To Naples and Back...

On February 23, Frank and I finished loading the van and were on the road at 11 AM.  We were on our way to the 26 hour trip to the Naples National Show, Naples , Florida.  The road was clear and we made it to the Geogria border.  Spent the night and was off six hours later.  Atlanta, Macom, the biggest Southren flag flying I've ever seen, crazy billboards - the end is near.  Finally, Florida border and the nicest Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Fort Myer.  Having a Corporate Lodging card comes in very handy - a must for most travelers.  A great breakfast at the hotel and off to beautiful Naples.  Friendly show director and a pretty good setup under a tree - SHADE!  Now..find the little Fairway Resort - built in 1960's - a real "OLD" Florida style resort.  Shuffle Board, pool and plam trees.  Little room. Campy and cute.  Also breakfast every morning.  Frank and I were the youngest people there.  The show was very nice.  Great art/craft.  Good crowd - 15,000 maybe.  People were from all over - Wisconsin, Minnesota, Vermont, New York, DC, Iowa. We sold all of the "little lake pouches" and the new "elegant fan" styles.  A new additional to our line, so I'm happy to know this, early in the season.  Saturday after the show and the beach, we watched the sun go down along with thousands of other visitors. Ate at an outdoor cafe - two meals, with salad and a bottle of wine $29.95.  The 80 year old couple sitting at the table next to us held hands and chatted - cute.  Sun shining on Sunday and another nice show day.  Tore down booth and back on the road by 6 PM.  Drove in the shadows of the palm trees and made it to middle Georgia and stayed at a Ramamda Inn.  Great breakfast and on the road again.  Was very glad to miss the flags and billboards out there in the dark.  Drove through tornados in Tenn.  Scarry.  We decided to drive all the way home and sat back in the driveway at 5:30 AM.  Emptied van and sat down with a glass of wine and then to bed.  $500 for gas.  Took our own food (did not eat one french fry - really).  26 hours to Naples - 26 hours back to Baraboo.  Not sure if we'll do this again, but it was a wonderful experiences and kinda fun.  Thanks Naples.