Daytona Beach, Florida New Year's 2009-10

After a week of heavy snow and bitter cold temperatures all through Christmas, Gary and I got in our truck on Monday and drove south. We ended up in Daytona Beach. The temperatures in Asheville were in the 20s- but at Daytona we enjoyed warm 70s. We camped at a KOA Campground and used the public transit to tour around Daytona. It was a learning curve for us and we struggled to interpret the bus routes and transfers. One nice bus driver tried to give us tips each day but we struggled to follow his elaborate directions. On our last full day (Thursday), that same driver started clapping when we got on the bus at the "right" bus stop. :) He was happy we finally were getting it right. We told him unfortunately it was our last day. He said, "That figures!" We enjoyed walking around Daytona. We even walked all the way over the mile long inlet bridge. We toured a chocolate factory (YUMMY!) and sampled chocolate covered potato chips. We ate at a Harley Davidson grill and Gary enjoyed checking out all the new motorcycles. One of our favorite adventures was going to the inlet and seeing the Ponce de Leon Lighthouse. It is the  tallest lighthouse in Florida (Cape Hatteras in NC is the tallest in the US). We climbed the 203 steps to the top and very carefully peered off the edge at the beautiful views of the ocean and inlet below. We walked all over the island and enjoyed watching the fishermen reeling 'em in. We were amazed at the surfers and other brave people who were swimming in the December waves (Brr!). It was an interesting impromptu trip. I had never been to Daytona and Gary hadn't been there since he was 16...so just a few years ago...(Gary got his first ticket driving on that beach on a rented mini bike! The ticket cost him a whole $20-a real bargain in 1969.) Things have changed a lot, Gary said. Our camper kept us warm and cozy and we enjoyed all the down time to read Twilight finally (Yes, we are hooked now!) and especially the time to just kick back and relax. We left Daytona Friday morning and it was near 70. We were shocked to get back to Asheville and find the temperature in the teens Friday evening. Saturday morning we woke up to find 3 inches of fresh snow and everything blanketed in white once again..back to our winter wonderland and reality!