Winter Wanderings 2012 - Day #24 - 2/19

This partly sunny, partly cloudy and (no partly about it) windy day was Rita and John day.  Poor Bob was very sick and stayed in bed all day.  Rita ensured we stayed apart to avoid the risk of infection.

After the usual excellent breakfast & general organization I headed off to the campground for what became my day with Rita.  We drank coffee and talked up a storm for a while, then I was given the full Monte tour of the campground and its facilities so that I can at least relate when we are talking on the phone.  We had an early lunch in the RV and then left Bob in peace while we came into town in Rita's car.  I showed her the hotel room and we found that Marissa was working in the afternoon so we would have to Skype later, but to test that it was working I "called" Beth and we three had a delightful Skype conversation, especially as Rita and Beth hadn't seen each other for quite a few years.

We then headed down to the coast at Gulf Shores, walked in the wind for a few minutes and I took some pictures before we cut our losses and climbed back into the car for a run along the coast, first to the west and then back and on to the east, ending up at a State Park that is about 95% campground and it was completely full as this is Mardi Gras weekend.  We again took a short walk on the boardwalks and checked out a picnic area building that is obviously meant to provide shade from the summer sun, but had an interesting design, especially the roof.

We headed back to the campground for more coffee and conversation and to check on Bob.  Eventually, promising to "behave", we headed for my hotel room, only to find that Marissa was eating in Evansville, so after a little while we went ourselves a few blocks up the road to Ruby Tuesday's where we had a delicious dinner, a tasty fish dish for me and a large and tasty hamburger for Rita, all very nicely served.  Before we left we got a call to say Marissa was home so again we headed to the hotel and had a nice long Skype chat with Zoe and Marissa. Hearing our voices but not seeing us (apparently she doesn't "do" computers yet) Zoe was very confused and excited.  It was a nice catch-up, especially for Rita.

Eventually we signed off and Rita headed off for "home".  Since she intends (with his full agreement, despite not liking the doctor) taking Bob to the clinic tomorrow morning we said goodbye for this trip and I in my turn will head out earlier than I had anticipated but will go rather further, thereby making my last run in to home that much shorter on Tuesday.