Bridge of Horrors

Florida was a lot of fun. Even though it rained a lot we did get to go to the beach for a short while. That was on Sunday.  We nabbed L at her apartment and dragged her to the Tampa Aquarium with us since it was storming. It's a very nice aquarium with a lot of unusual sea life and awesome displays. When we left the aquarium we noticed the sun was out! BEACH TIME!!! We headed south! On the way to Clearwater, while crossing the bridge (FYI - I HATE THOSE FRIGGIN BRIDGES) L decides she wants to change into her suit...now. She has me pull off the main road onto a small access road that is literally FEET away from the water. I stop so she
can get her suit out of the trunk. While she's in the car changing I'm frantically digging through my beach bag for my suit. It's NOT there!!! A truck pulls up behind us, tries to go around, can't, stops, waits. I get in the car and E is holding up a shirt to give L some privacy while she changes into her suit top. A car pulls up behind us. Did I mention both cars were driven by males? They're both smirking as they watch us like they know what's going on. As I take off L notices the vehicles waiting behind us. She freaks out thinking they got a peek show! LOL

Now is as good a time as any to point out to L & E that I don't have my suit. DUH!!! I packed everything in my beach bag BUT a suit! We stop at a Target in Clearwater and I buy the only suit in my size and change in the restroom. At the beach the waves were big & choppy and the water was on the cooler side. That plus the wind was really a little too cold for L but she was a good sport about it and got in the water for a few minutes. Of course, she was paranoid about sharks, jellyfish and other assorted wildlife. Us ignorant tourists ignored the dangers that lie beneath the surf & sand and played in the waves without a care. We didn't stay long because it was getting windier and too cold for L.

The next day L had to work and we stayed at home mostly. We did go see L after work to say goodbye, then stopped at the mall for a little bit before heading back to Aunt J's house. The next morning it was time to leave *SIGH* Remember how I said I HATE the bridges? And remember I mentioned the rain? It was POURING when we left for the airport. Our flight departed at 11:25. We left at 8 AM to get to the St. Petersburg airport from Tampa. Three hours should be enough time, even in rush hour traffic. Rush hour, pouring rain, I don't know  where the heck I'm going but I'm headed south and by some miracle I make it through the storms & traffic to the airport. I was AT THE FREAKING AIRPORT!!!!

Oh look! The rental car needs gas. We're WAY early so I head off to find a gas station. Find one, fill up, head back. OMG! All roads point north and where's the airport??? North means a bridge across the bay. Once on a bridge you are SCREWED if you're going the wrong way. Have to go all the way across the bridge to turn around.  If I get on that bridge it will take an hour to get back across. I'm so paranoid that I keet going south away from the airport to avoid the bridge. I get "lost". I put that in quotes because I knew where I was...I just couldn't find the airport! I knew I needed to head north but I was terrified I'd get on that bridge. I had a map! I used it! I followed it! And can you believe it? I ended up on the @%#@$#%^@#^#$@ bridge going back to Tampa!!!!!! Thank all that's good & holy that rush hour was over. We got to the airport literally just in time to check our bags, grab some snacks from a machine, get through security and find gate 11. The St. Petersburg airport is small. No enclosed gates for exit/entry onto the planes. Just stairs...outside. In the POURING rain. YUK! The flight home was relaxing and we had a nice salad for lunch which I guess made up for making a mad dash to the plane through pouring rain.

Baggage claim #7. E's bag ended up missing in action. Ahhh...lost luggage! We waited around at the Circle Center mall for awhile but finally went home. The bag showed up at the airport around 7 PM. We have to go pick it up today. Then we get our dog back from J. I miss our poochie!!! It's nice to be home and it was good to sleep in my own bed. Sometimes I think coming home is the best part of vacation. On the other hand, I can't wait to go back!!!