Goodbye Kansas! We are packed up

and dogs loaded.  Bikes and golf clubs in back.  A long three day drive in front of us, but the brass ring will be warm, sunny weather while the rest of the country is suffering in cold.

Another item off my bucket list :)

New Year's Eve in a hotel in Adel, Georgia with champagne and Taco Bell.  One more day of driving ahead.

We arrived in Florida late Thursday night, New Year's Day.  The scenery has definitely changed!

The happy sunny, warm couple.  

My sister Paige has come from the tundra of NY, and the first morning we head to the dog park! Squirt loves to run everywhere, while Blaze enjoys floating in the warm water. We now have a beach cart for Blaze (yes, we have a street cart too) that helps her get from the van to the beach.  Yes, she lives out her elderly days in style and comfort!

We are staying in an over 55 Resort area, and this is one of the signs by one of the activity centers.  Half the people here have golf carts, and they drive them all over the area along with their cars.  I love the public phone booth in the back - it must be one of the last few remaining in the country!

Today we spent the afternoon on a Pontoon Boat and drove around Estero Island.  Paige & I took turns being Captain while Frank was first mate. Blaze thoroughly enjoyed her first boat ride, and managed to find the perfect spot on the boat.

Squirt, the dog who normally ain't afraid of nothin', was a nervous wreck the whole trip. For a dog who jumps into a swinging hammock with me without a thought, freaked whenever we hit waves.  

Here are some shots of the fabulous scenery we witnessed today!

Squirt finally couldn't take it anymore, curled around my backpack, and attempted to snooze!

We had quite an adventure too - we ran aground when we hit a sandbar.  The engine just quit, and it took a phone call to the marina to figure it out.  After dipping the oar into the water and hitting sand, they instructed us how to lift the motor out of the water,  jump out and push the boat into deeper waters! I took off my shoes so as not to lose them in the muck, and I prayed hard to not step on something squishy. Luckily, we were able to push it and climb back on AND restart the motor.  Whew!