From Florida to Georgia!

The Inn on Cabbage Key is famous for the many thousands of dollar bills that in the beginning  fisherman, and nowadays tourists have signed and taped up on every available square inch of walls and ceilings in the dining room!  There are layered so thickly now, that many of them fall to the floor each year and the owner of the Inn gathers several thousand dollar bills off the floor each year and donates them to a charity.

After spending time on Cabbage Key, enjoying lunch and a nature walk there, our Tour Boat took us the long way back to Captiva Island, docking momentarily on Useppa Island to pick up tourists who had opted for the Useppa Island excursion instead of the Cabbage Key excursion.  We were blessed with glorious sunshine and mild temperatures throughout our time in Florida!

By late afternoon on Wednesday, we decided to head north to Big Canoe, Georgia to spend a couple of days visiting with Tim & Kathy Humphries, Tom's brother and his wife.  We drove as far as Alachua, Fl. that evening, which is just north of Gainesville.  (I am so disappointed that I totally forgot that Double Check, a hiker friend, lives in Gainesville, and I missed the opportunity to maybe spend time with him and his wife!)  I have now compiled a list of all the hikers that I spent any time with on the A.T. and where they live!

On Thursday morning, we headed north again, and arrived in Marietta, Ga. in time to have lunch with Tim at the very popular Marietta Diner.  It was so good to see him again!  We last saw him on the day we climbed Mt.Katahdin in Maine on the final day of my hike.  Following lunch, we headed on up into the mountains to Big Canoe where Tim & Kathy live in a beautiful home that sits literally on the side of a mountain!  I love going to visit them there, however I don't think I could ever be comfortable living in the mountains!  I'm such a Texas gal at heart and love the flatter terrain of home!

Tim & Kathy always make us feel so at home and comfortable in their home!  That's why we love going to see them!  We actually are planning another trip out there in May.  Tom & Tim want to climb Catawba Mtn. and up to McAfee Knob, the most photographed place on the entire A.T.!  I would also like to provide some Trail Majic to Thru-Hikers while we are out there in Virginia.

On Saturday, Tim, Tom, & I enjoyed a short hike along Blackwell Creek, which is near their home.

   

On Saturday evening we were invited for dinner at Jeff and Elizabeth's home, and visit with them and their two pretty daughters, Emma and Grace.  They are such smart girls and very entertaining to us "older" folks!  It's always a joy to see them!  (Jeff is Tim & Kathy's son.)

We woke up early on Sunday morning for the long drive back to Texas.  Tom and I take turns driving and usually stop every 1 or 2 hours to get out and stretch, walk around, and refresh ourselves a bit.  We were back to our "home sweet home" by early evening. (about a 12-14 hr. drive)  The end of another great "road trip" vacation with my Sweetie!