overlooking the canal and fire pit at Kim and Claudia's
Pine Island, FL
(note the lamb on the spit)
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Pine Island has a lot of advantages - abundant sunshine, lush landscapes, some very dear friends, and really great boating - all with the added bonus that I can literally go anywhere dressed in tired yoga capris and a messy t-shirt and still be overdressed!
As we biked around our old streets this morning there was, in fact, that tiny tug we felt the first time we visited the island in 2000......
But relax...... we both agreed that ultimately Pine Island is deceptively seductive. It is really relaxing and fun to be here - and an extended visit is just fine!
But relax...... we both agreed that ultimately Pine Island is deceptively seductive. It is really relaxing and fun to be here - and an extended visit is just fine!
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Our drive down was mostly uneventful althou we did stop in rural Pennsylvania at our new favorite store...
........and smoked everything!
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OMG! it is a meat lover's, smoked lover's ultimate destination. We happened upon it on our trek to D.C. last month and knew we had to return - as soon as possible. Dietrich's is a Pennsylvania Dutch country store that has been operating, under the same family, for over 60 years. With a butchery and smoke house right on the premises they specialize in traditional and hard to find cuts of meat and game. AND... they give free samples!
I was intrigued by the sweet buffalo bologna in the shape of a football!
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One can kind of go crazy in here - smoked baby back ribs right out of the smoker, home made cheeses, pickled everything, smoked bologna and salami .... the place smells so good you want to try it all! And if you do choose not to buy those amazing smoked ribs ..... guaranteed that 6 hours later, when you stop for the night, you will dearly wish you had made that extra indulgence!!!
And even without the ribs on board... the POD smelled like a smokehouse as we headed south through West Virginia and the Carolinas. One of the things I like best is driving on the smaller U.S. HWYs and county roads and trying to stay off the interstates whenever possible. So many interesting things to see and learn about! Thank goodness for that handy data source in our hand!
Between Virginia and N.C we happened to travel on U.S. 52 - rural, winding and quite beautiful until it got dark and it began to rain like we were in the tropics. The names of towns can excite me and I was really looking forward to driving thru "Fancy Gap, Virginia"..... population @ 260. It sounded like it must be - well - fancy!
But, like I said, it was raining hard. So between that, the darkness, the 45 degree incline we were going down and the relative smallness of the town - I missed it! Obviously it will forever be a beautiful imaginary place for me.
This route also took us thru Mount Airy, N.C which was the birthplace of Andy Griffith. That fact helped make sense of the Mayberry Inn, Goober's Auto Repair, and Aunt Bea's Pie Shoppe that we passed !
And, then just to make this foray off the Interstate even better ...... we stumbled thru the town of Toast, N.C.!!!! What a great, comforting name for a town! It is right up there with Pie, N.M.!
I can see an entire road trip built around visiting towns that are named after food. And then you must find the best of that particular food in the town!
Who serves the best toast in Toast?
The best sandwich in Sandwich?
Whoa..... starting work on that plan right now.
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New Year's Eve on Pine Island was a quiet affair with a few close friends and a delicious dinner - exactly as we had hoped for. The celebratory fireworks actually woke me up just after midnight - but I rolled over and fell quickly back to sleep in anticipation of the morning's sunshine and early bike ride we would have today.
It's just what a vacation should be.
Happy New Year.
And even without the ribs on board... the POD smelled like a smokehouse as we headed south through West Virginia and the Carolinas. One of the things I like best is driving on the smaller U.S. HWYs and county roads and trying to stay off the interstates whenever possible. So many interesting things to see and learn about! Thank goodness for that handy data source in our hand!
Between Virginia and N.C we happened to travel on U.S. 52 - rural, winding and quite beautiful until it got dark and it began to rain like we were in the tropics. The names of towns can excite me and I was really looking forward to driving thru "Fancy Gap, Virginia"..... population @ 260. It sounded like it must be - well - fancy!
But, like I said, it was raining hard. So between that, the darkness, the 45 degree incline we were going down and the relative smallness of the town - I missed it! Obviously it will forever be a beautiful imaginary place for me.
This route also took us thru Mount Airy, N.C which was the birthplace of Andy Griffith. That fact helped make sense of the Mayberry Inn, Goober's Auto Repair, and Aunt Bea's Pie Shoppe that we passed !
And, then just to make this foray off the Interstate even better ...... we stumbled thru the town of Toast, N.C.!!!! What a great, comforting name for a town! It is right up there with Pie, N.M.!
I can see an entire road trip built around visiting towns that are named after food. And then you must find the best of that particular food in the town!
Who serves the best toast in Toast?
The best sandwich in Sandwich?
Whoa..... starting work on that plan right now.
*
New Year's Eve on Pine Island was a quiet affair with a few close friends and a delicious dinner - exactly as we had hoped for. The celebratory fireworks actually woke me up just after midnight - but I rolled over and fell quickly back to sleep in anticipation of the morning's sunshine and early bike ride we would have today.
It's just what a vacation should be.
Happy New Year.
- rubbed, marinated and ready for the spit!
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