Whew!! What a trip.
I just reread the last blog entry, and before I say anymore, I have to get back to the Edison/Ford Winter Estates - I short-changed the experience. If you have never been there it is a real eye opener into the GENIUS of Thomas Edison. We all think of him regarding the phonograph and the lightbulb, and if you really think back, the inventor of the motion picture. Those are so insignificant when you realize everything else.
When Renne' and I were preparing for this adventure, we were so concerned about generating power. We installed a 5.5kw Genset, a solar panel, and windgenerator, more batteries, regulators, and controllers, so regardless of the situation, we could keep our batteries happy and us in light, engine, refrigeration, etc. So we walk into the museum of his inventions. Edison was into DC power not AC! His inventions included solar power, DC electrical generators (you should have seen his 5.5kw generator!), renewable energy, batteries, electric cars - what goes around, comes around friends. Edison was the originator of GREEN ENERGY!! Incredible. Thank you Thomas Edison.
Now back to other things!
The '55 Chevy did get a new valve job. Taylor Automotive definately did a fabulous job at getting Renne's baby taken care of. I have to really thank our friend, Warren Gloss of the "Iron Maiden" for getting her started and completely diagnosed. Even Frank Taylor questioned the diagnosis. However when we got her back, it was exactly as Warren had said it was. The fuel had gummed up because it was so old, the oil had gummed up because we went to an Ethanol based fuel and I didn't realize we couldn't use 30 weight oil any longer without an additive, five push rods ended up bent, and two intake valves were bent. She runs so fine now.
But we didn't get her back until Monday, the 14th. So we used up all of our silver bullets staying with friends - Thanks Dean and Patty, Kent and Diane, Greg and Linda! You guys are life savers! So we ended up leaving on Wednesday morning, the 16th when all of our errands were run.
Both Renne' and I had decided we didn't want to do anymore marathon runs over the road ever again. After all we are RETIRED!! That is a cool word, especially as we are young enough to really enjoy the meaning of it all. So we stopped in Hammond to see my closest friend and former college roommate, Keith Davis (sorry Diane, we tried to stop by the bank to see you also, but the doors were locked and I was afraid of breaking in! LOL) at his violin shop. Keith makes the finest violins, so if any of you reading this have a child who is learning to play seriously or as adults have friends looking to replace or repair one, Keith does fabulous work. Keep him in mind (phone number and address at the end).
From there it was back through Pensacola. Our friends, Loretta and Charlie, are hugely involved in the songwriter/player community in Perdido Beach, Florida/Orange Beach, Alabama and we spent two nights listening to some of the most gifted songwriters in the industry play their songs. We got to get up close and personal with Crystal Schwanda and her husband DeWayne. What were there 15 of us in the club? I'll tell you this is the place to go if you are interested in songwriters. Crystal is a Canadian Country Music artist, and is growing rapidly in country music here in the states, is on the charts, a couple of CD's out with RCA records. It was a blast. In addition, was Chris Newberry, son of the late Mickey Newberry. I know, who in the heck is that???? You will remember in Waylon Jennings song, Luckenback, Texas, he referred to "Hank Williams pain songs and Newberry's Train songs" - that was Mickey Newberry. Very popular songwriter in the 70's and 80's. So if you are headed to Pensacola/Perdido Beach, stop into the Silver Moon right across the street from Florabama - actually stop in to both, they are both unique and really enjoyable.
Pensacola took us to Jacksonville for two days with Renne's sister, Priscilla, her husband, Ron, and son, Fletcher. Dinner and way too many drinks at the country club on Friday night, but we were up early heading to the marina at Jacksonville NAS (Naval Air Station) to preview our next stopover. I have to write a letter to the Commanding Officer to see if we can stay longer there than a month!
Then on to St. Cloud with Renne's Dad and Mom, Bill and Wilma on Sunday-Tuesday. Had a wonderful time and great dinner at Season's 52 with Wilma's sister and husband, Alma and Glenn, and her brother and his lady friend, Lee and Ann. Now all of them have been cruisers of the Caribbean and Bahamas and we thoroughly enjoyed comparing notes and telling war stories of our travels. They are so enthusiastic about our plans, and we are grateful to each of them for their stories, thoughts, and gifts and donations to the boat.
We were going to stop over in Naples to see my cousin Robin, but we had had enough of friends, relatives and other ne'er-do-wells (yeah, right!! LOL), and we decided to enjoy just us! So we had to take a vacation from our retirement, and spent two lovely days on South Beach in Miami. Shopped at Sailorman in Fort Lauderdale, stayed at the Marsailles Hotel (we hope it was under renovation, but it was right on the beach and the price was better than a bunch of the others - besides it is Spring Break and only 3 blocks from Ocean Drive and the Lincoln Street Mall).
On our way down the Keys, we stopped into Islamorada (pronounced Allamorada - locals can tell who are new and who have been informed!) to see our friends Ron and Karen, aboard Summertime. We had a great too few hours with them and excellent Snapper and Grouper sandwiches at the World Wide Sportsman, a Bass Pro Shop there. Great view of the water. However, we were anxious to get back to JonNe' and headed south again.
We got back to KW, ready to get back to KW, and found JonNe' still floating and waiting for us. Of course, NOONE remembered who we were, so we had to re-introduce ourselves around the dock. Funny.
This has been a long story, not detailed enough to thank you all and tell you how much we miss you.
Warren Gloss, Mobile Mechanic (and all around genius) Phone: 281-226-3596
Kieth Davis Violin Shop, http://www.kdavisviolins.com/, 108 N. Cate Street, Hammond, Louisiana, 70401, Phone: (985) 340-0137Silver Moon Cafe, 17395 Perdido Key Drive, Pensacola, FL 32507 Venue Phone: 251-492-3407/8
Seasons52 Fresh Grill and Wine Bar, 463 East Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701, Phone: (407) 767-1252
Sailorman New and Used Marine Parts, 350 SE 24th St., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316, Phone: 866-729-3760
Hotel Marsailles, 1741 Collins Ave. | Miami Beach, FL | 305.538.5711 | 800.327.4739
World Wide Sportsman, 81576 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036, Phone: 305-664-4615
Best to all and until the next entry,
JonNe'
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