Winter Wanderings 2012 - Day #23 - 2/18

This was very much a traveling day - 513 miles-worth to be exact!  The day started pretty much as usual, but I did the bathroom/ dressing routine after only one cuppa tea to give myself some extra time, but both Pete and Jean surprised me by appearing a good half-hour earlier than usual.  However I did have time to strip the bed and also give the bathroom vanity a bit of a proper clean as well as get the van ready for leaving.  After a poached eggs/sausage/toast/mushrooms/cooked tomatoes hearty breakfast it was time for hugs all around and lots of thanks all around and promises of "again" and then I was on my way.

I did have a minor delay before starting as both hotel and the street on which it stands have been built since my Garmin ("Portia") was programmed and we had to look up something else in Foley on Jean's PC in order to set a destination.  I also ran into, not for the first time, another case of Portia not knowing about big city Obama pork barrel road changes, especially of ramps/access (as well as bypasses) which makes me wonder whether I should upgrade to a more easily (or automatic) upgradeable version before I go traveling again.

The next many hours were drive, drive, and more drive without stopping at all (once out of Valrico) from 9:30 to 2:30 EST (knowing I would end on CST).  I filled up a little more than half a tank, again cursing the Florida law that says you have to actually hold the pump nozzle lever the whole time you are filling!  Then it was to McDonald's next door for a big hunk o' meat in burger form.  I took in Marissa's book to force myself to take a decent period away from the driving position.

The second portion of the previously dry journey had intermittent light rain (minimum wiper speed) on and off for a good while but close to Pensacola we were hit twice with major torrential squalls that dropped all of us from 75 down to around 60.  However, they were a mere bagatelle compared to the truly horrific downpour that hit just as I was searching for signs of the hotel.  In fact from the other side of a 4-lane divided highway I missed it completely.  Feeling I was nearing the end of town I pulled into a Home Depot parking lot and called for instructions thereby discovering I was literally a single city block in each of two right-angled directions away from it.  I don't ever remember trying to check in under such wet conditions, thank goodness for the portico for at least some protection.  Checked in, with bags inside the lobby, I noticed an empty slot quite close and managed to reverse myself into it, but still soaked a golf umbrella doing the 25 yards from van to portico.

I had called Rita from a half-hour out (according to Portia) & got the news that both of them think they have (different) ailments and neither intended to join me for dinner.  Once in the room I called and said that in this weather I did not intend to try and find them in the dark, so I will head out there and see what's what at nine CST tomorrow.  My "room" is almost a suite, large bathroom, wet bar with coffee stuff on the counter, microwave & fridge as well as the usual TV in addition to a comfortable king bed, an easy chair with ottoman, and an executive chair at the large desk.  I shall be quite comfortable this evening.