We left the frozen tundra of Northern Indiana in heavy, near whiteout conditions. The roads were not plowed and the going was very slow (about a top speed of 40 MPH). What would have taken us about 3 hours to get to Indianapolis took us nearly 5 hours. We were exhausted by the time we reached clear pavement. It really takes it out of you when you have tensed all your muscles and gritted your teeth for that long. I think I strained an eye muscle and maybe the little muscles that cause the nostrils to flare. But we made it. And then we geocached the rest of the way to Florida. We brought saintvi along since she hadn’t found any caches in a couple of the states we were passing through as well as the destination.
From that point things seemed wonderful. The weather was not exactly warm (high of only 50F) but sunny and much warmer than home where the highs were in negative numbers. The second day we were there saintvi got violently ill with some sort of 24 hour stomach bug. She felt bad – bad that she was so sick, bad that she was putting a damper on the fun. Then she felt better but my BIL got it. He felt awful (vomiting is no fun and then the diarrhea hit) and she felt even worse! Then my sister got it! It was hitting every 2 days. Sparky and I looked at each other. We were scheduled to drive back and it was likely that one or both of us would be very very ill on day one or two of the drive (my sister provided a cute sand bucket and plastic bags just in case). We crossed our fingers and left Florida for the drive home. It was fairly warm until we neared Indiana but I missed my sister’s hot tub (which was so delightful). Anyway, we managed to geocache and no one got sick.
As we were nearing home my sister sent a text with a news link – seems the omicron variant of the coronavirus is causing symptoms that can’t be differentiated from a stomach virus! When we looked at our vaccination status, we are in the sweet spot of still high immunity but saintvi was past that point. We discussed it and if it was COVID at least she (and my sister and BIL) are now swimming in antibodies! I’m planning on returning soon for another go round. We’ll have to hope the next visit isn’t plagued with any illnesses!
A Different Perspective 
Wow! 😮 I’m so sorry your trip was invaded by illnesses. The devil loves to spoil your fun, doesn’t he? Here’s hoping and praying your next trip to Florida kicks off without a hitch!
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Sparky and I both evaded the illness – we were just sad that everyone else suffered… Other than that we had tons of fun!!
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I’m glad it missed you. But I’m sorry everyone else was sick. Even being around sick people can cause distress because you want to help them but don’t know what to do and sometimes you can’t help them. 😦
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True. But we did check in on everyone and they mostly just wanted water and sleep. Saintvi has a delicate system so was armed with Imodium which she shared so all was good. I’m hoping the March trip is free of any illness!
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I think the March trip will be better, Valerie. Here’s wishing you a safe and fun next trip. 😀
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Thanks Cherie! I’m excited to visit in warmer weather!!
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You’re welcome, Valerie. 🙂
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🙂
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Gosh that sounds awful. I do hope that on your next trip you do not get illnesses. It is so frightening when you are having to drive a long way. Glad to know that you and your husband did not catch it
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It seemed to hit every 2 days and if one of us were to get it it would be on the road home. Fortune smiled and neither of us got this particular bug. The next trip is being scheduled for March for a sisters reunion. The weather is supposed to be warmer then!
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It seems you did get warmer weather and at least some good pics despite the “scare”. Even here all those who caught the Omicron variant had very mild symptoms. I hope your next trip is better, Val.
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This one was good and I’m planning another for March – when warmer weather is predicted (70 – 80F). According to the reports in Alabama the Omicron is showing up indistinguishable from a stomach virus with vomiting and diarrhea so it might have been the coronavirus variant… we’ll never really know. Saintvi tested and was negative but it was almost a week since her symptoms started and she was recovered completely.
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March, of course, would be better weather wise. Yes, maybe by the time she tested she had recovered.
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Probably, to both the weather and the timing of the test…I’m just glad it only lasted 24 hours and everyone bounced back quickly!
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Beautiful pictures. I hope all of you have good health. At least it was only in the 50s while you were in Florida.
When we were going to Houston in January it would be in the 70s. And then we would hit the Texas panhandle and it would be cold. When we got home the highs were in the teens fir a couple of days and my body would be messed up and I would be really cold even in the house.
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Even the 50s was a relief from the negative temps in Indiana. I’m planning to return in March when the temps are in the 70s – 80s. The down side is that the Spring Break invasion will be happening so hardly any empty beaches 😦 The house here took a couple days to get back up to a comfortable temp but that was because we were in the middle of a snow storm! According to my sister we will still be able to have the beach to ourselves for about an hour at sunrise since the party hardy crowd will still be sleeping off their previous night’s revelry… Maybe a few more good photo ops.
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I’m so glad you didn’t have to suffer a trip home being sick. That would have been awful. It’s bad enough when you’re sick in your own bed without having to be in a moving car. That being said, I’m glad you were able to feel some warmth, see the ocean and do some geocaching on your way. Welcome back to the north!
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Thanks Mary! We are glad to be home but I’m not in love with the snow and cold. We are lucky to have escaped the stomach virus so my sister’s little sand pail is in our garage waiting for the next trip to Florida…
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I guess your trip was more memorable than you expected it to be. So glad everyone recovered.
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I’m glad everyone bounced back too! Saintvi felt awful having passed her bug to my sister and her husband but it isn’t something she could control… she is completely forgiven!
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Weather has a way of providing a welcome home message in a rude way. The virus is what it is, which involves being smart. Being vaxed and boosted isn’t a 100% guarantee … toss in being smart still doesn’t close the door. I guess that means be smart when rolling the dice. Good luck and welcome home.
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Thanks Frank. The welcome home was a bit of a shocker with over 12 inches of snow. We escaped all illness between Sparky and I. We still don’t know if it was luck or a hearty immune response to the vaccines. Heck, we don’t even know if it was the omicron variant. We were very careful when traveling and made most of the stops masked and distanced and completely sanitized…
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Lovely to have another outing planned for March. It’s these little spoils that keep us motivated, isn’t it? My feet are as itchy as………
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I think we are fortunate that travel within the US is mostly open (getting to Hawaii is a little difficult). I know you would love to travel.. any idea when the lockdown will be lifted?
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Lockdowns are lifting and international travel recommences in a fortnight for those vaccinated. Problem is that we’ve been isolated for so long I’m not sure that we are able mentally to get out and amongst it. Sounds strange, doesn’t it?
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No it doesn’t sound strange to me. There is a certain trepidation that comes with isolation… I hope you can come out of your shell (protective or otherwise) and enjoy traveling again!
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😉
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Your sister’s sand bucket sounds like a good idea…your own personal litter box. Sorry your trip turned out so eventful. I always prefer the ones that need embellishment in the telling to incite interest. Somehow loose bowels and farts always entertain without exaggeration.
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Hehe! The farts are funny but the sound or retching is never fun to hear… The thing about getting old is that going up and down stairs is a regular symphony between the clicking ankles, grinding knees, popping hips, and the little toots. My sister’s house is on several levels – a flight to get to the front door, another flight to get to the 2nd level, another to go down to a different level and a set to go to the basement/garage level. At least outside the staircase is a spiral for 3 stories (and the sound of the ocean mostly drowns out any of my “music”)!
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Glad you and Sparky didn’t get sick. Hooray for vaccines! 50 degrees sounds delightful, better than 7 or 17. Hope you and St V found geocaches galore and had a great time doing it.
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We did find geocaches galore and all of us (including Sparky) upped our number of finds as we are working on getting to the next milestone. I’m closing in on 4000 caches (which is a good number but not close to those who have over 10000 finds)! The cold is really wearing on me. I think a cup of hot chocolate would be good before bed!
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At least you had safe travels! It does feel good to get home after a long trip.
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It would have felt better if we hadn’t arrived home to wake up the next day buried in snow! But I have to say that even though we haven’t replaced the mattress yet, my bed is so much more comfortable than almost any other bed!
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Home usually is…
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❤
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You amaze me to brave the cold, muddy or snowy roads and the Covid, even vaccinated, to find good geocaches!! Ah! the brave people! ❤
Michel
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Geocaching takes us outdoors and so our exposure risks are much reduced (most of the geocaches are in out of the way locations!! This trip almost all the caches were in warmer areas – no snow and not much wet or muddy ground! The main reason for the trip was to visit my sister – the geocaching was a bonus! ❤
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Stay well you two!
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Hehe! We must have cast iron constitutions as we are still healthy!!
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hi \Muri, somehow you make it sound like a nice trip after all. Poor continental me gets a bit confused re temp – but \i trust that it was nice and mild in Florida. That much I understand. Thanks for sharing you adventures.
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Ah! I always forget to put in the temp in Celsius – the high was 10C in Florida compared to -23C at home… It was a nice trip (even with the sickness running rampant through the household…
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oh thanks, good to hear – and that IS cold 🥶
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Hehe! Yes it is but sadly I’m used to it!
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well that did put a dampener on the trip but as you say they are now swimming with anti-bodies. But still sounds like you had a great time with geocaching and hot tubs with great company … even if they were barking [an aussie term for throwing up]
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All are healthy now and the sickness passed quickly. No more barking! They were however sicker than a dog!
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lol so glad it was over so swiftly … or maybe that’s barphing, but I often think of mad dogs, as in rabbis riddled mutts 🙂
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Hehe! 🙂
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It’s funny that you refer to it as being plagued because I wrote a thank you note and apologized (again) for bringing the plague into their home. From the timing of everyone getting sick, I’m guessing I picked it up at a pit stop on the first day of travel. Next time maybe I’ll pull the purple pouch out of my geobag instead of going inside the rest area and gas station bathrooms.
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Hehe! I do recall you mentioned at one point that maybe you should pull it out of your geobag instead of going in to the questionable gas station… I’m sure my sister has forgiven you! I mean you cleaned the bathroom and everything!
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Ha! I wasn’t desperate enough to do either. You know how long I can hold out for a clean bathroom!
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Yes I do! Much longer than I can for sure!!
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I’m so sorry your vacation was disrupted by illness, but glad you and your husband didn’t get it, whatever it was. And hope your March trip is warmer and less eventful!
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I hoping March is much warmer and that there are no illnesses lurking. Still vacation was very good!
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looking great Val, despite of the health scare… i am sure it did not dampen your spirit,,
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The photo is of saintvi just after we arrived – Sparky is hauling things in from the car still wearing his red winter coat!!Just a little. What would have been a worse downer would have been if the illness wasn’t short but went on for each person for days and days! And of course the worst would have been if Sparky and I had caught it!
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Sorry your trip was filled with illness, but so glad y’all didn’t get sick.
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It would have really been worse if all three had been sick simultaneously. As it was I still had a good time. I’m planning on going back for Mardi Gras and slightly warmer weather (fingers crossed)!
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Glad you have, as of my reading of THIS post, not gotten sick.
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We escaped entirely! The same could not be said of my sister and BIL nor saintvi!
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