Florida is getting complex…

Cold lobster, shrimp and crab with cocktail sauce and fresh pico – with a cold beer 😋

Back to Key West (I was there just two months ago)

Cuban gumbo and Caesar salad with anchovies 😋

Seafood gumbo and blackened grouper 😋

From Treasure Island, Florida to Naples, Florida with a lunch stop in Sarasota.

This morning in Treasure Island, it was sunny but only 37. This afternoon in Naples, it should be near 60, mid-60’s tomorrow. Getting better!

Short drive today, I’ll have to find something to occupy my time between morning hotel check-out and afternoon hotel check-in. Probably won’t be anything outside, the cold weather that has been plaguing th eastern United States has hit central Florida, the morning temperature here in Oldsmar is about 40, high on the gulf coast today will be low 50’s. Should bounce back to the 70’s by the weekend though.

When I began this trip, one of my goals was to spend a month or so in a rental condo our house somewhere in Florida, to actually “live in Florida” for a time. So when I was in Treasure Island over Thanksgiving, I booked a Madeira Beach beachfront, gulf-view condo for January 16th to February 16th (31 nights).

The plan for the first two weeks of January, was to visit the Florida panhandle (one part of Florida I’ve never been to), Alabama (Huntsville and Mobile) and Georgia (Atlanta and Savannah). However, the current rather chilly weather has changed my plans.

Typically, the high temperature in Atlanta in January is the low to mid 50’s. Not balmy, but with a light jacket, I could certainly spend some time outdoors. But, the forecast for Atlanta for the next few days is lows in the teens, and highs maybe reaching freezing. Similar cooler than normal temperatures for the other cities I was planning on visiting.

So, I’m going to stay in Florida until I get to my condo on the 16th. Not sure exactly where I’ll go as yet, but I’ll likely hit some of my usual spots – Treasure Island, Naples, Key West, Cocoa Beach and St. Augustine. Sure, there will be a few days in the 50’s but that certainly beats 30!

Oh, and my route so far (today I’m in Oldsmar, Florida):