Yay, we made it to Florida! It was a little iffy at times, but we did it! The plan was to leave from work on Wednesday, head over to get the rental car and start driving down as far as we could. We were taking down Z's parent's car and the rental. I had picked up a set of walkie talkies so we could talk to each other easier. Problem number one, the battery was dead on my walkie - we think it had been on all night in Z's suitcase. Problem number two, Z smelled coolant in the Taurus we were driving down, and the motor was missing. He checked out the motor and didn't see any leaks. We stopped for dinner early, hoping to avoid rush hour traffic. That plan worked, we didn't get stuck anywhere. Weather was not very good, downpours at times.
We got on the road after dinner and made it down to just south of Richmond, staying at my favorite hotel, Hampton Inn. The check-in clerk was very helpful and when Z when down to get the luggage was asking if we were happy with the room or needed anything. We stayed right next door to the Philip Morris office, where the big cigarette is on 95 (if you don't know it, check it out!).
Up early the next day, free breakfast at the hotel, yay! Back on the road, still raining. We stopped at a rest area SOMEWHERE (Z says one state,I say another), and when Z went to start his car up it wouldn't. You know that click-click-click of the dead battery? Yep, that was it. All I could picture were those auto part store commercials, "Oh no, why now!" but couldn't really muster up the concern to be one of those people. Out come the tools! It's so great being engaged to a car guy. Turns out the terminal was not tight, or something like that. That's what I got out of it. Back on the road!
The rest of the trip down was fairly uneventful, we made it without any other car issues. Dropped off the Taurus and checked in at our hotel. Dinner at Chili's, where else?!
Friday Z went with his friend L to check out his Firebird, and I went shopping with L's wife. Not sure how it happened, but I was the only one to buy stuff! It's okay though, I saved more than I spent.
We all met up for lunch at a yummy pizza place with a baseball motif - NOT the Red Sox, but I made it through anyway.
We split up after that, Z and I went over to the Big Cat Rescue Shelter in Tampa. We had been there before, and really enjoyed it. Some of the stories are so sad. The majority of the cats are rescued from breeders or that were bought to be pets, until the people realized they were a bit out of their league. The tour lasts about an hour and a half, is staffed by volunteers and all the money goes to the upkeep of the cats. I took about 250 pictures! Yikes!
We met up with friends and family for dinner that night. L had told us about this great ice cream place, that got Z's dad all excited about. Alas, when we headed over it had just closed. Sigh.
Saturday L and his wife, and Z and I headed up to a muscle car museum. Prior to being the museum the building was a Walmart. Lot of nice cars there. We ate lunch on the way back at Pete N Shorties. Was pretty good! Saturday night Z went over to rescue his parents who had a dead battery in the Taurus, or so we thought.
Sunday Z and his dad brought the Taurus over for a new starter, which had been the problem. After that we went over to MAGIC KINGDOM! Oh yeah, Woo Hoo, Yippee! We got there at 3:00 and stayed until 11:00. Was a good day! But we only went on the Haunted Mansion twice. We found out afterwards that was the last day the waiting area would be original, Monday it was to change to the new area they had built. Missed it by a day! Oh well, we'll be back in September.
Monday we went up to Inverness to check out Z's property and meet some friends for dinner. Was another good day!
Tuesday we drove home :( At least we were in the same car this time!
