It’s been more than three weeks since our last post. Some might wonder what we’ve been up to. Well, as it turns out in this case, fun and games!
After the quick (carousel-less) overnight stay in Meridian, Mississippi, we continued along our return to Virginia for family business.
The next stop?
A terrific visit with friends Louis & Lisa at their lake house in Pell City, Alabama!
Welcome dinner at Grill at the Farm in Cropwell
After dinner, we experienced our first absolute failure at the Travel Challenge. Although one of us was fully confident in Todd’s ability to maintain a straight face while making stuff up, there is no “local zoo” in Pell City. No petting zoo. No animal rescue farm. Zip. Nada. Nothing.
Such an utter failure required implementing a rule in this ruleless game. What to do when the task is impossible? Hmm…? As a team (of two), we decided to “bury” the card in the middle of the box and see where it reappears in the future.
The Travel Game may have been a bust, but that didn’t stop us from playing lots of card games into the wee hours. Next time we need to bring more dollar bills – these people are serious. 😉
Thank you, Louis and Lisa, for the good times, hospitality, dancing, singing, and marinated olives!
Next stop, Flowery Branch, Georgia for a seriously overdue visit to catch up with old friends Matt & Betsy.
The following day was beautiful. After the cookout, we learned a new game, one of shapes before playing cards and ultimately catching a Braves game on TV.
Thank you, Matt and Betsy. It was great to see you again!
On April 16, we finally made it to Virginia, where our first order of business was to surprise Mom with fresh pork rinds at The Bier Garden in Portsmouth.
Since the aforementioned “family business” was oral surgery, there was no time to waste. After the procedure in the morning, it would be a while before she’d again be able to chew such crispy delights…
Ready for the next Travel Challenge?
Ha! What better place to pull this one than in the area where one of us grew up. It’s expanded and changed a great deal in the 17 years since Susie left, but she can still get around… pretty much…
On Saturday we headed to Mechanicsville for a makeup session of family game time because we’d missed our date in February due to illness.
(Jeff, Caitlin, Todd, Michael, Kai, Ella)
Well, Honey, if the orthopedic shoe fits… 😉
We’ll return in December ready for a rematch!
Okay, probably not as winners. The cards, word games, and dice were great, but we’d both forgotten just how difficult it is to play Clue. I mean, seriously, just how are you supposed to figure out not only whodunit but where and with what?? Sheesh. Great job, Caitlin!
Back in Hampton Roads, there was plenty more card shuffling in Chesapeake. Sometimes Mom beat us quite handily. Sometimes not. But always fun, right, Mom?
The family visits were warm and the time precious, but we had to move along to North Carolina for additional medical check-ups on our way to Florida for the next Olsen Mission (more on that in another post).
After the appointments in NC, the next bit of fortuitous timing led us to fun in Fernandina Beach, Florida. Cruising friends Barry and Robin had just recently made the crossing from the Bahamas and kindly offered to anchor for the night and wait for us to join them.
The next day, brother Mike and sister-in-law Jackie arrived for the 60th annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival.
(they’re the ones sporting the nice tans… )
While waiting for the Shrimp Festival to get underway, we enjoyed a friendly round of mini golf.
What’s more fun than Susie frequently retrieving her ball from the flowerbed and both of us getting whooped at mini golf? A parade!
As seasoned thirty-plus-year veterans of the Shrimp Festival, Mike & Jackie booked a room with a perfect view of the parade from the balcony.
As in any proper parade there were plenty of floats, Shriners, and marching bands, of course, but this parade is focused on… shrimp and pirates!
Eventually, all good things must come to an end, even fun and games, but just how do you know when it’s over? Well, perhaps when this guy shows up.
Our Travels 