Fri, Mar 20, 2020:  Got everything put away this morning and we got out by 9:00.  I drove for three hours and then we switched at an I75 rest area in Tampa.  Mike started driving and we’re now in Valdosta, GA, for the night.  At a Holiday Inn Express.  Went in wearing gloves and then wiped down the whole room with anti-bacterial and antiviral wipes and then sprayed everything with Lysol spray.  The room is cleaner now than it was when we got here.  Hope I did a good enough job.  We got here at 3:30, so over six hours driving today.  Tomorrow we get to go through Atlanta (sigh).

Morada Bay, Islemorada

Thu, Mar 19, 2020:  Yesterday Mike and Gerald went to the driving range and hit some balls.  Mike said he did pretty good.  I picked up Esther and we met them at Crumb’s for lunch.  We’re all leaving.  Not sure when they’ll be able to leave.  We’re heading out tomorrow morning.  When we got back from lunch yesterday, we took down the screen room and put the table and chairs away.  Wasn’t as bad as we thought.  Putting it back up in the Fall will be another story.  Then we headed to Clewiston to buy some damp rid.  Never used this before.  You put it around inside and it keeps moisture at bay.  Now it’s just packing up some things.  Hope to leave by 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.  Looking forward to getting home.  Around 90 again today.

Good bye warm weather--for now.

Good bye tiki bars--for now.

Tue, Mar 17, 2020:  Did our grocery shopping yesterday.  Had to go to three places before I was able to buy toilet paper.  We’re good now.  Won’t buy too much now since we’re leaving on the 27^th.  At least that’s the plan.  We had drinks with our Canadian friends last night.  One couple left today.  The French Canadians are exercise nuts.  One couple walks all morning, and then bikes in the afternoon.  While they were biking yesterday, one of the workers in here hit the guy on his bike--with a golf cart.  We saw the ambulance.  Guess he broke an arm and a rib.  Didn’t see them walking today.  I went out early this morning for my walk.  A beautiful morning.  Hot now.  Close to 90 again today.

Love the flora down here.

Sun, Mar 15, 2020:  Warm again today.  Walked early and it was beautiful.  Todd stopped by with his new toy—a motor cycle.  Checked that out.  Wiped down the truck and the fifth wheel in places.  Went across the street yesterday afternoon and joined the group over there.  Came back and had left-over pot roast for dinner.  We were supposed to go to the LaBelle Community Theater today, but I heard they cancelled it.  Just as well.  Upper 80s today.

Sat, Mar 14, 2020:  Another hot one today.  I went for a walk early, but the sun got to me so I cut it short.  Back and found some shade to read for a while.  Heat drove me inside and I fell asleep reading.  Gerald stopped by while I was sleeping and told Mike they were going to extend their stay here because they were going to be quarantined when they got back to Canada.  I think we’re going to try and leave a little earlier than planned. What a hot mess!  I just hope we can make it back without coming in contact with this virus.  Upper 80s today.

Another beautiful sunset.

Thu, Mar 12, 2020:  Made a trip into LaBelle to return the Instant Pot we bought at Walmart yesterday.  To me, the actual pot was too small, the whole thing was too bulky and heavy, and didn’t really want to fit in the cupboards.  Besides, all I really want is a slow cooker.  So, we returned it and bought a 7 qt. crock pot.  Going to set up a roast beef, potatoes, and carrots for dinner tomorrow night.  My favorite meal. As we were leaving to head to LaBelle, I noticed some mocking birds were hanging around my bike and fighting over something.  Turns out, they were building a nest in my bike helmet which I leave in the basket of my bike.  Took it out and cleaned out all the twigs and nesting materials which I left on the ground, and they were all gone by the time we got back.  Stopped at Crumb’s for lunch on the way back from LaBelle.  A beautiful, ’55 Ford T-Bird convertible with a bright yellow paint job was parked there.  This thing was in perfect condition. Wished I'd had my camera.  A beautiful day today.  Going to be around 90 by the weekend.  Too hot!  83 here today.

Sunset over the golf course.

Sun set in the Glades.

Tue, Mar 10, 2020:  Not coughing too much today.  Still pretty much hanging around inside.  Saw a swallow-tailed kite flying around the last couple of days.  Turns out they show up around this time in Florida to mate and raise their young.  Still windy.  Maybe tomorrow we can put the awnings back out.  Low 80s today.  Left-over pork chops for dinner with mashed potatoes and a vegetable. 

Swallow-tailed kite.