2010 Florida Trip

The type of IT consulting I do allows me the somewhat unique opportunity to work from anywhere and since I own the business, I need nobody's permission to do so. I decided that instead of working from Washington, DC during February I would take my laptop and join the other snowbirds for a month in balmy South Florida. I put the Triumph Sprint ST in the back of the truck and headed south.

On the way down I decided to stop in Beaufort, SC and see some old friends from when I was stationed there in the Marine Corps. Beaufort has changed quite a bit since I left nearly fifteen years ago. More people, more traffic and more buildings. Port Royal is actually no longer a dirty little town near Beaufort. The Marine Corps, with its two bases, Parris Island and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, still dominates the local economy and culture but you can tell that a retirement lifestyle is creeping into the area.

Did I mention that Mackenzie was born here?

Beaufort Pics

From Beaufort it was down to West Palm Beach, FL to get some dives in to complete my Scuba Open Water Diver certification. While waiting for Beth to fly we drove down A1A to Miami/South Beach.

A1A Drive pics

The next day it was time to DIVE DIVE DIVE!

Wonderful diving with the guys at The Scuba Club.

It seems that no matter where I go, beautiful women find me:

My cousin Aerin was down to dive at the same time we were.

From West Palm Beach it was a quick 3 hour drive across Alligator Alley to Fort Myers, FL where Dad and Sally spend their winters.

I found a place to live on Craigslist and moved in. It was a nice little two-bedroom apartment that I shared with a guy from Boston who talked funny.

Apartment pics

While there I actually convinced both Dad and Sally to try sushi. Dad liked it...Sally, not so much.

Sushi pics

I spent most of my month in Ft. Myers working, working out (lifting and running), kayaking and enjoying the weather. The weather didn't allow me to ride the bike as much as I had anticipated but I did manage to get in a trip down to the Everglades where I visited Chokoloskee and Everglades City.

I managed to find a restaurant with a wonderful view and spent several hours chilling by the water.

Everglades City Trip pics

I also spent some time kayaking in Estero Bay near Lovers Key and the area around Sanibel Causeway and Punta Rassa Cove.

Kayaking pics

I left Ft. Myers after about a month, just as the weather started improving. I did get to watch the Super Bowl and some NASCAR with my father and was able to explore yet another chunk of America.

A quick drive back across the bottom of Florida to West Palm Beach for a final dive prior to heading north. After a wonderful 90 ft. dive I jumped in the truck and headed back, stopping just shy of South Carolina for the night. I got back into DC Wednesday evening and saw a bunch of white stuff all over the ground. Apparently there was a few snowflakes while I was gone.

Good to be back home to see my girlies.