I felt a little better when I awoke not knowing if I was getting over what I had or if it was just the NyQuil that was making me not feel as sick. In either case I was happy to be able to move around. We all had cold cereal for breakfast then Mark and I started installing the swing out shelves on the corner cabinet.
We finished about lunchtime for a deli ham sandwich on sourdough with potato chips.
After lunch, we experimented with the Lowrance and Garmin displays on the boat to be able to follow safe boating paths in the shallow waters and to be able to mark points of potential danger or good places to fish. We saw a porpoise in the canal by Mark’s boat.
We sprayed down with Skin So Soft to repel the no see ums and went out to try the navigation systems. While we were out we saw two feeding porpoises
Back at the dock we renamed the tracks and readied the boat for fishing tomorrow.
Dinner was a delicious lasagna with a garden salad. Once again, I went to bed early after taking NyQuill.
We both woke early but I was really feeling bad. I altered between burning up and chilling. I skipped breakfast and lunch, staying up in the bedroom. Rain set in that would last all day and produce about 2 inches of rain. The constant rolling thunder kept the dogs spooked. Since the weather wasn’t great, I didn’t mind spending a day inside. I can only presume that I was fighting a cold that caused me to feel so bad. I just hoped that it would run its course soon.
Mark installed a slide out spice rack in one of the narrow cabinets. Marks sister, Jodie, and her husband, Grant, came over for card games. They had a good time playing, No Mercy Uno. Around 4:30 they left for dinner at Stumpknockers in Dunellon, which is about halfway to The Villages. Everyone enjoyed their seafood meals. I stayed at the house and dozed, trying to feel better. While they were out, one of the dogs peed on the floor apparently reluctant to go out in the thunder.
After they returned, they watched a little of the NCAA championships and I continued to sleep. I took a NyQuil before falling asleep.
We awoke to the smell of bacon frying in the kitchen. Mark had made omelets with bacon for breakfast. It would be easy to get used to Mark’s excellent breakfasts.
After breakfast and a short walk with the dogs, Mark and got fishing gear ready and kayaks outfitted. Mark drove us the short distance to Strickland’s convenient store where we bought 3 dozen live shrimp for bait
Paddled up Battle Creek to fish along some oyster bars. The tide was dead low. We caught some small catfish in the shallow water before Mark caught a red drum that was under the slot limit. I caught a 21” red drum on a dead shrimp. Since one legal drum is the limit, I changed to a white plastic swim bait to try to catch sea trout. I caught another red drum that was under the limit and released it.
We watched as a large boat became stuck on an oyster bar in the low water. There were lots of airboats out causing a good bit of turbulence for us. We started back as the sun was going down. I was having a great deal of trouble paddling against the current when I realized that the large fish in the mesh bag on the side of the boat was acting like a sea anchor. After I lifted the bag with the fish into the kayak, a was able to move forward normaly.
I was starting to feel like I was getting sick, so mark cleaned the fish while I took first shower. Cindy and Mary had made pork loin, air fried potatoes and garden salad for dinner. After calling to wish Gran a Happy birthday, I went straight up to bed at 7 pm and slept until 4 am.
We were awake by 5 am and went down to the breakfast area of the Microtel by 5:30. A sign indicated that breakfast was free except for students in the truck driving school who would need to pay $4 for breakfast. We presumed that the trucking school got a lodging rate that didn’t include breakfast. We had cold cereal, bagels and the ubiquitous waffle along with our morning beverages. The Microtel here in Ft. Jackson, SC was fine but not exceptional. The room was clean and quiet but the light coming in the window was bothersome.
We showered and did our morning language lessons and checked out. We filled up at a Gulf station in Columbia before getting on the road. Gas was $2.89 which was only a little more than we were paying at home.
We took I 26 south to the intersection with I 95 which took us through Georgia to I 295 around Jacksonville, Fl which connected us to I 10 west for a short distance to US 301. We had a small lunch of a McDonald’s chicken sandwich near the exit in Baldwin, Florida. We had been snacking most of the morning and didn’t need a large lunch. We picked Rt. 121 north of Gainesville then Rt. 98 south to Homosassa.
When we arrived, Mark and Cindy were at The Freezer with Mark’s nephew and two of his friends. We took our things up to our room and played with the dogs until they returned a short time later.
Mark showed us the work he had done in the loft area of the garage and Cindy showed us the newly replaced cabinets and dishwasher. We were pleased to see that most of the new cabinets were in place and that the new dishwasher had been installed. It turns out that the cabinet installer was the previous owner of the house on Standish Drive who had done the remodeling of the home before Whittingtons purchased it. Mark and I talked fishing and politics while Mary and Cindy played cribbage.
Mark fixed chicken enchiladas and salad for dinner which were excellent. We did our evening language lessons and watched an episode of Blackshore on Acorn before going to to bed.
Our previous trip to Florida in December and January was a great one but we spent most of the time doing repairs to the house caused by Hurricane Helene. Whittington’s invited us back this time to spend a few days recreating. We look forward to seeing them and, hopefully, going out on the water some.
We got up early and went to Planet Fitness for some treadmill time then left home 8 am. We were happy to fill up at the Grayson Speedway for $2.44/gallon. We arrived at Grans around 10:30 for her birthday celebration. Ron returned from chiropractor about the same time. We gave Gran her birthday gifts (Ferrell’s – KFC gift card and Thomas’ art, Koehler’s – potted plant, us – purse and Buffalo Trace bourbon). Lunch was at Monte Alban Mexican Restaurant a little after 11 am. Mary and Gran had the Popeye, chicken with spinach, Ron had a burrito and I had the Speedy Gonzales combo. We all had dessert while we sang happy birthday to Gran although her actual birthday is on Saturday.
We were on the road before 12:30 and heading for I 77 south. Each of the three tolls on the WV Turnpike were $4.50 although our EZ Pass got us through without charge. There was major construction near Chelyan causing an hour long delay. Another construction on the southern end of the turnpike resulted in nearly hour delay. Once through the tunnel leading into Virginia, there was heavy smoke just inside the state. The short drive through Virginia was otherwise uneventful. We were in Charlotte, NC around rush hour and fought major traffic there.
We arrived at the home of Gary and Kim Sigmond at 7 pm. They have only been in their new home since January and it is a beautiful place. Kim’s 101-year-old mother lives with them. Mary and Kim enjoyed catching up during our short visit. We were back on the road south by 8 pm.
We arrived at the Microtel near Ft. Jackson in Columbia, SC a little after 9 pm and checked into our second-floor room. The room was clean and quiet. Our only complaint was that the room darkening shade wouldn’t come down, so the room didn’t get very dark. We did our evening language lessons and turned in.
