GORNTO SPRINGS OLD TOWN FLORIDA TO SARASOTA AND OH WHAT A RELIEF IT IS TO HAVE FINALLY REACHED OUR FINAL FLORIDA DESTINATION

We waved good-bye to our quiet little spot on the banks of the Suwannee River this morning and with birds chirping a fond farewell in the tall Live Oak trees overhead we slowly rolled out and set our course for Sarasota Florida. 

THE SUWANNEE RIVER IS FLOWING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT IN THIS PHOTO OR NORTH TO SOUTH

THIS ENTIRE FLOATING DOCK IS MADE OF ALUMINUM WITH SOME STEEL POSTS THROWN IN

THE CLEAR WATERS OF GORNTO SPRINGS


CAREFUL TO NOT STEP ON THE LITTLE FROG NOW

YES WE SURE ENJOYED THIS SPOT ALRIGHT
A mixture of sun and clouds on a warm morning as we made our way south on highway 349 to Old Town and turned left onto 98/19 heading for Chiefland.  At Chiefland we picked up 27 to Williston then 41 south in the direction of Brooksville.  Traffic was light and I again appreciated the smooth Florida roads.  Passed by cattle and horse ranches with acres of nice fencing looking like Kentucky.  Beautiful looking morning and we really enjoyed the scenery along the way.

I ESPECIALLY LIKE THESE SECONDARY HIGHWAYS FOR THEIR LACK OF TRAFFIC

Original plan was to stay on 41 until we reached Brooksville but after going through a few small traffic congested communities with a bunch of traffic lights we decided to cut over at Inverness to I-75 and take our chances.  Merging onto I-75 in a construction zone we had a close call with a pick-up truck pulling a travel trailer but other than that we kept right up with the best of them.  One stop at a Rest Area and we headed down the home stretch. 

FAIR BIT OF I-75 ROAD CONSTRUCTION ALONG THE WAY

REST AREA STOP
Wouldn’t ya know it…..we were within 5 miles of our 210 Sarasota exit ramp when traffic quickly started bunching up and slowing down.  Truck fire at our exit ramp had traffic backed up for miles but at least is was slowly moving and by the time we got to the exit they had one of two lanes open and we were able to get off I-75 Okay.


ABOUT 5 MILES NORTH OF OUR 210 FRUITVILLE ROAD EXIT

BURNT OUT CARS FROM A TRUCK CAR CARRIER



Less than 10 minutes later we un-hooked the Jeep close to our final destination and proceeded to Dave and JoAnn’s place about 3 minutes away.  While stopped for a few seconds in front of their place a red pick-up stopped beside Kelly in the Jeep and said ‘Hello Canada’ where ya from’.  Kelly said ‘near Goderich Ontario’ to which the other driver said, ‘Hey I gotta cottage in Bayfield and with that he had to quickly speed away as another car was approaching.  Apparently he’s a neighbor of the people’s place we are staying at.  Small world eh:))

THE ROAD LEADING TO JOANN AND DAVE’S PLACE

ROLLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY ABOUT 12:40 EARLY THIS AFTERNOON
We are sooooooooooooooooooooooooo glad to finally be here.  It’s been a long tiring journey ever since we pulled out of that American Legion in Borrego Springs California weeks ago.   I knew right where to park the rig and where all the connections were.   Didn’t waste any time in getting things hooked up.  Priority was to get the A/C on quick as we could.  I was hot, sticky, and sweaty and my next priority was to throw myself into the shower under a prolonged deluge of warm soapy water.

OH BOY CAN’T EVEN BEGIN TO  TELL YOU HOW GREAT IT IS TO HAVE FINALLY COMPLETED THIS PART OF OUR LONG JOURNEY

WE JUST SAT HERE FOR AWHILE IN KIND OF A RELAXING DAZE SOAKING UP THE COOLING BREEZE

‘OH DAD LOOK AT ALL THIS SOFT GRASS FOR ME TO RUN AND PLAY ON’

WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE JOANN AND DAVE LET US STAY HERE WHILE VISITING AUNT JEAN

OUR RIG’S PARKED UP THERE SOMEWHERE AND DID YOU NOTICE THE WINDMILL

AND THE NEIGHBORS HAVE HORSES
 

LOVE THESE MOSS LADEN TREES

SO NICE TO SEE THINGS SO GREEN

NO GATORS IN THIS POND BEHIND OUR MOTORHOME

While I was in the shower Kelly called Aunt Jean to let her know we had finally arrived safely all in one piece.  Soon as we get rested up and re-organized we’ll head over to Aunt Jean’s Sunday afternoon.  That will give me a chance to get our Jeep cleaned up as well and hopefully make a start at getting this ‘dirtiest of ever’ Motorhome washed.  Hope to get a lot of that done in the coolness of Sunday morning before the heat builds up and knocks the stuffing out of us like it did early this afternoon.  I wasn’t long in falling asleep in my recliner for a short snooze later.  A welcome cloud cover rolled in around 4 and we were able to sit outside for awhile with the nicest breeze blowing on us.  We are just so relieved to finally be here and are so much looking forward to seeing Aunt Jean Sunday afternoon.  And would you believe Kelly fell asleep before 7 o’clock tonight.  That’s the earliest ever for her.  She did get up later before going back to bed again.  We was whupped……..

GROANER’S CORNER:((  The new army recruit was given guard duty at 2 a.m. He did his best for a while, but at about 4 a.m. he went to sleep. He awakened to find the officer of the day standing before him.
Remembering the heavy penalty for being asleep on guard duty, this smart young man kept his head bowed for another moment and looked upward and reverently said, Amen!
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Nurse: Doctor, there is a man in the waiting room with a glass eye named Brown.
Doctor: What does he call his other eye?
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A small boy was lost, so he went up to a policeman and said, "I've lost my dad!" The policeman said, "What's he like?" The little boy replied, "Chips and beer."
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A drunk phoned the police to report that thieves had broken in to his car.  "They've stolen the dashboard, steering wheel, break pedal, even the accelerator," he cried out.  However, before the police investigation could get under way the phone rang a second time, with the same voice came over the line. "Never mind," said the drunk with a hiccup, "I got in the backseat by mistake."
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