A Surprise Visit in Florida

As we drove along I 95 thinking about the days to come and Cuba in particular this car appeared in front of us.  We expect to see more cars like this in Cuba.

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I am not sure who was more surprised.  As we looked at distance, time and bitter cold weather on the Georgia coast we started to figure where to spend some time and have some fun.  It became clear that, on the route we had chosen, we were going to pass within a mile of Deer Creek, the winter home of Shelley and Norm Topf.   A phone call confirmed that there was an empty slot right next to them available for our use.  4 hours later we were maneuvering the coach into the slot under the motorhome port on the site next to them. Shelley prepared a wonderful vegetarian soup, hot soup is wonderful in very cold weather.  We ate and talked all evening. 

Sunday brought clear crisp air.  It is still cold all over the East and deep into Florida.  We are not leaving hoses connected overnight and propane supply is an issue.  Enough with the icebox already. 

We decided to drive to Bok Tower National Monument about half and hour south.  Rather then describe them here is their web site:  Bok Tower. Although it was cool the sunlight was warm and the tower is splendid and any gardens laid out by Frederick Law Olmstead are worth spending some time in.  We were joined in this foray by Steven and Marcy Kraus, friend of the Topfs and people we have met at various FMCA Rallies.  We arrived just in time for a recorded carillon performance on the Tower carillon.  totally magnificent. 

We finished the day with dinner at Cherry Pocket Steak and Seafood.  It is an old Florida Fishing shack which looks like it is about to fall down without the help of a passing breeze.  The food was wonderful, excessively plentiful and not terribly pricey.  We rolled out satisfied. 

After a while in Shelley and Norm’s coach we are back in Gee 2 preparing to go to sleep and head for St Pete in the AM.