The Homestretch

 Clem is ready to go home.  He said, however, he would like to stop at the Golf Hall of Fame, and then, since it’s a way yet, to spend another night or two in St Augustine.  Since we have been to St Augustine several times, I suggested Cocoa Beach, where I remember a cute downtown with lots of shops to explore.  I was definitely up for that! 

We stopped to get gas at a station across from the hotel, and I had yet another fortunate little surprise!  I always check for attractions when planning a trip, or when happenstance takes us somewhere, which it had when we stayed the night in Santee, SC.  Outside of Nature tours, which in this weather we are not doing, there were few, and I didn’t want to push my luck with an antique place, or  super store!  But, turns out, the superstore was at the gas station!  So in I go, while he fills the tank! A huge store filled with beach and lake house signs and doo dads, tons of fireworks, some basic grocery supplies and grab and go, and then finally I hit the mother load!  Fresh made fudge and pralines!  I LOVE pralines!  And there they were, not only filling the case, but lined up drying on a table.  Now, this trip has been different in many ways , but the biggest is, we are not hitting every ice cream stand we see, or stocking up on local specialty snacks.  Outside of the delicious Virginia peanuts, which I considered healthy, and fresh peaches, I have really been watching it.  But faced with Pralines, it was all over.  Will power gone! 

I had also spotted fruit ciders, and having suggested to Clem that he try his favorite flavor, peach, he decided to buy a bottle of that, and had taken it to the counter, and was chatting with the proprietor.  Hold on…..I want pralines! Several other folks were of the same mind, and another gentleman was getting them the fresh ones, and said he would get mine as well.  While we waited, the proprietor asked where we were from, and talked about the places in Florida he had seen.  You seem like a retired man, he said, and then told us a story about a friend he had asked what retirement was like.  He had a lovely southern drawl, and was so nice and friendly, as was his wife who soon joined us.  I asked if the man who had gotten our pralines , who  had now disappeared, was the one who made them, and they said in unison, oh, we all do!  I asked if I could get his photo with the ones on the table, and he obliged, then bid us safe travels.  

We were on the road, when Clem said he would really just like to go home, but doesn’t want to miss the Hall of Fame, which he read was closing and moving sometime in 2023. I said we could make another trip, or add it to one we have planned for the fall, and after some thought, he decided that was a good idea. So we reset the Waze to help us avoid  any road problems, and pushed on through to home!  

Sweet Potato Crusted snapper at Leftovers Cafe in Jupiter, a favorite. 

With skipping the islands, and now St Augustine, we got home probably about 5 days earlier than we expected to, but it always feels good to come back home, and we were happy to be here. We had a nice trip, and got to see some really interesting things, despite the heat wave, which kept us away from the outdoors.  And I learned we could do a month on the road without the Motorhome! 

As always, to those of you who have followed, it was great to have you along for the ride!