GAINESVILLE NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD

We had planned some side trips on our way home - when we were leaving Maine on time.  Due to the lengthy delay in getting our motor home repaired, we decided to head straight back to Florida; completing the 1500 miles in 4 1/2 days. 

Once we arrived in Gainesville, we unloaded the contents of the motor home and washed the love bugs off the front of the coach. Anyone who has lived in the south during May and September knows about love bugs and how difficult they are to remove from a vehicle.  We got the motor home free of love bugs at the house, but then had to wash the front of the vehicle again 30 minutes later after we drove the motor home 25 miles to our storage campground!  And, of course, this task was in 90+ degree heat.  Welcome back to Florida!

Our yard is covered with pine bark nuggets, which sounds good in terms of not having to be mowed while we are gone on our summer trips. However, with a record rainfall in July and more rain in August, the weeds thrived higher and thicker than ever. Several of the weeds were as tall as we are.

We have begun the process of pulling the weeds, a hard and sweaty job that tests our leg muscles to the fullest.  We will need the better part of 2 weeks to complete the cleanup.

We were eager to get home to see the Gator Volleyball team play a match against a quality opponent. Florida is currently ranked #4 in the country, and the Gators were playing FSU, currently ranked #17. Here is the view of the court from our seats just prior to the beginning of the match with both teams in a huddle--Florida on the left and FSU on the right. Florida won the match 3 sets to 0, although all three sets were very close. It was exciting to be back in the O-dome cheering on our favorite team in such a crucial "grudge" match against an in-state rival.

The bigger urgency was to be home in time to celebrate Henry's 3rd birthday. Here is our youngest grandson enjoying his Publix birthday cupcake. Look at the purple icing, which soon coated his face and shirt.  Eating Publix cupcakes is one of the joys at the Boekenoogen household.

The only RV trips we are planning for the fall will be to Williston, a small town about 25 miles from Gainesville where we store the motor home, as we have done enough miles of RV driving for a while.  Sometime after Christmas, we plan to move the RV to Sarasota to begin our winter work for the Baltimore Orioles during spring training.