God Bless The Broken Road That Lead Me Straight To Vero Beach

Even though we visited Jim and Cindy in Atlanta, they still invited us to stay with them in Vero Beach.  They are now residents of Florida, bringing the average resident age way down. It's hard to leave our temporary home in Clearwater Beach, but knowing we have family waiting for us on the Atlantic side of Florida spurs us on.   

Cousin Eddie, Catherine and entourage arrive at Sparky and Ellen's house.  (see National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation if confused)

Jim and Cindy think they have us under control and we head to dinner on the beach.

After dinner, we surprise Jim with a round of "When I'm 64" two weeks before his big 64th b-day. ( usually we buy and mail his present on his birthday).  The Darby singing voice is in fine form - dogs howling!

The beauty of Vero Beach is everywhere.  This is right outside their front door.

I can't selfie but Jim can!

Vero Beach version of power walk - The Jungle Trail!

The trail runs along the inter-coastal waterway.....

past Cindy's favorite tree......

and as we round the bend to head back - the rain starts pouring down!!!  Some of us run for the shelter, others do their own version of hurry. In Yoda speak, "soaked we are."

Rescued by Jim, who wisely left us part way on the Jungle trail, cleaned up and ready to shop!  Cindy takes us to Disney resort and we are up to the task.

Then we meet up with the boys and decide to explore the boardwalk and check out the Atlantic waves.

After a blessed day of hanging out with the Darby's, we walk to the beach from their house and let the ocean speak to us.

The ocean says "Stay another day"; but with these happy memories to take back to Kansas City, we head home to our real life and the people we love!

TARON SPRINGS - LET'S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN!

 IT'S GREEK TO ME!!!!


It's a beautiful Florida day and we have decided to visit Tarpon Springs, a delightful Greek community about a half hour north of Clearwater Beach.  It resembles the family vacation destinations of my childhood, tourists shops and barkers on the street trying to drum up business for the sponge diving cruises.  I believe nothing has changed.

On the way, we pass what may become our lodging for next year.  Since this was such a bad winter , we presume that  everyone up north is already booking through 2020!

If this is all that is left, we decide to start  Happy Hour  at 10 AM.

Barely out of the car in Tarpon Springs and we are greeted to this!  (as if we didn't already know)

Cruise anyone?

More shell ideas for the folks back home!?!

Here is Sponge Bob returning to his roots!

Since we aren't going to sea, we decide to visit the tourist shops. There is something for everyone??  Hmmmmmm

And here is the piece de resistance - someone had to hold me back to keep from buying it! Oh, so many places to put it.

And speaking of many uses.......

If you don't own an evil eye, please visit Tarpon Springs.  They are everywhere.  Gotta run! Shopkeeper  just spotted me taking pictures.

After we speed away from Tarpon Springs with angry shopkeepers chasing us with raised fists, we MUST have dinner at Guppy's !

Scallops and Shrimp

Steak and mashed potatoes

Short Ribs

The Fog Lifts - for most of us!

The sun is shining through, burning away the fog that has darkened the last 2 days of sunsets. Even though it's chilly outside for Florida, we are back to the planning fools we always were.

First, the Power Walk!










Then lunch at Sea Sea Riders. where the Key Lime Pie debate/debacle continues.

 

  Followed by the stop at Total Wine to restock the sunset supplies.

Soooo appropriate.....













And to continue the Key Lime research, we stop at Publix and bring home their sample.
It has now become the #1 favorite, except for that mythical one in Port Canaveral!

Home in time for sunset - hey everyone, the sunset is behind you!!!

 

Landmark's Very Own Tower of Terror!

Just as you hear the music in Jaws and know the shark is coming, when the elevator arrives with a buzzing noise, you should realize that the ride you are in for is not the one you expected.


But noooooooo!  The elevator arrives buzzing away and we get on. (just like the dumb teenagers in a horror movie)  The door shakes shut and new warning bells go off  - the car bumps and then jumps, up and down but we never leave the 1st floor. That's the good news.  The bad news is that the door is stuck and we can't open it to get off.  After a minute or two of the jump/bump routine, we use the call button and talk to a service call operator who asks our names- what difference is it what our names are????Are they starting our obituary??? When we ask how long before someone will come and let us out, the operator replies "Oooooh, not too long!!!!!!"
Then Larry announces that he has to relieve himself immediately - can this get any worse?  As we wait and bounce and wait some more - all of a sudden the elevator starts ascending and we stop at our floor.  Sigh! It is resolved - NEVER TAKE THE  ELEVATOR ON THE LEFT!

Bob and Larry leaving the right elevator !

Our New BFF'S Picasso and Dali

It's Sunday morning, the last day of the Dali/Picasso Exhibit and we get there early - of course everyone in Florida had the same idea! If we lived here, we would have to volunteer at the museum, wear a beret and misdirect people.  

Bob fits in anywhere.  Which one is Bob?

The museum is the most stunning setting of any I have seen.

Jodie and I muse about what it would be like to be in the 1% and live in St. Petersburg, have a boat and boss the help!

The outing is complete with cocktails, lunch and people watching.  Of course, as we argue over the Key Lime pie face-off and who pays the bill, we become the people watched!

Again, the sunset supplies need reloading!  At Publix I can't help but see into the future - Here are Jodie and I shopping together !  If you know me, you know I'll be racing her to the Preparation H!

FAMILY REUNION

Bravely forging a trail from Kansas City to Clearwater, Jodie and Bob arrive with a sigh saying "OMG,We're done!" 

Let the warm wind blow and the alcohol flow!

We head to Clearsky to toast the beginning of our time together.

And the great Key Lime Pie debate begins.  Bob and Jodie declare that a Port Canaveral restaurant has the best.  The gauntlet is thrown down.

Clearsky Restaurant is the first test - and woe to us, it falls short of the expectations!

"Never waste any amount of time doing anything important when there is a sunset outside that you should be sitting under." – C. JoyBell

Larry definitely has his ideas of what makes it a perfect sunset and I have mine. 

For me, it's all about who you share it with!  

-Our shared sunsets-