This is the first year that Elly & I are escaping the cold weather in February and heading south to Mount Dora Florida. Mount Dora is one of the cutest towns in Florida that actually has trees and hills as oppose to being just flat terrain. The reviews of Mount Dora made it sound like New England in Florida with any snow! Yeah!
It is also the home to Renningers Antique Fair that happens thee time a year. We planned specifically there during this time because Elly has always wanted to visit there along with seeing Mount Dora. Renningers is sometimes referred to the "Brimfield of the South." See
Renningers Web Page Here.
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| Renningers Mount Dora |
We decide to take 3 days (2 nights) to make the trip since we are not early risers. On Wednesday we left Sterling at 9:00 am. We followed Google maps which took us down through Connecticut to the Merritt Parkway. The same way we would normally go to Fairfield for all those many years. Following Google we ended up coming out underneath the GW Bridge and and just circled around and crossed over to New Jersey. New Jersey is so ugly and uninspiring as we pass through the industrialization of America.
After crossing over into Delaware, we were hit by a bling snow squall fro about 50 miles. So glad we were leaving this stuff behind. Once were were through the Baltimore Tunnel, Google told us to tale the Baltimore Washington Parkway (295), This took us to the east side of Washington DC and bought us out to Alexandria VA. Back on 95 is where the trouble started. I opted for the Express Lane due to a large backup I saw ahead. Luckily I did because there were actually 2 accidents on I-95 that stopped traffic while we just flew by in the express lane!
We arrived in Richmond at 6:00pm and got a room at the Hyatt Place Arboretum. Very nice new Hyatt chain. with great rooms and a full breakfast.
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| Richmond Hyatt Place Arboretum |
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| Hyatt Place has nice rooms |
We slept great, ate breakfast. On the way out of the hotel we spotted another couple with MA Licence plates and asked where they were from. They said "Westboro,MA" and discovered that they bought their car at the same place that we di! After a nice chat were on the road by 9:00am. Stayed on 95 through NC, SC and GA. Long straight ride with a few pit stops.
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| Me fooling around at a rest area |
At one of the rest stops we ran into the same couple from Westboro again, and they said that they were going to stay in Jacksonville, at the same hotel that we had booked! What a coincidence! We arrived in Jacksonville and checked into the Hyatt Place right near the airport. It was right off the highway, very easy access.
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| Hyatt Place Jacksonville |
Room was identical to the room in Richmond. For dinner, the Firebirds Wood Fired Grille Restaurant was recommended. It was a great place and great atmosphere.
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| We sat at the table nearest in the photo |
Another nice restful sleep, another great breakfast and we were on our way to the rental house We got off of 95 at Bunnell, Fl and took the back roads through the Ocala National Forest. We hit a major accident in Barberville that must have happen only 30 seconds before we got there, we were able to sneak through the debris field being directed by other people that has stopped. The police d not arrive yet, the cars were totaled, but everyone appeared to be ok, The was also a small baby that someone was holding. Whew close one!
On our way again, but before we even got to the house, we stopped an a few junk and thrift stores that were on the way. Didn't find anything worth buying. At one of the shops in Eustis, we ran into a woman who that the Town of Eustis has a "First Friday" open air market and concert. So we decided that we would spend the evening there after we checked into the house.
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| one of the junk markets |
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| Elly Picking at the second market that we stopped at, She found two things to buy |
We arrived at the house around 12:30, found the key in the lock box & let ourselves in. The house liked just like it did on the Home Away website.
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| Living Room |
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| Our Bedroom |
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| Kitchen |
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| View from the living room through the dining are to the pool & spa |
We unpacked and started heating up the hot tub so it would be ready for when we got back later that night. We decided that would get dinner from the street fair vendors in Eustis.
We got to Eustis as the vendors were setting up, and ate at a Turkish Restaurant.. After dinner and some walking around we grabbed a seat for the open air concert.
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| Vendors setting up |
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| Center of the square |
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| The band on stage |
The band was great and played all the hits from the 60s & 70s. What else would a crowd of old people want to listen to. And boy there were alot of old people, Florida is where they all migrate to, Mostly older widows and a few older couples. You could start a conversation with anyone and they will talk your ear off forever. They are all so lonely, So sad in some respects.
After the concert we headed home for a dip in the hot tub and then to get some sleep after our three day excursion. We are finally here in the warm weather, escaping the cold February in Massachusetts.
