h20skibum

Merry Christmas to our friends in the north, who are looking at snow this morning. My view this morning.

I wanted to take a minute to wish all our friends here, so celebrate, a Merry Christmas. I enjoyed those family photos that were posted, and photos of your preparations for the holidays. Adding my condolences for losses, and congratulations for those new beginnings. As for us, we are now in Ft. Lauderdale until after the new year. Today’s drive was much better than yesterday. It was a chilly 29° when we drove around The Jacksonville bypass. The sun was shining as we crossed this beautiful cable stay bridge. I have also found that I can’t drive past one of these. It was packed with people doing their last minute shopping. I remember stopping on Christmas Day last year, and it was packed then. My son and his family will be on the red eye flight from San Francisco, so I will be at the airport by 7am to pick them up. Daughter and her family will not arrive for a couple days yet. Tomorrow will be our traditional hibachi dinner. It will be good to have everyone together again.

It must be a heat wave here. Ready to get on the road to Ft. Lauderdale today. I have decided not to predict an arrival time today. 🤣 I was just reading that Pittsburgh will have a high of 9° today, and who knows how cold at game time tonight. In spite of a 6-8 record, I think the stadium will be filled. It is 50 years since the “Immaculate Reception” by Franco Harris, and they plan a ceremony as they retire #32. It is sad that he passed away a couple days ago.

Ok, so I won’t make light of our drive again. When I said this morning that it would be an easy 6 hour drive, or 9 hours with holiday traffic, I didn’t know how close I would be. I mean, it was sunny, dry roads. What could go wrong? I must say, this was the absolute worst traffic we have ever seen on our drives to Florida. Ten hours, because South Carolina decided to turn I-95 into a parking lot. I kept checking our vehicle trip statistics, and we were averaging 10mph on I-95. Rubber neckers had to stop and look, every time they saw one of these, so that slowed things even more. Once we finally got to Georgia, traffic moved better. Unlike Pennsylvania, where we have a lot of deer along the highway, we always see those wild Georgia pigs along theirs. I know, it looks like one of those blurry Bigfoot photos. I was surprised anything showed up, because it was dark and we were finally moving at 70. Now to catch up on all these posts.

The last few years we have stayed in this area on our drive to and from Florida. We used to stay around the Jacksonville airport. Kingsland just seems like a safer area to us, and it evens out the drives.

I used to do these every year with the people who worked for me. They have some hilarious ones.

This is what South Carolina looks like this morning. Sunny and no snow, and traffic is not horrible. Although it is 36° and windy. When I walked into the welcome center without a coat on, they said “You must be from the north.” When the guy working there found out we were from Pennsylvania, he started talking about all the Canadians coming thru this time of year. I learned what provinces don’t like the others, plus which ones have more jokes about them. Andrew should be glad to hear that those from his province are well thought of. Oh, and I just saw the strangest billboard. It said “OOPS, life is short, get a divorce”. The graphics for the O’s were two wedding rings.

It is 25°F and feels like 13° in North Carolina this morning. We have a short drive to Kingsland, Georgia today. Waze says 6 hours, or maybe 9 hours with holiday traffic and speed traps. Mapping says there are 16 sped traps on I-95 in Georgia, so I am letting Susan drive that part. She has a way of sweet talking the Georgia cops when they pull her over. Or, at least it worked that way last January. So a few more pictures from our hotel. The main lobby tree I love these little village houses Everything Christmas in the lobby seating area. Even the buffet area has tons of figures One last one, but everywhere you look, there are figures, and trees, and twinkling lights. At least the sun is shining bright for our drive today.

We had one of those square cabins booked on Anthem For April, 2020. It would have been our first sailing on that class ship, and a first out of Cape Liberty. Hmm, for some reason, we could not go on that cruise. I mean, it was after the two weeks to slow the spread thing.

I did notice that they talk kinda funny down here in NC. Fortunately I have watched Talladega Nights more than once, so I could unnerstan ‘em.

We made 4 states today. Pennsylvania, W Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. We usually break up our trips to Florida, and take 3 days. It is more relaxing for us that way. It is 46° in Elkin, NC, where we are staying. The weather app says it will get much colder overnight, so we will see what it looks like in the morning. As usual, the Fairfield we stay at here, is decorated to the nines. Maybe some more photos in the morning, but here is the Nutcracker army waiting when you get off the elevators. We had an early supper at the Pirates Landing. We have always had very good seafood there, but we were both disappointed with our shrimp tonight. I thought it was a little overcooked. I must have been doing something right, because one of my fuel loyalty cards started giving me $0.30 off per gallon.

Thanks. We have several different ones. I-79, I-77, I-26, then I-95. I hope you have good weather for your travels next week.

Reporting now from West Virginia. It is 46°, and we finally got out of the rain. Looks like we will be clear the rest of our drive today. Just crossed the New River Gorge Bridge. I know they used to have a bridge festival every year, and people could bungee jump off the bridge. I think they have stopped that now. Speaking of jumps, has anyone seen the latest stunt Tom Cruise did for the new MI movie? Pretty wild.

Your Highlander is all time AWD. No need to push anything. The snow button is if you get into some deep, nasty stuff. I have never had to use the snow button on ours, and we get lots more snow than you typically see.

Reporting from Pennsylvania. Weather was clear this morning, until we drove by the newly completed Shell Ethylene Cracker Plant. Then the rain started. I am always amazed at the scale of this multi-billion dollar plant that has been under construction for several years, and just started operating in September.

I feel like Jim Cantore, heading into the belly of the beast for live updates. On an unusual note, Pennsylvania looks like clear driving this morning. I guess those states south of us wanted to show us some Christmas colors. Our route for the next 3 days. Meanwhile, celebrating the winter solstice last night. Granddaughter added wishes for a better 2023 to the Yule Log.

According to their FAQ’s all cabanas at Coco Beach have them.

on Royal Caribbean’s web site. Just google Royal Caribbean Guest Conduct policy. Sometimes they do a good job of hiding things on their site.

I guess you need to print a copy of the guest conduct policy and give it to a staff member when you make your complaint. Those items are prohibited. Although, in typical Royal fashion, they also encourage use of Bluetooth speakers, since they provide them in some cabanas.

This would be a good Christmas card photo.

So, adding to the what else can go wrong story. Found out yesterday that our CA grandson has the flu. High temp and other symptoms. And, of course there is a nationwide shortage of Children’s Tylenol. Daughter-in-law was able to find the last bottle of a generic brand, out of dozens of stores she checked in the Bay Area. I know we have a shortage here, but we did get a bottle when granddaughter was sick. Hopefully he will be over it by the time they fly to meet us. Next, Ricky was playing with a door this morning, and managed to get his paw stuck and injured it. So he has been limping around, and is off to the Vet soon to get checked out. Just more things to put stress on Christmas travel plans.

I think I figured out where some of my Kraken went. What other explanation is there for driving a car into a tree? Oh, that Snowflake.

We do to put photos in our yearly Christmas ornaments of the kids and grandkids. But those are one offs that we print at home.

Congratulations @Lionesss Sue, on your beautiful granddaughter. Now, like the rest of us grandparents, you will add to those you worry about. But, you will also have joyful times.

I didn’t get time to post Snowflake the Elf this morning. Looks like she was getting lessons on how to be foxy. She was still relaxing when I got back with my daughter. Off to restock the Kraken now.