VACATION FEB 10 - FEB 20,2009

Left Chicago on Southwest Airlines on Tues  and arrived Orlando around noon. The flight was very smooth and we arrived in Orlando about noon (20 minutes early). Obtained a Rental car and headed to St. Augustine to spend three days with the Bachmanns who had rented a house for the month of Feb. We had a very relaxing time and a good visit. While there we went into town and took a tour of Flagler College. We had done that on a previous visit and liked it so much we did it again. The weather was perfect.

On friday we drove to Naples and spent three days with the Olsons just hanging out and relaxing. They are always good company.

On Tues. we left for for Winter Park to spend some time with Rod and Jackie (on the way up we stopped in Sarasota to have lunch with Harve and Norma Reimers). While visiting Rod we went to two of his Gigs. Their band has about 16 members and are quite good.

Returned home on Friday again on Southwest Airlines and arrived home about 4:30 pm. Had a very nice time and enjoyed good weather the entire 10 days. Found everything in order on our return.

UP SKI TRIP

Sunday Feb. 1 thru Feb. 6

Left home at 7:40am, picked up Cheri O'Riordan @ 8:00 and then Joanne Dezur @ 8:30 and were on the road to Ironwood, MI. by 8:40. Good driving all the way (444 mi). Arrived about 4:00pm. Shortly all 35 people were accounted for. There were two eating groups - early 6:00 pm and the late group at 7:00pm. We ate at different places so as not to overwhelm  the wait staff plus some just preferred to eat early. Nice to have the group together again. Had dinner at the Kimball   Inn.

MONDAY FEB.2

Everyone went to ABR our favorite venue. It was quite cold 3-4 deg below 0, but not too windy so with the proper layers it was quite comfortable. The trails were perfectly groomed but quite slow due to the low temp. MA had some difficulty with icing on the bottom of her skis. I put on some "Geen" cold wax and she had no further difficulty. Had our usual social hour at 6:00pm then had dinner at the Caribou Lodge. A good day and everyone got their share of exercise.

TUESDAY FEB. 3

Most of us returned to ABR to ski as there were MANY trails which needed our attention. The snow was a little faster and we really enjoyed ourselves. Some of the trails were Deer Trail,Jack's Flats, Hemlock, Jack Pine, Cherry Dairy, Blueberry Bluffs. Many of us were getting a little more comfortable on the snow and were taking on some of the more difficult sections.

After the social hour the late group had dinner at the Bell Chalet where MA and I enjoyed their Pizza Verde. There was enough left over for our lunch on Wed. MA and a bunch finished off the evening  playing Dominoes. All were tired again.

WEDNESDAY FEB. 4

Today several of us went to Miljie's which is a different experience and very pretty. It is private property but the public is welcome. There is a small rustic cabin with a pot-bellied stove and some drink mixes if the stove is hot. Sometimes no one is there. The cabin is about a 1/4 mi ski in from the road. The trails are minimally groomed and single tracked. It is  about 9km in length in two loops. the birch woods were beautiful.

In the afternoon we went back to ABR and did our favorite trails.

Dinner was at the Kimball Inn. Another nice day.     (cold again)

THURSDAY FEB. 5

We spent the day at ABR and did some of the trails we had not done previously. It was not quite as cold today. Low 6 deg, high about 16 deg - sunny - a perfect day for skiing. 

Dinner was at Tocconelli's in Ironwood.

FRIDAY FEB. 6

We got checked out and on the road by 8:15am. The roads were clear and the driving was just fine. Arrived home about 4;30pm.   A GREAT TRIP!