Saturday, February 4, 2012

We're BACK!!!! 3 Day Trip from Ohio to Florida

Welcome to our Captiva Days Blog.  Al and I are back on Captiva Island for a six weeks stay.  I use this blog as a diary to remember details of our trip so bear with me if some of this is not very interesting.  Warning:  I like to make notes on our meals  so you may get hungry.

Feb 2, 2012  First Day of Drive
We loaded the car yesterday and headed out at 8:30 am. The start of our trip to Captiva Island, Florida began with our first leg of the trip, an 8 hour drive ending in Norris, TN at my brother, Jack’s home. It was a frosty morn in North Canton but was in the 50’s in Norris. It was a lovely day for driving. I had packed a sandwich lunch for the road sono stopping for lunch.
My sister,Cecilia met us for dinner that Jack prepared. Drinks and wine were enjoyed with appetizers of goat cheese spread, warmed brie with fig preserves, and bruschetta with crackers and toast crisps. He was serving a bottle of Knob Creek Bourbon for Al and him to try. He cooked fricassee chicken, risotto with olives and tomatoes, and roasted brussels sprouts with garlic. It was a great family evening and fun for all! Spent the night at the Apartment.

Feb 3, 2012 Second Day of Drive
Up very early and on the road by 7:30 after coffee, juice, and eggs. This leg of the trip is 10 hours of driving and will end in Ocala, Florida. The weather is in the 40’s and the sky is sunny. Another great day for being on the road. We stopped for a quick lunch in Perry, GA at McDonald’s drive thru and gassed the car. Arrived at the Best Western at 6:00 ….located at Exit 350 off I 75. Stayed in room 438, the same room we have for several years.
We dined at a nearby Olive Garden. Al had his traditional dinner Chianti Braised Short Ribs-tender boneless beef short ribs slow cooked in a chianti wine sauce. Served with portobello mushroom risotto and steamed green beans and carrots.  I ordered Braised Beef & Tortelloni-tender sliced short ribs and portobello mushrooms tossed with asiago-filled tortelloni in a basil-marsala sauce. Great salad and dinner except that we were seated between a party of 16 and a table with 2 noisy kids. When we set down, it began at a table in a quiet corner.
Sleeping was good tonight….2 tired people are we.

Feb 4, 2012  Final Day of Drive
Slow start today. We ate the free continental breakfast and started on the way about 10:00. Before heading to I 75, we first bought gas and went through the car wash near the motel. Our last leg of the trip to Captiva is about 4 hours. Another lovely day and the temps are in the hi 70’s reaching 82 at the end of the drive. Traffic and construction slow downs have not been as bad as most trips. We stopped at Sun Harvest Citrus store for citrus and juice. We then shopped for provisions at Publix in Ft. Myers before crossing the causeway to the islands. We arrived at our final destination at 3:30.

After unpacking the car (which I must add was packed to the hilt after shopping), we headed to one of our favorite spots Lazy Flamingo for dinner at the bar. This is a local hang out and has great food. We ordered oysters on the half shell and shared the fried oyster platter and grilled shrimp with Caesar salad. Yum! Yum!
We are so happy to be back on this lovely island and looking forward to total relaxation and fun for six weeks.

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