11/27 Thanksgiving Week

Sunday morning I took a long walk around  Chesopeian Colony where Jeanie and Dan live. In the past I've gone out and walked Virginia Beach Boulevard - it's quite commercial. Today I stayed in the subdivision - lots of tall pine trees, older houses, some waterfront, and little to no traffic. Back at the house Melanie and her sibs had a business meeting - I get to sit in as bookkeeper - after which, around 12:30, we had lox and bagels for 'breakfast.' Later, Melanie and I repacked the truck, relaxed, read, and took a nap. No TV. A pleasant cool cloudy autumnal afternoon. And crab cakes for dinner.

Monday we hitched up the trailer and got away around 7:00. It was a longish day, mostly in the rain, mostly on I-95 South. We had been in contact with Karen Woolhouse and she invited us to stay with her Tuesday night so we extended our drive Monday to 385 miles, staying in the Santee State Park, just 'South of the border' in South Carolina.

Tuesday we got away around 7:00 am and, after another 380 mile day, arrived at Karen's,  in Howie-in-the-Hills, around 3:00. It was great to catch up on Karen's travels and share some of our stories as well.

In the morning I took a walk around the golf course and several small lakes. The entire area is beautifully maintained, the views enhanced by the sunrise. Following tea and coffee we took off for Jane and Gary's in The Villages, an easy drive. We all pulled into their driveway about the same time. After Gary popped the cork we all shared a bottle of Champagne to toast Bob and Brenda's recent anniversary.(#35), quiche, salad and fruit followed. We gave Bob a pastel of Jeanie's which we had purchased for him in August - and forgotten in November - until Jeanie reminded us of our purchase. Then we were on our way to Dundee, transporting one male cat named Ollie for a month's safekeeping while its owners return to Nova Scotia for the holidays.  The fancy electric litter box - it sweeps up cat deposits and hides them under a plastic shield for "safe keeping" until disposal - was all together fascinating and a little over the top. In Dundee we reassembled and plugged it in before parking the Casta next door to Don and Joan's and joining them for drinks. We spent some time exchanging war stories and catching up on activities since leaving The Shore, then on to dinner, desert, and early to bed - 9:30.

Thanksgiving dawned clear and in the fifties. Don hooked the Casita up to 110 v. service so we could save on propane. We went to do a bit of shopping and gas up the truck. Came back and walked around the park which looks good - many of the mobile homes have been upgraded, repainted, and landscaped since we lived here several years ago.

Thanksgiving dinner at Don and Joan's, for ten, was prepared by Heather and Joanie with help from Don and Hal. All have been in residence here for at least a few weeks. It was a fine meal, wrapped up with two pies by Joanie, a Key Lime and a pecan. I can vouch for the fact that both were excellent. Several bottles of wine were consumed, though not by me, and we stayed up well past our bedtime. Black Friday was another 'damn beautiful day' which I started off with a four mile walk. Then we did a bit of shopping - several wines for Don and Joan and a couple of shirts for us. Back in the park I took a long afternoon nap, maybe it was the walking.... Dinner was tuna on the barbie and asparagus done in an air-fryer, an interesting kitchen appliance. We watched PBS News Hour for the first time in a week or so followed by a Robert Redford flick -  An Unfinished Life. 

Saturday we drove over to Sarasota, ten of us in two cars, for lunch and to see the musical Come from Away, about thirty eight plane loads, mostly Americans, taken in by the residents of Gander, Newfoundland after the 9/11 attacks on New York - eight hours over, lunch, play, and back. We snacked on Thanksgiving leftovers for supper, the pies were still very good, and then watched a fick, POMs and to bed.

In an attempt to avoid heavy Thanksgiving traffic, we opted to lay low in Dundee on Sunday and start back to New Orleans on Monday.