88 Ocean Walk

     Our next time share we rented from Larry was "The Ocean Walk" at Daytona beach, everyone had told us we were going to like it.   It was a two bedroom suite and Larry was flying in from Minnesota to stay in one of the bedrooms.  Since it was in Larry's name we couldn't check in until he was there.  While we were waiting we made a trip to a huge flea market just the other side of Highway 95, a permanent market you could get everything from fruit to your teeth whitened or how about a fanny pack, yup finally broke down and bought one.   Wish they had another name for them.

Ruthie's new jeweler, earrings I believe.

   This market was unique as it had been in place for many years and the vendors stood behind their wares.   A jeweler mentioned that when he started there, he still had hair.  I know the feeling.
     Getting close to Larry's arrival we drove to our time share stored our belongings with the concierge and Ruthie waited in the lobby while I took the trike and trailer to pick up Larry from the shuttle station.  Probably looked a little like the Beverly Hillbillies with his luggage tied to the top of the trailer, Larry sitting in the Queen (nicer term them I've heard) seat didn't care for the wind much as we traveled down the road.  The security people at Ocean walk were not impressed with our "Big Rig". You cant park that in here, we

Can you see Ruthie?

don't allow trailers, you can't occupy two spaces, and on and on,  We were working on convincing them we could fit it in one space and some how they got the impression that we had been there before with this outfit and finally a parking pass was issued to park in the ramp.  The room and view from the 13th (I didn't know hotels use the number 13) floor was worth the hassle. We had been told this would be upscale from our last two, actually it was upscale from everything. We had a bedroom with a view 13th floor overlooking ocean and a whirlpool tub, (could have used that on some of these cold rides.)   

   I received an email reply to my horse training ad and after some correspondence with Vee in the Naples area we decided after our stay in the beach area to head down that way to work with her 3 horses.  Vee had been living off the grid (no electricity) for two years but planned on having it hooked up and a place to stay by the time we arrived. Hope this works out well, train horses in exchange for lodging.  

   It worked out well with Larry we walked on the beach and dined most evenings together the rest of the time everyone just did our own thing.  Mother Ruthie still worried about him if he wasn't home by a reasonable time.  Dinner with him at Bubba Gump's was a great time, our waitress Cat peppered us with trivia questions about the movie.   I was so anxious to win when she asked who played Forest I said Hank Williams, then couldn't come up with Gary Sinise for Lt Dan.  She gave us some more information on Gary, his band Lt Dan's Band plays for wounded veterans and his last name in his current TV series and the movie was Taylor.  She also claims that Russell Stover now labels their chocolates, because Forest said "My momma always said, "Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."  Now you do!

     I liked their set of license plates on the table that you used to beckon the server, they worked well. 

     We walked on the beach as often as we could and always seemed to meet nice people.  Along with walking I was increasing my stretching and yoga routine trying to

prepare for my horse training duties in a few weeks.  It was during one of these stretching activites in the pool that I was offered assistance as they thought I couldn't get out of the pool, how embarrassing!    One of the couples from Toronto mentioned that they lived further south than we were, had to look it up, he was right.  They had moved to Canada from Scotland when he was 30 years old to work for Tonka toys until they moved production to Mexico, they went bankrupt within 5 years because of poor quality. 

Ruthie and Larry

Everything is for rent

     Our walking temperature ranged from 41 to 64 degrees.  One day we rode on the beach just to say we had done it.  My sister seen the picture and reminded me of an event linked to a drive on a beach many years ago.   I laugh about it now, but at the time it didn't seem humorous at all.  It was while we were stationed in Pensacola Florida in the 60's.  We let some air out of our old Volkswagen Beetles tires and drove out on the beach.  We got stuck in the sand about 40 yards from a hard surface.  With Ruthie behind the wheel I pushed and she ran the clutch and accelerator rocking back and forth until we finally got it moving, I was exhausted but we were still progressing to safety. .  All of a sudden Ruthie pushed in the clutch and we came to a halt.  Why? She said I looked so tired and she wanted me to rest. I'm thinking the first of many marriage tests.