Fun weekend

My brother asked me what Clay and I wanted for Christmas and I told him a date night with babysitting included! So he went above and beyond and purchased us this package on livingsocial.  The only downside was that it had to be used before 2/29 so we couldn't wait until tax season was over and really drag it out.  So anyway we settled on going this past weekend after I got off work on Saturday.  I hated leaving Gavin especially since I was out of town all of last weekend, but Clay and I desperately needed some alone time and Gavin needed to bond with his Uncle Dave.  In addition to a night at the  best B&B ever we got a canoe trip, a spa certificate, and a gift card to a local restaurant.  All of this was located in High Springs, FL which was just a straight shot down 75.  We decided to get our herbal baths before dinner on Saturday and then take the lazy canoe trip on Sunday before heading home.  Neither Clay or I had any idea what to expect with the herbal baths but I knew it would be relaxing and I truly was not disappointed.  What I did not expect was how incredibly hot that water would be!  I like my showers/baths really hot and I thought for sure I would have to ask them to warm mine up for me, but WOW! was that water scorching hot!!  I was sweating like a beast and sucking down water like I was in a sauna!  Poor Clay was in this tiny Japanese soaking tub with water that came up to his chin so there was no skin exposed to the cooling air and he had to get out a couple of times.  I got to be in the huge claw foot tub and read my book, but even I couldn't last more than 30 minutes or so.  I am glad I gave us a couple of hours in between the spa and dinner because after all of that sweating in the bath tub, I had to take a shower after we checked in at the B&B.

Now I had never stayed at a bed and breakfast so I had no idea what to expect.  Saying that though, I seriously doubt that there are many bed and breakfasts as beautiful, relaxing, nice and fun as this one.  It is owned to Paul and Lucie Regensdorf, Paul is the house comedian and Lucie is the gourmet cook.  There are two big houses that make up the property along with a big, beautiful garden that you can enjoy, with ponds and fountains and lots of flowers (during the spring and summer).  They had complimentary drinks and YUMMY cookies, that tied us over while we dressed for dinner.  The restaurant was just a short walk down the street and completely blew our expectations out of the water.  High Springs is a tiny town about 20 miles from Gainesville but you wouldn't know that from the Great Outdoors Restaurant.  Either the entire population of the town was in there or this place draws patrons from miles around.  And the food was outstanding!  They had a huge patio where they have live music every night, but it was so packed that we couldn't find a place to sit and I was so tired there was no way I was going to stand up.  So we moseyed on back and slept like two parents who know this might be the last night they get uninterrupted sleep past 5 am for the next 6 months :-).   

We woke up refreshed to freshly brewed gourmet coffee and relaxed on the couches in the den until breakfast was served.  Now I am used to eating within 20 - 30 minutes of waking up so I was starving by the time everyone else got in there and breakfast was served, but boy was it worth the wait.  We had fresh fruit, carrot cake coffee cake or strawberry coffee cake if you preferred, and overnight English muffin french toast (no clue what it means, but gracious was it good).  I thought my stomach was going to pop right there at the table! We sat with a family that was down for a wedding, that just happens to be from 4 exits past my friend Jenn in MA and a local couple celebrating a birthday.  We had the best time laughing and joking around and I was sad when breakfast was over and we had to get going.  We were already 45 minutes late for our canoe trip and we still had to stop and get batteries for the camera.  On top of the wonderful breakfast we were served, they also packed us a lunch to take on the canoe trip!

When I had spoken to the B&B owner when booking, she suggested that we enjoy the spa after the canoe trip but since I couldn't get off work before 12 we had to do the canoe trip on Sunday and the spa on Saturday.  Not until about 30 minutes into the canoe trip did I realize exactly why they had suggested we do that.  Dear heavens was that a workout!!!  The guy at the Santa Fe River Canoe Outpost said it should take us about 1 1/2 hours at a leisurely pace to get to the pickup point at Rum Island.  Yeah, right!  We were battling a 100 mph wind that wasn't constant but sure seemed like it for 4 miles and it took us at least 2+ hours (not sure of the exact time we started) and there was absolutely NOTHING leisurely about it. I felt like that fat little hamster on the Geico commercial, "Row, row, row, row"  But boy was it beautiful and super peaceful and relaxing for the mind if not for the body....Oh but guess what, we have no pictures because after all that with getting new batteries and everything, we left the stupid camera in the car!  And I was too worried about the canoe tipping over to take my cellphone out of the ziplock bag :).   It is something I definitely want to do again but I think we will check the forecast a little better and we might try a kayak, Clay says they are easier to row.


Meanwhile back in Vld, Gavin is living it up with his Uncle Dave and April.  This was my brothers first experience at babysitting, EVER!  I made lots of lists with lots of directions but I need not have bothered, Gavin spent the whole time being spoiled rotten, not having to take naps and eating bags of chips and other various treats!  To say the least he was sad to see them go!

David's best friend lives here so they went over there for playtime with his two kids and dinner, Saturday night.  Gavin really got into playing with their toys, especially this Captain America shield.  David got this super funny picture and a video of his reaction to the shield shooting out discs.  David said they had already done this about 20 times when he took the video and Gavin still was just a surprised as before :).

Apparently, fun was had by all and we will definitely be taking advantage of our new found babysitter again after tax season is over!