We are home!

We are back home after being gone for almost a month!  How time flies!  We left Friday March 25, 2011 and returned today, Wednesday April 20, 2011.

We left Kissimmee, Florida to return to Canada on Sunday at 10:15 a.m. and arrived home today, Wednesday, at 5:30 p.m.  The direct drive home was 2,382 km.  It took as long as it did because we made a number of stops along the way - we are not yet very disciplined travellers, but we had fun!

We left Monroe, Michigan at 9:30 this morning, travelled about 550 km today and arrived home about 5:30 p.m.  It was really cold there, only about 40 degrees in the van when we got up.  It rained cats and dogs all night, so I was glad to be in a hotel for the night.  And it's really cold back home!  We crossed the border around lunchtime at Port Huron/Sarnia this time, and were through in about 5 minutes, so it is definitely faster than trying to cross at Detroit/Windsor.

"Bridge to Canada" sign at Port Huron.

Bridge to Canada from Port Huron to Sarnia.

Border crossing with Canadian flags!

We did a lot on this adventure - we saw Nashville, Memphis, Tupelo, Destin, and Kissimmee.  We camped, we stayed in hotels, we rented a house.  It all happened so fast, it seems like a dream!  We met up with old friends in Kissimmee, Michelle Hill and Alicia and Jordan Cox, and made new friends there too, Emily's cousin Erin and her husband Glen and their two children.  And we had a wonderful vacation with Rob and Emily!

One of the reasons I wanted to do this trip so soon after last year's was to test drive my new bionic knee, which I had had replaced in September 2010 specifically to be able to walk around Disney.  I am happy to say that the new knee is a peach!  It works great in the warmer climate.

I also wanted to definitively decide if the surgery for the second knee is absolutely necessary or not, given that I have already scheduled the surgery for September 2011.  Based on this trip, I was able to do a considerable amount of walking, severe arthritis notwithstanding, and am leaning towards cancelling the second surgery.  Before I do that though I want to evaluate it in the colder Canadian climate.

Although it is fun to go away, it is good to get back home.  Everything here is as it should be.  The ice on the lake has gone, and it seems funny to be seeing water again!  I am looking forward to putting the dock and boats in the lake, and going kayaking again!

First view of the lake water for 2011!!

Thanks for everyone's support and inquiries, and a special thanks to George for all his interest and value-added suggestions and advice for our travels and the blog itself!

I have already started to plan our next adventure!

Thanks for stopping by, and as they say at Disney, have a magical day!