A Get A Way to St Augustine Sept 24th thru 28th, 2026

 We decided to take a week or so and head to Fernandina Beach, Fl before my quilting season got busier before Christmas. I had seen a YouTube video by Traveling Robert when he made a trip there to FB and it looked like a very interesting place to visit. It was about an hour and a half closer to Chattanooga than St Augustine and the drive wouldn't be 10 hours like the last time. I found a nice place that accepted pets and made the reservation for an AirBnB. It was about 90 miles from St Augustine, so I thought Ryan and family might meet us for dinner while we were there. Ryan texted me later and asked if we could come the week before, because the kids were in sports and they couldn't get away that week, but they could the previous week. Also, the kids would be out of school on the previous Friday. 

We decided to keep our reservations in Fernandina Beach and try to find something for 4 days in St Augustine and then move up to Fernandina Beach to our previously reserved AirBnB. It was our lucky day, because we found a house on the next street over from Ryan that accepted pets and had a screened in porch for the kitties.

In order to get all of our luggage and the kitty's stuff in the car, again we rented a large SUV that we could put the 3rd row seat down and use the whole back area for all of our stuff. I arranged to pick the car up 2 days before we left, so that we could get used to it and pack everything in the day before. The kitties, just add so much t what we have to take. At Enterprise they had a Grand Wagoneer and a Chevy Tahoe available. We asked for the Grand Wagoneer. I had heard from a friend that they were very spacious and drove great. I drove it home. It was a big, beautiful silver SUV.

We drove it around a bit, but to me it was very big in the front and hard to see over the hood It didn't drive easily or ride smoothly. When we went to load some items in the back, the liftgate wouldn't open. We tried everything the manual said to open it. Nothing worked. The next morning, I called Enterprise and told them the problem we were having and asked if we could swap it out for the Tahoe. They said, come and get it. So, we swapped it out. The Tahoe drove much better and it looked like we would have just enough room for everything. This one did the job for us.

We packed up everything we could the night before. In the morning, the kitties got their Gabapentin at 6am and we had everything ready to go by 8am so away we went. We packed a cooler with some water, snacks and chicken salad sandwiches. It was a long drive, 9.5 hrs. Riley and Molly rode in their carriers in the back seat and Abby was between us on the console in her booster seat. We decided not to harness Molly and Riley in the carrier since they were zipped up in their carriers---until Riley got his unzipped and crawled up to the front seat while I was driving. We stopped at a rest stop, put him in the litter box for a minute. He wouldn't go potty, so back in the carrier, ALL HARNESSED in. He was much better than the last time about crying for hours. He did some, but not much. When he did cry, Abby answered him and then Molly. It was like a chorus. But there weren't the long whining cries like he was being tortured like the last trip.

Going thru Atlanta wasn't too bad as it was past the rush hour, when we went through. We had our sandwiches for lunch. By the time we got to Tifton, I was so sleepy, so I pulled over and got a Starbucks coffee to keep me awake while I drove. We got to the FL-GA line about 2:30 and arrived at the AirBnB at about 5:30. We were exhausted. 

We unloaded everything out of the car. Abigail got out of her booster seat in the car & David was bringing in the front door. I wasn't there to open the glass door and Abby got out of her harness and bolted. I ran after her and thought I could catch her next to the fence, but I fell in the grass and she took off again. Luckily, the neighbor next doors fence stopped her, and I was able to grab her. Just what I needed, a heart stopping event.

The house was an older house, that had been remodeled. It looked very nice and it was very clean.  Ryan and family lived right around the corner.

The Main bedroom was very nice. It had 2 other bedrooms, but we kept the doors closed, so the kitties wouldn't go in there. There were 2 bathrooms.

The kitties loved the screened in porch. There were a lot of lizards to keep them entertained.

After we booked the house they said "No pets on furniture". Try and keep them off.  LOL We usually travel with a few quilts and throws so we don't leave cat hair on things. Riley decided he was going to bypass the throws. 

The couch was very uncomfortable, by the way. It had been pretty used and had no support. My back was hurting either from that or the fall, & chasing Abby.

After we unloaded, we went to Publix to pick up some groceries. It was good to get in bed that night. And of course, all the kitties joined us.

On Friday morning, we fixed breakfast at the house, and I went to Bealls to look for some shirts and pants. I didn't find anything for me but found 2 long sleeve shirts for David. 

Later, we met everyone at Salt Life for lunch. Ryan and Najla walked over to our place. It was nice to be so close so we could visit.

On Saturday, Trevor and Ryan had soccer, so we drove across the road to Connolly's Diner for breakfast and then to Talbots at the outlet mall. I found a couple of shirts. On the way back we stopped at 2 quilt shops but didn't see anything interesting.

Ryan and Najla had a birthday party to go to that night, so we just went to Culver's for hamburgers. We weren't really that hungry.

On Sunday, we had breakfast at the house. We needed a hand mixer to make a peanut butter pie, so we went to the Dollar Store down the road. It was next to the Paladar Cuban Cafe, so I went in and got a Cuban sandwich and a beef empanada to share for lunch. It was delicious. 

Sunday night Ryan did some chicken and ribs on the Big Green Egg, Najla made potatoes and salad and we brought the Peanut Butter pie. It was a nice visit.  It was nice to be so close to their house.

On Monday, we left for Fernandina Beach. We could not check in there until 4pm, so we booked the house in SA another night so we wouldn't have to leave until about 2PM to drive to FB.