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May 1 - July 1, 2025: Our (Extended) Trip to Ecuador |
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February 4-25, 2025: Our Winter Trip to Ecuador |
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Return to the Index for 2025 |
After we returned from Ecuador, we spent a couple of weeks at home, and then started out for Florida on March 9. We had just barely gotten onto I-30 heading east out of town when I got a warning from the car that one of my tires had low pressure. At first I thought we just needed to stop and put a bit more air in, but the pressure kept dropping. I took the first available exit, turned around, and headed back home. We had to stop to try to air up the tire when the pressure dropped into the single digits, but the tire would not hold air. We tried the spare, but after taking everything out of the trunk and getting the spare out, we found that Discount Tire had, years earlier when I bought a full-size spare from them, given me the wrong size lug nuts. All I could do was drive slowly home and pull into Discount Tire.
Driving a couple of miles with essentially no air in one rear tire apparently ruined that tire, but fortunately I had a tire warranty from Discount Tire, and they were able to replace it in about two hours. We called my neighbor and friend Al Hirschler, and he drove down the street to pick us up so we could wait at home. We had the car back at noon (with the right lug nuts for the spare this time), but it was too late to start out again, so we went on Sunday, March 10.
Getting to Fort Lauderdale
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About twenty miles north of Lafayette, at Opelousas, we take US 190 east. Although there are some small towns and a few lights along this route, we can still move pretty quickly. There is never a delay crossing the Mississippi River on the US 190 bridge,and once we get across we just continue on US 190 until it meets up with I-12 east. Now I will admit that this three-mile stretch, a four-lane major urban thorofare, can have some traffic, but it is no worse, and usually better, than what we used to encounter on I-10 from the Mississippi River to about ten miles east on I-12.
So we think that on days where there are no delays on I-10, this route takes about as long. But we no longer have to roll the dice on I-10, where backups can delay (and have delayed) us for 30-45 minutes.
From where we get onto I-12, it is 90 minutes or so to Mississippi and then an hour or so across that state. Mississippi turns into Alabama, and at this time of year the sun is setting when we enter that state. It is another hour across Alabama, with the most interesting feature being passing under Mobile Bay in the bridge/tunnel. It is just a few minutes into Florida where we usually stop for dinner at Pensacola- usually around 7:30pm. After dinner, we have now developed the habit of continuing on to Tallahassee, ariving there about midnight.
I must say that both cats seem to be good travelers. It's true that usually, maybe a few hours into the first day's driving, Bob tends to spit up, he only does it once, and only on the first day. We're prepared for it, and ready to do a "clean-up on aisle 6". Most of the time, both cats can be found sitting or sleeping in their carriers, although both of them will come out every so often, come up front to see what's going on, maybe stay for a little while, and then go right back to their cozy spaces. They hardly eat or drink at all in the car, usually waiting until we get to our motel. There, the cats get to eat and run around the room.
We usually get away from the hotel in Tallahassee about nine or so for the 150-mile drive to Jacksonville, which we usually reach just before noon. Then we take I-295 around Jacksonville to the south, going through Orange Park. This 14-mile stretch is kind of neat, mostly because of the long bridge that crosses the St. Johns River as it opens out into a large lake southwest of the city. (It narrows as it approaches and flows around downtown Jacksonville to eventually empty into the Atlantic.) I-295 connects up with I-95 south of the city and we simply take that south for another boring stretch of 300 miles down to Fort Lauderdale. We usually get to the condo around 5PM, depending on traffic in Fort Lauderdale on I-95 (which can be horrendous).
We unloaded everything at the condo and got the laptops all set up, and then retired to the dock for our celebratory frozen drink. Then, as is our custom, we headed down to the Floridian Restaurant for dinner. I wish we had transporter technology, but the drive is not a hard one- although sections of it can be boring.
We have been here to Florida so many times that we have pretty much photographed everything worthwhile anywhere nearby. The pictures we take now are just candid shots around the condo, at the dock or perhaps at an Art Fair or other event that occurs while we are here. So I've begun the practice of just grouping the pictures for these Florida trips by topic.
Along the Riverwalk
We often take a stroll along the Riverwalk, and so I wanted to include an aerial view of it here.
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The Riverwalk, one of Fort Lauderdale's major attractions, begins at Laura Ward Park. This small park lies between the historic Stranahan House and the multi-level garage of the Riverside Hotel.
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In the picture at left, I am standing in Laura Ward Park and the picture shows where the walkway begins that goes behind the Stranahan House and the Icon Las Olas, and is actually out over the water of the New River.
Once you get past the Icon Las Olas, the Riverwalk is back on land, and you come to North New River Drive. This street comes south from Las Olas on the west side of the Icon Las Olas. It continues to follow the bank of the New River, and it gives access to the various highrises that have been built on the north side of the river. The actual Riverwalk itself winds through a narrow landscaped area between this street and the actual river.
So the Riverwalk continues to follow the north shore of the New River, eventually passing under the Third Avenue drawbridge. It continues to follow the river, eventually going between the river and River House- one of the many highrise condos on the north side of the river. Incidentally, North New River Drive curves north to go back up to Las Olas Boulevard, just before River House. There is no street now that hugs the river, because west of here the buildings are accessed from Las Olas itself. All along this section of the New River, from Laura Ward Park to the Esplanade, there are boats docked on both banks of the river, where the city has leased the dockage rights. I investigated it once, and there is an easement that the city maintains on the north and south sides of the river of approximately 50 feet. On the north side of the river, this easement contains the Riverwalk itself and North New River Drive. On the south side, there are walkways and streets as well. The buildings that line the river on the north side may not build out to the river in most places, and may not obstruct the Riverwalk. On the south side, buildings may, with the permission of the city, build their amenities right up to the river, but this is not often done.
The Riverwalk passes south of River House and then it passes south of Huizenga Park (which seems to be currently under renovation and relandscaping). Past the park, the walkway goes under the Andrews Avenue drawbridge. West of that, it goes past what I think is an office building with some restaurants and stuff on the ground floor facing the river. Next, the walkway goes south of an area known as The Wharf. This is an open area that hosts food trucks and has some bars and such. It caters to the younger people that live in some of the surrounding highrises, and it is usually quite busy.
Next, the Riverwalk goes between the river and a very large complex that houses two named apartment building. One, Flow Fort Lauderdale, is a traditional apartment building, while the other, Society Las Olas, is designed for young singles who want to share an apartment with one or two other individuals. Society Las Olas takes care of pairing residents based on detailed questionnaires. The first 30 days of each rental is a "trial period", so residents can ensure compatibility before a yearly lease is signed. Each resident has a bedroom and ensuite, and the living room, dining area, and small kitchen are a shared space. These apartments are intended for young twenty-somethings who want to live in downtown Fort Lauderdale but need to do so as cheaply as possible.
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As you come down into Old Fort Lauderdale, there is a lot of greenspace along the river, and you can get right up to the riverbank for good views. As we were doing that, the bridge that carries the FECR/Brightline over the river came down, indicating that either a Brightline train or a freight train would be coming across the river.
I started filming as the bridge was almost down, hoping to show you one of the trains crossing the river. What I didn't count on was the fact that the bridge comes down well ahead of an approaching train- so far ahead that about five minutes of my video is just looking at the bridge waiting for the train to come.
This makes the video a little amusing, as I am trying to fill up the video with come commentary, but after a minute or two I ran out of things to say. You'll hear a conversation with Fred as we are discussing what's not going on. Anyway, if you get bored with the video, just use the video controls to go ahead to about the 5 minute mark and you will get to see the Brightline come across the bridge heading down to Miami.
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Here at the Esplanade, there is a performance stage, and a place where fairs and other events can be held. The Esplanade itself is a large brick-paved area (paved with the memorial bricks that people can buy), and it arcs around the north edge of the bend in the river. The city has also put a floating dock here for temporary use by boaters dropping people off at the Esplanade.
There are many places to sit down and watch boats coming upriver make the turn and head south or, for those going downriver, make the right turn to their right and head east through downtown and past Riverview Gardens and on to the Intracoastal Waterway. Also located nearby is the Broward Performing Arts Center and (just west of the river after it turns south) the Symphony Condominiums. The Riverwalk actually continues along the edge of the river past the Center and the Symphony, and ends where the 7th Avenue Drawbridge spans the river. Beyond that, and the New River is lined on both sides by private properties.
It ends just south of those highrises on West Las Olas Avenue just north of the drawbridge that takes The Avenue of the Arts over the New River. You can see all these features in the picture of Fred at right. The view looks directly south up the New River, and you can see the esplanade itself and the two towers of the Symphony Condominiums in the background.
Here at the Esplanade is one of the areas of the Riverwalk where the memorial bricks that people have bought are laid into the the Riverwalk. This is a large area (the largest, I think) of these bricks, and one can spend a fair amount of time walking around and reading the inscriptions. Most common are inscriptions of love or affection, but there are also marriages, memorials to the deceased (as is our brick dedicated to Ty and Scott that is in an area back at the beginning of the Riverwalk near the Cheesecake Factory), and all kinds of other inscriptions as well.
Walking around today, we saw many, many examples of the common inscriptions, but I also happened upon this amusing inscription. It was amusing not only for the inscription itself, but the fact that there appeared to be a couple of mistakes.
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This may have been some recurring thing, as it appeared to be mostly a bunch of food trucks parked on Las Olas in front of the museum, although there seemed to be some other activities going on.
In any event, use the player at left to watch the movie I made, and you will get a good idea of what this space is like when there is something going on.
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Old Fort Lauderdale, which consists of a museum, some restaurants, and various venues for parties and such, is on the site of the original Fort Lauderdale (or as near as can be determined). It is adjacent to a major bend in the New River (now called Sailboat Bend), and so there were places where docks could be built. The buildings in Old Fort Lauderdale date from the late 1800s. Between those buildings and the river is an area- perhaps 60 feet wide- through which the Riverwalk passes.
The restaurants were quite busy when we came through on our way to the Esplanade, although now, towards the end of lunchtime, things have tapered off. Use the player at left to have a look at the movie I made.
It is easy to see why the Riverwalk is one of Fort Lauderdale's main attractions, second only to Fort Lauderdale Beach. It is always a nice walk from end to end, and we tend to do it at least a few times each time we are here.
Around Riverview Gardens
Not many pictures around the condo this time.
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Boat Traffic on the New River (Installment 62)
As I've said frequently, one of the great things about this condo that Grant found is that it is right on the river, and consequently there are always (and I mean always) boats of all shapes and sizes going up and down the river. While there are busy times (mornings, evenings, and weekends) you never have to wait long for something to come past. Pictures and movies of the boats can get repetitive, but there are always a few to include:
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Pictures are one things, but movies can really give you an appreciation of what it is like just to sit at the dock or under the canopy and watch the boats go by:
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A Typical Saturday Morning |
Tourists, Tourists, Tourists! |
Bob and Cole
This is about the tenth or fifteenth time that Bob and Cole have accompanied us to Florida. Bringing two cats lessens the load on Lynne, our cat sitter, and we enjoy having them around here in Florida.
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That was the reason for this particular picture, and Fred was fortunate to get both of them to look straight at the camera.
Both cats came here for the first time as kittens just weeks old, and both of them were bottle fed and litterbox trained here in Florida. I suppose that is part of the reason they are good travelers; they started very early!
A Visit with Bruce Weihe
Many years ago, in the few years immediately after Grant's death, I still had the small boat that he had purchased, and I still kept it at Shirttail Charlie's upriver just east of the railroad bridge over the river. One weekend I called my Class Secretary (Davidson College, Class of 1968), Bruce Weihe, and asked him if he would like to bring his kids over for a boat ride on the river. Bruce actually lived exactly two blocks south of me, at 1000 SE 6th Street which was on the south side of the New River. (So to get to his house, which was just a couple of blocks away, you have to go west to Federal Highway, south through the Kinney Tunnel, and then east again into an area known as Rio Vista.)
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But it wouldn't be at his house south of me; in the intervening years his kids had grown up and moved away, he had semi-retired, and he and his wife had moved to The Symphony Condominiums. Fred and I knew exactly where he was; our strolls on the Riverwalk always ended up at the Broward Performing Arts Center west of the Esplanade, the The Symphony is just south of the Broward Center. At left is an aerial view of Sailboat Bend- the area where our walks end. I've marked the Esplanade, and in a section above you saw some photos we took on one of our walks there.
There are two towers- north and south- and Bruce lives high up on the north side of the south tower. I've shown on the map approximately where his unit is located.
When we arranged to meet, Bruce had suggested that we would go have lunch at a very nearby restaurant, the Chimney House, actually just across the street from the Symphony. I have marked that restaurant on the aerial view.
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Fortunately, Google has photographed all the streets in this area, including the street just across the river from the Symphony, and you probably know that when Google photographs a street, the result is a 360° view. So I could go online, drop a pin at the location marked on the aerial view by the yellow star, and then rotate the image until I am looking west across the river at the Symphony. That is the view at right.
Bruce has had some recent health issues from which he is recovering, but currently he isn't able to walk very far comfortably- at least not as far as the Chimney House across the street. Normally, Fred and I would have walked to the Symphony, but instead we drove so that I could drive us over to the restaurant for lunch. To get there, the quickest way is to go up to Broward Boulevard, head west to the Avenue of the Arts, and take that south to the Symphony. I marked on the aerial view the last bit of the drive where we arrive at the Symphony.
With all that background, we arrived at Bruce's building just about 12:30. He'd left instructions for the concierge and we were directed from the lobby over to the south building and to the elevators up to Bruce's floor (which, if I recall correctly, was floor 12). I won't try to recount all that we talked about catching up; it won't mean anything at all to you, the reader. Suffice it to say that Bruce and his wife have seen their little girls grow up, marry, and have lives and families of their own. Bruce has been successful, and he and his wife have few regrets looking backward. We talked about old Davidson friends, and I caught Bruce up on people like Steve Lee and Ed Shuping. Bruce's wife and Fred alternated with a couple of pictures to record our visit:
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The other thing we did towards the end of our visit was to take some pictures from Bruce's balcony. Being on the north side of his building, he has excellent views to the west and north, of course. He can even see to the east. Sailboat Bend, the Performing Arts Center, the Science Museum, and the Esplanade are right below, and he is high enough that the north tower doesn't block too much. To begin, here is a panoramic view:
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That picture was stitched together out of four separate pictures, but I also let the camera do its panorama thing, and this is that result:
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Being out on Bruce's balcony reminded me of living in Chicago, although my own balcony was three times as high. Over at Riverview Gardens we have a nice view of the river, and everything is human scale. Views like this are entirely different, but sometimes they can seem a bit unreal.
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To view the slideshow, just click on the image above and I will open the slideshow in a new window. In the slideshow, you can use the little arrows in the lower corners of each image to move from one to the next, and the index numbers in the upper left of each image will tell you where you are in the series. When you are finished looking at the pictures from Bruce's balcony, just close the popup window.
The Trip Home
As always, we thoroughly enjoyed being here in Florida. But now, in early April, we have to get back home to prepare all our documents for our visa renewal for Ecuador. And our trip down is set for May 1.
The trip home was boring and uneventful, as we ate at the same place in Gulfport and stayed in the same place in Lafayette, reaching home the afternoon of the second day.
You can use the links below to continue to another photo album page.
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May 1 - July 1, 2025: Our (Extended) Trip to Ecuador |
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February 4-25, 2025: Our Winter Trip to Ecuador |
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Return to the Index for 2025 |
