This trip was primarily to visit people, and included our first visit to southwest Florida since Hurricane Ian, seeing the Yankees play in Miami, and a minor league baseball game with a local on the team.
Saturday, August 5 - Amsterdam, New York, to I-95 in southern Virginia
The long ride started by mid-morning, we made our usual Chick-fil-A stop in Flemington, New Jersey, for lunch [3 Pictures], and continued our way down through Pennsylvania, then dodging some traffic through Delaware and Maryland. We picked up some pizza for dinner in Waldorf and ate it at the small rest area before the Nice Bridge [Picture]. We got back to I-95 north of Richmond, where we drove on into the night. [23 Pictures from the Roads][4 Dog Pictures]
Sunday, August 6 - I-95 in Virginia to Bonita Springs, Florida
Our trip through the night included what has become a required stop at the Buc'ees in Florence [Picture][2 Dog Pictures], and was uneventful down through the southeast. On the way down through Florida, we stopped for breakfast from Dunkin' Donuts in Waldo [2 Pictures] and lunch at a Culver's around Sarasota [Picture]. We arrived in Bonita early afternoon, and got our first looks at the motel post-Ian [3 Pictures]. Then it was over to our hosts' house to get some rest. [4 Roads Pictures].
Monday, August 7 - Bonita Springs, Florida, area
The very hot and steamy day included a boat ride [Picture][6 People/Dog Pictures] to Dog Beach [10 Pictures][8 People/Dog Pictures] then to Fort Myers Beach via the Gulf [28 Pictures][People Picture], lunch at Doc Ford's [Picture][People Picture] there, and then back in the bay [15 Pictures][2 People Pictures]. The damage from Hurricane Ian was evident everywhere. Back from the boat ride, we took at look at the new view from the Bonita Beach Resort Motel across to the beach [Picture]. Later, a baby turtle release at sunset on Bonita Beach [6 Pictures][5 People Pictures].
Tuesday, August 8 - Bonita Beach and nearby, Florida
The day included a drive up to Fort Myers Beach to see the hurricane recovery from land. The only pictures of the day are from sunset [5 Pictures].
Wednesday, August 9 - Bonita Beach, Florida
This day was another hot and steamy one, and included another boat ride [18 Pictures][10 People Pictures] and the beach again at sunset [3 Pictures].
Thursday, August 10 - Bonita Beach and nearby, Florida
The day included lunch from Skyline in Naples, a visit to St. Elizabeth Seton School, Costco, Crumbl Cookies, and more. No pictures!
Friday, August 11 - Bonita Beach, Florida, to Miami, Florida
We made one last stop at the Bonita Beach Resort Motel [6 Pictures] before leaving for the Miami area. We got lunch from anPollo Tropical in Naples, drove across on US 41, checked into our hotel near the airport, dropped the dog off for the evening in Miami Beach, went to see the Yankees beat the Marlins [48 Pictures][16 People Pictures], then back to Miami Beach to pick up the dog and back to the hotel for the night [Picture]. [17 Pictures from the Roads]
Saturday, August 12 - Miami, Florida, to The Villages, Florida
We started the morning in Miami [3 Pictures][1 Dog Picture], then drove up to Jupiter to visit for the afternoon [2 Dog Pictures]. Our group went to the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches to see Amsterdam's Dale Stanavich pitch for the Jupiter Hammerheads against the Daytona Tortugas [40 Pictures, 1 Video][19 People Pictures]. After the game, we drove up Florida's Turnpike to The Villages, arriving after midnight. [12 Pictures from the Roads]
Sunday, August 13 - The Villages, Florida
A day for visiting, with no pictures.
Monday, August 14 - The Villages, Florida
A second day for visiting, with just a few pictures from a visit to the First Responders Rec Center [3 Pictures].
Tuesday, August 15 - The Villages, Florida, to somewhere around Richmond, Virginia
Time to go already, so we said goodbyes [Picture] and started north [Picture]. Stops included a look at Lochloosa [3 Pictures], a Zaxby's, Buc'ees again [Pictures], and Popeye's [Picture]. It became midnight somewhere north of Richmond. [4 Pictures from the Roads]
Wednesday, August 16 - Somewhere around Richmond, Virginia, to Amsterdam, New York
The overnight ride went smoothly, home around 9 AM. [Picture]
Copyright notice: All images copyright © James D. Teresco unless otherwise specified. Unauthorized use prohibited.