Topsail

2/7/22

 First van trip for 2022.  Headed to Topsail near Destin for a 3 day weekend.  Forecast was for cold weather and it certainly was correct.

Friday was cold with a light rain.  We walked the mile down to the beach and back.  Opened the Fireball and cooked hotdogs on the grill after we got back.  Didn't even put the chairs out.

Saturday dawned cold with some clouds.  Hiked the big loop to the dunes and back down to the beach.  Mostly flatwoods except near the coast.  Sign said these dunes were 10,000 year old.  The inland lake were interesting.  Stopped by Walker and Vicki's house on the way to eat a late lunch at Stinkys Fish Camp.  Meal was okay but kinda expensive.  Our first glimpse at the 30a monstrosity.

Sunday was bike day.  Still cold but clouds were clearing.  Did the big loop again but decided to include the western dune loop.  Mistake, mostly hike a bike.  Good workout though. 

Finished the day with a bike ride down to the beach to watch the sunset. Funny , I don't remember what we did for dinner that night.

So Sunday was still cold.  We got a late start and did a little more biking.  The trails or paths here are set up for casual cyclists.  Just a cruise through the woods.  Lunch was on 30 a again at Chunka (?).  Very expensive and not that great.  Lots of high end people.  Not my deal.

 

1/20/22

So 3 years later we meet again.  Hello old man.  I missed this writing process, it seems to have become a forgotten form with all the quick social media platforms.

Let's see, the last time we were together Blake had just graduated from UF.  He stayed with H2 for almost a year and right at the start of the virus they let him go.  Tough times.  He took a walk about touring the west and finally landed a job as a contractor with Leidos in Durham NC.  He contracted for a year and they just added him as a full time engineer this week.  He likes it up there, I miss him down here, but it's working out like it should.

The lovely Wife has been retired from teaching for a couple of years now.  It was killing her.  She substituted for a while until the virus hit then decided to wait till it passed.  You know how that's turning out.

I hired a cycling coach from CTC.  It's expensive and I can't really say it's been completely worth it.  I've enjoyed it, just not sure it's helping me that much.  I'm in it for another year then we'll see where we stand.

We have really been enjoying the van.  Great to take to the races.  Fun to just travel in.  Too many trips to list here.  We have a lot more trips planned in the coming year.  I expect to double our travel time once I retire.  

Speaking of retirement.  That's both scary and exciting at the same time.  I'm looking forward to it like a kid looks forward to summer vacation.  Wrong?  We'll see.