Summer Trip Tik Day #1

It’s 2:45 pm on Day #1 of our summer road trip and I’m listening to Gene and our hitchhiker talk about A-Rod and the challenges of hitting off pitching machines, as we lay tracks through Georgia. Our first, and might I say very enjoyable, stop was a tour of the University of Florida in Gainesville guided by our beautiful young college friend, Alyse Gruenthal. We met her at Panera on Archer Road and grabbed a Starbuck’s before cruising the 20 mile speed limit through the sprawling campus. Spanish moss hanging off very old oaks and blooming magnolias lined the curving streets, as we passed the agriculture fields, sand volleyball practice, summer football and soccer camps, a huge art museum and butterfly garden, and numerous brick dorms with rows of parked bicycles. We hopped out to run into the massive football stadium, where five female swim team members stopped their training to adore little Cheyenne. We noticed the stadium is named Ben Hill Griffin, which is the same as a street in our hometown of Fort Myers. We plan to look that up at the first sign of an internet connection to learn of the significance of Mr. Griffin.

The girls begged to stop at the first sign of a Gator store to pick up some souvenir t-shirts. My Dartmouth t-shirt from last summer’s trip (yes, you’ve all seen it many times) has become such a favorite of mine that I’ve decided to be a college T collector. After some very loose directions from a blonde passerby (who Gene pegged as a sorority girl – I disagreed), we got lost on 13th Street (also named MLK). With no sign of anything remotely resembling a sorority house, we turned back and found a more reliable collegiate. The Chi Omega house was closed for the summer, but it’s a large brick home with white decorative railings reminiscent of New Orleans. The Tri-Delta house was massive and stunning, and rumor has it it’s $5 grand per semester to live there. Whew!

We enjoyed an all-around great lunch at The Swamp, recommended by more than a few of Port Charlotte’s finest judges and lawyers. As Alyse told us, it’s a favorite game day hang out with its outdoor big screen tv for those without tickets. One important note, the restaurant and particularly the restrooms were surprisingly spotless. In fact, Gene commented on the cleanliness of the entire campus. Our orders ranged from a turkey swiss panini with spinach artichoke dressing (mine) to nachos, wings and burgers. Everyone was pleased, the portions were generous, and the bill was only $54 for 5 of us. I indulged in 2 pint drafts with the express intention of my first of many road trip naps! Mission accomplished.

Dorms on campus

Taryn's future chapter house

Taryn and Alyse

Let the vacationing begin!

Our friend Tom's son T.J. (our hitch hiker) rode shotgun till N.C. 

Lunch at the Swamp

Road trip!!!

It's gonna be a long ride