The Old and the Restless

The youngest grandchild After Christmas Megan and Tom came to visit. Unfortunately the weather was not as warm as it was the previous week. Fortunately it was fine for biking to the beach. Tom is not used to hills. Here he is dragging his shoes to stop the momentum. On the sand. Examining a sand sculpture of an alligator. Let's race. On the beach you can ride anywhere. I won! Tom took our picture. We went on a dolphin discovery boat ride. Although we saw a lot of dolphins, I wasn't fast enough to get their picture. The pelicans obligingly posed, though. Megan bought Tom a huge box of lego and extra wheels for Christmas...enough to build many imaginative trucks, planes and cars. On their last day, we visited the alligator farm at St. Augustine. Waiting to be fed.

Before Christmas Margot, Mark, Joshua and Ella were able to come to enjoy some warm weather. December 22 … Getting ready for the beach. December 24 … Colder today but not like Toronto. We have electricity! Jogging on the beach. A Christmas dinner on the evening of the 24th. Next day the Hamiltons flew back to have a Christmas dinner with Mark's family.

This year, in early December, we went to the Sebring Winter Bikefest about a 2 hour drive south of Orlando with our friends Carole and Roy Hill from the Toronto Bicycle Network cycling club. We were joined there by Dinsmore, also from TBN, who had first been to Sebring a couple of years ago. Each morning, the cyclists gathered in front of the historic, almost century old, Kenilworth Hotel to start their rides for the day around 8 am. There were two short rides of 10 and 20 miles and 3 longer rides in the 35 mile, 60 mile (100 km) and 100 mile range. Sandra and I started with a 20 mile tuneup and finished with rides of 38 and 36 miles. Carole and Roy started with 38 miles, increased to over 60 miles and finished with the same 36 mile ride as us. Dinsmore took rides of about 60 miles each day. On our second day, we rode to the Highlands Hammock State Park (which was the medium distance 38 mile ride done by most cyclists on their first day). The terrain was interesting; but wild...

Tom and Megan made a police car for Hallowe'en. With all the lights in the dark, it was quite a success. Tom told me that even when they went into the pizza place the woman had a bowl of candy for him. He was surprised that everyone was so friendly.

For our October 2013 bike and barge trip, go to: http://stilloldandrestless.wordpress.com or click on the link on the side bar. The post begins with us in Bamberg as we try to get used to the time change. All of old Bamberg is cobblestoned...except for the numerous bicycle paths which are paved.

Megan arranged to have Tom's 4th birthday party at a local store which caters to events. Waiting for everyone to arrive. Tom was excited to see Annike. "Stop the Music and Freeze" is a lot of fun. They always enjoy playing, "Pass the parcel". Ella's decorated hat is beautiful. Is the cake coming soon? Happy Birthday, Tom. Back at the apartment. Which do I play with first?

On August 10th Joshua was 7 years old. The birthday pie made by Margot. Tom and Ella cutting up. Letting off steam. More sedate?