Well I must say the warmth feels good after so many cold morning at the cabin. The a/c here is in full mode but I can always cool off when it gets too hot. We made it back safely after a 4 AM departure. The temps at the cabin weren't too bad but as we drove down off the mountain an into the middle part of the state it was 10 degrees colder, whats with that. It was sad to say goodbye to the mountains but at that early morning we didn't see much except some deer both alive and dead along the highways and it wasn't until we reached South Carolina with a sunrise we got see the landscape which included lots of farming with many cotton fields.
It took us right at 12 hours to make it back with the first 5 hours traveling a different way as we wanted to leave on a work day instead of Sunday morning. The traffic around the Charlotte and Columbia area would have been congested so we came down through the middle of the state which was right at 38 miles longer. It was mainly interstate until we reached the bottom of N.C. and then it was two lane roadways in and around Darlington S.C. which was back roads until we reached I-95. Then it was smooth sailing the rest of the way until we reached Ocala where a crash had us delayed for close to 30 minutes as FHP was working a motorcycle vs car. After that we hit stop and go in Tampa. We saw more vehicles in 30 minutes on I-275 than we had seen all summer long. Oh well welcome to Florida.
The house was in good shape as was the yard. Tyler and Amy and the grands take care of the place and it was live in ready. many Thanks to them. The rain fall here has been very short this summer and the yards were burnt to a crisp. The garden area had been weed whacked but did have lots of grasses and weeds to be dug up before any planting. We unloaded and started putting things back in place before walking up to the Botbyl's for supper. Amy usually makes supper but she was busy with church so Carol and Dan volunteered. It was a delicious pot roast with smashed tatters and green beans and apple crisp for dessert. I had skipped lunch after two egg and bacon mac griddles around 8'ish in S.C. that held me until supper. I did make a stop for Nancy at Wendy's for a chicken sandwich for her around 2'ish near Ocala.
Well its great to be back here with winter coming on in the mountains but sure miss our mountain mom and the many neighbors and friends we have made there. But we are sure blessed to be back here with our son and daughter's families close by as well as the many great neighbors here as well. I have tons to do and of course I'm excited to get back to pickle ball next Monday as well and of course our church here where we will serve . Thanks again to all who remembered us in your prayers for safe travel. GOD is good, LATER
