Quick trip,new Memories

 


I was hesitant to leave Cape May for three months because I'd miss my friends but there was a definite upside.  License plate collector and ALPCA member Jeff Francis hosts a license plate meet in January at his huge warehouse in St. Petersburg Florida. The warehouse is filled with license plates, all kinds of memorabilia  from highway signs to even a few antique cars. He also has a few phone booths, although I checked and no dial tone.  It takes days just to see everything then you get to the license plates!! I actually found one or two plates in the vast sea of tin.

One of the many highlights was travelling with my buddy Rick Kretschmer. who I first roomed with at the 2007 ALPCA Convention in Huntsville and have done numerous trips out to Hersey  before I moved from Woodcliff Lake down to Cape May. One of the first thoughts when my dad bought the house down here was Rick had to drive through SC to get to Florida so I had my chance!! It just so happens Rick retired the first of January so he had some extra time. He drove down to our house, spent the night, then we left first thing in the morning,,. Rick's minivan did have a CD player in it so we took turns playing DJ. Luckily we both have similar tastes in music so basically any CD I picked was fine by him! I also was pleased to pick up five new counties along the way!!! (See the map and County List below)


Jeff's main collection is in a vault tucked way in the back corner it has some of the rarest plates I, or anyone else, has ever seen! I really couldn't take pictures of everything in one visit, but you can bet my rarest plate I tried! People who knew a little bit more about international plates  then Jeff helped he rearrange his collection. I just stood back and watched in amazement. I wish I was a bit better taking pictures! 




I was in Florida I HAD to to the beach with my friends Clark and Dean. After all they travelled all the way from Arizona to Florida. We had a few adventures in Oklahoma so  St Pete offered another opportunity to goof off. Half through the second day of the meet we scooted off to the beach. No we didn't go into the water, but I wanted to see the new Gulf of America!!  Being from Cape May, blocks from the ocean, it felt good to see another body of water for a change!!!


While license plates were the main focus, I did have the chance to visit a few fire stations to pick up a patch. The two gentleman pictured above with me are actually EMTs. It also gave me material for a couple of 1st Responder articles. 

 

The final piece of this trip is I picked up a few new counties while driving!! Our entry from Bradford into Clay Counties meant I  snagged  nfive new counties going into St Petersburg.\ Rick got three added to his roster. It bothers me that I couldn't snagged Putnam County in Florida to fill the hole right in the  middle but there's aways next year!!! 


Hampton Co.  SC


Marlton Co.  SC


Darlington Co.  SC


Carrollton Co.  SC


Jasper Co, SC.  (Jasper Highway)


Hardemoore Co.SC 


Chatham Co.  GA 


Bryant Co.  GA


Camden Co. .GA


Bradford Co. .FL


Clay Co.  FL 


Alachua Co. .FL


Marion Co. .FL


Sumter Co. .FL


Henerado Co. . FL


Pasco Co. .FL


Hillsboro Co. .FL


Pinellas Co. .FL


Counties in BOLD indicate five new counties!

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