Our Winter Travels … from Vero Beach -- Into the Storm

We played shuffleboard , listened to the band at Waldo’s, walked around town, had lunch at Cravings across the street, and then went to some thrift shops and Dollar Tree and found some Disney princess decorations for our supper and for during the Packers game.

Lettuces that Cari got at the farmers' market, including roots, keep them fresh

We intended to drive back to St Augustine that night after the football game, but then discovered that  we had a tableknife and key from the Magic Tree.  So since Su and Nancy were still there (and they would need those items!)  we decided to take a detour (1 hour) to stop by Magic Tree on the way to St Augustine.

     It turns out it was a good thing we did.  There was a band of strong storms moving across FL with tornadoes forecast as well.  We got into one horrible rainstorm (could not even see the road on I-95) and then it suddenly cleared.  Joan checked her phone’s weather map and saw that we were in the middle of the two bands, a quiet period, and we could probably get to Orlando before the next rain hit.

   And we did!  Very soon after we got there, it was a very strong blast of horizontal rain and wind, for quite a long time.  We could spend the night if we needed to, but meanwhile we had another good visit, and then the weather cleared.  We decided to go on and were happy to see how the storms had all moved east.

Driftwood Inn, Vero Beach, Again!

After our stay at the Magic Tree with Stu and Nancy, we drove to the Driftwood Inn in Vero Beach to visit our friends, Cari and Don, from Cable WI.  We had a GREAT time!!  And a very nice room.  We rented a studio for one night and it was on the 4^th floor with a nice ocean view.

Nice sized living room

Small table with bed in alcove (TV will swivel)

Handy built in bedside lights with shelves

Kitchenette with full-sized fridge

Good sized bathroom

Nice room from just outside our door

TUGGER Gathering, in Orlando

Once again we are meeting at the Golden Corral in Orlando in order to have a n informal gathering of timeshare owners, to meet and greet and just share being together.  Each year we have had so many newcomers, and sure enough, most of the people here were new to us and in fact, many were not TUG members yet, but after this time together, they probably will be!  We had such a good time together.
   Some of us actually stayed for 5 hours!
Here are who were there:

Alan and Carol Cole

Carol Hammond

Dan and Lisa Northover

Stu and Nancy Ring

Jim and Madeline Ryan

Judy Johnson

Leon and Charlotte Swope

Merline and Becky Rosfjord

Ron and Joan Dungey

Sunday Winter Travels

Unfortunately, on Sunday, when Keenan and Emily were going home, their Allegiant flight was canceled, due to the ice storms in the Midwest, so they were substantially delayed.

From Facebook:

Emily J. Dungey with Keenan Dungey at Orlando Sanford Int'l Airport-Terminal B.

Stuck in the Orlando Sandford airport. I guess this is our punishment for going to Florida in January. I'm sorry, midwestern weather gods!! Please forgive us!!

Meanwhile, Ron is in Rice Lake, WI at his Uncle Bob’s funeral (some of you may remember we go to see him every year when we go to Telemark.).  He flew up Friday and met Merlyn in MSP.  Returning tonight.  He flew from JAX, Joan had an eye allergy so she couldn’t drive him up there, but then we found a parking coupon for $2/day which made it cheaper anyway than the fuel would have been if she had taken him. 

    It was -11 degrees there when he would have left this morning at 8 a.m.  Need we say, he did not have winter clothing with him on this trip to Florida?

ALASKA AIRLINES

 Your reservation is confirmed

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Confirmation code

JZDZXF

Passenger information

Passenger	Seats **	Services requested	Passenger documentation
Name:  Ronald Dungey MP#:Alaska 143734194 E-ticket:0272131027296	22F, 25F, 21F, 21F

** Seat assignments are subject to change.

---

Flight summary

Alaska Airlines confirmation code: JZDZXF
American Airlines confirmation code: ZDMTAK

Flight	Departs	Arrives
Flight 1 of 4 American 1948 Coach | Nonstop | Details	Jacksonville, FL (JAX) 5:50 am  Fri, Jan 13	Philadelphia (PHL) 7:58 am  Fri, Jan 13
Flight 2 of 4 American 1686 Coach | Nonstop | Details	Philadelphia (PHL) 10:50 am  Fri, Jan 13	Minneapolis (MSP) 12:56 pm  Fri, Jan 13
American 1948, American 1686Distance: 1,719 mi | Duration: 8hours 6minutes
Flight 3 of 4 American 471 Coach | Nonstop | Details	Minneapolis (MSP) 1:45 pm  Sun, Jan 15	Philadelphia (PHL) 5:21 pm  Sun, Jan 15
Flight 4 of 4 American 2024 Coach | Nonstop | Details	Philadelphia (PHL) 6:15 pm  Sun, Jan 15	Jacksonville, FL (JAX) 8:47 pm  Sun, Jan 15
American 471, American 2024Distance: 1,719 mi | Duration: 6hours 2minutes

Here's what Emily posted she did for when they were in Sanford airport all day:
Things I've accomplished by being stuck at the Orlando Sandford Airport for seven hours:
1. 16,000 steps
2. Learning the intricacies of baggage claim and the rental car building
3. Enjoying 70 degree weather for a few more hours
4. Watching kids have light saber fights
5. Watching a cute little lizard and thinking of how I could capture him and bring him home for a toy for Kitty Pants and rethinking that...
6. Watching the musical "The Last Five Years" in its entirety. Anna Kendrick rocks!!!
7. Watching several episodes of "The Colony" and realizing that it's starting to grow on me. So many plot twists!!
8. Biting off a warm block of cheese with the assurance of scientist Keenan Dungey that it would be ok because "cheese was designed for traveling".
9. Catching up with relatives, Laura Ramsey, Lisa Stolk and Kristi Miller Lewark and almost striking out there! (Thanks, Laura!)
10. Realizing how important electrical outlets are.

Another Great Day in St Augustine with Keenan, Emily and Paula

Keenan and Emily came up to St Augustine to go “thrifting” with their cousin Paula too (from Palm Coast).  Then we had a great dinner at Panama Hattie’s with the band that is there on Thursday nights.  It is especially nice because people from the audience can sign too, but it’s not like karaoke – it’s a live band, the people already now the words, and they are in tune!

Beautiful moonlit night by the pier

Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens, with Keenan in Daytona Beach

Older brochures

Once again, we visited these gardens, this time with Keenan and Emily to show them the dinosaurs!  We drove by the lighthouse also, and then came here.  Then Emily fixed is a great salmon dinner at their unit at Ocean Walk.

Dinosaur!

Worse!  T. rex coming!

Beautiful curving pathways everywhere

Sundial

They gave us lots of Christmas presents, including the book Keenan made for Ron about his military career, and Ron looked at each page and added lots more information.

Birthday Party in Florida

Our friend Nancy Ring's birthday is Jan 6th so we had a party today with Disney princess placemats and napkins.  Joan found HAPPY BIRTHDAY letters on candles and so they had to be found and then spelled.

The Lights of St Augustine

The Lion Bridge

We met Paula and her family here when we went downtown to see the Christmas lights. We ate first at Mojo Old Town BBQ, parked there, then walked around town. All I can say that the dinners were delicious! The BBQ is not cooked with sauce but the sauces are available at the table, all are good. Because they are not slathered with sauces, Ron can eat here comfortably. We want to come again!!

    The lights, as usual, were beautiful!