On The Road: Florida

Here's a re-cap of Florida... tons of photos for your viewing pleasure.

Dec. 16&17 - Hung out with Wolfman and Lynnette. Confusion with trailer. Called all over from Galveston, Texas to East Coast Florida checking prices. B&G is our best option. Booked Bayou Cabins for Christmas.

Dec. 18 - Claire's 22nd Birthday! We went out for breakfast with Wolf and Lynnette. Drove to Orlando for Claire's birthday surprises.  Went to Santiago's tapas.  Saw "It's a Wonderful Life" as a 1940's Live Radio Show at the Shakespeare Theatre. Sat front row. awesome show. very unique. Each person had multiple voices as characters, old microphones, authentic attire. Sound effects were hand made with gadgets and house hold items.  It was quite the treat for us and Claire loved it!

Dec. 19 - Finalized trailer. Down payment. Gave dimensions of our boat. Surfed Ponce Inlet.

Dec. 20 - Custom trailer complete. Surfed Ponce Inlet. My parents are coming down tonight.

Dec. 21 - Parents are here. Packed up and said goodbye to everyone.  Tried to go pick up trailer.  False alarm, went back to Grandparent's house.  Have to wait until Monday to get a new beefier hitch welded on. 

Dec. 22 - Went fishing with my Dad and Claire at Turtle Mound.  Caught nothing but small trout.

Dec. 23 - Crazy day.  Re-packed the car.  Took out clothes and other things to get weight out of the car. Left behind at Grandparent's.  Went to pick up new hitch.  Went to get new hitch welded on.  Got the trailer wiring rigged up.  Went back to DeLand (30 minutes from my Grandparent's) to pick up trailer from B&G Trailers.  Rode back with trailer to get Piña and say hopefully our last goodbye. Left Grandparent's at 19:30.  I have never driven with a trailer before!  Got to Destin, Florida late. 3:00AM?  Had fun in the parking lot of the complex for a solid hour, looping tight round-a-bouts, and backing her up nicely into a parking spot.  Slept hard.

beef stew with dumplings

new hitch getting welded on La Sancha

scored some swell

My Grandparent's (D'Onofrio, my mother's side)

Claire's Birthday Breakfast!

we're doing it...

beef carpaccio

shaved tenderloin, capers, parmesan crumble, smoked sea salt, truffle oil, and cilantro

dates

stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped with prosciutto

lamb patties

house ground leg of lamb, fresh thyme, sherry, and lemon zest with a cucumber and feta salad

croquettas

cayenne spiced pan-fried patties of potatoes, house ground prosciutto and provolone cheese with scallion cream

View from our front row seats. 

To the left is the sound effects station.

Mini doors he would slam, lock, creak...tons of interesting gadgets

THE BIRTHDAY GIRL!

we drove around to look at the light shows.

This house had their music synced to the blinking lights and you could tune in on your FM radio.

bigger than her head chicken sandwich

FISH ON!

not much of a fight...

Chowder.

My Grandparent's maine coon

scored a new life jacket for the boat. $12

1975 brand new

Stormy.

Wolf and Lynnette's 

chicken and waffles

record breaking 87º in December!

Birthday presents from Claire's family

Sea Robin

Meatloaf!

extra support

beefy

this kid was a genius!

Dad wired us up in the blink of an eye and his son explained everything he was doing.

left behind :(

my first back in parking. i didn't hit the truck.

good enough.