Vacations 2005

[Florida] [Kerrville/Stonehenge] [Thanksgiving in Ohio] [Ice Sculptures in Texas]
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Florida

We took our first real road trip in a couple of years in 2007, a driving-with-the-camper trip to Florida. Our first stop was Panama City Beach, where the temperature hovered in the low 40's and it was quite windy.

Becky atop the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge	Cape San Blas Lighthouse is located near Panama City
Across the street from the Beach. Quite windy and cold.	On the Beach. Windier and Colder

Next stop was St. Petersburg where we took in a Tampa Bay Devil Rays game with Paul's niece Sharon and her husband Mike. We arrived a bit late, thanks to a flat trailer tire along the way.

It's a tradition. At least one flat tire per trip	Sharon and Mike and Becky in Tropicana Field
Tropicana Field -- Home of the Devil Rays	The outfield features a tank of Sting Rays which apparently enjoy watching baseball.

Then it was down the west coast of Florida to Cape Coral. We spent a couple of days at the new retirement home of Paul's brother Robert and his wife Jean. The trip featured a couple of jaunts on their boat and an excellent key lime pie prepared by Jean.

Robert and Jean's home	Jean and Rober
Becky on Robert & Jean's Boat	Sanibel Lighthouse (as seen from the boat)

After a brief air boat tour in the Everglades, Key West was the next stop and time to unfurl the camper again. We saw many sites including 6-toes cats at Ernest Hemingway's house, the Key West light house, sunset on the pier, and a glass bottom boat tour several miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. There were a couple of key lime pie slices here as well.

The Everglades tour guide had a name for all the alligators...I believe this is Smiley	At the Coral Castle, near Homestead Florida	After a long drive down the Key West Causeway we settled in at Sugar Loaf KOA
Becky outside Earnest Hemingway's House	The Hemingway house is home to about 100 cats, many of which have 6 toes	Count 'em. 6 toes!

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The Beginning (and ending) of U.S. Highway 1. Someday maybe we'll visit the other end in Maine.

Key West Lighthouse

The Stairwell

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The lense.

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Paul's favorite picture....and probably only available in Key West

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Inside Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Cafe

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I had the "Cheeseburger In Paradise"

Yes, this is as far south as you can get in the Continental USA

A great way to end the day.

A visit with Becky's Aunt Lillian Bowser in Fort Lauderdale was next. As an added bonus, Becky's mother was visiting at the same time. We spent some time sight-seeing in the area, and presented Aunt Lillian with a Key Lime Pie (we really like Key Lime Pie!. Becky and Paul also spent part of a day in Miami, taking a "Duck" tour and seeing a Florida Marlins baseball game.

Mom Pressel, Lillian Bowser, Becky, Paul	Paul and Beck on the "Duck Tour" of Miami Beach
Dolphin Stadium...home of the Florida Marlins

We then headed toward home the "long" way...up the east coast to see several lighthouses...before turning west and heading home.

	Above and Left: Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse (North of Ft. Lauderdale) Below and Right: Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
Above and Right: Cape Florida Lighthouse (South of Miami)		Ponce Inlet Lighthouse
		Above and Left: Ponce Inlet Lighthouse
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse	Above, Right and below: St. Augustine Lighthouse

Kerrville

Our anniversary trip took us to Kerrville, Texas. This was our second trip to Lost Maples State Park in search of fall colors. While there where thousands of maple trees, none had begun to change color.....the same as our previous attempt.

Yes, we found a 3/4 scale replica of Stonehenge near Kerrville

Becky and Paul at what we're sure is the highest point in Lost Maples State Park

And on each side of the Stonehenge replica were replicas of Easter Island Heads!

Thanksgiving in Ohio

We spent a wonderful Thanksgiving in Ohio. On Thanksgiving day it was a more-than full house at the Pressel Homestead in Trotwood. A total of 31 people passed through the doors.

Mom Pressel and her kids	The Arnett's Top: Mindee, Adam, Krissy, Joe	Bobby Pressel Family Top: Amanda, Bobby, & Laura Pressel, Julie & Nate Hegerty Bottom: Carsten & Pat Pressel, Eric & Alex Hagerty
Randy Pressel Family Top: Jennifer, Brian, Bernice Sitting: Randy, Chad Laptop: Corissa & Briana	The Jackovenko's Sandy, Katelyn Jake	Tony Pressel Family Jeremiah Pressel, Samantha Tony Pressel

Across town in Centerville it was a bit more subdued on Friday as a handful of us gathered for Thanksgiving-II.

Patrick & Robert Van House, Bruce Stevens, Jean Van House

Colleen and Barb Burrill, Mom VH, Joe Burrill

Ice Sculptures in Texas(?!)

Just before 2007 came to an end Becky and Paul hightailed it to the ultra-fancy Gaylord Texas hotel in Grapevine (Northwest of Dallas) for an amazing indoor ice show. There were dozens of ice sculptures ranging from small to huge, all inside a sealed convention hall with air conditioning keeping the temperature near zero degrees Fahrenheit. There even a pair of ice slides. We brought winter clothes but we were provided heavy parkas to wear.

As usual, click on each photo for a larger view.