When we arrived at Patrick Air Force Base we discovered that they only have 30 amp service at each dock. John built a y-cord to serve us in case this occurred. One small problem-we included that cord in the sale of our 30 foot boat. Another, "Oh, well," and $220.00. We can only run one air conditioner and have to switch off the hot water heater to use the stove. We know-you feel SO sorry for us!
We thought we would just drive toward Orlando and get on I-75, but Gabby (our Garmin-you have to name them so you can talk back) directed us to stay on 95. A pretty drive, plus we will actually travel on some roads new to us. Time to stop, as we left Patrick AFB about 1:30. Mary pulled out the military travel atlas and Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base is close. This base is the east coast home of our Trident (nuclear) submarines. We decided to splurge and spent an extra $10.00 for a suite, instead of the $39.00 for a regular room.
We drove on 40, so once again traveled past the site of the rock slide that closed the road in 2009. We both enjoy driving through the mountains-so pretty any time, but it reminds us of many spring breaks with our boys when we looked for signs of spring. We both thought our northernmost trees with leaves would be in Tennessee, but the winter has been so mild that we arrived in Michigan to the same 80 degree temperatures we left in Florida. Fields are green, daffodils are blooming. By the time we left, after a couple of days of freeze warnings, there was concern about the fruit crop, as trees had already blossomed.
We have missed Tuggsy-Tug since we had to give the badly damaged blue and yellow plastic toy a burial at Boca Chica. Matthew had been monitoring any possible sites for a replacement and called Mary when one became available on E-Bay. John was surprised and delighted to find one waiting when we arrived home:
The one that decided to become a ghost ship on this trip was blue and yellow and had been Matthew's Tuggsy. The new one Matthew found for us is red and yellow-the color of the boat that had belonged to Benjamin and had broken many years ago. John at first decided that we wouldn't leave this Tuggsy on deck and exposed to the sun where the plastic could deteriorate in 20 years. Mary said, "Will we care if Tuggsy gets brittle in 20 years?" and we decided our new little boat will travel on deck in the same place of honor the other Tuggsys have held and Baby Tuggsy (a gift from Shannon) will once again ride on Tuggsy's smokestack.
We both passed our physicals with flying colors (we've been riding our bikes enough to keep the cholesterol in check despite all of the dinners out) and our glasses are straightened and cleaned. Joanne invited us to join her for dinner and we were MOST grateful to accept, as we have only a couple of freezer skillet dinners in the house. Besides her delightful company, she actually let us take home some leftovers! We had a terrific visit with Sarah's mom, Kim, during a dinner date at the Fireside Grille-the new Shepherd golf course restaurant we tried with Sarah in August. She was leaving early the next week for a visit with Benj and Sarah in Boston (we're just a little jealous!). John visited with former co-worker Fred and we drove to Tawas to see Sue and Denny's wonderful new house in East Tawas and visit with Mary's parents. We really enjoyed our visit with Denny (glad the yard work and moving is your job, Denny, and not ours!) and look forward to visiting the Wymans at their new castle. Mom and Dad, we love you and wish our time together was longer-so glad you came to the Keys to enjoy the sunshine with us.
Mary did laundry and dusted and vacuumed, in spite of John's insistence that there will just be MORE dust when we get home in August or September. John ran some errands, paid for the couple of driveway plows this mild winter required, picked up sticks in the yard, rolled the lawn (darn moles!), and arranged for the mowing to commence when necessary. Our teeth are clean and shiny and it's time to travel back to our 2nd home and continue the adventure.
We took our time on the trip back-didn't leave home until noon and spent 3 nights on the road. Our dentist appointments were late morning and John's coat was left in the Mariner, so we went back to Shepherd to get it and picked up our mail. We actually managed to have our decision to stop for the night coincide with the location of military bases twice this trip. The first military housing stop was at Fort Jackson in South Carolina. Temporary military lodging is for military personnel being transferred to the base whose housing isn't ready and for temporary assignments (like the Canadian and national guard/reserve troops who trained at Naval Air Station Key West while we were there). If space is available, retirees and active military on leisure travel (vacation) can use it. Our cottage at Fort Jackson was called "Lee Cottage", named after "Lighthorse" Harry Lee, a revolutionary war hero, not after his son, Robert E. Here is a picture of the cottage and the view:
We visited an airport in South Carolina that was one of 4 places where Tuskeegee airmen received combat training and we stopped at this Low Country visitor center, the Frampton House, which was rebuilt in 1868 after Sherman's march to the sea. The live oak is more than 250 years old and there are Civil War earthworks in the back yard.
We visited the the 8th Air Force Museum near Savannah. John plans to return some time with Matthew (who lives only 90 miles away) and stay longer. He took this picture of St. George the Dragonslayer, as he is the patron saint of Armor:
We visited Fort Pulaski and stamped our national park passport, as we won't be close when we travel on the intracoastal. We'll come back next year when we drive to the keys, spend more time at the fort and climb the 2 lighthouses, Cockspur Island Light and Tybee Island Light:
We stayed at Fort Stewart. Our experience has been that the Air Force usually has the nicest housing, although we've stayed in some great rooms in historic buildings on navy bases and army posts. The Patriot Cottage here wins the prize. Unpreposessing on the outside, the amenities, comfort and decor were unsurpassed:
The cost for the cottages was about the same we would pay for a Holiday Inn Express. Back at Patrick Air Force Base, we made arrangements to have our dinghy picked up so the second davit (the other one was reglued in Mobile Bay) could be reaffixed. We decided to keep the car a little longer, since we're "stuck" here until Patches is returned to us.
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