Farewell, Florida

Kissimmee architecture

Castle for sale; the nobility evidently is hurting; actually, there's a lot of stuff for sale here

Shell World's incredible flying shark

Thirty-eight counter stations (count 'em) at the Dollar Rent-a-Car site at Sanford International Airport; and one employee. I was going to award Dollar the "most interesting business practice award" for the day. But when we returned the car the next afternoon, the place was swamped. Sanford apparently is where all the charters come in, especially from the UK. The airport terminal is studded with "look left" and similar signs.

So our time in Florida is at an end. It has been good, picking up the Grey Wanderer, outfitting it, seeing the sights, visiting with family. Most everything good here has been due to the extraordinary-beyond-extraordinary hospitality of Vicki's sister Marie and her husband Norm, who have put us up for a month and put up with us. Their patience, tolerance, and generosity is beyond praise or gratitude.

Monday we are off again, to Dublin, for three weeks of backpacking in Ireland. We'll rent a car but tent mostly, rain permitting. Marie reminds us there's a reason the place is so green. After Ireland, we'll move on to Germany, pick up the Grey Wanderer in Bremerhaven, and then head north to Scandinavia. The road goes ever on.