One of Scott’s greatest wishes is finally fulfilled
Friday, June 27 – Lynne and Jim had discussed leaving at a later hour, but the kids (especially Scott) insisted we had to hit the road at 4:00 a.m. because it was a tradition, so we did. The drive was uneventful until we got south of Lexington and ran into extremely dense fog. The picnic tables were soaking wet from the moisture in the air at the rest stop south of Lexington so we ate our doughnuts in the car. Cliff’s family pulled in just as we were finishing up. Road construction near Corbin didn’t delay us because traffic was still so light when we got there, but the buildup of businesses on 25E and the addition of several new stoplights made us wonder how long the shortcut would continue to be a time saver. The kids gave two hearty thumbs up to the tunnel on 25E that burrows beneath Cumberland Gap, but the new route did eliminate our 3/4 mile tour of Virginia. A very slow gravel truck in Tennessee reduced our progress to a crawl but once we passed him, we enjoyed several miles without any other vehicles around us.
From 25E we caught I-81 to I-40. The right lane was shut down on I-40 through the mountains along the border. In the second tunnel in North Carolina, a truck hauling a modular home struck an orange barrel and sent it careening. Luckily for us there was a semi between us and the modular and it deflected the barrel out of our path. A few minutes later, smoke began pouring from beneath the modular home. Apparently some of the debris from the barrel had punctured one of the trailer’s tires and it disintegrated leaving the road strewn with bits of rubber and pink insulation from the bottom of the home. The truck was able to limp along to the North Carolina Welcome Center and exit there and we all breathed a sigh of relief. Had the truck stopped on the highway, there would have been no way to get around it with the lane closures for construction. The mountains were very pretty because the day was cloudy with sporadic showers and dozens of waterfalls and rivulets decorated the rock walls. We ate a picnic lunch at the South Carolina Welcome Center and even Lynne agreed it felt cool (cold to the rest of us).
As we descended the Appalachian foothills, traffic again slowed to a crawl and police cruisers blocked off the right lane. Jim said he figured a truck must have overturned but Michelle said he was probably wrong. The reason for the slowdown turned out to be an overturned truck blocking the right lane and shoulder. Scott was becoming depressed by the overcast but Lynne and Jim were delighted because it made driving much more pleasant. Once past the truck the drive was again uneventful until we ran into some rain on I-95 a few miles from Hardeeville. We decided we’d been in the car long enough and rolled into Hardeeville at 4:30 to find a motel. The kids wanted to stay at the Comfort Inn but they had no more non-smoking rooms, so we stayed at the Howard Johnson’s across the street. After dinner at the motel, Michelle and Scott hopped in the pool and the sun finally came out.
Saturday, June 28 – The morning was again cloudy. No one was particularly hungry so we rolled out of Hardeeville without breakfast. Although I-95 through Georgia seems to get longer every time we pass through, our only stop was for coffee at a drive-thru. One salt marsh was especially fragrant and the tide was out, exposing acres of mud flats. Florida had redone their welcome center and we were delighted to find a shuttle launch scheduled for July 2. After our complimentary juice (will Michelle ever remember she doesn’t like it?), we continued south. Signs warning of construction in Jacksonville persuaded us to take I-295 around the western side of the city. There was very little traffic, a higher speed limit, and a nice long bridge across the St. John’s River. Construction ended a few miles after we rejoined I-95 and we had smooth sailing to mile marker 249 where we exited for route 44. Lunch was a quick bite at McDonald’s although the ten minutes it took us was ten minutes too much for Scott. New Smyrna Beach hadn’t changed much although Coronado’s Fruits and Gifts had moved across the street and the Winn Dixie was closed.
We were the first to arrive at the Surfside and settled into room 216 while we waited for everyone else. Cliff’s family showed up about 20 minutes later. Comparing notes, we found they had been about a half-dozen cars behind us when the truck hit the orange barrel in North Carolina, and had also stayed in Hardeeville. Michelle parked herself on the balcony overlooking the parking lot to watch for the rest of our party. Mom and dad rolled in about 1:30 followed within a couple of minutes by Alex and Chantelle. They had left Friday night and had taken Chantelle’s sister to Tampa before coming over to New Smyrna. We got ready to pay up and discovered we were missing $500 in travelers checks. Luckily we had enough money on hand to cover our bill. We split 216 with mom and dad while Cliff’s family took 217. Laura watched Scott and Michelle while the rest of us went to Food Lion in the rain. Scott was convinced the entire vacation would be a disaster because of the cloudy weather. We had pizza delivered from Domino’s and finally hit the pool and beach after dinner.
Sunday, June 29 – We cooked up pancakes and sausage for breakfast and found we couldn’t get the microwave to work. Unit 216 also didn’t have working cable, had cheap furniture, and lacked enough utensils. Our missing traveler’s checks never did turn up so Jim called American Express. One of Michelle’s bathing suits was too small and chafed her badly when we went swimming in the morning so we went to K-Mart after lunch and bought her a replacement. On the way back we drove down Flagler Avenue to see if anything was new. The rest of the afternoon was spent swimming and sunning before we cooked barbecued chicken and corn on the cob for dinner. We found the remains of a sea turtle’s shell on the beach walking after dinner. Scott became very congested and by bedtime was wheezing so much he could hardly breathe.
Monday, June 30 – Scott was supposed to go golfing with Lynne, Laura and mom, but he was too sick. We called the doctor’s office in Cincinnati and had them phone a prescription for his inhaler down to the local Walgreen’s. While Lynne was playing the Hidden Oaks course with Laura and mom, Jim took Michelle and Scott with him to Ormond Beach to replace our travelers checks. Once Scott started using his inhaler his breathing improved dramatically but he still did not feel well and spent most of the day sleeping. Michelle meanwhile was growing fins from all the time she was spending in the water. We had all planned on dinner at Norwood’s but stayed at the Surfside because of Scott. Instead we had Mikey’s Pizza delivered. Everyone was very late getting back from Norwood’s because Cliff’s car wouldn’t stop running when he turned the key off, so they had to take it to a garage on US 1. Then, after dinner, dad couldn’t get his car to start with his key, but mom’s key worked. Because Scott was so sick, Michelle got to sleep in a twin bed in mom and dad’s room. She was in seventh heaven.
Tuesday, July 1 – Scott was like a completely different person after his medicine and rest. We spent the morning at the beach and pool. After lunch we all walked down to the beach to watch the shuttle Columbia take off, except for Michelle who decided to stay in and watch on TV. The weather forecasters had only given NASA a 10% chance of launching on schedule, but we were able to follow the shuttle until it was a pinpoint like a star in the blue sky. Souvenir time followed and we headed to Coronado’s for shirts, back scratchers and other treasures. Dad fixed a spaghetti dinner. Rain and lightning scuttled our plans for miniature golf but put on a fantastic display over the Intracoastal Waterway.
Wednesday, July 2 – Sun, surf and sand were the order of the day. Jim and Scott went to Canaveral in the afternoon and watched a manatee floating by the dock at the visitor’s center. In our four previous trips the best we had ever done was seeing one from the air as we flew over Mosquito Lagoon. While we watched the manatee a dolphin swam by the dock and a raccoon waddled across the lawn to raid one of the “critter proof” trash cans. We all ate dinner at J.B.’s Fish Camp but Oddball the two-nosed pig wasn’t in his house. Michelle started to cry because she thought the crabs on dad’s plate were looking at her. Scott split an order of steamed oysters with his grandfather. J.B.’s claims to be air conditioned but it was plenty hot inside. After dinner we dropped Lynne off at the Surfside and everyone else went to play miniature golf at Fisherman’s Landing. Jim took Laura, Michelle and Scott out for ice cream afterwards. Burgers ‘n’ Yogurt by the Food Lion was gone so they ended up at a Friendly’s by the north causeway.
Thursday, July 3 – Lynne, Scott, Laura and mom played golf at Hidden Lakes in the morning. Lynne let Scott drive the cart but an employee stopped them and said Scott was too young. Scott was steamed about it all day. Jim took Michelle to the manatee children’s playground at Riverside Park by the south causeway and to the Sugar Mill Ruins. Lynne, Scott and Jim went to Canaveral in the afternoon and saw three manatees this time. One of them was a baby. They swam under the dock while we watched. We drove back on Atlantic Avenue to look at some of the beachfront homes. After a steak dinner at the condo, we took a walk on the beach and met a blue crab who wasn’t too happy to be stranded above the tide line. Jim tried to put him back in the ocean but the next wave deposited him back at our feet.
Friday, July 4 – Lynne had a bad sunburn and spent the morning indoors. Mom and dad moved their things over to 217. Bill, Carolyn and Zachary arrived right at lunch time and promptly headed for the beach. Jim took Laura and Scott to Canaveral where a manatee was rubbing up against a couple of boats at the dock. As the boaters were leaving one of them told us we could get the manatee to come over to us by splashing the water. Scott got to fulfill one of his greatest wishes and pet the manatee. Jim petted it too but Laura didn’t want to. Back at the Surfside we surprised Bill with cake and champagne to celebrate his going into business for himself. Dad fixed chili for the entire crew and we spent the evening watching fireworks on the beach. It was an awesome sight as rockets and fountains lit the sky as far as we could see.
Saturday, July 5 – Jim got stung by a jellyfish during our morning swim so we spent most of the day at the pool. Lynne and Jim took Scott to see “Hercules” at the Beacon 8 theater on the Dixie Highway while Michelle stayed with Laura. Bill, Alex and Cliff all got stung by jellyfish swimming in the afternoon. It started raining around four and continued pouring for hours. We finished our day with a very late dinner at Shell’s restaurant. The food was good but the wait was terrible.
Sunday, July 6 – We took Scott and Michelle to the manatee playground until the heat became unbearable. We drove out 44 to Buddy’s World to see if Michelle was tall enough to drive the go-karts but found it was closed, probably permanently from the look of the place. We ate lunch at Teddy’s and drove down Canova Street to see Charles Dummett’s grave in the middle of the road. After swimming in the afternoon, we cooked pork chops at the condo for dinner and went to Cafe Euro by the Riverview Hotel for ice cream.
Monday, July 7 – Lynne and Jim went to Teddy’s for breakfast while Bill and Carolyn watched the kids. Beach and pool in the morning. Jim, Scott and Michelle went looking for manatees at Canaveral in the afternoon with no luck although we did see a raccoon on the dock at Eldora. We stopped at Bethune Park’s concession stand for cold drinks before heading to the Beach Variety Store on Flagler Avenue so the kids could buy some shirts. Scott got one with manatees and Michelle picked one with an alligator. We ate dinner with Bill and Carolyn at Norwood’s while everyone else ate at Neptune’s in Edgewater. The food was good but the prices were higher than other places and the portions smaller. Lightning canceled our planned trip to Fisherman’s Landing.
Tuesday, July 8 – Michelle spent the morning shopping with Laura and Chantelle. Lynne, Jim and Scott went to Dunes Park on the inlet and walked the boardwalk loop in the heat. Jim crossed over to the beach for a couple of pictures. We saw two lizards fighting. One turned bright green and they both inflated their bright red throat sacks. A photogenic squirrel posed for us in a hammock. After lunch Lynne took Scott shopping and Jim took Michelle to Canaveral. She saw a dolphin and finally saw a manatee, but we couldn’t coax it over to the dock. We made spaghetti for dinner and enjoyed a nice walk on the beach.
Wednesday, July 9 – Scott, Lynne, Jim and mom played golf at Hidden Lakes in the morning. Mom had one shot off the tee that flew sideways and almost hit Jim in the head. After golf, everyone hit the beach and pool to cool off. Alex and Chantelle said their good-byes and left a little after lunch. Jim, Laura and Michelle went manatee watching in the afternoon until rain chased us back to the Surfside. The rain ended by dinnertime and we enjoyed a taste of Mexico at Clancy’s Cantina followed by golf at Fisherman’s Landing.
Thursday, July 10 – We drove south on US 1 and route 3 to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the southern end of Canaveral. The view of the launch facilities from Canaveral impressed us once again. In the seashore section we saw two tortoises crossing the road. We stopped in the headquarters for the refuge to pick up a map and took a boardwalk across a small lake which was filled with fish and turtles. One extremely large turtle swam near the boardwalk and all the fish and smaller turtles scattered. With map and guide in hand we found the Black Point Wildlife Drive and went off in search of alligators. We saw lots of herons, egrets, eagles, vultures, and some spoonbills, but no gators.
After lunch back at the Surfside Jim took the kids for one last manatee expedition. We couldn’t find any at the dock or at Turtle Mound in Canaveral but spotted one at Mary McCleod Bethune Park. By this time manatees were old news and Scott and Michelle were more interested in the playground. We made hamburgers and fries for dinner. Laura took the kids for a swim after dinner while Lynne and Jim took a walk on the beach and through the condominium next door to see what it was like. We ran into Cliff on our way back and found out he’d been calling some of the other condos for rates. Scott just about had a nervous breakdown at the thought of staying anywhere other than the Surfside.
Friday, July 11 – We decided we’d had enough of Florida and wanted to have all day Sunday to unpack, shop and rest before returning to work. A quick check with AAA told us I-40 was still closed from rock slides which the rain triggered a few days after we’d come through on our way down. We headed out of New Smyrna Beach about 10:00, heading up I-95 through the construction in Jacksonville. Despite our vow not to eat at McDonald’s, we had no choice when lunchtime rolled around. The weather called for sunny skies and high pressure so naturally we ran into a couple of squalls on I-95 in Georgia. Near Savannah we caught I-16 westbound. It was like driving out west. The road was virtually empty and the scenery was varied with rolling hills, trees and clearings.
Unlike I-75 in the southern half of the state, there were no billboards advertising peaches, pecans, onions or fireworks. Our idyllic drive came to a halt (literally) at Macon where the merge with I-75 was at a standstill. Once past the city traffic began moving freely. We stopped in Forsyth at a Comfort Inn Michelle had found in a coupon book. Shoney’s was next door so we walked there for dinner. The kids went swimming in the pool as the sun set on our last night on the road. Unfortunately the hotel wasn’t very soundproof and we were kept up by some inconsiderate jerks talking loudly in the parking lot while their kids ran screaming and giggling along the walkways.
Saturday, July 12 – Our planned early departure suffered a setback when we slept late because we hadn’t been able to get to sleep early. The Comfort Inn had continental breakfast so we saved some time and hit the road a little after eight. In Atlanta we pointed out Turner Field, Fulton County Stadium, the capitol building, the Olympic torch and other landmarks to Scott and Michelle, and they got to see the Chattahoochee River. Northern Georgia was pretty but we were still happy to arrive in Tennessee despite the congestion around Chattanooga.
A few miles out of town we were stopped by a roadblock searching for drugs. Although signs warned that K-9 units were present, we didn’t see any dogs and our van wasn’t pulled over to be searched. We did see more police cars at one time than any of us had ever seen before. We ate lunch at a Dinner Bell in Loudon. Knoxville was busy but not too bad and construction did not hamper us at all in Kentucky. We arrived back in Cincinnati at 5:30 and had dinner at Skyline before heading back to the house. We were curious about the difference between our usual route through the Carolinas and our I-95 to I-16 to I-75 detour and were surprised to find that our route back was 278 miles longer than our route down.
Milestones on this trip: On our fifth trip we finally found some manatees.
States and provinces we visited: Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida.
Capital cities we saw: Columbia, Atlanta
