Happy Halloween! Morning twice yearly service on HVAC then afternoon walk on the beach.
30 October 2023 Monday - Largo Florida
Morning walkabout of the neighborhood to enjoy the Halloween decorations. Evening homemade meal at friend's home. I brought some smoked salmon and dip from local fish market that opened about one year ago.
29 October 2023 Sunday - Largo Florida
Morning walk at Eagle Lake Park for view of full moon setting then to continue going through my many boxes of genealogy research of the past ten years. Some is easy to toss and other stuff I am spending time scanning and stowing in family search...all very time consuming.
28 October 2023 Saturday - Largo Florida
Morning walk at Botanical Gardens then visit with mum at alf (issues with the hvac) then attended two memorial services, one at the clubhouse here for friend of our mother and another online from Minnesota for a friend from Juneau. Beautiful Hunter full moon rise in the evening.
27 October 2023 Friday - Largo Florida
Morning walk at Botanical Gardens then enjoyed time at the pool (water temp 77 degrees) and chat with the neighbors.
26 October 2023 Thursday - Largo Florida
Morning walk at Lake Seminole and also to drop off recycling. There had been a closer recycling bin but sometime while I was gone it disappeared. Spent the afternoon trying on the over fifty tshirts that I had in storage from my travels around the world...most will go to the thrift shop. I had considered the option of making them into a quilt but no one else would appreciate it the same as me.
25 October 2023 Wednesday - Largo Florida
Morning walk at Boca Ciega Millennium Park.
24 October 2023 Tuesday - Largo Florida
Morning walk at the Botanical Gardens, such wonderful flower fragrances, then visit with mum at alf. I have been going through my boxes of photos and tossing the negatives and reliving the memories, such fun!
23 October 2023 Monday - Largo Florida
Morning walk on the beach where I saw the wife of my mother's stepson then flu jab (sore arm/shoulder for several days) and haircut.
22 October 2023 Sunday - Largo Florida
Morning walk at Eagle Lake Park with my Leki poles (nordic walking) then visit to Natures Food Patch for some wonderful soup. Spent afternoon with neighbor helping her with her computer, although a bit of a challenge because she does not know her passwords. She was considering buy voice to text software due to her arthritic hands but I showed her what is available with both windows and word software to capture speech.
21 October 2023 Saturday - Largo Florida
Getting warmer again! Morning walkabout at Taylor Lake Park, which has been drained about five feet for retention wall repairs and invasive vegetation removal. Some fear it could impact local wildlife. Then zoom class with local genealogy group, then visit to two open houses in the neighborhood that are for sale. Finally did finish one major project today, scanning twenty years of diaries! Now to get rid of the paper from my years of genealogy research.
20 October 2023 Friday - Largo Florida
Another visit to the Honda dealer then shopping at Trader Joe's, Fresh Market, Sprouts, and got the car washed and vacuumed. I thought that the dealer had forgotten a part on the steering column during service on Tuesday then found that the mechanic had pulled the telescopic steering wheel out to its max...I do not like when the vehicle is returned after service in a 'different state'!
19 October 2023 Thursday - Largo Florida
Visited our neighbor's garage sale but nothing for me needed! Visited woman from the community who is in rehab at assisted living then walkabout at the Largo Nature Park before visit with our mother for her haircut and a cleanout of her refrigerator.
18 October 2023 Wednesday - Largo Florida
Walkabout of the neighborhood to enjoy the Halloween decorations then a bit of time at the pool, although not a swim today with water at 73 degrees. Five Guys milkshake and visit to the library.
17 October 2023 Tuesday - Largo Florida
Spent all morning at the Honda dealer for oil change and recall issue with rearview camera image. The recall fix took forever because they had to pull the dash and replace many wires. Even though there is no charge, they should compensate us for the inconvenience. Also decided to have them install air deflectors on the windows which I had on my Dodge van and friend in Juneau has on his Honda.
16 October 2023 Monday - Largo Florida
Wonderful walk on the beach with beautiful cloud formations but a strong wind which was good in one direction but not in the other. Visited Seabird Sanctuary and a coffee at Gypsy Souls. Much cooler today.
15 October 2023 Sunday - Largo Florida
Morning walk at the Botanical Gardens then running errands and chatting with friends.
14 October 2023 Saturday - Largo Florida
Spent day just catching up!
13 October 2023 Friday - Largo Florida
Friday the Thirteenth! Morning walk at the Botanical Gardens then visit with mum and the folks at the facility.
12 October 2023 Thursday - Spring Hill to Largo Florida
Tornado came through just north of here last evening causing damage and road closures and more bad weather was due today but managed to miss it for remainder of travels south with stop at Whole Foods. Six months of travel and over 12000 miles!
11 October 2023 Wednesday - Perry to Spring Hill Florida (152 miles)
Overcast with a few sprinkles then late afternoon rain...much warmer and humid. Before the rains started, I walked to Denny's for senior salmon dinner then walkabout of the shopping center. During the past three weeks I have been working on the genealogy of my 'barber' in Juneau and the purser whom I met on the ferry, quite interesting stories.
10 October 2023 Tuesday - Perry Florida
I have driven through or stayed in Perry many times over the past few years but never spent time here so today did a walkabout of the historical downtown Perry (beautiful old homes), with visit to the library and the chamber of commerce and a coffee at the local coffee shop, and a walk at Rosehead park (former name of the town given by the Native Americans due to abundance of wild rose bushes).They are still cleaning up after Ophelia, mostly downed trees. The light pole and the hotel sign out front are at a 45 degree angle! A bit of time in the sun at the pool before my drive tomorrow in the predicted storm.
9 October 2023 Monday - Crestview to Perry Florida (223 miles)
Crossed the Apalachicola River into eastern time zone on I10E, losing another hour. Then turned south, finally off the interstate and driving the backroads, which I have done many times before.
8 October 2023 Sunday - Slidell Louisiana via MS/AL to Crestview Florida (216 miles)
Another gorgeous sunrise driving east on I10. Encountered accident shortly after departure where a semi-truck was in the left lane facing the oncoming traffic, not sure how he got turned around but the traffic kept moving, thank goodness! Visited three welcome centers today having gone through four states. Great chat with the woman at hotel checkin. She has a deaf four year old daughter and through my genealogy research I had met another woman with a deaf granddaughter and she had found the diagnosis through dna testing, so I passed that information to this woman in Florida and suggested she do the test, and also introduced the two via email.
7 October 2023 Saturday - Canton Mississippi to Slidell Louisiana (207 miles)
Sun and clouds for drive south on I55. Visited the Welcome Center for Louisiana where I was met by four women greeting me from behind the long counter, and the parking lot was empty, so I asked if they were expecting a crowd! We have trouble in Juneau just getting one person to volunteer at our visitor center. Back to heavy traffic interstate on I12 east. Grilled chicken at Kappy's, famous for their daiquiris and known as the 'grown-up place to party', then a snooze in the sun at the pool, first outdoor hotel pool that was open on this journey.
6 October 2023 Friday - Lonoke Arkansas via TN to Canton Mississippi (296 miles)
Morning drive east into the sunrise on a very busy with trucks I40, then heavy fog and road construction and detours in Memphis (crossed the Mississippi River). Nice drive south on I55 with some of the best rest areas, better than those in Arkansas with metal seat toilets (cold) like you find in campgrounds.
5 October 2023 Thursday - Fayatteville to Lonoke Arkansas (207 miles)
8 October 2023 Sunday - Slidell Louisiana via MS/AL to Crestview Florida (216 miles)
Another gorgeous sunrise driving east on I10. Encountered accident shortly after departure where a semi-truck was in the left lane facing the oncoming traffic, not sure how he got turned around but the traffic kept moving, thank goodness! Visited three welcome centers today having gone through four states. Great chat with the woman at hotel checkin. She has a deaf four year old daughter and through my genealogy research I had met another woman with a deaf granddaughter and she had found the diagnosis through dna testing, so I passed that information to this woman in Florida and suggested she do the test, and also introduced the two via email.
7 October 2023 Saturday - Canton Mississippi to Slidell Louisiana (207 miles)
Sun and clouds for drive south on I55. Visited the Welcome Center for Louisiana where I was met by four women greeting me from behind the long counter, and the parking lot was empty, so I asked if they were expecting a crowd! We have trouble in Juneau just getting one person to volunteer at our visitor center. Back to heavy traffic interstate on I12 east. Grilled chicken at Kappy's, famous for their daiquiris and known as the 'grown-up place to party', then a snooze in the sun at the pool, first outdoor hotel pool that was open on this journey.
6 October 2023 Friday - Lonoke Arkansas via TN to Canton Mississippi (296 miles)
Morning drive east into the sunrise on a very busy with trucks I40, then heavy fog and road construction and detours in Memphis (crossed the Mississippi River). Nice drive south on I55 with some of the best rest areas, better than those in Arkansas with metal seat toilets (cold) like you find in campgrounds.
5 October 2023 Thursday - Fayatteville to Lonoke Arkansas (207 miles)
Another day of heavy rain and fog and traffic! And another challenge driving through Little Rock when you cannot even see the signs. Two major accidents on I40W which caused huge traffic jam for miles, good thing I was travelling east. Stopped at Love's exit on I29S before heading east on I40 and had a strange encounter. As I was exiting the station parking lot, another car tried to cut me off, then when we took the ramp to the interstate, the car again tried to pass me on the ramp. Once we got on the interstate, the car pulled in front of me and put on the brakes, then when I tried to pass the car, it pulled left also then we both returned to the right lane and the car braked again and almost came to a stop, so strange, finally the car speeded up out of sight. All I could see was that the car was from Arkansas but no time to take photo or remember the plate, maybe he/she did not like Alaskans? This happened during a lull in the storm so at least I could see. Sun is predicted for tomorrow.
4 October 2023 Wednesday - Kansas City/Belton Missouri to Fayatteville Arkansas (221 miles)
Heavy rain and fog for last half of today's journey, not fun! I spent the afternoon booking the remainder of my travel, very time consuming.
3 October 2023 Tuesday - Council Bluffs Iowa via Kansas to Kansas City/Belton Missouri (211 miles)
Always a challenge travelling through big cities and there are three options to drive through Kansas City, straight through (shortest route but no interstate) or the beltway/loop I435 either east via Kansas or west via Missouri so chose what looked to be less busy via Kansas, except quite a 'mixing bowl' on the southside to exit onto I49! And heaps more traffic! Major thunderstorms north but just overcast and very windy here. Walked to Cracker Barrel for chicken pot pie.
2 October 2023 Monday - Council Bluffs Iowa
Visited the courthouse recorders office in downtown Council Bluffs and found that they have no birth or death records before 1880 but had quite a bit on land ownership. Our ancestor Joseph Hill had several parcels of land on the Missouri River (I had researched him while in St Jo in April where he lived before moving to this area). Council Bluffs was originally called Traders Point then Kanesville after Thomas Kane in 1846 when Iowa became a state. The Kanesville Tabernacle was founded by Brigham Young in the 1840's. The Mormons then moved to Utah in 1852. The town was renamed Council Bluffs after a site approximately 20 miles to its north where the Lewis and Clark Expedition members had sat in council with the Otoe Tribe on bluffs near the Missouri River. I also visited the library to peruse the Council Bluffs Nonpareil newspaper from that time where I found an article on his death (none of this on the internet, amazing what you find when visiting the local area). Unfortunately the Pottawattamie Genealogy Library is closed on Mondays but I have contacted them via email in the past and they were very helpful. Then walked around the downtown area before enjoying lunch on the patio at Tish's. Forecast is for cooler weather, in 90s today, very unusual for this time of year. Evening walk along the river.
1 October 2023 Sunday - Mitchell South Dakota to Council Bluffs Iowa (249 miles)
Another morning driving into the sun on I90E until I turned south on I29. Just west of Sioux Falls on I90 in the middle of nowhere, I saw a large bull head (60' tall 25 tons) and a horse (40' tall 40 tons) sculpture amongst others. I found online that this is the Porter Outdoor Sculpture Park established in 2000 of more than fifty sculptures. Stopped at the Sergeant Floyd Iowa Welcome Center and River Museum located on a boat, quite extensive collection in the museum and great view from the pilot house. Charles Floyd was the only man to have died on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Walked the neighboring busy casino (on a riverboat) and watched the security robot Knightscope make the rounds of the parking lot! Great view out my window of sunset over the Missouri River and Omaha skyline.
4 October 2023 Wednesday - Kansas City/Belton Missouri to Fayatteville Arkansas (221 miles)
Heavy rain and fog for last half of today's journey, not fun! I spent the afternoon booking the remainder of my travel, very time consuming.
3 October 2023 Tuesday - Council Bluffs Iowa via Kansas to Kansas City/Belton Missouri (211 miles)
Always a challenge travelling through big cities and there are three options to drive through Kansas City, straight through (shortest route but no interstate) or the beltway/loop I435 either east via Kansas or west via Missouri so chose what looked to be less busy via Kansas, except quite a 'mixing bowl' on the southside to exit onto I49! And heaps more traffic! Major thunderstorms north but just overcast and very windy here. Walked to Cracker Barrel for chicken pot pie.
2 October 2023 Monday - Council Bluffs Iowa
Visited the courthouse recorders office in downtown Council Bluffs and found that they have no birth or death records before 1880 but had quite a bit on land ownership. Our ancestor Joseph Hill had several parcels of land on the Missouri River (I had researched him while in St Jo in April where he lived before moving to this area). Council Bluffs was originally called Traders Point then Kanesville after Thomas Kane in 1846 when Iowa became a state. The Kanesville Tabernacle was founded by Brigham Young in the 1840's. The Mormons then moved to Utah in 1852. The town was renamed Council Bluffs after a site approximately 20 miles to its north where the Lewis and Clark Expedition members had sat in council with the Otoe Tribe on bluffs near the Missouri River. I also visited the library to peruse the Council Bluffs Nonpareil newspaper from that time where I found an article on his death (none of this on the internet, amazing what you find when visiting the local area). Unfortunately the Pottawattamie Genealogy Library is closed on Mondays but I have contacted them via email in the past and they were very helpful. Then walked around the downtown area before enjoying lunch on the patio at Tish's. Forecast is for cooler weather, in 90s today, very unusual for this time of year. Evening walk along the river.
1 October 2023 Sunday - Mitchell South Dakota to Council Bluffs Iowa (249 miles)
Another morning driving into the sun on I90E until I turned south on I29. Just west of Sioux Falls on I90 in the middle of nowhere, I saw a large bull head (60' tall 25 tons) and a horse (40' tall 40 tons) sculpture amongst others. I found online that this is the Porter Outdoor Sculpture Park established in 2000 of more than fifty sculptures. Stopped at the Sergeant Floyd Iowa Welcome Center and River Museum located on a boat, quite extensive collection in the museum and great view from the pilot house. Charles Floyd was the only man to have died on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Walked the neighboring busy casino (on a riverboat) and watched the security robot Knightscope make the rounds of the parking lot! Great view out my window of sunset over the Missouri River and Omaha skyline.
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