Tally one up for Tallahassee!

March 5 - 16, 2021


During our visit to Tallahassee, we camped at Coe Landing County Park, located 15 miles outside of town.  It is located on Lake Talquin.  We hung out at the campground quite a bit.  We had a beautiful, waterside site and enjoyed many sunsets and campfires.  Listening the the alligators "talk" was a new experience! 


Frankie was in dire need of a bath and grooming, so that happened for her!  I'm getting more and more confident of being able to groom her myself.  Maybe it's time I try cutting Dick's hair again!  Convincing Dick could be another story.  The first (and last!) time I cut his hair, he ended up with a complete buzz!


Coe Landing site 15

Home Sweet Home

Lake Talquin

Pictures just don't capture the beauty!

Dick's next ... JK!


We have been trying to figure out how we our going to be able to get the COVID vaccine while we are traveling full time.  Well, Tallahassee answered that prayer!  We had heard on the news that there were vaccines available in Tallahassee, so the first thing we did after we arrived was get signed up!  I didn’t qualify (age-wise); however, Dick did!  He scored an appointment for the very next morning!  They even gave him a button for bragging rights!  Now, we just need to make a return trip to Tallahassee for round two.


I'm Vaccinated!

After having spent the past three weeks with a group of fellow NOMADS, it was going to be a tough transition back into isolation again!  Well, that was quickly resolved!  We had several virtual gatherings while in Tallahassee!  The first was Emma Lu's (our granddaughter) 9th birthday. We were even able to attend the birthday party!  That’s actually a great thing about our timing for this adventure!  The party would have been a virtual celebration regardless of where we were. Family gathered from Iowa, Florida, and Utah to celebrate with Emma!  Emma is such a joy.  She is a very compassionate and caring person.  We are very proud to be her Nana and Papa!  


Our next virtual celebration was a gender reveal party for Brandon and Anne’s baby due to arrive late July!  Brandon had researched local bakeries in each family member's location and ordered cupcakes for us!  It was so fun to bite into the cupcake and find the pink filling inside!  It’s a GIRL!  Norah will have a girl cousin nine months younger than she to play with at family gatherings!


My book club in Hastings is studying a Lenten guide and I finally got to rejoin the group.  I had missed the first couple of gatherings while we were volunteering in Crystal River.  It is just delightful to gather with this group of women and I’m thankful they have continued to invite me to join them!

 

Anne has been giving Josh and Eva violin and vocal lessons this past year.  With COVID, the children are so fortunate to have a mom who can do this for them!  Anne invited us to a virtual recital where Josh and Eva showed off their amazing talents!


Happy Birthday Emma Lu!

It's a GIRL!


We got in several hikes around the area including the Fort Braden Trails and the Fred George Basin Greenway and Park.  Strange enough, we don’t have many pictures from this last hike.  It probably didn’t have anything to do with me slipping off a log and falling into a mud puddle!  It’s humorous now, but I’m pretty sure Dick was prudent in leaving his phone in his pocket!  A smaller hike, actually more of a stroll, was around the Goodwood Gardens.  We do have more pictures of this beautiful place; however, once again, disaster struck!  This time I got stung by a bumblebee thing!  It dive bombed me and got stuck behind my sunglasses.  My eye was swollen shut for a couple of days but once again, the ridiculousness of the situation made it impossible not to laugh about!


Goodwood Garden's Mansion in background


      Exploring downtown Tallahassee was a highlight of this visit.  We made several trips to downtown and enjoyed learning our way around Florida's capital city.  Scattered throughout the city is amazing sculptures.  One of the most meaningful I've ever seen is a Korean War Memorial in Cascades Park.  It gave me goosebumps.  Cascades Park itself is quite the asset to downtown.  It is the site of a former football field.  Aside from a portion of the original stone wall (with ticket windows still remaining!) one would never guess it had been an event location.  It now has an amazing water feature, hiking/jogging/biking... trail (with access points from each corner of the park), sculptures, and beautiful landscaping.  The azaleas are in full bloom along with all of the other spring flowers and shrubs.  The park is a short walk from Tallahassee's capitol building.  The original capitol building remains in front of the newer capitol and has been converted into a museum.  Touring it would be a fascinating day; however, that has to wait for our next trip as COVID has it currently closed.  


     On Saturdays, there is a small farmer's market located in Ponce De Leon Park (one of the Chain of Parks).  It was fun to walk through the market and pick up a cup of iced coffee and a loaf of fresh baked bread.  A little further down the road is the Governor's mansion.  Along the street to it, you find many historical homes with beautiful architectural features.  Quite by accident, we stumbled upon the Civil Rights Heritage Walk.  This sidewalk was unbelievably well done.  ItIt contains artwork imbedded into the sidewalk along with local civil right events.  Reading the stories of these brave and strong individuals who inspired many others to join in the cause was powerful.  Well done Tallahassee!!  We also stumbled upon Proof Brewery.  We knew Tallahassee has several breweries and we had every intention of making it to one; however, it turned out to be more of the case that it found us!  A cold flight of beer on a hot afternoon, located in the heart of town was just the ticket!


Governor's Mansion in the background

Cascade Park

Korean War Memorial

Proof Brewery

Capitol Musuem

Civil Rights Heritage Walk

Kleman Plaza Fountain

Tallahassee Capitol Building

A storybook ending to our visit was receiving a call inviting me to make an appointment for my first round of COVID vaccine.  Florida has just lowered the age requirement to 60 and I now qualify!  Dick and I are both halfway to being fully immunized against COVID.  It seems like one can begin to see the light at the end of the pandemic's tunnel!  

Do I get a button too?  (nope)

I hate to end on a somber note; however, a reminder of just how dangerous COVID-19 is.  In Limhamn, Sweden, my cousins will be gathering for the funeral of Julius.  COVID took his life on February 1st after a two-month battle.  Please, continue to stay safe!





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