I thought I would start a new thread of the Regional itself...

I will be posting images here tomorrow night after the event...

We flew in through storms today in fact it took us an extra hour and a half to fly the last leg from Charlotte and it was really rough at times. A big cheer and applause rang out when we finally touched down in Jacksonville..

Sue and I went out to eat supper immediately upon our arrival since our hotel didn't have electrical power when we checked in...

We did manage to find a lighthouse to dine in!!!

Glad you two made it there safely! No power? That sure sounds familiar. Hope the weather improves for you. Or is that you all?

It's ya'll, but you must be referring to more than one person

Thanks for the teaser, Paul. I always look forward to your stories and pictures of "road trips". Keep them coming!

Bob

Well, I guess ya'll would be correct as there should be a bunch of wackos at the regional and also participating in BJ's tour at Amelia Island. Spoke to my brother earlier today and in Naples they were having a terrific storm. Hope it's better in northern Florida.

I was at Amelia, with BJ and about a dozen people Friday. The Weather was nice, until about half way through the slide show,the Amelia Staff were providing. Thats when the power started flickering. Then the heavy rain started. This lasted about 30 minutes and it was still raining when we left the site. As I was making my way out, I could see some limbs blown out of trees on the sides of the road. Later at the hotel I was watching the news and they stated that Amelia Island got hit preaty bad with a bunch of downed limbs and blown over trees.

The location of the Regional was very nice, Harold, Bill's brother, selected it and did a Great Job!


Bill was there signing away as were Kim and Nancy...


BonnieJean shown enjoying the moment with Nancy as Nancy signs one of BonnieJean's lighthouses...


Lighthouse Pixie, Derith, is greeting Sandra Shanklin (Lighthouse People)


Harold and Shellie Breen (Hoosier Lighthousing Club) doing some shopping at that Florida Lighthouse Association's booth. There was a lot to choose from their display.


The Hoosier Lighthousing Club had an opportunity drawing for a #14 HL270 Point Iroquois, MI lighthouse. The money raised from this drawing is going towards a Fall project at the Old Michigan City Lighthouse..


Some of the Tampa Bay Club planning their Lighthouse Bingo strategy. Wayne's strategy worked a little later.. big time!


Gold Winners left to right are:
Bill Parrish, Charlotte NC, Glenn Swigart, Winter Park FL, Wayne Hawes, Tampa FL.

And what do 8 Hoosier Lighthousing Club members after a Great Harbour Lights event do?


How many stairs to the top?


I do not want to know what they are looking at!!


I first climbed this tower when I was 7 years old and I climbed it several more times when I wasn't yet 21 years old... This time was the best because I was with Sue and some Great friends sharing the moment!!


A little windy at the top.. Sue heard them say that the wind was 39 mph at the top... She heard it after she got in out of the wind that is...
Harold and Shellie didn't make the climb on Saturday since they were there just the day before..


The sign says it all!!! Thanks!!!


Harold and Shellie did join us at supper... We found avery nice place called Salt Water Cowboy's...


Of course Bill was along for the day and apparently was thirsty at the end of a long day..


The view from the restaurant at the end of a Great day of Lighthousing!!

Great pics, Paul! Not that it hasn't been said before, but thank you for taking the time to share them with us.

Bob

Great pics, Paul! I love the shot of St Auggy's shadow!

As always, thanks for sharing, Paul...

...And taking us all along for the trip!

Paul, as always its a pleasure sharing your pics. Those, like me who couldn`t be there, really appreciate you taking the time and effort to do this.

Thanks for the pictures Paul - it seems you got me without me knowing it. I ended up having 21 people show up to the Amelia Island Lighthouse. It was a Special Treat for an unexpecting couple, they were down from Virgina for the week and was just driving by to see if they could get some pictures of the lighthouse through the trees. They saw the gate open and decided to drive up and see if they could talk the people into letting them get some pictures. They were overjoyed when I invited them to join our group and listen to the presentation. Don't you just love when that kind of stuff happens to you? I know I do! :p

The Saturday event was GREAT! A great turn out, the weather was nice, until just about the end of the event, but the sky was clear when we got to St. Augustine. I'm looking forward to the June 7th event in Grand Rapids already! Hope ya'll had fun, I look forward to seeing you at the next event!

Thank You Paul for all your great moments of the 1st Regional this year. It is always a good time when you are with lighthouse lovers. If any of the next three are in your neighborhood, or if you can fly or drive there, plan on it!
Derith

Great pictures as usual Paul. Thanks for sharing them with us once again. That does indeed look like a very nice location where the regional was held. St. Augustine looks very nice. Maybe someday I'll get to see it, before I'm too old to make it to the top!

Great pics Paul. It was good to see all you Hoosiers again. It was a little weird to run into you all at St. Auggie after the event. But then again one should never pass up a chance to visit St Auggie!

Weird? We are all Wackos after all!!

I just wanted to say it was great to see all of you again and meet new faces. I am alredy busy with the last minute details of the June 7th, Grand Rapids event! Hope to see you there!

Paul these are some great pics! If anyone else has any images of the regional I would love to see them as well!

The first leg of the flight home, from Jacksonville to Charlotte, was just a bit different than that leg of the trip on the way down to the Regional.. Just as they were about to start boarding the flight, they announced over the PA for Paul and Sue Brady to come to the counter. Sue said we probably got bumped or something, well it was the something. The lady behind that counter said that they were trying to get seats together for a family of six and would we mind switching to First Class... Sue was quick to ask, "all the way to Indy?" and the lady said no just the first leg to Charlotte...

As I was seating down in my First Class seat Sue said, "Don't get used to this!"...

It kinda evened out the rocky trip into Jacksonville!! A guy could get used to First Class real easy, until the bill comes due that is!!

First Class travel for a First Class couple. To quote one of the regulars on these CF, "....it just doesn't get any better than this."