Hello Family
In October 2022 we traveled to Florida for a week to see family, relax on the beach, and swing by the Food & Wine Festival at EPCOT. The main reason for the trip was to meet our new Great Niece Summer. While not the closest airport, we chose to fly in and out of Tampa because we intended to pick-up/drop-off James' Aunt Sherry in Lakeland. We rented a three bedroom/three bath condo on the beach in Ponte Vedra, Florida (just south of Jacksonville) that was large enough for James' parents to have a "suite" as well.
Wednesday 10/12/2022 - Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
The day started at the same time as a normal workday since the cab was picking us up at 6:45a for our 8:45a flight. We made it to the airport in plenty of time and people watched for a while. We changed planes in St. Louis. While we didn't experience any storms, our flight paths took us through the trailing edge of several resulting in enough turbulence the flight crews were unable to provide a beverage service. We landed in Tampa on time at 2:35p, deplaned, and took the Sky Connect tram (loose interpretation for train) to the new rental car center. We got our car and then headed northeast toward the Condo in the Jacksonville area.
James' parents and Aunt, who were staying with us for part of the trip, had left earlier in the day to avoid traffic. We were not so lucky and James chose poorly when considering which route to take. We got stuck in heavy traffic both sides of Orlando on I-4. After driving around to find someplace to get a bite, we made it to the Condo in Ponte Vedra, Florida around 7:45p. Jim, Gayle, and Sherry greeted us at the door to the building (which was helpful since they had the key to open it). We spent the rest of the evening watching baseball and hockey while catching up.
Thursday 10/13/2022 - Relaxing At or Near the Beach
James got out of bed around 6:45a and went on to the lanai to watch the sunrise. Pictures were involved, of course. After a relaxing day reading, playing cards, and walking on the beach, we headed to Cindy and Kegan's to meet Summer. We enjoyed watching Summer laugh and almost roll over for the first time. After a pizza dinner and a lot of good conversation, we returned to the condo for TV and some sweets before bed.
The line of clouds caught the colors of sunrise our first morning
The sun shines through a gap in the clouds early in the morning
Pelicans skimming the surf as it comes into the beach
Broken shells scattered on the beach as tide goes out
Friday 10/14/2022 - More Time Just Chilling
The weather was clearer for the sunrise pictures Friday morning, but the temps were a little cooler and the wind was a bit more brisk making the waves more choppy. The morning was spent relaxing and discussing various topics. The highlight was Aunt Sherry discovering pictures on her iPad (that used to be her mother's - James' grandmother). There were various angles of the kitchen floor and cabinets, a couple of Alta's feet, and several screen captures of the lock screen over a 5 month period. There were also a couple selfies we're pretty sure she didn't know she'd taken.
The only thing Sherry was adamant about doing was visiting some kitschy beach souvenir shops. Cindy had texted James the location of a few, so we headed in that direction for lunch. Unfortunately, these shops did not carry the sandals she was looking for and it was past prime tank-top season so, other than some key lime coconut chocolate clusters, the shopping was a bust. We did have a nice lunch at a beer garden and sausage house. The Bavarian style pretzels and cheese sauce appetizer was a universal hit.
In the afternoon, Julie and Sherry went down to the beach for a walk. James was going to join them, but they turned left while he went right. Everyone did enjoy their respective walks on the beach. James probably spent more time standing trying to get good pictures of the waves than walking though so it may not have been a real problem he went the other way. The ladies did their civic duties and collected a couple pieces of sharp debris that washed up on the beach. The walks were good for an hour and at least we had cell phones, so we got back to the condo about the same time.
By the time we got back, rehydrated, and got settled, it was time for James to teach Sherry how to quickly switch to the "last channel" on the TV. The baseball playoffs are busy times and require additional skills. Sherry stayed at the condo watching "her" Braves while Julie, Gayle, Jim, and James met Cindy, Kegan, and Summer at a BBQ place for supper. While Summer was a little overwhelmed by her surroundings, we did get a few laughs and smiles out of her. As we were getting ready to head out, Great Aunt Julie got to hold Summer for a bit. We returned to the condo to watch the end of the game and look at some vacation pictures of different vacations before turning in for the night.
Bird looking for small crabs as the waves come near
James trying to catch the crash of a wave
It’s almost like they’re flying in formation
The sunset lights the eastern sky at the end of another day
Saturday 10/15/2022 - Summer At the Beach
The morning started off with a little more activity as we were having guests at the condo. After breakfast, we cleaned up some of the clutter before Cindy, Kegan, Summer, Cheri, and Darcy arrived around 10:30a. We spent the day talking, watching football and baseball, walking on the beach, and, after a quick run to the grocery store, eating. This was Summer's first visit to the beach and there was a lot to process with the sound of the water and feel of the sand. A little after 6p, our visitors packed their stuff and headed home (or to the hotel). We snacked on some of the left-over vegetables from lunch and flipped channels between baseball games and the movie on the Hallmark Channel. After watching Houston prevail in 18 innings, we called it a night. It had been a great day with family.
Sunrise on a clear morning
The beach was ready for business
Beautiful end to a wonderful day
Sunday 10/16/2022 - Someone Has to Leave First
Sunday started like Saturday, James getting up to take pictures of sunrise. He then emptied the dishwasher and did some stuff on the laptop while listening to the sounds of people getting ready for the day in other rooms. Jim and Gayle were heading home after "attending" church online. James and Julie said their goodbyes before heading to brunch with Cheri, Kegan, Cindy, and Summer. Sherry stayed at the house to watch football during the day. After brunch, and a nap, Summer took her great aunt and uncle and parents to the zoo while Grandma Cheri headed back home to Tampa. It was a beautiful day to be outside looking at the animals. After returning to Summer's house for another nap, Julie and James said goodbye to Kegan and Cindy and returned to the condo. We headed out for a bite of dinner and then worked to get ready to leave early Monday morning.
The sun just begins to peak over the horizon
A crane stands in water at the zoo
A young giraffe approaches the viewing area
The young gorilla had lots of energy
The tiger struck a pose
Monday 10/17/2022 - Our Favorite Festival
James wanted to be on the road by 9a so we were all up a little early in order to complete the departure checklist of the condo. James still found time to take pictures of the sun coming up. We made our target, and it was a solid 3-hour drive getting us to EPCOT at Walt Disney World just before noon. The goal for the day was to gorge ourselves on the various delicacies offered at the annual Food & Wine Festival. There were a few items we always get: cheddar cheese soup in Canada, chocolate cake with Irish liqueur cream sauce, and braised beef from Belgium. We also tried some new items: Australian lamington cake, chili mac & cheese, and rocky road chocolate cake. Sherry and James agreed that the high point of the day was the piña colada funnel cake. We also managed to help Sherry get some early Christmas shopping done.
After the obligatory "afternoon thunderstorm" that drove everyone into the shops, we left the park a little after 5p. We stopped in Lakeland to drop Sherry at home before Julie and James headed to Tampa where we spent the night at Cheri and Darcy's house. Darcy was traveling for business, but we had a great talk with Cheri before heading to bed a little after 10p.
One last sunrise at the condo
James was excited to try the Piña Colada Funnel Cake
Pumpkins painted like Eve and Wall-E
Rushing out between the rain didn’t stop us from getting one last picture
Tuesday 10/18/2022 - Returning Home
We got out of bed in time to see and talk a little to Cheri before she headed into work. Our flight wasn't until midafternoon, so we took our time getting ready and repacking our bags for air travel. James puttered around the house under the watchful eyes of Snickers and Maple. We left around 11:30a to get gas in the rental car and find someplace to eat lunch before returning the car. We got through security and to our gate a little under 2 hours before our flight. We were flying from Tampa to Washington National (Reagan) and then connecting to DSM. We had over 3 hours for the layover and all the flights were on time. After walking out of the airport in DSM right as the Uber pulled up to the curb, we opened the door to the house a few minutes after 10p. We only unpacked our toiletries figuring we really didn't need anything else from warm, 80-degree Florida in cool 35-degree Iowa.
We scheduled the trip to visit family and hopefully relax a little at the beach. We were very lucky in both and had a wonderful time.
