We have been living on the boat for a year now and decided we needed a break from both the boat and the Keys so we are on a road trip. Bill bought an old 1993 Dodge Caravan for $600 which we are hoping will last for 4-6 weeks. Loaded up the van yesterday with camping gear and left. Today we are in St. Augustine in a hotel, tonight will be General Coffee State Park in Georgia, after that The Great Smokey Mountains for 5-6 nights before heading up to Minnesota. Plan on being there for about 3-4 days before slowly making our way back down to FL. Not sure where we will go yet, thinking primarily back to Smokey Mountains.

My son, Chris, is boat sitting while we are gone. Walk A-Bout is at Sombrero Marina, they gave us a good deal there so we moved from Banana Bay Resort since they wouldn't give us their special rate.

People warned us that Florida this time of year is miserable, and they were right. Don't know how anyone can survive without A/C. During the day it is the heat and humidity, at night it is mosquito's and no see ums. Unfortunately, the van has no A/C and neither does the tent!!!!

We had a good visit with Sarah, Bill's oldest daughter, and her boyfriend Andrew. On Monday we went to the Marine Mammal Conservancy in Key Largo and volunteered to help the one remaining Pilot Whale there that was one of 20 something that was beached on Cudjoe Key a few months back. They still need volunteers to get in the water with the whale to help hold her up to keep her blow hole out of the water. She has pneumonia and a staph infection but is getting better.

Time to head out to our next destination.