Sunny Florida

Did the short week Florida trip. Two days down and two days back. Great weather south of Macon - 80's and clear skies.

A few notables:

- Traffic around Atlanta sucks and that's with 6 lanes.

- Did not see one solar panel in all of Florida. I believe it is called the sunshine state. So what's up with that?

- Looked for access to the Ocala National Forest. Eventually found one trailhead but took a couple of jaunts across RT 40. Why are they hiding it?

- First time on the panhandle. Some sections reminded us of the OBX. Other sections much quieter. And other sections - not.

- Old people all look the same: pot bellies, fat hairless calves, too much exposed chest hair, saggy asses, ...... and the old men don't look any better.

Some eatery notes:

- Chilli's in Princeton, WV met expectations with front stoop parking, good service, good selection of tap, iced beer mug, and good eats with nice blend of background music. No barf bag's.

- Ruth's StreakHouse in Destin, FL. This was a major mistake. I take full responsibility for not immediately turning around after seeing the signs stating valet parking only. The parking lot was nearly empty. The service was on the verge of overbearing. The waitress provided way too much family information and thinking we cared. They prouded themselves on the al carte portion sizes - like it's important the we get 2 heads of broccoli instead of one. The value meal choice was ok although the fillet mignon was cut for a small midget. Oh, almost forgot. They had a wine list 50 pages long but the only beer selection was Anheuser's usuals and we know why they keep them horses. Rating at a generous 4 barf bags.

- IHOP. Tough to argue with breakfast 24/7. Only 1 barf bag due to the sticky syrup containers. But the service was good and the cakes were fine dining.

- Perkins. Sevice was questionable with a late delivery of the cup of soup that should have been a bowl. The sandwich was mediocre at best. 2 1/2 barf bags.

- Grammie Beth's spagetti and meatballs. I got hand it to the old gal. She's still got it. Nuff said. Off scale greatness.

- OutBarf, aka, OutBack. Ok I never learn. I have yet to have eaten at an OutBarf and not woken up 6 hours later with heartburn that would knock a rhino to its knees. Happened again in Princeton, WV. Had the ribs which were good at the initial eating but delivered that 6 hour delay of gut wrenching regurgitation. 3 barf bags. It would have been 4 but the service was ok and the cold tap fosters is always good.

- Holiday Inn Express Continental Breakfast. I generally like the selections. Most have the rasin bran. Most have the scrambled eggs. Some have the cheese egg combo which needs to be rethought cause that cheese blows. Always got cold OJ. 1 barf bag for the keeping the cheese egg combo and in one case not having enough seating capacity.

Both sets of folks were good. The circle of life shows tiny hints that immaturity and pettiness may come full circle. Or perhaps it was always there.