A Slice of Life
Bill Lites
Day 20 – August 3
: After breakfast this morning, I got my things together and met Billy, who was already waiting for me in the lobby of the motel. I had wanted to visit a couple of museums in St. Petersburg today, but Billy told me he needed to be home by the early afternoon, so, we would have to save those museum visits for another trip. I asked him if he had had his breakfast and was ready to start today’s activities, and he said, “Yes, let’s get going.” We headed east on SR-688, across the Howard Frankland Bridge (SR-60), to pick up I-4 (east) for 25 miles to visit the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum in Plant City, FL. This museum is housed in the original 1909 Union Station Depot building and displays antique railroad artifacts and memorabilia. Museum visitors can view passing trains up-close from the museum’s Viewing Platform located adjacent to the museum.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Now we continued east 25 miles on I-4 to visit the Fantasy of Flight Museum located in Polk City, FL. This amazing aviation museum has 50+ beautifully restored civilian and WWII military aircraft that all fly. The owner of this museum, Kermit Weeks, has restored most of these aircraft over the years and flys one of them every day that the museum is open. After landing, he will sit on the wing and tell his visitors the complete history of that particular aircraft. Some of his tour guides are dressed in vintage costumes as ‘Rosie the Riveter’ and ‘Gracy the Wing Walker.’ Best looking tour guides I’ve seen at any museum.
Photo Credit: https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/fantasy+of+flight+museum/
Continuing east another 30 miles on I-4 we wanted to visit the Warbird Air Museum located in Kissimmee, FL. but when we arrived at the address, adjacent to the Kissimmee Municipal Airport, we discovered the museum had been closed and all the aircraft moved to somewhere in South Carolina. That was quite a surprise! So, since it was almost noon, and we were in Kissimmee, I asked Billy if he would like to have lunch at the Columbia Spanish Restaurant. DiVoran and I had enjoyed lunch at the Columbia Restaurant (located at the St. Petersburg Pier) back while we were on vacation there, and really liked their food. I had their Pork Chops with black beans & rice and plantains, and Billy had Ropa Viejas with Spanish rice and plantains. It was excellent!
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
After that delicious dining experience, we took our ‘Take Out Bags full of leftovers and continued north on I-4 thru downtown Orlando traffic (not bad at this time of day) for about an hour to deliver Billy home in Orange City. Lisa was glad to see us and told us about her trip back from Atlanta. After a bathroom break, I headed east on SR-46 the last 55 miles of my 2023 Road Trip to my home in Titusville, FL. The first thing DiVoran said was, “Where did you get that beautiful red van?” I hadn’t told her about my troubles, because I was afraid she would worry about me. After helping me unload the van, she cooked me the first home-cooked meal I’d had in almost three weeks. Yummm!
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Of course, I had to tell her the whole van breakdown story, and when I was through, she said, “You know I have always wanted a red car, but I never expected to get one this way.” We laughed about that, and I told her I thought I had earned the ‘Old Things R New’ (our blog website) ‘Most Adventurous’ award for this trip, and that I didn’t think I would ever plan another trip this long again. It was just too long.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
This brings to a close the narrative of my 2023 Road Trip. I hope you have enjoyed reading about my adventures (most of them) as much as I have enjoyed remembering (most of them) and writing about them. Join me again next time as I explore new areas of our wonderful country and visit new historical places and museums. Keep your eyes on the road and drive safely.
Photo Credit: https://www.clipartmax.com/cartoon-driver-waving/
—–The End—-
Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 65 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing. He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville. Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.
One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is: John 10:10
Old Things R New 