Seven days and counting…

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Sports cars drove through the winding and narrow roads of Bovegio, Tuscany, Italy. This is an MG, year and model unknown.

Today’s photos are from a post on this date in 2013. For more, please click here.

It’s noon on Friday. We just finished a nice breakfast of bacon and eggs and will dine out tonight at Brownwood Paddock Square. We plan to arrive after 5:00 pm when the outdoor karaoke has ended, and most likely, we’ll be able to get two seats at the bar. As usual, we’ll stay about an hour and then head to Cody’s Original Roadhouse for yet another hopefully good dinner.

A Porsche, year and model unknown.

This will be our last Friday night out in The Villages since we arrived almost three months ago. We accomplished what we came here for…renewing our ten-year passports and, in the process, seeing several of our friends who live in Florida. We didn’t have an opportunity to see all of our “snowbird” friends who come to Florida in the winter to escape the cold weather up north.

By the time we arrived at the end of April, some of our friends had already left for cooler climates during the summer months. Once we’re in Minnesota for a month in September and part of October, we’re hoping to see some of those friends, those who may not have left yet for the upcoming winter.

Another Porsche, year and model unknown.

This will be our most extended stay in Minnesota since we began our travels in 2012 which will give us lots of valuable time with our family, including our grown kids and grandkids. Plus, Tom has many family members in Minnesota, including. His sisters spend the summer and early fall in Minnesota before they head to Arizona for the winter to get away from Minnesota, the frozen tundra.

Today is easy with two loads of laundry washing and drying and with little else to do. Soon the Salvation Army will pick up my eight pounds of clothes. After sending Tom’s suits and my dresses yesterday, we’ve lightened our load by about 14 pounds, 6.35 kg.

This is a Mercedes, year and model unknown.

When we begin packing on Monday, we’ll have a better idea of our baggage weight and can make any adjustments we may need before departure. We’ve added some new items while we’ve been here, but nothing of any substantial weight. The heaviest was my white jeans for “white night” on the Azamara cruise, coming up first.

On the Azamara cruise, guests can use laundry facilities for a fee. On the next cruise, Celebrity, we have a high enough rating for their Captain’s Club to each get one complimentary bag of laundry and two dry-cleaned items, and one pressed item each.

This morning, I tried something new for my head, a freezer hot and cold pack. I’d tried cold, and it helped, but nowhere near as much as the heat helped. As a result, I ordered a neck and head heating pad from Amazon that heats using a UBS plug. Thus, I can use it on the plane and in our hotels and cabins without needing a microwave to heat the gel packet. Also, it will work plugged into my portable charger.

This must be a Triumph.

I’m continuing to do acupressure exercises and particular movements to improve the condition, which is about 50% better than weeks ago. I hope the improvements will continue over time.

That’s it for today, folks.

Be well.

..Photo from ten years ago today, July 21, 2013:

Is this an MG? Year? Notice, at a distance, the red Ferrari or Lamborghini. A car show, per se, driving through the winding roads of Boveglio. For more, please click here.

In Tom’s own words, “Great day at the “MSRA Back to the ’50s” classic car show with son TJ at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds…

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TJ’s 1954 Buick Special next to his canopy set up at the Back to the ’50s annual event at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
Everything is set up under TJ’s canopy, including grill, chairs, coolers filled with food and beverages.

In Tom’s words:
Yesterday morning, after Jess dropped me off at the entrance gate to the Minnesota State Fair for the annual Minnesota Street Rod Association Back to the ’50s event, TJ met me to give me a participant’s button, so I didn’t have to pay the $12 entrance fee. 

Is this a Cadillac from the ’20s?

TJ’s classic car registration allows a number of guests to enter under his registration fee. He has a 1954 Buick Special and has shown it at this popular annual event over six or seven years.

Street rod, model unknown.

I was looking forward to spending quality time with TJ at this event. For TJ’s family, this is a weekend event with the show continuing over the weekend. Jayden (grandson), Sarah (TJ’s partner), and her parents were there as well.

1957 Ford Fairlane hardtop convertible.

Jess wanted to give TJ and I time alone together and was involved in her own busy day with granddaughter Madighan, spending the better part of the day with her. After I’ve dragged her (she says “willingly” for photos) to several classic car shows throughout the world, she was content to do her own thing for the day.

Unknown model, amphibious vehicle. Sorry about the blurry photos. I took all of them with my phone.

As soon as I entered the fairgrounds, TJ and I wandered to his designated area where he had two canopies set up, a portable gas grill, lawn chairs, a table, several coolers filled with beer, beverages, hamburgers, and hot dogs, and a variety of snacks and desserts.

Another pickup truck.

TJ and I spent three and a half to four hours walking around the fairgrounds, checking out the 12,000 registered cars, all of which were models previous to 1965. From time to time, we stopped back at his site for a beverage or bite to eat. 

1953 Mercury.  Tom’s brother-in-law Mike had one of these in the mid 50’s.

In total, I spent five hours at the event. It was a delightful time, especially having quality time with my son, TJ.  Thanks, TJ, for including me! Unfortunately, I never thought about taking photos of us during the event. 

GMC delivery van, year unknown.

Although the event continues over the weekend, we’re busy today attending my sister Margie’s 80th birthday party, starting at 2:00 pm at niece Paulette and husband Mark’s home in Ham Lake.

An old pickup truck, model, and year unknown.

At this event, we’ll have an opportunity to see more of the family members we’ve yet to see since our arrival almost one month ago. With time flying by quickly, this party is a good chance to catch up with more relatives.  No doubt, it will be another good time.

Chrysler or De Sota with a wooden canoe tied to the roof.
A late ’40s, or early ’50s Cadillac.

Jess had a busy day with granddaughter Madighan and transporting me back and forth to the State Fairgrounds. With road constructions and detours everywhere, getting in and out of the city takes hours to accomplish. 

Early ’30s street rod.
1955 Chevy Nomad.

I’m not the most enthusiastic guy in crazy traffic. Jess drove on the way back from the fairgrounds to the hotel during rush hour. I couldn’t help but be a “backseat driver.” But, Jess expects this and stayed calm and cheerful all the way back.

1957 Chevy Nomad.
1956 Chevy Nomad.

Jess says, “Thanks, Tom, for today’s contribution! We’ll be back tomorrow with photos from Margie’s party and…may all of our friends/readers have a fabulous weekend.

Photo from one year ago today, June 23, 2016:

Buffalos on the beach in Bali. Wow, we never stopped enjoying this daily scene! For more favorite Bali photos, please click here.

Geeveston Wheels in the Park..Car show in Tasmania!

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This vehicle looked like an old farm truck. See the sign below for the details.
The sign was in front of the above old truck.

When quickly passing a road sign that read: “February 1st, Sunday, Geeveston Car Show,” we ended up going to Geeveston on February 1st. Once we arrived days ago to discover the sign meant the first Sunday in February, we decided to return yesterday on the actual day of the show, Sunday in this part of the world.

Ford from the late ’30s?

The cloudy and overcast skies as seen in our photos didn’t keep us from enjoying the day at Geeveston Wheels in the Park annual car show. The only difficulty we experienced was the fact that many cars didn’t have signage explaining the year they were made which made it a little tricky posting our photos.

Delivery van from the ’30s. Check out those ominous-looking clouds!

After going through the plethora of photos we shot, we decided to post half today and the balance tomorrow, especially for our classic car aficionados. So if classic cars aren’t your thing, bear with us. This will be over soon.

In Australia, this car is called a Ford Falcon. In the US, it’s referred to as a Ranchero.

Ironically, it was one year ago this month that we attended AmeriCarna in New Zealand. Click this link for details with additional photos following for a few days as well. See below photo from that show in New Zealand in February 2106.

Tom was enthused when he spotted this Minnesota State Trooper car at AmeriCarna last February. Click here for more photos.

It may not be so ironic after all these two car shows in two different countries occurred in February. It’s summer in this part of the world, a logical time of the year to plan such events during warmer weather.

We weren’t quite sure. Could this be a ’31 Dodge?

We were surprised by the size of the crowd, and the number of motorcycles, parked next to the displayed cars. The beer booth was busy while the smell of burgers wafted through the air. 

We could hear the motorcycles zooming down the highway after we returned to our vacation home. This is because so many bikers attended the show.
Regardless of the cloudy day, it was truly a festive occasion in Tasmania with classic cars and trucks from all over the state.  Many owners were from distant locations on the opposite side of the island. The enthusiasm was riveting.
Old Volkswagen with sun visor.

We’d wish we’d been able to get the year and make of all the cars for our photos but with many cars were unattended by their owners. We did the best we could. Tom has always enjoyed looking at classic cars but doesn’t necessarily know every make and model.

These tiny European cars looked a lot smaller in person. 

As for today’s Super Bowl Sunday (it’s Monday here), the game is started as I write here now. If the Minnesota Viking team was playing I’d be glued to the TV with Tom. But, instead, mostly I’m intrigued over the prospect of Tom Brady breaking the “win” record.

Chevy Fleetmaster circa ’48.

As for Tom, who’s an avid Minnesota Vikings fan, he has no qualms about getting into today’s game. We’re thrilled it’s live on TV here, beginning at 10:00 am. The Australian news showed fans at Super Bowl parties in bars all over the continent, including Tasmania.

Pontiac Firebird, ’67 or ’68.

At times, we’re surprised at how much influence the US has in other parts of the world as they adopt certain traditions, styles, philosophies and more. In most countries we visit, it really doesn’t feel as if we’re so far away. Even Australian news includes considerable stories we’d hear in the US. (Of course, including “fake news” and bias).

Not sure on this one.  Maybe early 30’s with suicide doors.

In our old lives, we often held parties, making a wide array special foods including my annual football shaped cheeseball and a German Chocolate football-shaped cake with stitches and all. Those days are behind us now. No cake for us. No party for us.

I thought this was cute.

But we’re content.  I’m busy with laundry and making a special dinner. Recently, with the availability of many items we use, I’d decided to try a new recipe once a week. With our restricted diet, it’s easy to get caught up in repeating the same dishes over and over. As a result, we’ve adopted a few new favorites.

We’d have store-bought cooked, roasted chickens twice a week to cut down on the cooking in past locations. Then, adding a salad and cooked vegetables, we’d have a great meal. 

The owner explained this was a ’42 Plymouth, unusual in its era due to World War II.

In Tasmania, although many grocery stores carry free-range organic roasted chickens, they’re all stuffed with bread dressing, which doesn’t work for us. Removing the dressing isn’t enough to avoid contamination of the gluten.

For those of you watching and celebrating the Super Bowl, have an enjoyable day! We have no doubt we’ll enjoy ours as well!

Photo from one year ago today, February 6, 2016:

One year ago we visited this historic home in New Plymouth, New Zealand, Plas Mawr, owned by June, a lovely woman we met at the grocery store. It was built in 1913 by renowned New Zealand architect James Chapman-Taylor. For more photos, please click here.