Travels: Texas through Florida

People ask us all the time, especially when they find out that we live in our motor home and travel all the time, “what was your favorite place to visit”, and usually we answer “all of them”!!!

That holds true for most everywhere we have been in our travels, some are more memorable than others, but we usually find something fun and interesting everywhere. Here are a few of the highlights of the really great ones…………..

In the early spring of 2005 we left San Antonio, Texas and headed eastward. We made a tourist stop in New Orleans and stayed at the Naval Supply Depot across the Mississippi River from downtown and Bourbon Street. We took the early morning commuter ferry across  and would spend the day walking, shopping and just watching people (my favorite hobby).

 

  

 

   

We did a carriage tour of the city, including the cemetery, visited museums, and had beignets and hot chocolate every morning for breakfast then for lunch we would share a muffuletta sandwich.

 

Recipe link for sandwich: http://www.thatsmyhome.com/lunchbox/muffsan.htm

 

We enjoyed a “smoothie” or two which can be purchased anywhere among the stores on the street and then wandered on down the street!

 

                            

We also took a riverboat trip on the Mississippi River which made a stop at a historical battlefield where the British were turned back and kept out of New Orleans. Check out: Battle of New Orleans at Encarta Encyclopedia.

 

From there we headed east again to Pensacola, Florida to visit what has turned out to be one of our favorite museums, the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola which is the summer home of the Blue Angels. We have since toured the museum several times and still find something new every time. 

We were intending to spend a week there, but graceful as I am I tripped coming out of the coach and broke a bone in my ankle!!!

So that delayed our departure another week while they stabilized the ankle in an air cast with instructions to stop on down the road in six weeks for another x-ray. So we were off again with x-ray cd in hand to continue on around the Florida peninsula to Key West.

 

  

We both fell in love with Key West, especially Bill. As I was on crutches, I was not able to do as much walking as we usually do; we toured the island mostly by car. We decided that if we ever come back we will do all our touring on bicycles.

Every evening folks gather on the boardwalk to watch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico, to dance or just listen to the music and of course, people-watch. So it’s a party every night!!!!

 

    

   

We did a sunset cruise on a 135’ sail boat and Bill did a jet-ski tour from the Atlantic Ocean around Key West to the Gulf of Mexico. As he was the only one on the tour, the guide took him to places not usually included in the tour and all at break-neck speed!!!

We also took the “fast-cat” 70 miles out to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas for a day of history and snorkeling. Bill did the diving and I watched from the beach with my cast and crutches! Check it out at: http://www.fortjefferson.com

 

 

From Key West we headed up the east coast of Florida and stopped in Leesburg to have some work done on the coach and to visit an orthopedic clinic for x-rays on the ankle!!! The cast is off and the coach is once again water-tight, so we headed out again!

Next time, up the east coast…………….

Just Us Kids…………..