allie5
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Part 22 Gulf Coast Day Trip
Main Players
Allie
Neil
Jessamy (4)
Daniel Noah (2)
Nanny Sylvie
Tuesday December 28th 2004
On any Martin Family Orlando Holiday Extravaganza, we usually aim to do a few days over on the Gulf Coast for a change of pace. Unfortunately with the weather this year, we havent felt the need to bother so far. A day on the beach wrapped in blankets, sipping hot cocoa from a flask strangely didnt appeal to any of us.
As we only have two days left, we have to decide whether to bother with our pilgrimage to the Gulf this year or not.
Weather Channel is being annoyingly vague, with the Doppler 900 seemingly throwing a computer equivalent of a teenage tantrum, refusing to divulge any useful advice. Weather person helpfully interprets that today will be changeable.
We hold up Nanny Sylvies Pinecone and point it roughly in a westwards, Gulf coast direction to see if it has powers as a long range weapon of mass forecasting. The Pinecone seems to be on the same wavelength as the Doppler this morning though, stuck in a kind of limbo between open and closed.
The decision is taken to risk it and we are loaded into the Jeep by 8.30 ready to strike out for the golden sands of Anna Maria Island. Or possibly the rain soaked mud flats of Anna Maria Island, depending on the weather!
Debate whether to call Karen and family who have moved over to Sarasota this week, but as the weather looks like it could be touch and go, we decide to see what happens when we get there.
The roadworks that were on the I-4 last June, were still going strong, and I swear they hadnt done a thing since we left! Wasnt that guy in the orange vest looking down that very same hole last year? I am convinced that all these construction workers are Disney animatronics!
Naturally enough, as parents of pre schoolers will surely know, you cannot proceed more than 2 miles down any stretch of motorway (or Interstate) without a toilet stop needed IMMEDIATELY.
Veer off at the Lakeland exit and follow those helpful signs to the amenities (we should do that in the UK except of course you will only end up at a horrid, squalid branch of a Little Chef, no matter what part of the country you are in). There is a MacDonalds just off of the I-4, so we pile in there for a restroom stop. Figure it would be rude not to buy something, so I have my usual bagel and the others their usual egg Mac muffins and hash browns.
Although the sun is shining brightly, the outside temperature gadget on the Jeep is only reading a very chilly 60 degrees. Hardly bikini wear kind of numbers. Glad I packed fleeces.
Happily, as we drive westwards, it does edge up a notch every 10 miles or so. By the time we get to the I-75, it is a pretty respectable 65.
Head down towards Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. Kids are getting excited at the thought of the beach, and Nanny Sylvie optimistically starts applying sun cream to everyone in the back seats.
Park up at our usual spot by the pier. Jeep says its a balmy 65 outside so we strip off our sweaters and put the kids in shorts. What those not so sharp digital compass engineers at the Jeep factory forgot, was to take into consideration the wind chill factor. When we step outside, clad in typical British tourist beach wear, we are momentarily frozen as a gust of icy cold wind playfully whips at our bare legs.
Cue a mass scramble back in the car to put back ON our long trousers and fleeces! It was sooooo cold! Ironically, last time we were here, it was so hot we couldnt bear it and left as it was nudging a hundred degrees! Albeit that was July, but even so!
Kitted out in more appropriate December weather gear, we strike out for the pier. Do try to enjoy a pleasant stroll to the restaurant at the end, but its hard when there is a force 10 gale blowing and you are tightly clutching two under 5s on pier with no sides and the swirling currents only inches below.
Make it to the end, where Jessie needs the toilet AGAIN. She marvels that she can see the sea through a crack in the floorboards and spends ages in the cubicle. Getting impatient I ask her what she is doing in there and she reports back that she is looking for Ariel and Flounder through the cracked floorboard. Tactfully inform her that Ariel prefers a sunnier, warmer place than this and she appears, slightly crestfallen.
Now, I may have mentioned that Neil fancies himself as a bit of an amateur weather person and he has deduced, that the wind should not being affecting the Lido Key beach down at Sarasota. Not sure how he came to this conclusion whether it was something technical to do with isobars, wind speed and cloud formations, or simply he had smuggled Nanny Sylvies pine cone out in his pocket. Anything is better than this wind swept vista, so we get back to the jeep and make tracks for Lido Key.
En route, we notice that the fairly famous Waterside Restaurant has gone (this was the place that featured heavily the TV series A House In Florida which some of you may remember). Not only has it gone, it looks like either a hurricane blew everything away except the fireplace or a giant tribe of termites ate every bit of wood and left the stone hearth untouched. Most odd.
Do one of our favourite Florida road trips, cruising up Longboat Key, picking which mansion we are going to buy to spend our retirement in! At the moment, we can just about afford the Dolphin mail box to go outside!
Have a quick spin around St Armands Circle and chuckle with amusement at the Americans hapless attempts to tackle the only roundabout in the entire Eastern Seaboard. Its fine to do this from the comfort and safety of your large SUV, but do not try it at a pedestrian, as you will most likely have your toes run over by an aged Lincoln Continental with New Jersey plates, driven by the oldest people on the planet.
Neil very smugly points out that the temperature is now reading a very respectable 72 and there does not appear to be much of a breeze this side either. Tentatively stick an ankle out of the passenger door to see if it can be true and yes, it is actually warm out there! Hoorah! Once again, everyone changes into beach wear and we trundle off, armed with buckets, spades, towels and coolers.
Spend a very pleasant few hours here. Kids get soaked, naturally. Their, at first, minor forays into the Gulf, soon became lets get as wet as possible excursions.
Nanny Sylvie builds an impressive Sand Castle city, which the kids then decorate with shells. Im thinking about putting the bucket out next to it, as lots of people are stopping to admire it! Roll up, roll up, see the biggest attraction on Lido Key only 50cents! That would soon pay for lunch!
A lady behind us has brought a giant bubble machine which our kids soon join in with as well. This was pretty impressive and it sent huge bubbles skimming over the Gulf.
As with any beachy outing, sand has gotten itself into every orifice possible, and we do our best to de sand back at the Jeep. It doesnt work and there is enough sand in the footwells to make a decent sized beach back at the villa.
When we are all reasonably clean again, we head off to our usual Sarasota eaterie, Chilis.
Get caught up in another accident strangely just outside the ER of one of the big hospitals. Nothing serious, just a prang, but enough to slow the traffic for 20 minutes.
Arrive at Chilis around 1.45pm. Kids can have grilled chicken here, which is a much healthier alternative to the usual battered strips. Order some Shanghai wings to start (of course!). Nanny Sylvie has Monterey Chicken (grilled chicken breast with cheese, bacon, mash and vegetables), Neil has ribs and chicken, I have mushroom fajitas. Kids eat most of my mushrooms so end up with plain chicken fajitas!
Nanny Sylvie and I also partake in another Chilis favourite, strawberry lemonade. Very refreshing and tasty. Neil has a chocolate shake and we force down a molten cake for dessert. Lovely meal as usual and only $74.
We seemed to have spent an age in here, its now after 3 and our plan of popping down to the Helmseley Sandcastle to see if we can find Karen and family seems doomed now. Neil doesnt fancy driving back in the dark, so we decide to head back via the Ellenton Outlet Mall on I-75.
This mall is always worth a stop if you are heading down to Sarasota. It tends to be even cheaper than the Orlando Outlets, and has all the big names like Gap, Osh Kosh, Nike, Ralph Lauren etc.
Buy some more Osh Kosh clothes for the children. Neil gets some more shirts from Ralph Lauren. Nanny Sylvie is the only one who isnt tempted.
Kids find a lovely toy shop hidden away, which sells more Thomas stuff at the cheapest prices so far. They also sell the American version of Sylvanian Families (Calico Critters) MUCH cheaper than home, so end spending a small fortune in here.
Laden with more Thomas The Tank Engine accessories and armfuls of Calico Critters we stagger back to the car via the food court. Buy some drinks and a bag of crisps for the kids on the journey home.
Daniel falls asleep before we even get to the I-4 and its a fairly quiet journey back. There are some terrible drivers out though, and we are lucky to avoid a few accidents again. This year has been the very worst ever for driving. Because of this, we dont intend to do as much on or October trip.
Get back to the villa at about 7pm. Lift Daniel into his cot - he really needs a shower to remove some more sand, but I cant bear to wake him! Will have to do it in the morning!
Jessie is still wide awake and has her bath, so is sand free for bed!
Neil and I have to pop out for some more supplies, so leave Nanny Sylvie in charge.
For a change, we decide to use the Publix on the 192 tonight. On the way, Neil decides he is peckish. Im not that bad, so let Neil choose where we eat.
Neil is a big fan of Chinese Buffets, but personally (apart from our old staple, Bill Wongs, which has slid downhill of late) I hate them.
Seeing as Im not bothered about food tonight, he decides we should try the Golden China buffet next to the La Quinta Lakeside hotel. Im very dubious about this, but agree as I know how much Neil enjoys a good Chinese binge.
We are hopefully optimistic, as the car park at the Golden China is overflowing this has to be a good sign, doesnt it?
No it doesnt. If you only take ONE THING away from reading my Trip Report, take this NEVER EVER IN A MILLION BILLION YEARS EAT AT THE GOLDEN CHINA BUFFET. Got that? Read it again until you believe it!
This has to be the most minging restaurant in the entire world. The place was filthy. Sticky tables and cutlery. My coke glass was dirty..sent it back and the replacement was worse. I couldnt eat a thing, but Neil ventured to the buffet.
GROSS. Not one thing was edible. It was so disgusting I felt sick. Even Neil could bear it no longer. We left $20 and left. Not sure if this was enough, but in our opinion it was $19.99 too much.
What was amazing, was that the place was PACKED! Packed with Japanese tourists who were loving it! They were scoffing there way through plates and plates of food. Must have cast iron stomachs, thats all I can say!
Retreat from here at breakneck speed and pop to the Publix for our supplies probably our last before heading home on Thursday SOB!
Tomorrow Last full day. Sea World and Chef Mickeys
More photos below. I think I might be in a couple of these The group one down the bottom left is our meet at the Rose & Crown. Going from left to right, we have Anz, Andy, Neil, Me Jessie, Amber, Erin, Jon and Karen.
Main Players
Allie
Neil
Jessamy (4)
Daniel Noah (2)
Nanny Sylvie
Tuesday December 28th 2004
On any Martin Family Orlando Holiday Extravaganza, we usually aim to do a few days over on the Gulf Coast for a change of pace. Unfortunately with the weather this year, we havent felt the need to bother so far. A day on the beach wrapped in blankets, sipping hot cocoa from a flask strangely didnt appeal to any of us.
As we only have two days left, we have to decide whether to bother with our pilgrimage to the Gulf this year or not.
Weather Channel is being annoyingly vague, with the Doppler 900 seemingly throwing a computer equivalent of a teenage tantrum, refusing to divulge any useful advice. Weather person helpfully interprets that today will be changeable.
We hold up Nanny Sylvies Pinecone and point it roughly in a westwards, Gulf coast direction to see if it has powers as a long range weapon of mass forecasting. The Pinecone seems to be on the same wavelength as the Doppler this morning though, stuck in a kind of limbo between open and closed.
The decision is taken to risk it and we are loaded into the Jeep by 8.30 ready to strike out for the golden sands of Anna Maria Island. Or possibly the rain soaked mud flats of Anna Maria Island, depending on the weather!
Debate whether to call Karen and family who have moved over to Sarasota this week, but as the weather looks like it could be touch and go, we decide to see what happens when we get there.
The roadworks that were on the I-4 last June, were still going strong, and I swear they hadnt done a thing since we left! Wasnt that guy in the orange vest looking down that very same hole last year? I am convinced that all these construction workers are Disney animatronics!
Naturally enough, as parents of pre schoolers will surely know, you cannot proceed more than 2 miles down any stretch of motorway (or Interstate) without a toilet stop needed IMMEDIATELY.
Veer off at the Lakeland exit and follow those helpful signs to the amenities (we should do that in the UK except of course you will only end up at a horrid, squalid branch of a Little Chef, no matter what part of the country you are in). There is a MacDonalds just off of the I-4, so we pile in there for a restroom stop. Figure it would be rude not to buy something, so I have my usual bagel and the others their usual egg Mac muffins and hash browns.
Although the sun is shining brightly, the outside temperature gadget on the Jeep is only reading a very chilly 60 degrees. Hardly bikini wear kind of numbers. Glad I packed fleeces.
Happily, as we drive westwards, it does edge up a notch every 10 miles or so. By the time we get to the I-75, it is a pretty respectable 65.
Head down towards Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. Kids are getting excited at the thought of the beach, and Nanny Sylvie optimistically starts applying sun cream to everyone in the back seats.
Park up at our usual spot by the pier. Jeep says its a balmy 65 outside so we strip off our sweaters and put the kids in shorts. What those not so sharp digital compass engineers at the Jeep factory forgot, was to take into consideration the wind chill factor. When we step outside, clad in typical British tourist beach wear, we are momentarily frozen as a gust of icy cold wind playfully whips at our bare legs.
Cue a mass scramble back in the car to put back ON our long trousers and fleeces! It was sooooo cold! Ironically, last time we were here, it was so hot we couldnt bear it and left as it was nudging a hundred degrees! Albeit that was July, but even so!
Kitted out in more appropriate December weather gear, we strike out for the pier. Do try to enjoy a pleasant stroll to the restaurant at the end, but its hard when there is a force 10 gale blowing and you are tightly clutching two under 5s on pier with no sides and the swirling currents only inches below.
Make it to the end, where Jessie needs the toilet AGAIN. She marvels that she can see the sea through a crack in the floorboards and spends ages in the cubicle. Getting impatient I ask her what she is doing in there and she reports back that she is looking for Ariel and Flounder through the cracked floorboard. Tactfully inform her that Ariel prefers a sunnier, warmer place than this and she appears, slightly crestfallen.
Now, I may have mentioned that Neil fancies himself as a bit of an amateur weather person and he has deduced, that the wind should not being affecting the Lido Key beach down at Sarasota. Not sure how he came to this conclusion whether it was something technical to do with isobars, wind speed and cloud formations, or simply he had smuggled Nanny Sylvies pine cone out in his pocket. Anything is better than this wind swept vista, so we get back to the jeep and make tracks for Lido Key.
En route, we notice that the fairly famous Waterside Restaurant has gone (this was the place that featured heavily the TV series A House In Florida which some of you may remember). Not only has it gone, it looks like either a hurricane blew everything away except the fireplace or a giant tribe of termites ate every bit of wood and left the stone hearth untouched. Most odd.
Do one of our favourite Florida road trips, cruising up Longboat Key, picking which mansion we are going to buy to spend our retirement in! At the moment, we can just about afford the Dolphin mail box to go outside!
Have a quick spin around St Armands Circle and chuckle with amusement at the Americans hapless attempts to tackle the only roundabout in the entire Eastern Seaboard. Its fine to do this from the comfort and safety of your large SUV, but do not try it at a pedestrian, as you will most likely have your toes run over by an aged Lincoln Continental with New Jersey plates, driven by the oldest people on the planet.
Neil very smugly points out that the temperature is now reading a very respectable 72 and there does not appear to be much of a breeze this side either. Tentatively stick an ankle out of the passenger door to see if it can be true and yes, it is actually warm out there! Hoorah! Once again, everyone changes into beach wear and we trundle off, armed with buckets, spades, towels and coolers.
Spend a very pleasant few hours here. Kids get soaked, naturally. Their, at first, minor forays into the Gulf, soon became lets get as wet as possible excursions.
Nanny Sylvie builds an impressive Sand Castle city, which the kids then decorate with shells. Im thinking about putting the bucket out next to it, as lots of people are stopping to admire it! Roll up, roll up, see the biggest attraction on Lido Key only 50cents! That would soon pay for lunch!
A lady behind us has brought a giant bubble machine which our kids soon join in with as well. This was pretty impressive and it sent huge bubbles skimming over the Gulf.
As with any beachy outing, sand has gotten itself into every orifice possible, and we do our best to de sand back at the Jeep. It doesnt work and there is enough sand in the footwells to make a decent sized beach back at the villa.
When we are all reasonably clean again, we head off to our usual Sarasota eaterie, Chilis.
Get caught up in another accident strangely just outside the ER of one of the big hospitals. Nothing serious, just a prang, but enough to slow the traffic for 20 minutes.
Arrive at Chilis around 1.45pm. Kids can have grilled chicken here, which is a much healthier alternative to the usual battered strips. Order some Shanghai wings to start (of course!). Nanny Sylvie has Monterey Chicken (grilled chicken breast with cheese, bacon, mash and vegetables), Neil has ribs and chicken, I have mushroom fajitas. Kids eat most of my mushrooms so end up with plain chicken fajitas!
Nanny Sylvie and I also partake in another Chilis favourite, strawberry lemonade. Very refreshing and tasty. Neil has a chocolate shake and we force down a molten cake for dessert. Lovely meal as usual and only $74.
We seemed to have spent an age in here, its now after 3 and our plan of popping down to the Helmseley Sandcastle to see if we can find Karen and family seems doomed now. Neil doesnt fancy driving back in the dark, so we decide to head back via the Ellenton Outlet Mall on I-75.
This mall is always worth a stop if you are heading down to Sarasota. It tends to be even cheaper than the Orlando Outlets, and has all the big names like Gap, Osh Kosh, Nike, Ralph Lauren etc.
Buy some more Osh Kosh clothes for the children. Neil gets some more shirts from Ralph Lauren. Nanny Sylvie is the only one who isnt tempted.
Kids find a lovely toy shop hidden away, which sells more Thomas stuff at the cheapest prices so far. They also sell the American version of Sylvanian Families (Calico Critters) MUCH cheaper than home, so end spending a small fortune in here.
Laden with more Thomas The Tank Engine accessories and armfuls of Calico Critters we stagger back to the car via the food court. Buy some drinks and a bag of crisps for the kids on the journey home.
Daniel falls asleep before we even get to the I-4 and its a fairly quiet journey back. There are some terrible drivers out though, and we are lucky to avoid a few accidents again. This year has been the very worst ever for driving. Because of this, we dont intend to do as much on or October trip.
Get back to the villa at about 7pm. Lift Daniel into his cot - he really needs a shower to remove some more sand, but I cant bear to wake him! Will have to do it in the morning!
Jessie is still wide awake and has her bath, so is sand free for bed!
Neil and I have to pop out for some more supplies, so leave Nanny Sylvie in charge.
For a change, we decide to use the Publix on the 192 tonight. On the way, Neil decides he is peckish. Im not that bad, so let Neil choose where we eat.
Neil is a big fan of Chinese Buffets, but personally (apart from our old staple, Bill Wongs, which has slid downhill of late) I hate them.
Seeing as Im not bothered about food tonight, he decides we should try the Golden China buffet next to the La Quinta Lakeside hotel. Im very dubious about this, but agree as I know how much Neil enjoys a good Chinese binge.
We are hopefully optimistic, as the car park at the Golden China is overflowing this has to be a good sign, doesnt it?
No it doesnt. If you only take ONE THING away from reading my Trip Report, take this NEVER EVER IN A MILLION BILLION YEARS EAT AT THE GOLDEN CHINA BUFFET. Got that? Read it again until you believe it!
This has to be the most minging restaurant in the entire world. The place was filthy. Sticky tables and cutlery. My coke glass was dirty..sent it back and the replacement was worse. I couldnt eat a thing, but Neil ventured to the buffet.
GROSS. Not one thing was edible. It was so disgusting I felt sick. Even Neil could bear it no longer. We left $20 and left. Not sure if this was enough, but in our opinion it was $19.99 too much.
What was amazing, was that the place was PACKED! Packed with Japanese tourists who were loving it! They were scoffing there way through plates and plates of food. Must have cast iron stomachs, thats all I can say!
Retreat from here at breakneck speed and pop to the Publix for our supplies probably our last before heading home on Thursday SOB!
Tomorrow Last full day. Sea World and Chef Mickeys
More photos below. I think I might be in a couple of these The group one down the bottom left is our meet at the Rose & Crown. Going from left to right, we have Anz, Andy, Neil, Me Jessie, Amber, Erin, Jon and Karen.
