The Sunshine State at Last

The Road from Savannah

A Straight Shot Down the Coast

I guess the odd thing about the 404 miles down the coast on I-95 is that not once do you actually see the Atlantic Ocean, although you ride pretty closely beside it the entire way. Although there were major traffic issues from Massachusetts to Virginia on day 1, and lesser but significant ones on day 2, the third and final day of our journey to Florida was traffic-jam free, and we found the beautiful little house in the 55-plus community of La Buona Vita in Port St. Lucie without problems. Our hosts, owners of the house Anne and Marty Reardon, long-time friends of Kent and Joanne's, met us there and turned the place over to us with the promise we would get together again at their place on Hutchinson Island, and here as well, before departing.

Wherein Kent buys everything not nailed down in Publix.

Settling in meant emptying the cooler and suitcases and accumulated mess from the MPV, so that Kent and I could go forth in search of groceries and, er, beverages for the evening. We found a Publix and a liquor store (thank goodness we aren't in Pennsylvania or some other state with weird liquor laws) just a few blocks down US 1, and spent $235 in short order on great victuals and as much booze as we thought our wives would let us get away with.

Admittedly, US #1 on the Florida northern gold coast has seen better days. As with everywhere else, the action has moved westward. But there is still a lot of business going on, lots of tourists and lots of license plates from New York and Massachusetts and Quebec.

After dining in the spacious sun room of our cottage on New York steaks (a la Kent) and potatoes and salads (a la Joanne & Mary) and vodka tonics and wine (a la Gilbey's and Yellow Tail), we realized it wouldn't be necessary to check out in the morning and head down the highway again. We are here, where we intended to be before the fates of weather and airlines interfered.

Kent and Joanne

Mary Frances, Kent and Joanne

Over cards--a rousing game of golf won on a tie-breaker by Mary Frances--we're discussing tomorrow's agenda. You'll know almost as soon as we do.