We made it through the night on the air mattresses. We walked around the corner to a high rise, took elevator to the roof & found JOHN’S friends ready for pickleball. Everyone was so nice. We played for 2 hrs-it was amazing. Not my playing but the views! Came back & went with AMY to pick up PATRICK who volunteers on Saturdays to help underprivileged kids with their reading. I’m impressed again. JOHN is now taking a nap; AMY & ARMAND are working on a 1,000 piece puzzle; PATRICK is off with friends; PHILLIP is in his room; I’m trying to BLOG. I needed AMY’S help because I ran out of room to post pictures! SHE HELPED ME.

LINDA left at 7 to substitute. We took a little walk & 1st met DEBBIE walking her dog and then LESLIE walking her dog. As we left we said goodbye to another neighbor BARB who we had played pickleball with. It is so amazing to see how friendly & supportive everyone is. I’m impressed & was sad to leave. LINDA made our visit very special.

We arrived in Miami around 1. We got to visit with JOHN before going to pick up PHILLIP at school. Our grandson is in the 8th grade. PATRICK-an 11th grader- took public transportation home & was soaked. He emptied his backpack full of WET papers & went upstairs. JOHN’S wife AMY was on a boat celebrating the end of year leadership academy with people from work at Miami Dade College.

JOHN, ARMAND & I took a walk to the grocery store by the water & past 100’s of boats & high-rises. What a different world from Austin. At home, JOHN, made the most delicious guacamole salad we have ever tasted. Who would have know. Then AMY came home & made a chicken dinner. We have our own room with blow up air mattresses. Glad to be here.

We started the day with a 20-mile easy bike ride & finished with birthday cupcakes for Linda’s sister Valerie. Her 3 sisters all live in New SMYRNA Beach. The bike ride was really nice, shady & on bike paths. I also had an opportunity to visit Linda’s neighbor JENNY. She is a retired Navy nurse who served during the Vietnam War & AIDS crisis. She was in a bad accident but still is able to make her own fused glass & art pieces in her garage. She was kind enough to give me a few samples. Truly an inspirational person to talk to. I have invited her & Linda to Austin & hope they take me up on the offer. The birthday party was nice & it was especially enjoyable to visit with Linda & her sisters. Linda is subbing in the morning.

JENNY WITH GLASS SAMPLE (picture above was painted by her brother)

SISTERS ROSEMARY, B-DAY GIRL VALERIE, LINDA & BARBARA

We left Super 8 & the cats outside waiting to say goodbye. Drove to New Smyrna Beach to visit our friend LINDA. We knew her in Austin before she moved to Dallas & now New Smyrna Beach where her 3 sisters also live. She has always wanted to live by the beach & now it’s become a reality. We all have a tennis background but told her we were now PICKLEBALL PLAYERS. Reluctantly she agreed to try. She wanted to keep playing & we couldn’t believe how quickly she caught on. I need to practice to get ready for The Villages. Today (Wednesday) we went for breakfast & took a 2 hr walk on the beach. Linda also wanted to go for a bike ride but I’ve had enough sun-will go tomorrow. Waiting for it to get cooler so we can play pickleball again. It’s so nice to be here.

We left at 8:30 & arrived at the Super 8 Motel at 6:00. ARMAND did most of the driving. I am almost worthless on trips. I did send a lot of texts now that I have an iPhone. This is the same Motel 8 we stayed at last year. We ate dinner at a nice Mexican Restaurant. I am now caught up on my blog. ARMAND is reading. Tomorrow we are driving to New Smyrna Beach to stay with our friend Linda.

PEARLAND, TX TO LAFAYETTE, LA to VISIT WHITNEY & MOLLY 4/21-23, 2023

WE HAVE OUR OWN ROOM AT WHITNEY’S. MOLLY TAKES REALLY GOOD CARE OF US-DELICIOUS MEALS along with DESSERTS. We also don’t just sit around. We immediately go for walks. My hip was hurting so I had an excuse not to go on the 25 mile bike ride with Whitney and Armand. Instead I went to get shots in my butt & arm. Saturday night, WHITNEY & ARMAND drove to New Iberia to have a sibling reunion with VIVIAN, REGINA, ALICE & RUSSELL. MOLLY & I went out to eat. Sunday, we went back to New Iberia so I could visit Alice & Russell. Sunday night I was doing laundry & fell on my face & have a cut above my eye. Don’t ask me how-but I am a mess. My nurse, MOLLY, was working & wasn’t there to take care of me. I hope I will be presentable for the reunion.

WHITNEY, RUSSELL, ALICE, VIVIAN & ARMAND

WHITNEY, ME and ALICE’S SON STEVEN

We went on a 4 mile walk with WHITNEY & MOLLY

APRIL 19-20, 2023

We left HARLEY & LIBBY with JOHN our pet sitter for 3 weeks. We feel so fortunate to be able to leave for 3 weeks and have someone to take care of our pets & house.

We always look forward to staying with TAMI & BILL in Pearland. TAMI COOKS, RIDES BIKES & WALKS her dog ASTRO. We get to tag along. Thank you TAMI for making the 1st part of our adventure so much fun.

In 2002, 13 women, who did not know each other, from 13 states, biked from San Diego, CA to St. Augustine, FL. We have stayed in contact for 20 yrs & had reunions every 2 yrs. The last one was hosted by FRAN ADAMS in PETOSKEY, MICHIGAN. ARMAND & I are hosting this year’s reunion in THE VILLAGES, FLORIDA-MAY 4-7. We are down to only 4 of us from the original group who are able to make it this year.

REUNION IN 2015 HOSTED BY JANE IN VIEQUES, PUERTO RICO

SUPER BIKER FRAN ADAMS SHE WAS 69 WHEN SHE BIKED ACROSS AMERICA IN 2002

SHE BIKED EVERY MILE-ON DIFFICULT DAYS-SHE WAS MY INSPIRSTION & STILL IS

FEBRUARY (Saturday) 25, 2023 AUSTIN TO DALLAS

It’s now April 22, 2023 & we are staying with WHITNEY & MOLLY in Lafayette, La. I realized that I never wrote about our last adventure. This only matters to me because if I don’t write about it, the adventure can be erased from my memory.

On Saturday we left HARLEY & LIBBY with our wonderful friend BECKY. Drove to Dallas & spent night with NANCY & went to visit MARDI & SAM CROWLEY.

FEBRUARY (Sun, Mon, Tues) 26, 27, 28 2023 DALLAS TO COWETA, OKLAHOMA

On the way to visit our friend Kathie in Coweta, we met JENNIFER, NANTHAN, BROOKE & OAKLEY in SHERMAN, TX. They were going home after visiting U of ARKANSAW where BROOKE plans to go to college next yr. Then on to stay with KATHIE. Kathie used to live in Austin & after her husband passed away she moved to be closer to her daughter. KATHIE & I along with dog GRITS drove from Austin to Coweta. Armand did not think we could do it because I have trouble driving to SA.

On Monday we went to the zoo-a favorite place for Kathie to visit & on Tues we drove to Tulsa to visit AUNT MARY. I have adopted AUNT MARY because she is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. At 98 she lives alone, still drives & works as a volunteer at the gift shop at the hospital. As soon as we arrived the 3 of us sat down to play a board game & a domino game to 10,000 with Aunt Mary who kept score w/pen & paper. Kathie says she always wins when they play canasta. I want to be like AUNT MARY when I grow up. GRITS was sorry to see us go because ARMAND took him for a walk every day. It was so nice spending time with Kathie.

FEBRUARY 28TH (TUESDAY) –COWETA, OK TO KEYSTONE STATE PARK, OK

MEET UP WITH MOLLY & WHITNEY–IT’S MOLLY’S BIRTHDAY

MARCH 1ST KEYSONE STATE PARK

We are in the lodge-Molly & Whitney are in their airstream. Drove to Tulsa, Ok & visited the Woodie Guthrie & Bob Dylan Museums. Ate lunch-went back & rode bikes for 15 miles. MOLLY cooked dinner for us again-sat by the fire. Another nice day because of MOLLY’S planning & cooking. It was also a very cold.

MARCH 2nd-4th DROVE TO FAYETTEVILLE, visited U OF ARKANSAS (where our grandaughter BROOKE is going to next yr). Biked 15 miles on really nice bike paths. Drove to next destination-QUEEN WILELMINA STATE PARK IN Arkansas. The lodge was really nice but the weather was very cold. Spent most of the time working on a puzzle & staying in the lodge. I did start one bike ride but the hill was too much so I turned around and worked on the puzzle & met new people.

MARCH 5TH (Sunday) DEPART QUEEN WILHELMENA at 6:30 AM. Too early to say goodbye to WHITNEY & MOLLY. We are so grateful to be included in their adventures. We have lunch w/NANCY in Dallas. Arrive home to HARLEY & LIBBY at 5:30. So grateful to BECKY for taking care of them while we were gone.