Our last Days at Lake June (Sebring)

The sign says it all. Tomorrow morning we depart for a week in Orlando. Time here has been very relaxing, it is hard to leave.
We had great neighbours while we were here. Hardy across the canal, the ultimate fisherman. Delores next door, the organiser and Neto on the other side who took us boating on Lake June.
It is hard not to want to buy a place down here. Prices are dropping dramatically but taxes and maintenance is still a killer. Waterfront or canal front housing runs about $100k per 1,000 sq.ft. No basements, that is hard to live with, but lots of room for a huge garage.

We are in Orlando for almost a week and then 3-4 days in Daytona before we head up to Savannah. A week in Savannah then on our way home.

Florida Week Three-Lazing About

We have just completed our third week in Florida. Not a whole lot to report but I feel it necessary to provide an update.

For the most part the week has consisted of lying about, watching the local fauna and generally doing bugger all. After all, isn't this what retirement is all about?

Gary doing his best impression of a retired person.

The weather has been somewhat mixed. Sunny and hot with the occasional rain shower thrown in. Saturday it rained on and off for most of the day. The jury is still out on today. Heavy cloud with brief glimpses of the sun.

Next week we are going to be in gypsy mode. Four or five days in Orlando, a few days in Daytona then up to Savannah for another 4 or 5 days. By the 13th we should be on our way home. Will somebody please turn on the heat and drain the pool of all that white stuff by the 16th.

56th Sebring 12 Hours of Endurance

I think there is more endurance required to watch the full 12 hours than to drive it.

I attended my first 12 Hours of Sebring in 1970. For that event there were 83 entries, of which 68 qualified and started the race. This year there was only 35 entries, and by my count, only 32 started. Very difficult to make an exciting event with 32 cars spread around a 3.7 mile circuit. Regardless, it was a great week.


Linda and I were there from Tuesday with SVRA who provided some of the supporting races. Thursday afternoon, we started some 78 cars for a one hour endurance race and Friday afternoon a 30 minute Trans-Am race. Probably the highlight of the week for some.

For the most part, the Trans-Am race was staged but provided great entertainment with lots of passing and off road excursions.

Today was a day of rest. Racing is now behind us until we head up to Roebling road just outside Savannah. Mmmmmm, Savannah, great food.

Florida Week Two-Amelia Island

This was our weekend trip to the Amelia Island Concours de'Elegance, and elegant it was. Amelia island has to be one of the hidden beauties of Florida. The event is held on a golf course second to none and the hotel is beyond sumptuous.

The Saturday dawned rather cool and overcast. By the time we made our way to Amelia, some 5 hours north of our present location, it was windy, very windy and quite cool. Temperatures hovered in the low to mid 50's. We decided to scope out the terrain and then search out our hotel for the night.

Sunday started cool and breezy under clear skies. We made our way to Ferdinando Airport and jumped the trolley to the golf course. Ten dollars to park plus a trolley ride to and from our car was to be the only bargin of the day. Fifty dollars each for addmission seemed a bit much for a "car show", but by the end of the day, we all agreed it was well worth every penny.

The winner of the 1908 New York to Paris Race, restored to the condition that it finished the race was one of the historic highlights. Of special note was a one off Roll-Royce, built in, I believe, 1937. The sculptured lines of this classic would rival any of todays attempts at "Retro" autos.

Florida Week One

It is a week today that we left home for Florida. This is the house we have for the duration. Kinda nice, no basement. Jeez, how can people live without basements? Actually they do have basements here, I think they are called indoor swimming pools.

Not much to report really. We have been to the track and met up with some of our SVRA friends. Linda has tried to restrain herself on shopping but we have been looking for a new SUV. Florida may not be the place to buy but the USA definitely is. GM has issued a memo to their dealers nation wide to cease and desist selling cars to Canadians. Ford, Chrysler and everyone else is doing a booming business with Canadians. For example, a new Lincoln MLX, loaded down here is around $38K. Up home they are in the high $40's to low $50's

Saturday morning we are heading up to Amelia island for the Concour d'elegance. This is supposed to be the Pebble Beach of the east coast...we will soon find out.

Meet My New Friend Tommy

Tommy is a Snowy Egret that visits our dock at our rental in Sebring. Mooch!

The trip from St. Augustine was somewhat circuitous as it took us over 3 hours to travel less than 90 miles. That was by choice as we took every back road and scenic route on the way. Our route took us through Daytona for the start of Bike Week. Where ever we go there seems to be a Bike Week either in progress or coming or going.

We arrived about 2:15, met or host, a very nice lady and settled in. Gary and Jackie arrived about 5:30. Alls well, suppers done now it is time to relax.