Trains, Floods and Gigantic Cicadas...Nothing Will Keep Us From WDW!!!

[BEES guy]

If you truly believe nothing will keep you from visiting the Magic Kingdom. Love the stories

 

[Corrine 1973]

I am just loving your update on your TR. I don't think that I will be rereading it anytime soon though. I think that pic of that Cicada is going to be giving me nightmares. I have grown up loving the outdoors and camping, but that thing would have had me running back to the car for mommy.

Were you thinking of your Disfriend when you passed through Illinois?
The flooding in Southern Illinois was just horrible with flooding of the mississippi. Luckily we live close to Lake Michagan with the mississippi being several hours to the west and had only minor flooding.

Can't wait to read more.

 

[lbuzz52]

Cairo is still a decent sized town if i understand. They did suffer a lot of hardship with the flooding. There is a levee there, and the Army Corp of Engineers blasted it. The thinking was that flooding the farmland and the surrounding homes actually saved many, many more homes and businesses a little further down the river.

I wouldn't have been able to do my business with the cicadas staring at me either!!!

 

[mtgirl29]

If you truly believe nothing will keep you from visiting the Magic Kingdom. Love the stories

BEES guy!!! Thanks for reading along. Glad you are enjoying it.

I am just loving your update on your TR. I don't think that I will be rereading it anytime soon though. I think that pic of that Cicada is going to be giving me nightmares. I have grown up loving the outdoors and camping, but that thing would have had me running back to the car for mommy.

Were you thinking of your Disfriend when you passed through Illinois?
The flooding in Southern Illinois was just horrible with flooding of the mississippi. Luckily we live close to Lake Michagan with the mississippi being several hours to the west and had only minor flooding.

Can't wait to read more.

Thanks for the compliments on my TR!!! Glad you are LOVING the big cicada pic!! I tell you those cicadas are harmless, but they are so scary looking it would make anyone go running.... Good thing they only stick around for about 6 weeks. My kiddos will not go outside when they see those things flying around.

I did think about you, Corrine, when I passed through IL. I waved Good thing you didn't have to deal with that flood. It looked terrible.

Cairo is still a decent sized town if i understand. They did suffer a lot of hardship with the flooding. There is a levee there, and the Army Corp of Engineers blasted it. The thinking was that flooding the farmland and the surrounding homes actually saved many, many more homes and businesses a little further down the river.

I wouldn't have been able to do my business with the cicadas staring at me either!!!

Thanks for the info. lbuzz52. I was telling my sister about the flooding and she had also said that about the levee. They had a lot of news coverage about it here in St. louis, while we were in Orlando. Apparently, there was a lot of debate over blasting it. The residence were angry about flooding some to save others. It seems llike a bad situation all the way around.

Yes, the cicadas were creepy. I am getting spooked just by scrolling down my TR. I guess, I should have made that pic a little smaller..... It truly does look GIGANTIC in that pic.

 

[SimmerBaggins]

I think you definitely lived up to the cicada speculation!! Those bugs are all over where I live, but they don't have red eyes, just green! I was surprised at your picture, but it's a good one.

I'm going to be weird here and say that we would take the exoskeletons of the cicadas when I was a kid, and stick them to our clothes. You could find their exploded skins still latched on to trees and bushes, and we had a blast with them! I know, it's creepy...but to this day, I can't touch a live cicada. When they start that buzzing -- EWWW!!!



Thanks for the great story-telling! Especially regarding the historic flooding ... how odd it must have felt to go through there.

 

[Kat in GA]

Joining in!

We have lots of cicadas. I can hear them buzzing outside my windows every night. And sometimes my cats bring them into the house to play - they are grand kitty toys But...these are more green and have no bulging red eyes!

I have a bunch of cousins in Missouri - in Perryville, Cape Girardeau, and in Wickliffe, KY. I remember going through Cairo when I visited them. That is where the main fault line is - where we might have the massive earthquake in the middle of the country. Good times

Can't wait to hear more!!

 

[ctink23]

I am glad that Tom Tom did not get you lost on those back roads! One time, my GPS made me go in a complete circle when I was on back roads in Tennessee (with no way out, except to go around the circle again).

I am with your DD. I totally would have been freaked out by the cicadas. Migrating butterflies would have been WAY better! Glad you made it to you next destination after a long day of driving! Almost there!

 

[mtgirl29]

I think you definitely lived up to the cicada speculation!! Those bugs are all over where I live, but they don't have red eyes, just green! I was surprised at your picture, but it's a good one.

I'm going to be weird here and say that we would take the exoskeletons of the cicadas when I was a kid, and stick them to our clothes. You could find their exploded skins still latched on to trees and bushes, and we had a blast with them! I know, it's creepy...but to this day, I can't touch a live cicada. When they start that buzzing -- EWWW!!!



Thanks for the great story-telling! Especially regarding the historic flooding ... how odd it must have felt to go through there.

These particular cicadas we have here are the 13 year brood (Brood X). They are also known as the Periodical Cicadas. The last time they were in our area was 1998. We had both the 13 year and 17 year broods at that time. Talk about INFESTATION!!! It is kind of neat that they (the red eye version) only come out every 13/17 years. We also have the annual cicada that comes out in August (The dog days of summer). They are black with dark eyes and are not as abundant, but are much larger than the periodicals.
Aren't you glad you stopped by for the science class.... LOL!

I remember as a child picking up the exoskeletons and crunching them and picking them off the trees. OHHHH! How times have changed, I couldn't pick up a live one, either.

Thanks for the compliments on the story telling.

Joining in!

We have lots of cicadas. I can hear them buzzing outside my windows every night. And sometimes my cats bring them into the house to play - they are grand kitty toys But...these are more green and have no bulging red eyes!

I have a bunch of cousins in Missouri - in Perryville, Cape Girardeau, and in Wickliffe, KY. I remember going through Cairo when I visited them. That is where the main fault line is - where we might have the massive earthquake in the middle of the country. Good times

Can't wait to hear more!!

Hi! Kat in GA, thanks for joining in!!! So glad you are here!

Yes, the animals LOVE the cicadas and apparently the birds are having a feast on them, too! There was an ice-cream parlor in Cape that was serving Cicada ice-cream..... Apparent the FDA made them take it off the market because of health concerns. Can you imagine eating it and getting a chunk of those tissue paper wings or a red eye... Doesn't sound the least bit appealing to me, how about you?

Yes, the New Madrid fault line is scary stuff! I did a research paper in college on it. I hope it continues to stay put.

I am glad that Tom Tom did not get you lost on those back roads! One time, my GPS made me go in a complete circle when I was on back roads in Tennessee (with no way out, except to go around the circle again).

I am with your DD. I totally would have been freaked out by the cicadas. Migrating butterflies would have been WAY better! Glad you made it to you next destination after a long day of driving! Almost there!

Tom Tom did play a few tricks on us, as well. It always seem like it would happen in the city in the thick of traffic. It directed us to turn and then as soon as we would turn it would immediately tell us to turn around and get back on the interstate. It was very frustrating! Other than that it did a pretty good job at getting us from point A to point B.

My next post should get us to WDW!
Thanks for following along!!

 

[Pimama]

I'm hooked. These TR are too much fun but I need to stop looking at new ones- I can't follow them all!! Thanks for sharing (though you really don't need to share any more bug pics....eeww). JK, I can take it, bring it on.

 

[WendyWuWu]

When I last left off I was telling about how we finally got on the road and stopped for BK for breakfast....after that we drove and then we drove some more. Then finally we crossed over into Illinois via this lovely bridge.

Two separate times we came up to a railroad crossing and 2xs we had to stop because of a train. REALLY??? This has never happened before. I have rarely been stopped because of a train and then to have it happen twice. WEIRD! I guess if I lived near a train station or an actual RR crossing it would probably be more probable, though.

Here's some pics of the trains:

Then we drive through this small little Illinois town called Cairo. (thanks to Tom Tom - we took some back roads) It looks like a ghost town. From the looks of this place it was once was a thriving, hustling bustling community but something has happened to it and as we continue to drive we discover that there is some major flooding going on. DH pulled out his phone and I researched the town and found out that it used to be a pretty big deal in its hay day of the early 1900 and am very sad to see all this devastation. Apparently, with all the recent raining the Mississippi River had started to flood and the town had be evacuated.

It seemed like a lot of the farming communities had been flooded with water.
We lucked out and were able to pass on many recently impassible roads. (from the signage that had been pulled to the sides of the roads the flood had covered many of the main thorough fares)

Well, we passed through Kentucky without any problems and then crossed over into Tennessee. We drove for quite awhile and all of sudden our window on our SUV seemed very dirty. I notice the bugs were really buzzing around the interstate. At first DH thought it might be migrating butterflies and then we got a better look when one of these got jammed under the windshield wiper.

Here is a better picture of what was on our windshield.

(just for Lidian - isn't he cute!!! lol!!! He only has "red" eyes for you! )

The funny thing is that they forecasting these scary cicadas for us in St. Louis and I was so happy that we were getting out of town just in time and then we run into these bugs and they are the same kind of cicadas but seem so much bigger.

We stopped at a McDonald's for lunch a while after the discovery of the cicadas. They were buzzing around like crazy and my DD almost had an absolute freak out when she got out of the car. We both had to use the rest room, so her and I went together only to discover one of those giant cicadas in the bathroom stall. Thank goodness it was dead, though. DD was still freaked out and stated that it was staring at her with its beaty red eyes while she was using the facilities.

We drove and drove some more and then had a snack at Krystal's. Hubby wanted to stop there since we don't have any of them back home. (I think they are very similar to White Castles) And then we drove, drove and drove and finally arrived at our hotel at around 8 pm. We drove for approx. 13 hours and we were bushed! We stayed at a Days Inn in Valdosta GA. It wasn't the nicest place. It had a very strong musty smell in the room, but we were so tired we didn't care. We unloaded our bags then went to Chick-Fil-A for dinner and then back to the room to get to bed so we could get up early and continue our journey to WDW.

What time would we make it to the World? Would our room be ready? Stay tuned......

Following along! I recognize the bridge as the one in Cape Girardeau, MO. And yes, Cairo once was a thriving town...now, unfortunately, it's a place you only pass through on your way to somewhere else, and usually feel like you should only pass through during daylight hours with the doors locked. I live about 20 miles from Cairo, IL in far western KY. The flooding was horrible in this area, and many farms and homes were lost in southeast MO due to the Corps of Engineers blowing up levees there to "save" Cairo. There doesn't seem like alot to save there, but that's for someone else to argue. I can tell you that Cairo once was considered to be made into the US capital because it's at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, which of course were so crucial years ago in transportation.
Ok...enough of a history lesson for today...
Looking forward to hearing the rest of your report!

 

[Kellyh123]

Joining in. Can't wait to hear all about your trip.

 

[BellaBaby]

Joining in too!

I grew up in IL, so I know the cicadas. Been living in CO for almost 16 yrs tho and we went back to IL last summer and the sound was deafening! Wonder if those were the "August Cicadas" you mentioned. I remember them being really bad (all over the place) in the early 90's/late 80's? after a 17 yr absence.

Anywho, looking forward to your arrival at WDW!!

 

[MARsMama]

After seeing that photo I'll stick with the June bugs!!! Those cicadas look much worse!
We no longer have trains in our area of the province, but when we do go where there are trains I get nervous when one passes as we were hit by a train (while in the car) back when I was 5yrs old. I think it's a bit of PTSD whenever I'm near tracks and hear the whistle!!

 

[mtgirl29]

I'm hooked. These TR are too much fun but I need to stop looking at new ones- I can't follow them all!! Thanks for sharing (though you really don't need to share any more bug pics....eeww). JK, I can take it, bring it on.

Thanks for joining in! I totally know what you are talking about with joining so many TR and having a hard time keeping up. Now that the kiddos are home for the summer it feels like I have a lot less time. No more bug pics....I promise!

Following along! I recognize the bridge as the one in Cape Girardeau, MO. And yes, Cairo once was a thriving town...now, unfortunately, it's a place you only pass through on your way to somewhere else, and usually feel like you should only pass through during daylight hours with the doors locked. I live about 20 miles from Cairo, IL in far western KY. The flooding was horrible in this area, and many farms and homes were lost in southeast MO due to the Corps of Engineers blowing up levees there to "save" Cairo. There doesn't seem like alot to save there, but that's for someone else to argue. I can tell you that Cairo once was considered to be made into the US capital because it's at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, which of course were so crucial years ago in transportation.
Ok...enough of a history lesson for today...
Looking forward to hearing the rest of your report!

Thanks so much for the background info. I found your post very interesting about Cairo. Yes, I did get the feeling I may need to lock the doors at one point, too. Is it just me our does that town have a very peculiar smell, as well???? It kind of smells like brussel sprouts.
Glad to have you following along!!!!

Joining in. Can't wait to hear all about your trip.

Thanks for join in!!!! Glad to have you!!!!

Joining in too!

I grew up in IL, so I know the cicadas. Been living in CO for almost 16 yrs tho and we went back to IL last summer and the sound was deafening! Wonder if those were the "August Cicadas" you mentioned. I remember them being really bad (all over the place) in the early 90's/late 80's? after a 17 yr absence.

Anywho, looking forward to your arrival at WDW!!

Glad you can enjoy the wonderful cicadas, too!!! You know what I am talking about. Do you have cicadas in CO? If not, I may move there.
Yes, in '98 both broods (13 and 17 yr) emerged at the same time. It was so loud, it would drown our the car stereo when driving. I am glad that won't happen again for 200 yrs.
Thanks for stopping by!!!

After seeing that photo I'll stick with the June bugs!!! Those cicadas look much worse!
We no longer have trains in our area of the province, but when we do go where there are trains I get nervous when one passes as we were hit by a train (while in the car) back when I was 5yrs old. I think it's a bit of PTSD whenever I'm near tracks and hear the whistle!!

Yep, I will stick with June bugs, too!
Oh my! That is very scary, being hit by a train. I hope everyone was okay? I think that would cause me to develope a phobia of trains, as well. Glad you were okay.

 

[mtgirl29]

Sorry that I have been MIA for the past week. Life just gets in the way sometimes and pulls you back to reality. It doesn't help that a thunder/lightning storm came through and literally hit our house and fried many of our electrical items in our house and also knock out our internet and router.....
I really feel I need to get back onto my TR before every last memory slips away. I did do a chicken scratch journal and have a young daughter and son with magnificient memories, so I think that it will all work out.

I am currently waiting on the garage door repairman to put in a new board for our opener since it was scorched from the surges.

Up next we finally arrive to the WORLD!!!! ............

 

[Singledad]

Sorry that I have been MIA for the past week. Life just gets in the way sometimes and pulls you back to reality. It doesn't help that a thunder/lightning storm came through and literally hit our house and fried many of our electrical items in our house and also knock out our internet and router.....
I really feel I need to get back onto my TR before every last memory slips away. I did do a chicken scratch journal and have a young daughter and son with magnificient memories, so I think that it will all work out.

I am currently waiting on the garage door repairman to put in a new board for our opener since it was scorched from the surges.

Up next we finally arrive to the WORLD!!!! ............

glad everyone survived, and hope everything gets fixed/replaced soon.

I too have been behind on my TR, and sadly i have no journal, and my kid has a worse memory than me. ahh well, that is what pictures are for!

 

[mtgirl29]

We were on the road to WDW in my last post. We left the hotel about 9am and drove a bit down the interstate. We were in search of a Walmart because Jay was complaining of his legs hurting. (I am assuming it was due to growing pains, but I thought this may be a bad sign for the rest of our walking vacation....). Kay had been sneezing like crazy and I thought her allergies may be acting up so I knew we needed some allergy meds. I had a liquid form of both, but wanted to find some tablets to make it easier to take and travel with. So on to Walmart to get Tylenol and Claritin. I was seriously thinking that this was not a good sign that the kids were having so many issues right at the beginning of our trip. We stopped and got the meds plus some more sunscreen. We then looked around trying to make sure we didn't need some other items and then hopped back in the car. Thankfully we made it to McDonalds just in time to get a breakfast sandwich and then we were off again. I am happy to report that the meds really seemed to do the trick. Both of the kiddos said they were feeling better and I was elated!!!!!

We drove about 45 minutes and then this is what we saw!!!

Our next stop was the Florida Welcome Center. We were soooo excited to see that they had fresh OJ and grapefruit juice. Well, the kids and I were excited about the OJ and Hubs was happy about the grapefruit juice.
We stopped by and got lots of brochures and looked around for a while.

​

Then we found these cute boards and the kids had to have their pics taken!

We were back on the road and the kiddos were getting SO EXCITED!!!!!! (note the stuffed bear Kay is holding named Born (she had literally had since she was born; got it in the hospital) for later post)

We drove and drove some more and about 3 hrs. later we see this -

​

And then this.....

A little further and than we see THIS!!!!

WE FINALLY MADE IT!!!!! We were all hooting and hollering while we passed underneath the sign!

We drove a couple more minutes and then we came to the sign of the drive to our resort

We made it to the CBR at around 1 pm.

Here is Hubs and Kay walking in.

Here's the fam waiting in line to check in. Don't they look excited???

We finally checked in and it went very smoothly since we had done the online check in prior and wonderful news our room WAS ready!!!

Up next we explore our Pirate room and then off to MK!!!.........

 

[mtgirl29]

glad everyone survived, and hope everything gets fixed/replaced soon.

I too have been behind on my TR, and sadly i have no journal, and my kid has a worse memory than me. ahh well, that is what pictures are for!

Still need to check the furnace to make sure that is in working order. I cannot believe that the surges can ruin so much stuff! We had surge protectors on our computers, but it still fried one of the cords to our laptop. We were afraid we might have to turn it into our homeowners insurance if it get too much more stuff. Very pricey trying to replace all this stuff....uggggh!

Glad I have so many pics, it really does make it easier to remember. I don't think my kids memories are as great as I had previously mentioned. They were having some issues remembering on my last post. HOOORAY FOR MY PICS!

 

[mrssmith06]

Yay for making it to Disney!!! Can't wait to see the Pirate room!!

 

[heaven2dc]

What fun so far! I'll never forget the first time we ever encountered cicada's back in 1994 - we were travelling from Oregon to Florida to visit WDW (and possibly move there) when we heard this loud noise when we arrived in Las Vegas. We had been having car problems on our trip & weren't sure if the sound was coming from our car or what. When we pulled over at first we thought it was from the power lines but then when we turned into a gas station, there were more trees and we could hear that buzzing sound much louder. It wasn't until my daughter & I visted the restroom and found a couple live ones in there and ran out screaming

You made great timing on your trip! Would love to stay at Caribbean Beach one day (we've spoiled ourselves by renting points & staying at BWV) but CBR looks so relaxing!