Latte Lover
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- Joined
- Sep 2, 2003
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Sunday 16th October 2011
We were up super early again and headed straight to Cracker Barrel on the 27 to meet up with Joh, Gary, Daniel, Nat, Ellie and Matthew.
We were early so had a look around the shop first then sat on the porch in the rocking chairs to wait for them.
It was still dark and every time a large vehicle drove into the car park we thought thats them and leapt up only to find it wasnt. I think we may have got a few funny looks.
When they arrived, it really did have a surreal feeling to it. Although we have all individually been to Florida so many times, and talked and talked and talked about our trips, we have never been in Florida together before and it had a weird almost dream-like quality to it!
After hugs in the car-park, we went straight in to have breakfast.
We all chose a big breakfast each even though we had planned to get something smallish (there are big coasters to experience today!). Gary and Tony had eggs in a basket and I think the rest of us had eggs, bacon and biscuits, and apple and raison French toast with caramel sauce which was so delicious my mouth is watering right now just thinking about it. A good choice, we all agreed.
After breakfast we headed for Busch Gardens. Daniel came in our car and we played the new peg game he had just bought from Cracker Barrel and Guess my favourite ride/ show/ character/park etc so the journey went in a flash.
We arrived just as the park was opening at 9.30. A very strange thing happened as we drove into the park. The others were in front of us and paid to park as usual and then when it was our turn the parking attendant waved us through saying Your friends have paid for you. When we got out I handed Joh the $13 and she looked blankly at me she hadnt paid for us! She had just mentioned to the attendant that we were together and to hurry us through so we would be more likley to be parked in the same place. I guess the attendant thought that was the quickest way to hurry us through! Very odd.
Anyway, after that confusion we entered the park and headed straight to Cheetah Hunt, the new coaster. It was awesome!
We did all the coasters today Sheikra (90 degree drop!) twice, Kumba, Montu, Scorpion and Gwazi (though some of us sat that last one out I dont like that rickety effect). The last (and only) time that Tony and I came to Busch, the rain was so torrential that most of the rides were closed so we were thrilled to be able to ride them all today.
Nat, Joh and me taking a break:
The children have fun with the stilt walker:
Ellie and Daniel
As we had had a big breakfast we didnt need lunch and just stopped for ice-creams and drinks.
Despite the overcast weather at the beginning of the day, the sun soon came out and it quickly became very hot.
We also rode the skyway and the train and viewed some of the animals including these very interesting giraffes:
The children pulled my leg throughout the whole holiday because I love giraffes and everyone else finds them really boring. They even made up a boring giraffe sign with their hands, to be used every time a giraffe was spotted! And you'd be surprised just how many giraffe pictures, photos, ornaments etc there are. A giraffe was seen pretty much every day!
Here's another:
A few more animals:
The children pet a snake:
We left the park around 5.45 and headed up to Mannys Chop House on the 27 for dinner. It was extremely busy (as we expected, as we know how popular it is), and we had a 35 minute wait. Joh and Gary said it would be worth the wait and they were so right. The food was excellent.
We started with the soft melt-in-the-mouth dinner rolls and salad.
Then crab dip for Tony and I, Potato skins for Nat and the children and chicken goujons for the others.
For entrees, I had a half rack of ribs which had so much meat I couldnt finish it and loaded jacket potato (Gary was right they definitely are the best loaded jackets we have ever had). Tony had a steak, cooked just right, as did Joh and Daniel. Nat had ribs too and Gary had a FULL RACK of ribs that was absolutely massive and he ate it all too!
Us ladies also had cosmopolitans.
We were all so completely stuffed, there was no way we could possible manage a dessert, so the 21oz carrot cake that Gary and I were going to share will have to wait for another day.
We drove back to respective homes and straight to bed.
We were up super early again and headed straight to Cracker Barrel on the 27 to meet up with Joh, Gary, Daniel, Nat, Ellie and Matthew.
We were early so had a look around the shop first then sat on the porch in the rocking chairs to wait for them.
It was still dark and every time a large vehicle drove into the car park we thought thats them and leapt up only to find it wasnt. I think we may have got a few funny looks.
When they arrived, it really did have a surreal feeling to it. Although we have all individually been to Florida so many times, and talked and talked and talked about our trips, we have never been in Florida together before and it had a weird almost dream-like quality to it!
After hugs in the car-park, we went straight in to have breakfast.
We all chose a big breakfast each even though we had planned to get something smallish (there are big coasters to experience today!). Gary and Tony had eggs in a basket and I think the rest of us had eggs, bacon and biscuits, and apple and raison French toast with caramel sauce which was so delicious my mouth is watering right now just thinking about it. A good choice, we all agreed.
After breakfast we headed for Busch Gardens. Daniel came in our car and we played the new peg game he had just bought from Cracker Barrel and Guess my favourite ride/ show/ character/park etc so the journey went in a flash.
We arrived just as the park was opening at 9.30. A very strange thing happened as we drove into the park. The others were in front of us and paid to park as usual and then when it was our turn the parking attendant waved us through saying Your friends have paid for you. When we got out I handed Joh the $13 and she looked blankly at me she hadnt paid for us! She had just mentioned to the attendant that we were together and to hurry us through so we would be more likley to be parked in the same place. I guess the attendant thought that was the quickest way to hurry us through! Very odd.
Anyway, after that confusion we entered the park and headed straight to Cheetah Hunt, the new coaster. It was awesome!
We did all the coasters today Sheikra (90 degree drop!) twice, Kumba, Montu, Scorpion and Gwazi (though some of us sat that last one out I dont like that rickety effect). The last (and only) time that Tony and I came to Busch, the rain was so torrential that most of the rides were closed so we were thrilled to be able to ride them all today.
Nat, Joh and me taking a break:
The children have fun with the stilt walker:
Ellie and Daniel
As we had had a big breakfast we didnt need lunch and just stopped for ice-creams and drinks.
Despite the overcast weather at the beginning of the day, the sun soon came out and it quickly became very hot.
We also rode the skyway and the train and viewed some of the animals including these very interesting giraffes:
The children pulled my leg throughout the whole holiday because I love giraffes and everyone else finds them really boring. They even made up a boring giraffe sign with their hands, to be used every time a giraffe was spotted! And you'd be surprised just how many giraffe pictures, photos, ornaments etc there are. A giraffe was seen pretty much every day!
Here's another:
A few more animals:
The children pet a snake:
We left the park around 5.45 and headed up to Mannys Chop House on the 27 for dinner. It was extremely busy (as we expected, as we know how popular it is), and we had a 35 minute wait. Joh and Gary said it would be worth the wait and they were so right. The food was excellent.
We started with the soft melt-in-the-mouth dinner rolls and salad.
Then crab dip for Tony and I, Potato skins for Nat and the children and chicken goujons for the others.
For entrees, I had a half rack of ribs which had so much meat I couldnt finish it and loaded jacket potato (Gary was right they definitely are the best loaded jackets we have ever had). Tony had a steak, cooked just right, as did Joh and Daniel. Nat had ribs too and Gary had a FULL RACK of ribs that was absolutely massive and he ate it all too!
Us ladies also had cosmopolitans.
We were all so completely stuffed, there was no way we could possible manage a dessert, so the 21oz carrot cake that Gary and I were going to share will have to wait for another day.
We drove back to respective homes and straight to bed.
You're not alone!
