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| Notice the traffic...both north and south. Photo taken at the 70 mph. speed limit. |
What a beautiful day to drive. I chose the Florida Turnpike. Apparently folks don't like to take toll roads in Florida. I guess that's because of all the alternative routes available to get from one place to another, complete with heavy traffic and traffic lights. Once again it was an uneventful trip with an early fuel stop in Clermont. Good thing, too. Diesel was $2.51 there and $3.20 in this neck of the woods.
The folks here at DelRaton RV Park, a family owned business for over 45 years, continue to run an efficient operation. There are about 60 sites right on the South Federal Highway, a main thoroughfare in Delray Beach. Behind me about 100 yards to the west is a commuter/freight rail line that is active and busy. As you would expect, it's mainly commuter traffic during the day and freight at night after 10 pm. Fortunately, all I hear is the ringing of a bell at some distant traffic crossing. They don't blow their whistles as there are no public crossings near me. The rumbling of the rail cars went unnoticed quickly. Because this property is nestled between large car dealerships, the frequent alarm sounding horn blowing was more annoying...more during the day; not a night. This year I met John from Virginia who was set up across the way with wife, Amelia (the plate on the front of his class A--either his wife's name or the name given to his coach. LOL). He's co-owner of the Kitty Hawk RV campground in Outer Banks, NC...right on the beach. He says you walk over the dune in front of your rig and you're on the beach. Add another stop to my bucket list.
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| Site 30. Nope, no shade. |
Wednesday, cousin Norma's daughter, Cheri picked me up and took me to Norma's house in Boca for dinner. There, little Miss Mia Grace, great-granddaughter of Norma (GiGi), enjoyed everything placed before her....as did I. Appetizers of cold cuts, ribs and a cream cheese/salsa dip topped with melted Colby Jack was followed by rigatoni and meatballs and Pinot Noir. Cannolis for desert ended the evening with David, Cheri's husband, driving me back home (to Delray Beach)...stuffed. Thank you, Norma. You never go away hungry from Triton Court....and in my case without leftovers.
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| BBQ Ribs |
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| Nectar of the Gods. Sorry you missed out on the bowl of two pounds of rigatoni and meatballs. |
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| Mia Grace and Grandma Cheri |
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| MG...very serious about her songs. |
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| Another reminder for the folks who gain weight when reading about the food I enjoy. After a light breakfast, what you read about is my only meal of the day. |
Thursday Norma (my chauffeur during my stay here at Delray Beach) and I drove north to Ocean One Grille to meet friends Kathy and Joanne for lunch. A very busy establishment in the heart of Delray Beach, they serve breakfast till 11 am then lunch. The draw? Everything on the menu is $4.99...everything. Drinks? Buy one for $10.00 and if you want more, the next two are free. No small portions, no short glasses. Full pours on the wine. I had the Oceans One Fish & Chips, fries, cole slaw and malt vinegar. Two huge pieces of fish. Check out the extensive menu from the link above. Kathy and Joanne drove south from North Palm Beach. It's been a year since we've seen them so lots of talk and catching up on children and grandchildren. We'll see them again for lunch on Sunday up in North Palm Beach at The Waterway Cafe on the Intercoastal.
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| The patio at Oceans One Grille |
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| Jim and Missie |
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| The Taru Garden
"In the middle of the City of Delray Beach, in the subtropical climate of Southeastern Florida, is a true tropical paradise called the Taru Garden. Just beyond our majestic Royal Poinciana, the oldest documented one of its kind in Palm Beach County, you’ll discover a woodsy blend of tropical fruit trees, small edible plants, bamboo groves and flowering trees. Featuring more than 5,000 plants and over 500 varieties of foliage from all over the world it encompasses an acre and envelops two large fish ponds, streams and waterfalls and our Cenote Pond — featuring one of a kind vegetation and fish. It’s a popular spot for nature lovers, artists and avid gardeners. Meander down quiet coral paths, and discover gazebos and benches hidden for quiet contemplation." (taken from their website).
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| Our table is just on the other side of the center window. |
This evening's dinner was a memorable event. Thank you, Jim and Missie, for the experience. With the windy conditions and the temperature falling toward the low 60's° tonight, we chose to dine indoors. As I write this, the temperature at home in Peekskill, NY is 25°
For starters, they shared a Charcuterie Board, a selection of artisanal meats, olives, figs and cheeses. My main course was
Saturday, after a torrential, windy, early morning downpour, Norma and I drove up to iHop for breakfast. The downpour, around 5 am, on my roof was deafening. Withdrew the awning the night before; even after I had both ends strapped down to play is safe. I didn't want a $1,500 repair bill.
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| Jason and Sara |
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| Sara and Ivana |
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| Carlo and Marybeth |
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| Dad and MB |
Jason and Sara enjoyed a tour of Europe in Dec/Jan. Take a look at Jason's terrific compilation video of their Euro Trip.
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| Homemade Gnocchi in a vodka sauce |
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| Stuffed Artichoke |
My evening meal was at Renzo's Cafe & Pizzeria. This traditional restaurant offers an impressive list of 23 gourmet pizzas and 117 menu items. If you've ever heard of or eaten an "Italian dish", guaranteed it would be listed. See for yourself by clicking on the link above. Once again, Norma drove up from Boca and we met Jim and Kathy, Norma's friends from Jersey; just as we did last year. Good food, good company. The Hahn Merlot we had was excellent. Read the wine tasters notes: "A rich, dark garnet color in the glass with vibrant purple shimmer, this Merlot displays aromas of ripe plum, rich cocoa, blueberry, and violet with hints of juicy black cherry. A luscious mouthfeel full of dark fruit, hints of sweet spice, and restrained astringency lead into a delicious, lingering finish filled with toasty oak undertones."On Sunday, Norma and I drove up to Palm Beach Gardens to The Waterway Cafe to meet Kathy and Joanne once again for lunch. Featuring waterfront dining since 1986, the setting provided front row seating for the Intercoastal's display of watercraft. One of which happened to be Tiger Woods' $20 million, 6,500 sq ft super yacht, "Privacy" Click the link to see this 150' floating hotel. It sleeps between 10 and 12, has a crew of nine and reportedly costs $2 million a year to operate. It includes:
Large deck bar
Eight-person Jacuzzi
Scuba-tank fill station
Inflatable decompression chamber
Cherry woodwork in the interior
VIP stateroom with two queen size cabin amidships and a twin cabin
Gym with a treadmill, exercise bike and free weights
Three-person elevator
Theater
Privacy has a 4,000-mile range thanks to a 12,000-gallon fuel tank, and can travel at a maximum speed of 17 knots.
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| Tiki hut entrance to The Waterway Cafe |
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| Kathy & Norma |
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| Joanne & Kathy |
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| Bob, Kathy, Joanne, Norma & ACR |
Afterwards we drove a short distance to Kathy's complex to enjoy a glass of wine and her view of the Intercoastal no more than 50 feet from the sea wall.
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| Directly east, Singer Island |
On Monday, my last full day here at Delray Beach, I spent completing "household chores" to get ready for the next and final phase of my 'winter adventure.' Showered, laundry washed, dried, folded and put away. With my fresh water tank filled all I have to do tomorrow is unplug and go.
My thanks to all the folks who provided me with driving and dining experiences. It's been a terrific and full week. Look forward to reading comments and/or questions from readers as usual. See you in Hollywood, Florida.
My thanks to all the folks who provided me with driving and dining experiences. It's been a terrific and full week. Look forward to reading comments and/or questions from readers as usual. See you in Hollywood, Florida.
