travels with Sasha Day 15

February 3 

The early morning is spent catching up on the blog after having a rubber-waffle for breakfast. Next trip I will bring a real knife, fork, and spoon. The cheap plastic utensils provided are horrible, plus a lot of waste. All the hotels talk about being “green,” but a lot is thrown out with the use of plastic utensils, foam plates and cups, etc. I don’t know how much, or if, they recycle… everything goes in one trash bucket. I already bring my own coffee cup and the next trip will also include a brewer and my own coffee. The coffee in the hotels isn’t very strong or flavorful; well, there’s flavor if you like the taste of warm, dirty dishwater.

The front desk calls the trolley shuttle for me. Yoshi talks me into doing Old Town Trolley Tours instead of the Red Train Trolley. I don sweater and jacket from the car as the temperature is quite cool. Juan is the shuttle and what a nice guy! We stop at another hotel and pick up a couple from New York and we chat about the weather back home. (Everyone is talking about the storms in New England!) 

Old Town Trolley’s home base is at the Old Jail. A woman with Switzerland across the back of her jacket cuts in front of me as I’m standing in line. I’m so shocked, I’m speechless. She is totally oblivious, so intent on… whatever was her concern. Most people are so courteous around here that I can’t believe she is so inconsiderate. I feel invisible.  

I finally get up to the counter. They offer deals with multiple sites to visit. I purchase a three-day pass, but I’m not interested in the jail. My ticket includes a museum, trolley, and Alligator Farm. (I want fabulous bird pictures.)

I wander through the museum. It’s interesting, but what really catches my attention is at the end. One wall has a series of miniature train sets with working lights to depict the Eastern Florida Rail System. How cool is this! There are a couple of engines running around the tracks. It’s set up as how it was years ago and I try to recognize landmarks. 

I leave the museum without looking at the store items. I’m not interested in souvenirs or candy. The trolley is being boarded and head on over getting on the third of a four-car set. Many people are already on board and a couple in the last row move over on the seat. 

Uh, oh, this isn’t easy. The steps are a little high and the entrance to the seat is narrow between the rows. I struggle and the man reaches over to give me a hand. I give him my walking stick so I can have better leverage to heft myself up. It’s a squeeze to get into the seat, but soon we are off.  

It’s cold. People are pulling coats tighter. I love the history and the stories. Yes, it’s cool, but this is a great way to get around the old city. The plan is to ride the trolley throughout one trip, then choose where to get off, however, at Stop No. 6, I get off… or try to. It’s not easy manipulating walking stick and taking care not to bang the camera on the car. 

I put my right foot down and that put the widest part of my body in the narrowest part between the seats. I got stuck. Talk about embarrassing! I couldn’t get down and needed the help of another man to to pull myself back up. He just guides and is there if I should fall. A woman says to put my left foot down first and that worked. I thank them and quickly move off. 

I want to get a new pair of Birkenstock sandals. The man in the store is very helpful. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything I really liked and if I’m going to pay $100 for a pair of shoes, I’m darn well going to like them! 

Next we look at Vionic sandals. Andrea had recommended these. However, what he has in stock has too many straps (I want slip-ons) or there’s the thing that goes between the big and second toes (which do not fit my feet). I leave the store disappointed and head across the alley to the Silver Feather where I choose a pair of earrings to replace the pair where I’d lost one. (However, they were not the right shade of green.) 

The streets are wandered, photos taken. Andrea had asked me to look up a friend who works at the Old School House, but he isn’t there. I do come across a man in a side alley playing a didgeridoo with a dog beside him dressed in costume. I approach after a few minutes and after others have moved away. I don’t want to take photos without asking. 

That is a great conversation. Come to find out, he once lived in Gonic. I take photos and got a story and he will be in my next book. I continue along St. George Street trying to decide where to have lunch. There are so many places to choose from and I can’t decide. I’m really starting to ache and enter an enclosed section of little shops, like a mini-mall. There’s a restaurant at the end, but the blaring TV is a turn-off and I head out the door. 

Uh, oh, where am I? I’m near Flagler College and I cross the road to get photos of the dining room. I find out later on another trolley tour that there are special panes protecting the Tiffany windows from the outside elements. That’s why I can’t get good photos! I can see the bump-out of what used to be the pool in the Alcatraz Hotel. The Alcatraz is now The Lightner Museum and the pool area is a café, so that’s where I head. By this time, the walking is extremely difficult. 

I order a chicken sandwich with Cajun coleslaw and zinger iced tea. The slaw is too spicy for me and the waiter brings balsamic rice instead. It’s a good meal and after eating, I painfully make my way to the trolley stop out front. This time I choose the front seat of the fourth car. By now, it’s quite cool and I pull my jacket tighter.

When we get back to Stop No. 1, I again need assistance getting off. The narrow space and manipulating camera and walking stick while backing down two steps… most of the time I don’t mind being short, but when the rise in steps (and bathtub walls) are high, it’s difficult. 

Juan, the shuttle driver, is nearby. “Are you ready to go back to the hotel?” Oh, yes! He remembers I’d mentioned earlier that I like history and regales me with stories all the way back. Gosh, I wish he could take me all around. He loves St. Augustine and says, that in spite of the tourism, it’s quiet here.

 

Travels with Sasha Day 14

February 2 

I’m showered, dressed, and writing at the kitchen table when Andrea comes out of her room for coffee. She is going to try again to make reservations for Tucson. As much as I have enjoyed their company, I’m ready to move. I especially don’t want to be in the way as they are getting ready to travel themselves. 

I get the atlas out of the truck and figuring out ways to get to St. Augustine. With all the snow and cold back home, I’m trying to put off heading north. Lance says to take Rte. 40 to 19 and that will take me into St. Augustine. It’s a real pretty drive with lots of horse farms and we’re talking about driving when Andrea comes out and starts talking about all she has to do to get ready to go to Tucson. 

“How about if I leave today,” I say, and she agrees. I’m packed and leaving 45 minutes later. It’s a bit of a teary goodbye. It was nice spending time with them and I enjoy having someone show me around and tell me stories of the area. 

It’s raining and 68 degrees as I leave. Gas is purchased in Dunnellon for $2.08/gl. (The sign by the road said $1.98 and I don’t see anything saying it’s more money for credit. Oh, well.) Soon I’m on Rte. 40 east. Lance was right. The horse farms are amazing. I’d like to stop for pictures, but I’m eager to get to St. Augustine.  

A stop for lunch is made in Polatka at a Golden Corral and it’s back on the road at 1 p.m. Rte. 19 comes to a T at Rte. 17. Uh, oh, which way now? I first turn south, but that feels wrong, so I turn around and head north. That feels wrong, too, so I pull over and get out the atlas. Ah, I need to go south through East Polatka and cross the St. John River. Finally there’s a sign for St. Augustine and a left is taken onto Rte. 207. 

This all passes through the Ocala (oops, forgot what it’s called). A lot of this territory is scrub pine. Periodically there are pull-off areas. I think they’re four-wheeling parks. The sand along here is yellow. I do see a couple areas that might be interesting to explore, but I keep going. Where we have moose or deer signs in New Hampshire, there are bear signs here. It might not be a good idea to wander around alone. 

I reach the Comfort Inn & Suites at 2:15 p.m. The temperature is 61 degrees. I’ve driven 1,718 miles since leaving home. The bad news is that because I stayed with Andrea and Lance, I do not have a Florida Hotel Coupon Book. She does give me a AAA discount, though.  

I’m exhausted and settle in for the night.

 

Travels with Sasha Day 13

February 1 

I’m doing my morning journal writing at the kitchen table. Andrea comes out of their bedroom for coffee and says she wants to paint on Tuesday and go to Tucson on Wednesday. I agree she should go as she needs to get items to sell at the mine this summer. She says I should stay until Tuesday. 

We talk about what to do for the day. I need to check the internet for anything that came in to the folders after I signed off yesterday. We agree on Rainbow Springs Park and she gives directions. They will meet me there and call my cell when they are ready to leave.  

I head off to McDonald’s to finish up the last minute work for the InterTown Record. Again, there are so many people pouring through the doors. It’s amazing the business that McD’s gets. I order two hash browns and a medium orange juice, set to work, and finish in just over an hour. Now what? 

I hear a ringing. Where’s that coming from? Wait! That’s my cell phone. I dig it out, but it’s so noisy in McD’s I can hardly hear what Andrea is saying, so I say, “OK, I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.” I pack up and head out. 

There’s no problem finding the park. I wait for about ten minutes and Andrea and Lance show up with the two dogs. (They had further to travel than I.) We head off down the path to the ticket booth and once we pay the fee, we move further. This is on a hill and it looks down onto the river. I have never seen water so… turquoise. I thought the Caribbean waters were beautiful, but this… this is totally amazing! It’s so beautiful, tears come to my eyes. 

How to describe the water… it’s a gorgeous shade of turquoise in the sun and very clear. Andrea said if the breeze wasn’t creating ripples, we’d be able to see where the water bubbles up from the ground. There’s even a swimming area and the water temperature is 72 degrees all year round. The sand on the bottom is very light, almost white. There are not words to tell what this is like. 

For a short time, the three (five counting the dogs) stay together. Andrea and Lance explain about the park. Soon, they head off. I don’t want them waiting for me and I am very slow. Berlin and Dana need serious walking as big German have to have more exercise. I take my time and take many pictures. At one point, I see cigarette butts stuck in a fence post. Disgusting! 

It’s a climb back up to the visitors’ center and the trail goes off the other way. Thankfully, it’s brick, cement, or boardwalk, so that makes walking easier, but the hills are tough. I find downhill is worse the walking uphill. Photographs are taken of the various waterfalls and remnants of the old phosphate mine… very few ruins. (I’m curious about phosphate mines. They said there used to be a lot.)

Further along, I come to an area where animals were once kept. After the phosphate mine, this was turned into an animal park. (I’ve got research to do later.) The walking becomes a struggle. Arrghh! Why is it hurting to walk? I push on as always and at one of the highest points in the park is a pool and here bubbles can be seen where the spring pushes to the surface. I make my way back to the VIC. More people are swimming now and I will not take pictures of that, however I did take some of the azaleas that are coming into bloom. They are beautiful.

I get back to Andrea’s. It’s 71 degrees. She’s trying to book air fare, hotels, and car rentals. It’s not going well. She gives up and we hang out chatting. I get out my laptop and import 832 photos. Yikes! I work on deleting excess and poor photos while she and Lance go to Carol’s to help her with something. That also gives me time to finish reading the book she let me borrow. 

They get back. “I don’t feel like cooking!” Andrea announces.

“Let me treat you both to dinner for putting up with me,” I offer. 

They take me to Stumpknockers on the Withlacoochee River. (Stumpknockers are fish who live around the roots of the cypress and cypress knees to avoid predators.) Again we sit at an outdoor table. Andrea and I wander along the river bank taking pictures while the food is being prepared. Oh, this is lovely with the cypress along the banks and in the water. Long dreadlocks of Spanish moss hang from the limbs. Absolutely gorgeous. I’m hoping to end up with a couple of pictures that will make good drawings. 

The food is delicious and later, after talking for a couple of hours, we remember the Super Bowl. It’s the middle of the third quarter. Arrggh! We agree the commercials are disappointing, but, boy, am I glad we got to see the end. What a fantastic finish!