Thursday 6/11/2024

Today we made a change of plans! We decided to expand our search for lighthouse photos by going south and then turning north going around the west side of Lake Pontchartrain! Today we drove 415 miles to accomplish the additional lighthouses plus a few geocaches! And Ms. Merlot turned over 80,000 miles (128,747 Km) on today’s travels.

The first stop was Berwick, LA where we claimed a virtual geocache plus the Southwest Reef Lighthouse.

Our second stop for a lighthouse was at the Madisonville, LA boat launch.

We crossed the Mississippi River twice today!

We found 3 geocaches today–two virtuals plus a gadget cache.

Arrived in Meridian, MS around 6:30 PM for our stay at the Hampton Inn. Getting here improves our plans to get the oldest geocache in Mississippi tomorrow before the day gets too hot as it includes a short hike. Dinner tonight from Chef Joyce’s hands was bowtie pasta in tomato sauce accompanied by nice bread and Barbera d’Alba red wine.

Wednesday 6/12

After breakfast at the hotel, we left around 9:30 for Fort Morgan in hopes of getting a different view of the Sand Island LH. Paid the admission fee ($10 for 2 seniors), parked and walk to the elevated battery. Lucky! A big ship was just passing by. Finished up around 10:40 and departed for the ferry to Dauphin Island.

Paid the ferry fare at 10:47. Now to wait until 11:45 for the next crossing. Although we were in lane 4, they loaded us so we were in the center section of the ferry. What a surprise–we were in the first group to exit the ferry!

Next stop was Round Island Lighthouse. Then, on to find a letterbox cache. Turns out it was at an ice cream shop at a time that a cool dessert was appreciated.

Next stop was to see the Biloxi Mississippi lighthouse. We arrived around sunset at the New Canal Lighthouse in New Orleans.

Then to the hotel after a circuitous drive through NO neighborhoods we checked in around 8 PM.  Dinner from supplies (ham, mashed potatoes and tropical fruit, a nice Cotes du Rhone and homemade cookies for dessert).

After a good night’s sleep on a soft bed and a room at a good sleeping temperature, we were ready for breakfast around 8 AM. Started out on today’s plan to get 16 challenge geocaches that were in a large circle reached by driving to the designated coordinates and walking a short distance to find the container. Gary drove, operated the camera while Joyce walked to claim the prizes!

We departed the hotel around 8:45 am for the drive to the first cache.  Oops, we went the direction on the circle making caches across the road instead if on the right. Starting temp about 81° F, last cache found with temps of 89° F.

Some of the 15 caches….

As it was nearing lunchtime, we decided to explore the Chinsegut Hill Historical site. See https://www.trailoffloridasindianheritage.org/chinsegut-hill-historic-site/ for details. We completed a virtual geocache, enjoyed the old live oak trees on the property and had lunch under the shade of a tree in the parking lot.

Today was another hot one! 81 F when we started the day reaching 99 F as the day progressed. See chart below.

Returned to our hotel around 1:45 PM. Joyce took a swim in the hotel’s salt water outdoor pool. Gary joined poolside to visit. As we had planned to join Joyce’s sister Carolyn for dinner, we drove to her house around 4 PM. We were excited to see some of her children (Dennis) (and/or spouses – Hayleigh) while we exchange stories and history of our lives. Then it was on to dinner at the Fisherman’s Cove Restaurant where we were served by Ally (Allyson), girlfriend of Dennis.

Returned to hotel around 8:30 PM to recover from the day’s activites!

Friday 06/07/2024
Sanford to Inverness

Awake early……
Breakfast around 6:30 in the dining car.
Passed through Jacksonville FL around 7:30 AM while enjoying coffee in our compartment that the attendant converted back into seating while we were at breakfast. Expect to arrive Sanford station by 10:15 am

Actually arrived 10:23. Waited until 11:30 AM for Ms. Merlot to be offloaded from the car car. On our way to Inverness at 11:33 am.

We stopped twice to find geocaches-the first a small lighthouse at a small park in Mt. Dora, FL and one in The Villages (that famous retiree community where many people drive decked out golf carts to get around). Lunch was at a Jersey Mike’s outpost also in The Villages.

Checked into the Holiday Inn Express in Inverness around 3 PM. Then made a short drive to visit Joyce’s sister and husband at their home in Inverness. Great conversation, light dinner and a lot of catching up!

Very hot here today. We were glad for air conditioning and shady parking spots.

Thursday 6/6/2024

We were ready to departure for the Amtrak Auto Train station in Lorton VA around 8:30 am after packing the car with supplies. But before we could actually leave, Joyce had to do some gardening because an overnight heavy rain caused the Lambs Ears plants to be reclining on the ground.  We actually departed at 9 am, but had to return to the house because we forgot to pack raincoats.

The map of today’s drive shows that we violated our usual travel rule (the road less traveled) to take I-95, the Baltimore Washington Parkway and a few city streets to get to the Amtrak Station.  A few slowdowns and some construction delays were encountered.

Gary passed the first rest stop in Maryland much to Joyce’s chagrin as she was expecting breakfast enroute.  About 15 miles further on, we stopped at the Maryland House rest area.  Fortunately, there was a geocaching adventure lab to find. A long wait at the Wendy’s for a bacon, egg & cheese biscuit that had no bacon and a hard biscuit with very poor service.  A reminder why we have taken Wendy’s off our list of eating establishments.

On our way again! After Delaware, we drove through Maryland, DC and Virginia. Arrived in the Lorton Virginia area around 12:30 PM. Before getting to the Amtrak station, we stopped at a historic church built in 1774 to find a virtual geocache Geo. Washington’s father was an early parishioner) and a physical cache in a parking lot closer to the station.

Checked in at Amtrak around 1:00 PM.  Enjoyed lunch from supplies while waiting for the 3:30 boarding time.  On the train and in our sleeping car by 4 PM.  Train departed about 4:15 PM and began our journey south. Enjoyed a few water and town views and a lot of woods and greenery along the tracks.

Dinner was at 8 PM.  We enjoyed flat iron steak with vegetables, Cabernet and Blueberry white chocolate cheesecake.  Interesting conversation with our table mates.

Bed turn down at 10 PM. Nighty night!