Highway 41...Day 4...Relaxin' in Orlando

Thanks to the kindness and phone calls of the ever capable Peggi, I didn't have to resort to converting the Vic into a convertible to get cooled off. We started the day dropping the Vic off to get the air fixed. I wish audio blogger was still available so you could hear the authentic, thick accent of the Irish mechanics at Shamrock. Peggi and I explored all the antique and thrift shops in the cute town of St. Cloud while the guys worked on the car. On the way back home, I passed three ladies on the classic Florida three wheelers. These ladies made me laugh out loud as I was reminded of the folks at Mariner's Cove. This was the drive by shooting:
Spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing with the Bontekoe's in their wonderful home. Tim's favorite spot..."the room," is worthy of his media affections and impressed me very much, enough so, that I considered spending the rest of my vacation staying here and watching movies.















Peggi's favorite spot, I think, is the patio...a perfect place to relax and begin training to be a professional dart thrower. I'm considering it as my next big career move.













According to dart pro, Tim, the red bullseye is not the highest score on the board. Who knew? After he told me it was the 20 - red slot, I hit it everytime.

Spent Saturday night catching up with the Guilford's.
I adore Matt and Betsy. Adore.
Matt is a terrific humble artist and makes drawing look effortless. Betsy makes numbers bend, combine and stand in line at attention on a spread sheet like nobody's business. But what I like most about them is that they are themselves. Real, funny, deep, kooky and completely themselves. Did I mention I adore them?

Went to bed dreaming of Mermaids as tomorrow is back to 41 and on to Weekie Wachee!

Directions to here:
Orlando...why are you so far away from Indy?
Having caught up with good friends, I wish these two cities were closer together.
Regardless I am blessed by these good people. Thank you friends, for a wonderful visit !

highway 41...Day 3...hot shots

Well, apparently I wasn't kidding when I said I was searching for pre-disney Florida. Long about Nashville, not only was I getting hot shots on my road cam, but it was getting a little hot as well, so I flipped on the air, only to find out that the Vic said if it's pre-disney you want...pre-disney...a.k.a no air conditioning you get! After several calls to "OnStar Mechanic Mike, how may I help you?" brother, I was unsuccessful at my first attempt to charge the air myself. However, I think it was due to a faulty product...not me, of course. Spent the day going south down 41 with a few side trips on places on the map that had names and memories I couldn't resist visiting. Then raced across the state to get to Orlando to meet up with my hosts for the night. Here are the highlights and hot shots (and I do mean hot as in heat hot, hot) !!
Favorite hot motel sign of the day

Favorite hot motel of the day, complete with the classic Florida blue tiled pool. I met the owner of this motel and thanked her for keeping it "original" and making it look so retro-ly fabulous. She said "you're welcome." She also wanted me to know that it is the only "american" owned and operated motel in Silver Springs. She also said that someone at disney is interested in kicking some money in to help Silver Springs keep going...I say, 'bout time, Mr. Disney.
Favorite pre-disney Florida attraction of the day.

Ah, the memory of blue tile, white sheets and Alanis singing on the tv.

I need a sunburn.



Back home again!


This is all that's left of Romeo.
Just like in art and history, the map atlas imitates life, as Juliette who used to be up the road from her Romeo, is now off the map and no where to be found. Sigh.

Looking back on the past...as I roll into Orlando and CCC's headquarters to meet my friends for the night.
Friends I really love...and love to spend time with...Tim and Peggi Bontekoe, from old Paragon days..









Tim and Peggi now work for the main man at Crusade, well not THE main man, but the main man, as in CCC's new president. Here they and Heidi Hodges (another blast from the past) are on the studio set of the main man's office.




Here I am pretending to be the main man, "people, it's harvest time." But as you see, square peg, round hole as ever!


Spent the rest of the evening at the Bontekoes with good food and good friends.

Flashback Friday

The orginal Florida road-trippers who taught me to "look out the window."

highway 41...Day 2...the sunny state part

Made it to the land of sunshine!













Bobble dog, me and bobble me crossed the state line and made it to Lake City before running out of sunshine.


Wanted to stay at this motel just because they had christmas lights...vintage christmas lights, people! But needed to keep driving as long as the sun was up.

Florida is all kitsch and all color. As in all colors on one block.And home for the night!

Hywy 41...Day Two...the peachy part

My address as of Tuesday Night.

So after bypassing half of Georgia at night, I started out in Forsyth and hit 41.

Dear reader, get yourself a Walker Evans book or go on line to look at his pictures from the south in the 40's.
I was sure that this Georgia, like many other parts of America had disappeared.

But God Bless Georgia.

Much to my surprise, much of back road Mid-South Georgia...STILL looks like a Walker Evans photo, only in color. The bad news is, it seems that much of it looks like this because the poverty rate must be very high it's not worth the developers money to tear the down the old and build the strip mall here.









The good news for me, at least, is it means much roadside accidental beauty for me and my camera.

I loved Georgia and it's thick history hanging in the air. I loved the laid backness of it's people on the streets and sitting on porches and when they were talking in the shops...i thought just keep talking so I can hear that drawl turn that 2 syllable word into a 3 and 4.























Directions to here:

"I can always hear a frieght train, Baby, if i listen real hard" (the counting crows)

Hywy 41...Day One

After a false start on Tuesday....(left and returned to Indy...don't ask)...Bobble and I took of Wednesday morning. Loaded with road songs, road food and road cam, we booked it down to Nashville using the Interstate (I already had done 41 to mid-Kentucky last year). Here's a shot of the new addition to the car. Bobble was a little jealous at first but I explained that this big bobble simply "has our back."

Stopped along to way to say hello to some old friends...the wigwams in Cave City, Kentucky.

Jumped on 41 north of Nashville and followed it till the sun went down right before Georgia. Speaking of sun, it was 77 degrees in Nashville and time for air conditioning..."wait, what..." wasn't all I said when nothing happened when i flipped the switch! It was the 57 system after that 55 + 2 windows down...or 62 or 65 or 37 or 72...depending on what was ahead on the road! Had to jump on the Interstate in order to make it to friends in Orlando on time. Drove 600+ miles ! and stopped in Forsyth, Georgia for the night.













Favorite shots of the day











Directions to here:

Life is a highway, I'm gonna ride it all night long.

Highway 41...Birthday drive..take 2

Bobble and I are off for a roadtrip down highway 41...(the birthday drive...i started and never finished)...in search of country music, georgia peaches, mermaids and anything pre-disney florida-esc kitsch. The memory card is clear...so will fill it up and you can ride along and see what's out our window...as long as there is free wi-fi to be had!

Flashback Friday

Vintage St. Patty's Birthday Girls!

Jamie SueMichele Lee (Shelley)

Levi says peace out!

The littlest Vandercar, Baby Levi, and all the Vandercar family sends you, dear reader, big thanks and a peace out sign for keeping him in your thoughts and prayers! He is still in the hospital, but he's getting stronger everyday and will hopefully make it home soon.
Levi, I can't wait to meet cha!
Here he is spooning with the "mommy doll" a ball and cloth that Tammy puts close to her and then passes it on to the baby so he can bond with mommy's presence.Levi says, look ma, no oxygen needed!

Flashback Friday

This moment in time chosen to honor this weeks birthday boy:
Darold Lyn Moore
Happy Belated Birthday, Darold!!

Wednesday's Wonder

Boozin' Wonder

(guess who)

The New Kid on the Vandercar Block

Welcome to the family:

Levi Robert Vandercar

Luke and Tammy had a baby boy!
That makes me a great aunt 8 times over.
If you are a praying person, please pray for this little guy.
He's got some health concerns that the doctors are trying to figure out.

Welcome to the world, Levi...we've been waiting for you!

(picture stolen from nana verna's blog)

Flashback Friday

Introducing Flashback Fridays = family kodachrome

The Vandercar Family
(circa 1970)
this second frozen in time at Range Line Church
(probably for the directory)

feel free to leave your comment or memory !