Auto Train Revisited
Dec 30th, 2012, 05:43 AM
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Auto Train Revisited
Another opportunity to visit friends has arisen and the names of different places to scout out have popped up also. Since having my own car trumps getting tossed around on the train, I'm taking Auto Train ("AT") again.
I like speaking with a person when ordering tickets and the person was very patient. Ironically, it costs a tad more to go round trip on the passenger train than on the AT! Because so few people are going north, the car train gets good prices for returning. It cost $675 for a one-way ticket on the AT with a roomette. A bit more than airfare and car rental for the most part, but again, it's great having one's own car.
I just re-read my 2011 notes and hope I don't feel so claustrophobic this year. Think I'll use my coat as a pillow so I don't have so much to lug around.
Am bringing my computer this time so will try to add some more on the train.
I like speaking with a person when ordering tickets and the person was very patient. Ironically, it costs a tad more to go round trip on the passenger train than on the AT! Because so few people are going north, the car train gets good prices for returning. It cost $675 for a one-way ticket on the AT with a roomette. A bit more than airfare and car rental for the most part, but again, it's great having one's own car.
I just re-read my 2011 notes and hope I don't feel so claustrophobic this year. Think I'll use my coat as a pillow so I don't have so much to lug around.
Am bringing my computer this time so will try to add some more on the train.
Dec 30th, 2012, 06:05 PM
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Looks like the Auto Train still hasn't added WiFi. An overview of where wifi is available in the Amtrak system is here: http://tinyurl.com/7l2wlfa .
WiFi is available at Lorton, and I believe at Sanford as well.
WiFi is available at Lorton, and I believe at Sanford as well.
Dec 31st, 2012, 12:53 PM
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I left home at 10:10 and arrived at Lorton at 11:11. Loading didn’t begin until 11:36 so I listened to much of “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me!” while waiting in a long line.
Was at the ticket counter by 12 and chose 5 for dinner. 7 and 9 were also available. I was told that my sleeper car would be 8 down from the door. It will be a longish walk and the cars weren’t in numerical order so folks will get confused. I bought a “New York Times” and spent the next 2.5 hours doing the crossword and chatting with some of the folks who managed to grab the few available tables. Unfortunately, there didn’t seem to be enough chairs for the almost 500 folks on this full train. A woman on her phone complained that only the 9 p.m. time was available for dinner. √Get to the station earlier than 2.
At 2:30 everyone started loading up. I didn’t hear them calling for people who needed extra help. My roomette this time is on the lower level and it doesn’t seem as small as last time. This car has showers at one end and only one bedroom so perhaps the roomettes have a tad more space. I’ll see when I go to dinner.
Anyway, there is a complimentary paper (“USA Today”) and 2 bottled waters. The porter is Daniel and he goes around getting turn down times. A nearby couple are “oohing” in a not good way. “It’s so small!” I” brought changes of clothing and a suitcase!” “I was misinformed!”
The roomettes are efficiently laid out and pretty good for one person but would be tight quarters for two people with any extra weight. There are 2 coat hangers and a space for an extremely narrow overnight bag. I get out my computer and find there is no wifi. The folks with 4-g (?) say they have no trouble.
I type up some trip notes and then proceed to the snack car. Almost all of the tables are filled already and a nice woman is passing out red or white wine. The snacks are almost wiped out as well—broccoli, cheese, celery, carrots and a chex-type mix. I grab a wine and some cheese and find an empty place.
Back to the room to wait for the dinner call, and I hear football scores being announced.. A nice touch for a Sunday.
My dinner companions were I and G, and K. We had a very congenial talk through dinner with cards and telephone numbers exchanged. I is a retired teacher, her hub G. an inventor and K a retired accountant and mother of 6. Two of us had skirt steaks, one had a Mediterranean pocket (phyllo with vegetables) and the 4th had crab cakes. All happy with their meals. Again, I’d say Bor B+. American wines throughout.
Back to the room by 6 and I read and dozed until Daniel came at 9:30 to make up the bed. I was OK without my pillow by being single so I got all 4 small ones to myself.
Was at the ticket counter by 12 and chose 5 for dinner. 7 and 9 were also available. I was told that my sleeper car would be 8 down from the door. It will be a longish walk and the cars weren’t in numerical order so folks will get confused. I bought a “New York Times” and spent the next 2.5 hours doing the crossword and chatting with some of the folks who managed to grab the few available tables. Unfortunately, there didn’t seem to be enough chairs for the almost 500 folks on this full train. A woman on her phone complained that only the 9 p.m. time was available for dinner. √Get to the station earlier than 2.
At 2:30 everyone started loading up. I didn’t hear them calling for people who needed extra help. My roomette this time is on the lower level and it doesn’t seem as small as last time. This car has showers at one end and only one bedroom so perhaps the roomettes have a tad more space. I’ll see when I go to dinner.
Anyway, there is a complimentary paper (“USA Today”) and 2 bottled waters. The porter is Daniel and he goes around getting turn down times. A nearby couple are “oohing” in a not good way. “It’s so small!” I” brought changes of clothing and a suitcase!” “I was misinformed!”
The roomettes are efficiently laid out and pretty good for one person but would be tight quarters for two people with any extra weight. There are 2 coat hangers and a space for an extremely narrow overnight bag. I get out my computer and find there is no wifi. The folks with 4-g (?) say they have no trouble.
I type up some trip notes and then proceed to the snack car. Almost all of the tables are filled already and a nice woman is passing out red or white wine. The snacks are almost wiped out as well—broccoli, cheese, celery, carrots and a chex-type mix. I grab a wine and some cheese and find an empty place.
Back to the room to wait for the dinner call, and I hear football scores being announced.. A nice touch for a Sunday.
My dinner companions were I and G, and K. We had a very congenial talk through dinner with cards and telephone numbers exchanged. I is a retired teacher, her hub G. an inventor and K a retired accountant and mother of 6. Two of us had skirt steaks, one had a Mediterranean pocket (phyllo with vegetables) and the 4th had crab cakes. All happy with their meals. Again, I’d say Bor B+. American wines throughout.
Back to the room by 6 and I read and dozed until Daniel came at 9:30 to make up the bed. I was OK without my pillow by being single so I got all 4 small ones to myself.
Jan 1st, 2013, 02:03 PM
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Monday, December 31, 2012
Cereal, banana, bagels, orange muffins and OJ are good. I didn’t sleep much—the train was just as rocky as I remembered it. We are also going to be much later than we were 2 years ago, when I was on the road at 9:30. Today we didn’t’ even get in the station until 11. My car came out at noon. Fortunately, it was only an hour to Tavares where I would be staying. Unfortunately, I have missed my tour of The Villages.
If you really want to have your car in Florida, remember the wait to load and unload your car and don’t make plans for the day you travel.
Some other cons: If you are a light sleeper, I don’t think you’ll sleep well. On 2 occasions, my neck went in one direction and my torso in another! If you are oversized in any way, you will not be comfortable. On my first thread about this, someone said if you can sleep in a recliner, you can sleep on the non-room seats on the train—I have to disagree about the comfort of the train seats compared to a recliner.
Good things are having a nice dinner and meeting interesting people and not driving on Rte. 95 for quite a few hours. Plus you can pack more and just stow it in the car. My little overnight bag on wheels was very easy to maneuver.
My GPS (Dundee) had a little trouble getting me to Tavares but only the last 100 feet—it had me overshoot an unmarked left turn. Since the Holiday Inn Express (HI) where I stayed is newish, I wondering if my GPS map is up to date. On the way, I passed two “bear crossing” signs but don’t see any bears. There were quite a few detour signs for Route 4—so if you are in the area, check ahead. The ride to Tavares was very easy. Mostly 2-lane roads with 55 mph limit which most folks seem to obey.
Anyhow, HI is fine and my room is ready at 1:30. A king bed, small fridge and microwave are good touches. If you have stayed at HI, you know there is a free breakfast and you have used the pancake machine. (Kids and young at heart love it). I get unpacked and check phone messages, e-mail and google a café in Mt. Dora. I figure that any place that has one will have a downtown. And I am correct. Also, there is a restaurant on the water very near the HI so I make a 7 p.m. reservation before leaving for Mt. Dora.
Dundee’s route to Cecile’s French Corner takes me by Lake Dora on the right and some lovely homes on a little bluff on the left. Did I say there are quite a few lakes in Lake County? And the downtown is very much like Annapolis or Easton, Md. I will find out I have landed in the so-called Gallery District.
I park and meander and my first stop is Ka Dee Kay’s kitchen store. It is so sweet and the back door opens to an alley way where a wine and beer tasting is going on. The owner has stayed in business for the 2 years since she opened and loves the area. I proceed to Cecile’s and am greeted by a young man in black with shoulder-length black hair and a gray beret. I get an interior giggle when he pronounces a nearby diner’s choice of iced tea as “Perfect, monsieur”! Since it is in the 70s (sigh!) I sit outside and get a quiche and glass of shiraz and enjoy a little bit of lake view and quite a few tourists. After lunch, I meander some more and find another entrance to the alley. Very attractive with one place vacant and for rent. Am tempted to find out the rate but don’t.
The sun is lowering so I head on back to HI and sit down to write some notes and get so tired that I know I won’t make it for dinner. Another call and they say come on over now. So I do and get a B+ rib steak and another glass of shiraz. At about ½ way through, I’m done for so they give me a box and I go home. Asleep by 7 and go all to 8 a.m.!
January 1, 2013 Happy New Year!
Today, Beverly Hills!
Cereal, banana, bagels, orange muffins and OJ are good. I didn’t sleep much—the train was just as rocky as I remembered it. We are also going to be much later than we were 2 years ago, when I was on the road at 9:30. Today we didn’t’ even get in the station until 11. My car came out at noon. Fortunately, it was only an hour to Tavares where I would be staying. Unfortunately, I have missed my tour of The Villages.
If you really want to have your car in Florida, remember the wait to load and unload your car and don’t make plans for the day you travel.
Some other cons: If you are a light sleeper, I don’t think you’ll sleep well. On 2 occasions, my neck went in one direction and my torso in another! If you are oversized in any way, you will not be comfortable. On my first thread about this, someone said if you can sleep in a recliner, you can sleep on the non-room seats on the train—I have to disagree about the comfort of the train seats compared to a recliner.
Good things are having a nice dinner and meeting interesting people and not driving on Rte. 95 for quite a few hours. Plus you can pack more and just stow it in the car. My little overnight bag on wheels was very easy to maneuver.
My GPS (Dundee) had a little trouble getting me to Tavares but only the last 100 feet—it had me overshoot an unmarked left turn. Since the Holiday Inn Express (HI) where I stayed is newish, I wondering if my GPS map is up to date. On the way, I passed two “bear crossing” signs but don’t see any bears. There were quite a few detour signs for Route 4—so if you are in the area, check ahead. The ride to Tavares was very easy. Mostly 2-lane roads with 55 mph limit which most folks seem to obey.
Anyhow, HI is fine and my room is ready at 1:30. A king bed, small fridge and microwave are good touches. If you have stayed at HI, you know there is a free breakfast and you have used the pancake machine. (Kids and young at heart love it). I get unpacked and check phone messages, e-mail and google a café in Mt. Dora. I figure that any place that has one will have a downtown. And I am correct. Also, there is a restaurant on the water very near the HI so I make a 7 p.m. reservation before leaving for Mt. Dora.
Dundee’s route to Cecile’s French Corner takes me by Lake Dora on the right and some lovely homes on a little bluff on the left. Did I say there are quite a few lakes in Lake County? And the downtown is very much like Annapolis or Easton, Md. I will find out I have landed in the so-called Gallery District.
I park and meander and my first stop is Ka Dee Kay’s kitchen store. It is so sweet and the back door opens to an alley way where a wine and beer tasting is going on. The owner has stayed in business for the 2 years since she opened and loves the area. I proceed to Cecile’s and am greeted by a young man in black with shoulder-length black hair and a gray beret. I get an interior giggle when he pronounces a nearby diner’s choice of iced tea as “Perfect, monsieur”! Since it is in the 70s (sigh!) I sit outside and get a quiche and glass of shiraz and enjoy a little bit of lake view and quite a few tourists. After lunch, I meander some more and find another entrance to the alley. Very attractive with one place vacant and for rent. Am tempted to find out the rate but don’t.
The sun is lowering so I head on back to HI and sit down to write some notes and get so tired that I know I won’t make it for dinner. Another call and they say come on over now. So I do and get a B+ rib steak and another glass of shiraz. At about ½ way through, I’m done for so they give me a box and I go home. Asleep by 7 and go all to 8 a.m.!
January 1, 2013 Happy New Year!
Today, Beverly Hills!
Jan 1st, 2013, 04:31 PM
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WiFi on Amtrak is illusory - even where they say they have it.
Have tried to use it on the NYC to Bos and NYC to DC corridor and it continually cuts off - makes it impossible to send any emails with attachments - really useless except for work on the computer - but very little sending or receiving.
Have tried to use it on the NYC to Bos and NYC to DC corridor and it continually cuts off - makes it impossible to send any emails with attachments - really useless except for work on the computer - but very little sending or receiving.
Jan 1st, 2013, 09:32 PM
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We did a R/T last year. No issues sleeping. The roomette was little tight but we managed. The included dinner and breakfast, while not exceptional, was okay. The free wine was a plus. We had to wait about 1 hour to get our car at both stations but we did not mind. We just enjoyed the fact that we did not had to drive on I-95 for over thousand miles, saved the wear and tear on our car and did not have to spend all the money on gas. At the end the car charge was probably the same or cheaper than the wear and tear and ga$oline. We're thinking about doing it again.
Jan 2nd, 2013, 04:46 AM
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Having the 4G (is that right?) seems more reliable, nytraveler.
That's good to read AAFF. A lot of people must agree with you as the train was filled both times I've travelled.
I liked the food-particularly when compared to U.S. airline food these days.
That's good to read AAFF. A lot of people must agree with you as the train was filled both times I've travelled.
I liked the food-particularly when compared to U.S. airline food these days.
Jan 2nd, 2013, 08:11 AM
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Sanford to Lorton, no stops except for crew change somewhere in Carolinas in the middle of the night.
You do need a car to book this train.
http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak/autotrain
You do need a car to book this train.
http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak/autotrain
Jan 2nd, 2013, 06:24 PM
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Just clicked on my name and found my old (and first) Auto Train trip report from 2008. And we're leaving for our 6th (has it been that long?) in a week. Guess we like it....
The only thing I'd add is that the trips have been more timely than that first. We always leave Lorton on a Thursday--don't know if that makes any differenc.
A side note on the 2010 return trip (we always go down for a month.) That February was the east coast blizzard(s.) The AT didn't run for a week. Not only that, they didn't answer their phone for a week. Anywhere. There were occasional updates on the Washington post website (about every other day.)
When our scheduled return date rolled around, we drive over to Sanford to find out what's going on. There was one young lady behind the counter, and she didn't know much more than we did. (No phones ringing there, either.) She said that her understanding was that she would be notified at 5PM the day before the trains would start running again. And she told us she could process an instant rerund for the return trip if we wanted to drive back.
We took it, spent that night in Jacksonville. Got a reservation (off Priceline, for $50,) for the following night (a Thursday,) at the Hilton Head Resort at Hilton Head. Nice digs. Made a reservation there for Friday in Blacksburg VA. It's on I-81, and we live in Harrisburg PA, so we were able to shoot up home on Saturday.
One quick lesson learned: Always keep a full set of road maps between FL and your home destination. Don't count on visitor centers, GPS or anything else--physical maps will allow you to really visualize alternate routes.
The only thing I'd add is that the trips have been more timely than that first. We always leave Lorton on a Thursday--don't know if that makes any differenc.
A side note on the 2010 return trip (we always go down for a month.) That February was the east coast blizzard(s.) The AT didn't run for a week. Not only that, they didn't answer their phone for a week. Anywhere. There were occasional updates on the Washington post website (about every other day.)
When our scheduled return date rolled around, we drive over to Sanford to find out what's going on. There was one young lady behind the counter, and she didn't know much more than we did. (No phones ringing there, either.) She said that her understanding was that she would be notified at 5PM the day before the trains would start running again. And she told us she could process an instant rerund for the return trip if we wanted to drive back.
We took it, spent that night in Jacksonville. Got a reservation (off Priceline, for $50,) for the following night (a Thursday,) at the Hilton Head Resort at Hilton Head. Nice digs. Made a reservation there for Friday in Blacksburg VA. It's on I-81, and we live in Harrisburg PA, so we were able to shoot up home on Saturday.
One quick lesson learned: Always keep a full set of road maps between FL and your home destination. Don't count on visitor centers, GPS or anything else--physical maps will allow you to really visualize alternate routes.
Jan 4th, 2013, 02:55 PM
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January 1, 2013 Happy New Year!
I forgot to say last night’s resto is Hurricane Grill. It’s on water—maybe Lake Dora but I can’t tell for certain from the map. They have made a cute little beach. Their Christmas tree is covered with flip flops and baseball caps. Very cute. Great service and nice young people who all call me “Sweetie”.
Today will be in the 70’s again. My friend in Citrus County called and we set up a time for me to fetch her for a mini-tour of her area.
It takes about one hour and, as yesterday’s drive from Sanford, the roads are not too busy. I pass The Villages on route 44 and then a resto called “Speckled Butterbean”—do I really want to eat there?? LOL.
My friend (K) and I drive around the downtown of county seat, Inverness. It is very small. Town is on several lakes and I’m not certain which one I passed over. This area is older and development, though there, is less rampant. Beverly Hills has quite a few homes built in the 1970s that look like a real combo of full-timers and renters. More a change of season according to K.
Back home to regroup and then drove to Eustis as someone suggested it has a nice downtown—I am looking for Gianna’s Café and find it but it is closed. And I’m not thrilled with the general area coming into Eustis.
Made a trip to the Publix to pick up some supplies then back to the room to zap my steak and check emails.
Tuesday, January 2, 2013-70s weather predicted
Breakfast was scrambled eggs, bacon, juice, coffee and English muffin. All but the eggs, very good. On the road for my tour of The Villages at 10:00 a.m. I meet P. and he has sold homes here for 3 years but just moved in with his wife and dog.
In many ways The Villages is a Disney World for adults. Several sections each with a community center. I meet P at the town square which is very cute. Unlike the line of strollers outside “It’s a Small World” in Disney, there are lines of golf carts at The Villages. No big box stores but many smaller places line both sides of the street in attractive coastal-looking pastel buildings. Panera bread was one of the larger restaurants.
Anyhow, I’ll leave it up to you to decide if you like this concept. One owns and maintains one’s home and must have grass and landscaping.
On the road by noon and make it to Naples by 4—I made two pit stops along the way and went at exactly 65 m.p.h. on the road (Rte. 75) with a 70 m.p.h. limit so I was left alone after each clump of cars passed me by.
My friend, M, owns a sweet 2 br, den condo. We talk and eat and drink some wine then go to our respective rooms. Good sleep.
Wednesday, January 3, 2013 80’s predicted weather
We piddled around in the morning then M drove me around Naples. 5th Avenue in old Naples, with many high-end shops, puts The Villages main street to shame a bit. We drove through areas with amazingly huge homes that must be hotels but are not.
Out to lunch at a place M and her DH have already visited so know the owner is from our hometown in Annapolis! Back to the condo for naps. M has filled a basket with site-seeing and realty brochures. We might call her realtor about a condo with a price so appealing that there must be something wrong!
Dinner is just raiding the fridge and talking.
Thursday, January 4, 2013 Rain!
M says the rain is a surprise but says it never lasts very long. She has an appointment so I do some laundry and get back to this TR. M returns and we drive to Isles of Capri. It is just before Marco Island. We have a fabulous lunch of fresh grouper and talapia in a shacky, screened in restaurant right on the water. As far as I can tell, we are on the Gulf and ICW. M calls the east-west road Alligator Alley and it’s 50 miles of road and nothing else so do have enough gas!
Then we drove around Marco Island which is waaay larger than I thought. M has been picking up brochures and mags about the area. Prices run the gamut but I’d say the Naples area is not terribly depressed.
Rain did indeed stop and it's 83 degrees outside. Back home and we are both pooped so go to our respective rooms and then start e-mailing each other! So funny.
I forgot to say last night’s resto is Hurricane Grill. It’s on water—maybe Lake Dora but I can’t tell for certain from the map. They have made a cute little beach. Their Christmas tree is covered with flip flops and baseball caps. Very cute. Great service and nice young people who all call me “Sweetie”.
Today will be in the 70’s again. My friend in Citrus County called and we set up a time for me to fetch her for a mini-tour of her area.
It takes about one hour and, as yesterday’s drive from Sanford, the roads are not too busy. I pass The Villages on route 44 and then a resto called “Speckled Butterbean”—do I really want to eat there?? LOL.
My friend (K) and I drive around the downtown of county seat, Inverness. It is very small. Town is on several lakes and I’m not certain which one I passed over. This area is older and development, though there, is less rampant. Beverly Hills has quite a few homes built in the 1970s that look like a real combo of full-timers and renters. More a change of season according to K.
Back home to regroup and then drove to Eustis as someone suggested it has a nice downtown—I am looking for Gianna’s Café and find it but it is closed. And I’m not thrilled with the general area coming into Eustis.
Made a trip to the Publix to pick up some supplies then back to the room to zap my steak and check emails.
Tuesday, January 2, 2013-70s weather predicted
Breakfast was scrambled eggs, bacon, juice, coffee and English muffin. All but the eggs, very good. On the road for my tour of The Villages at 10:00 a.m. I meet P. and he has sold homes here for 3 years but just moved in with his wife and dog.
In many ways The Villages is a Disney World for adults. Several sections each with a community center. I meet P at the town square which is very cute. Unlike the line of strollers outside “It’s a Small World” in Disney, there are lines of golf carts at The Villages. No big box stores but many smaller places line both sides of the street in attractive coastal-looking pastel buildings. Panera bread was one of the larger restaurants.
Anyhow, I’ll leave it up to you to decide if you like this concept. One owns and maintains one’s home and must have grass and landscaping.
On the road by noon and make it to Naples by 4—I made two pit stops along the way and went at exactly 65 m.p.h. on the road (Rte. 75) with a 70 m.p.h. limit so I was left alone after each clump of cars passed me by.
My friend, M, owns a sweet 2 br, den condo. We talk and eat and drink some wine then go to our respective rooms. Good sleep.
Wednesday, January 3, 2013 80’s predicted weather
We piddled around in the morning then M drove me around Naples. 5th Avenue in old Naples, with many high-end shops, puts The Villages main street to shame a bit. We drove through areas with amazingly huge homes that must be hotels but are not.
Out to lunch at a place M and her DH have already visited so know the owner is from our hometown in Annapolis! Back to the condo for naps. M has filled a basket with site-seeing and realty brochures. We might call her realtor about a condo with a price so appealing that there must be something wrong!
Dinner is just raiding the fridge and talking.
Thursday, January 4, 2013 Rain!
M says the rain is a surprise but says it never lasts very long. She has an appointment so I do some laundry and get back to this TR. M returns and we drive to Isles of Capri. It is just before Marco Island. We have a fabulous lunch of fresh grouper and talapia in a shacky, screened in restaurant right on the water. As far as I can tell, we are on the Gulf and ICW. M calls the east-west road Alligator Alley and it’s 50 miles of road and nothing else so do have enough gas!
Then we drove around Marco Island which is waaay larger than I thought. M has been picking up brochures and mags about the area. Prices run the gamut but I’d say the Naples area is not terribly depressed.
Rain did indeed stop and it's 83 degrees outside. Back home and we are both pooped so go to our respective rooms and then start e-mailing each other! So funny.
Jan 4th, 2013, 05:37 PM
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Tdudette-- Thanks for this trip report. That's useful to know about the train not running during that winter storm 2010 for a week. Luckily I've never had to fall back on a backup plan when I've travelled by train.
Sorry to hear you couldn't sleep; some people sleep well while others have trouble konking out on the train. I remember one teenage girl dining companion couldn't sleep on the San Francisco to Chicago train; boy was she an unhappy zombie on day 3.
Sorry to hear you couldn't sleep; some people sleep well while others have trouble konking out on the train. I remember one teenage girl dining companion couldn't sleep on the San Francisco to Chicago train; boy was she an unhappy zombie on day 3.
Jan 6th, 2013, 06:08 AM
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Saturday, January 5, 2013, Foggy start, low 80s as day elapses
Well, I’ve written the dates incorrectly. No big deal until I thought I’d lost a day mentally. Every day I’ve written above is one day off--We went out for breakfast and I tried cheese grits. Will try again at some other place—I wasn’t too impressed.
We then went to a Saturday market and M. left me at a shopping area called Tin City. I bought a ticket for a planned excursion boat ride and then walked around and shopped. Saw some cute expandable bags but didn’t buy. Tin City had been a fisheries place then repurposed into shops and fresh fish restos.
At the boat dock, I met B & J, brothers from the Midwest and we chatted about the area and our lives. The excursion takes about 1.5 hours and basically shows the gorgeous homes on the way out to the Gulf of Mexico. We do learn that the mangrove trees produce a brownish tannic acid that stains the water (and boats). I also learn that property tax is 4 1/2% but less for the billionaires. Ironically, one of the big developers would not sell to entertainers or sports figures—afraid they’d be too flashy.
After the tour, I walk over to 5th Avenue where a huge art fair is going on. Quite a few blocks have been pedestrian-ized and hundreds of artists’ tents line both sides of the street. It’s a little warm in the sun so I stick to the shady side of the street.
I call M at the appointed time and she fetches me for home and a late lunch of homemade chicken/noodle/veggie soup from the market. We talk and talk then go to our respective rooms to decompress.
Well, I’ve written the dates incorrectly. No big deal until I thought I’d lost a day mentally. Every day I’ve written above is one day off--We went out for breakfast and I tried cheese grits. Will try again at some other place—I wasn’t too impressed.
We then went to a Saturday market and M. left me at a shopping area called Tin City. I bought a ticket for a planned excursion boat ride and then walked around and shopped. Saw some cute expandable bags but didn’t buy. Tin City had been a fisheries place then repurposed into shops and fresh fish restos.
At the boat dock, I met B & J, brothers from the Midwest and we chatted about the area and our lives. The excursion takes about 1.5 hours and basically shows the gorgeous homes on the way out to the Gulf of Mexico. We do learn that the mangrove trees produce a brownish tannic acid that stains the water (and boats). I also learn that property tax is 4 1/2% but less for the billionaires. Ironically, one of the big developers would not sell to entertainers or sports figures—afraid they’d be too flashy.
After the tour, I walk over to 5th Avenue where a huge art fair is going on. Quite a few blocks have been pedestrian-ized and hundreds of artists’ tents line both sides of the street. It’s a little warm in the sun so I stick to the shady side of the street.
I call M at the appointed time and she fetches me for home and a late lunch of homemade chicken/noodle/veggie soup from the market. We talk and talk then go to our respective rooms to decompress.
Jan 6th, 2013, 10:53 AM
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We're doing it again, but this time it's only one-way, from Sanford to Lorton, then we're visiting friends in NJ and doing a drive back with few 2-3 day stops along the way.
We're leaving on June 14th, my b-day
, celebrate with dinner on the train, hangout at the lounge, retire to our cabin, celebrate some more 
, then sleep. Rested and after breakfast we will be on our way to Ocean City in the morning.
We're leaving on June 14th, my b-day
, celebrate with dinner on the train, hangout at the lounge, retire to our cabin, celebrate some more , then sleep. Rested and after breakfast we will be on our way to Ocean City in the morning.
