GARY & MARIE...OUR LIFE IN QUEBEC!: Florida in April Part 1

Since we returned from Florida in February (and after much searching online) Marie finally found a slide-in truck camper we thought would suit us and our future trips west, and, as it was located in Florida, decided to take this opportunity as well to say goodbye to Dad one last time. He is 91 now and with the onset of dementia quickly losing memory, cognizant skills and showing more and more signs of delusions and anxiety. Lyn and Don have coped with his mental and physical abuse for long enough and it was a relief to all of us when he was deemed unfit to be alone any longer and admitted to an assisted living facility, Forest Oaks of Spring Hill, earlier this month. So it was with slight trepidation on my part when Marie and I, with Muffy showing the way, headed south to New Smyrna Beach, Florida on Saturday, April 11th, leaving behind two feet of snow and spring that was still just a hope. Our planned route would take us into the US across the border into New Hampshire and on through into Milford, Connecticut where we had ordered a new set of Michelin summer tires for the truck at a local Ford dealership. But plans can be quickly tossed as we found out while we were on Interstate 91 near the town of White River Junction. A few minutes earlier as she was driving Marie began to have severe pains in her left arm and back, numbing of the face and tingling fingers - signs of what we thought were a TIA (a small stroke) or worse. We stopped at a pharmacy and clinic and were told to see a doctor, so I drove her to the closest hospital, the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. She was immediately admitted and underwent a battery of tests. The doctors and the neurologist she saw were very professional and were finally able to reassure us that it was likely only a pinched disc in Marie's neck. We spent almost seven hours in the hospital and when we left Marie had none of the symptoms and was quite upbeat after her ordeal. And you can imagine my relief!!! We decided not to go any further that day and spent the night in an old inn across the Connecticut River in the old historical town of Norwich, Vermont.

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH

The Norwich Inn, Norwich, Vermont

The Norwich Inn was a quaint old place, rebuilt in 1891 after a fire destroyed the original building. A lodging establishment has occupied this site for over 200 years and I found it interesting the name of the tavern owner back then was one Oliver Hatch. There was an on-site brewery behind the inn where we picked up some local ale before leaving the next morning after a delicious and filling breakfast. We also received word that day our tires would not be available till Monday so we decided to spend the extra day we had in Boston, visiting with Mario and Elizabeth. Elizabeth has a big rambling three story house just north of the city in Salem, famous for its Witch Museum and everything to do with witchcraft...and Harry Potter. 1692 was the year witch hysteria enveloped Salem and the surrounding towns and villages and hundreds of accused witches were imprisoned or hanged there. It was the first time I had been to this town and was quite taken with this what was once a thriving port in the days of early maritime trade. It is full of museums and galleries, including the Peabody-Essex Museum we unfortunately didn't have enough time to visit. We did take advantage of the warm spring day and headed down Essex street towards the Visitor Centre and Derby wharf, once a kaleidoscope of colour and movement as the East Indiaman ships arrived from around the Cape of Good Hope with their cargo of tea, coffee, sugar, pepper and cotton textiles. We walked to the end of the wharf, passing by a replica of the 1797 Indiaman Friendship and to the lighthouse, built in 1871, then headed back to meet up with Mario and Elizabeth. That night Mario took us out for seafood at Turner's restaurant. It was a nice evening as we strolled through the Salem Common, trees starting to bud and people out on the grass enjoying the weather at last. Boston had had been hard hit with snow this winter, breaking a record with the snowiest season ever with over 110 inches!

Marie, Collins Cove, Salem, Massachusetts

enjoying Ziggy and Sons apple dumplings

Amazing Pizza and More, Salem, Massachusetts

Salem, Massachusetts

Me and The Friendship

Derby Wharf, Salem, Massachusetts

Salem Maritime National Historic Site

Mario, Elizabeth and Marie, Salem, Massachusetts

Mario with his three Belgium Malinois dogs

Mario and Marie, Salem Common

The next morning we left early (6am) to catch the I-95 to Milford, telling them we would be there at 9 sharp to have the new tires installed. When we arrived we were told our tires had not showed up from the warehouse yet so we went off to do a bit of shopping. They still weren't there when we got back and after waiting another 2 hours for them to show up we finally said to hell with it, told them to put the old tires back on the wheels and left. We had wasted the morning for nothing and still had a long way to go, hoping to get into Virginia before dark. We would have to hope we didn't run into any rain as there was little tread left on those tires! We made arrangements over the phone with another Ford dealer in Daytona Beach, the closest one to where the camper was, who promised us he would fix us up Thursday morning, before we headed to New Smyrna Beach. The drive down through the Carolinas and Georgia was without incident and we arrived in Daytona sweltering in unusually hot weather.

crossing the George Washington Bridge, New York City

passing by the Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC

California Tortillas Restaurant, Lorton, Virginia

tiny ABC store, Santee, NC that amazed us

Rodeway Inn, Santee, North Carolina

Days Inn near the Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida

The dealership in Daytona Beach was a breath of fresh air and the service excellent - the tires ( Michelin A/Ts )were waiting for us, installed and balanced while we waited and we were on our way after only two hours. We drove half an hour south to New Smyrna Beach to meet up with George and Marie Hetzel who were selling us their 2008 Northstar Adventurer truck camper. As it was the first time I had ever put one on the truck it took a little while lining it up and making sure it was secure enough for the trip back north. It will take a bit of practice to feel comfortable loading it. From there we headed west across Florida to Brooksville to Lyn and Don's place, where we would stay the next four days. While there we would visit Dad at Forest Oaks, and then take one final trip to the house on Lake Lindsey to pick up a few mementos of my parent's lives. A sad day for me that I knew would eventually come, as it will for us sooner than we wish. gws