It is beginning to feel like life on land is no more predictable than our life at sea. We arrived in Miami on schedule at noon on the 15th. Drove to Stuart where we spent five wonderful days visiting friends, eating in favorite restaurants and wandering marina docks.
Next stop -- Jacksonville. For those of you geographically challenged, like me, Jacksonville is almost at the Georgia border. Brian stumbled upon a Porsche Panamera that he loved (used). After negotiating for it, the salesman found that it had sold the night before. Brian was sooooo bummed......I had to watch him mope around for a whole day. That night he found one very similar in Naples — 2010 with only 12,000 miles. Saturday morning we threw everything in the car
and drive 360 miles to Naples. Got there at 5:40, just in time to sign papers and grab the manuals. They closed at 6. Monday morning we picked checks up at the bank (which was not as simple as it should have been — is it ever?) and got the car. Brian flew back to Naples for the BMW and drove it to St Louis where it will stay for the summer. It will be our marina car for the next few years while we travel on Gotta Smile.
Back in Jacksonville Brian was lucky to get an appointment at Mayo. He had been having kidney stone pain for the last few weeks. They decided the stone was too large to pass. Surgery was scheduled for Thursday. Thursday night in excruciating pain we were back at the emergency room. Friday morning another visit to the doctor's office where we were told that he had to stay until Monday to make sure all was good. Monday, after two more exams and a short conference, he was finally released.
St Louis, where our daughter, Jennifer, lives with her family, was a two day drive. We arrived to family chaos. Steve and his family had arrived on June 30th. We got there on the 1st. Our four grandchildren are between 5 and 8 years old -- a very active age. After living on the boat for 6 months, just the two of us, it is a jolt to be in a house with eight other people. Still, it is a huge blessing to have everyone together. Especially since it only happens a couple of times a year.
Jennifer's house is always like Grand Central Station. Steve and his family left on the 3rd of July. Friends from Afton that now live in St Louis came over for the 4th. On the 7th friends from Arizona arrived for a few days. In the midst of this Brian and Ian flew to Miami. Brian to bring the BMW north and Ian on business. We know their friends and enjoy time with them.
So much for a relaxing visit back home. Most of the chaos has been self induced. No complaints. We love being back in the States -- the land of excess.
Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!
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Next stop -- Jacksonville. For those of you geographically challenged, like me, Jacksonville is almost at the Georgia border. Brian stumbled upon a Porsche Panamera that he loved (used). After negotiating for it, the salesman found that it had sold the night before. Brian was sooooo bummed......I had to watch him mope around for a whole day. That night he found one very similar in Naples — 2010 with only 12,000 miles. Saturday morning we threw everything in the car
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| Downtown Naples |
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| Jacksonville Beach: the water isn't as blue and the beaches aren't as deserted, but the sand still feels great. |
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| We brought wax lips and mustaches for the kids and explained that they were a favorite when we were kids. |
St Louis, where our daughter, Jennifer, lives with her family, was a two day drive. We arrived to family chaos. Steve and his family had arrived on June 30th. We got there on the 1st. Our four grandchildren are between 5 and 8 years old -- a very active age. After living on the boat for 6 months, just the two of us, it is a jolt to be in a house with eight other people. Still, it is a huge blessing to have everyone together. Especially since it only happens a couple of times a year.
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| The Smillie Girls |
Jennifer's house is always like Grand Central Station. Steve and his family left on the 3rd of July. Friends from Afton that now live in St Louis came over for the 4th. On the 7th friends from Arizona arrived for a few days. In the midst of this Brian and Ian flew to Miami. Brian to bring the BMW north and Ian on business. We know their friends and enjoy time with them.
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| The slide is always a favorite. Now it has become a competitive sport. |
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| Christopher, Jennifer and the Boy Scouts carry a huge American flag in the 4th of July parade. |
So much for a relaxing visit back home. Most of the chaos has been self induced. No complaints. We love being back in the States -- the land of excess.
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| Midway fun and fireworks at the local park. |
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| Greg and Erin taking JAC and Christopher for a walk. |
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| Looking for treasures on a nature hike with Grandma. |
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| The spectacular St Louis Basilica. Beautiful mosaics shimmer in the sunlight. |
Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!
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| We discovered a super sized smiley face at the Laumeier Sculpture Park in St Louis. |
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