Boss Hogg
<font color=green>It's 5 o'clock somewhere<br><fon
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2004
- Messages
- 2,528
Well then now, it appears that the spiffing Mr Stringer has started on the Orlando section of his trip, so I am clear to start my recollection of the same. I shall try to not read his version of events until mine is written - just to see how mine compare!
So, as is customary, a quick recap of our motley crue:
Me;
Deb;
and from hereon in some others -
Kev – a dashing 59 year old, and will always stay 59 in my eyes;
Tam – long-suffering wife of Kev – surely she could do better;
Small Stringers – India and Georgia, always good value and I feel they add wisdom and an adult quality to the Stringer contingent;
Susan – well what is there to be said about Susan that has already been said? No, seriously – answers on a postcard;
Lu Beth – friend of Susan, and a “stranger” to us before this trip having only corresponded with her by email. However, in line with my love of Dixie, any woman called Lu Beth from North Carolina is good in my book.
So, on with the show.
We are awake at some daft time due to the jet lag, and not a hangover in sight – a good start, I feel much unpunished drinking coming up.
We get ourselves ready and go looking for some breakfast at 7am, after a short walk around the resort, as the restaurant is yet to open, we are seated and our order taken. Seem to recall there are some eggs, some bacon and a bagel – all washed down by 16 cups of coffee and a gallon of Florida’s finest.
Valet is alerted as to impending departure and some 15 mins later we are in the car and on our way. We have around 140 miles on the turnpike to do, and they pass with very little incident. The road is very quiet and very straight and whilst it is a million miles better than the M25, something is lacking – maybe I’m just never happy? Alternatively, it could be that such a long straight road deserves to be abused. As some of you may know, I like fast cars, and a road such as this is just begging to be torn up at some 3 figure speed, anyway for now let’s just toddle along around the speed limit.
Upon arrival in Orlando, we decide to go and check in at Saratoga Springs straight away. It is our first trip “home” and we are both looking forward to it.
Arriving at check-in desk we take care of the normal things and the lady tells us we’ll be staying in the Springs section, which is a slight shame as we had hoped, and asked, for Grandstand. Deb being the audacious chap she is asks if Grandstand is not available, to which the answer is “well yes” – seems that requesting an area is about much use as a chocolate teapot unless it is followed up. So we dump the luggage with bell services and we off and shopping. We have a few stops to make:
- Edwin Watts golf superstore
- Pointe Orlando for lunch at Tommy Bahama
- Wal-Mart, for the buying of a Tracphone and beer, wine, and other less important things.
We spend a very enjoyable, and somewhat expensive time in Edwin Watts – drivers each, a hybrid club for Deb, some clothes, balls and all of a sudden my wallet is a LOT lighter!
From here we head off to Pointe Orlando, as we want to eat in the Tommy Bahama café, which has opened since we were last here.
Beforehand we have a look around the shop, which results in me buying a new shirt and pair of shorts – always preferable to buying an old shirt and pair of shorts I say!
We stroll into the café and seat ourselves at the bar. The bar chap, lets call him Eugene, wanders over and says those magic words that makes my hair stand on end and my pulse race (and no it is not “How you doin”!!) – “can I start y’all of with something to drink”
HELL YEAH BABY!!!
The observant ones will have noticed this phrase before, and after all it is 5’o’clock somewhere!!
Details are somewhat hard to recall, but we enjoy a very pleasant lunch, a couple of “cold ones” and a couple of free tasters of the Tommy Bahama Rum – NICE.
On the way back to the car we pop into Grape, which is a wine bar and wine shop in Pointe Orlando, and very nice it is too. We purchase a few bottles of wine as they have a lovely selection and it is no doubt better than the choice at Wal-Mart, albeit I do not see Cousin Billy Bob’s special grape juice, which I am sure features heavily at the Redneck shop of choice.
From here back to the car and on to the afore mentioned purveyor of all you can imagine, and most things you cannot. A quick visit sees us complete our shopping adventures with some beer and some other stuff – don’t ask me what – who cares I say!!
We get back to SSR and are have already called about the room we head straight there. We are in room 4629 (we think!) and have a lovely view of the golf course and treehouses. The room is bigger than we remember and we are both very happy with it.
Chez Churchill at SSR:
The view:
Baggage arrives, is unpacked and we kick back for a while and have a beer – well it is 5’o’clock somewhere!
Washed and readied we head off for Raglan Road to meet the rest of our Adventurers. As we are crossing a bridge we hear all sorts of ungodly noise coming from a boat, hold on a mo’ I’d know that coarse, woodbine and whisky induced voice anywhere – its Tam! And, she has the remainder of the family with her, a quick wave is exchanged and they disappear off into the distance.
It goes through my mind for a few minutes to leg it across to Raglan Rd and beat them there, until I remember – it’s boiling hot and I’m bone idol!
As it is we meet a few minutes later and begin to prop up the bar. A very pleasant barman comes along, let’s call him Clarence, asks if he could get us a drink?
Well I am sure you know what’s coming –
HELL YEAH BABY!! As always it is 5’o’clock somewhere.
As usual, my memory starts to cloud here. I can remember 5 or 6 Guinness’s, Mark and Sue from the DIS come over – they are drawn by the legend that is Kevin “just call me Kev” Stringer. Susan and LuBeth arrive after having had the scenic bus trip of WDW – what a 10 min trip in a car takes 6.5hours in a bus!! Who’d have thought it!! Some gifts are exchanged; well more like received, and a pleasant meal is taken.
I’m not too keen on Raglan Road personally, I find it over-priced for what it is, but the meal is quite nice I seem to remember. Unfortunately, for a group of friends meeting for the first night it is tricky as the music is rather loud. There’s even a Irish girly jumping around on a table – Clarence! I’ll have a pint of what she’s having!!
We pay up and depart for a somewhat quieter drink at Cap’n Jacks bar over by Rainforest Café – well it would be churlish not to have a “Top Shelf” Margarita accompanied by a large-ish Romeo y Julietta cigar. The evening ends at 11.30, as this is the last boat time.
So, a pretty good night – good friends, nice food, the odd beer or two. I have a feeling this is going to be a good time.
See you tomorrow for another one – if you know what I mean!!
So, as is customary, a quick recap of our motley crue:
Me;
Deb;
and from hereon in some others -
Kev – a dashing 59 year old, and will always stay 59 in my eyes;
Tam – long-suffering wife of Kev – surely she could do better;
Small Stringers – India and Georgia, always good value and I feel they add wisdom and an adult quality to the Stringer contingent;
Susan – well what is there to be said about Susan that has already been said? No, seriously – answers on a postcard;
Lu Beth – friend of Susan, and a “stranger” to us before this trip having only corresponded with her by email. However, in line with my love of Dixie, any woman called Lu Beth from North Carolina is good in my book.
So, on with the show.
We are awake at some daft time due to the jet lag, and not a hangover in sight – a good start, I feel much unpunished drinking coming up.
We get ourselves ready and go looking for some breakfast at 7am, after a short walk around the resort, as the restaurant is yet to open, we are seated and our order taken. Seem to recall there are some eggs, some bacon and a bagel – all washed down by 16 cups of coffee and a gallon of Florida’s finest.
Valet is alerted as to impending departure and some 15 mins later we are in the car and on our way. We have around 140 miles on the turnpike to do, and they pass with very little incident. The road is very quiet and very straight and whilst it is a million miles better than the M25, something is lacking – maybe I’m just never happy? Alternatively, it could be that such a long straight road deserves to be abused. As some of you may know, I like fast cars, and a road such as this is just begging to be torn up at some 3 figure speed, anyway for now let’s just toddle along around the speed limit.
Upon arrival in Orlando, we decide to go and check in at Saratoga Springs straight away. It is our first trip “home” and we are both looking forward to it.
Arriving at check-in desk we take care of the normal things and the lady tells us we’ll be staying in the Springs section, which is a slight shame as we had hoped, and asked, for Grandstand. Deb being the audacious chap she is asks if Grandstand is not available, to which the answer is “well yes” – seems that requesting an area is about much use as a chocolate teapot unless it is followed up. So we dump the luggage with bell services and we off and shopping. We have a few stops to make:
- Edwin Watts golf superstore
- Pointe Orlando for lunch at Tommy Bahama
- Wal-Mart, for the buying of a Tracphone and beer, wine, and other less important things.
We spend a very enjoyable, and somewhat expensive time in Edwin Watts – drivers each, a hybrid club for Deb, some clothes, balls and all of a sudden my wallet is a LOT lighter!
From here we head off to Pointe Orlando, as we want to eat in the Tommy Bahama café, which has opened since we were last here.
Beforehand we have a look around the shop, which results in me buying a new shirt and pair of shorts – always preferable to buying an old shirt and pair of shorts I say!
We stroll into the café and seat ourselves at the bar. The bar chap, lets call him Eugene, wanders over and says those magic words that makes my hair stand on end and my pulse race (and no it is not “How you doin”!!) – “can I start y’all of with something to drink”
HELL YEAH BABY!!!
The observant ones will have noticed this phrase before, and after all it is 5’o’clock somewhere!!
Details are somewhat hard to recall, but we enjoy a very pleasant lunch, a couple of “cold ones” and a couple of free tasters of the Tommy Bahama Rum – NICE.
On the way back to the car we pop into Grape, which is a wine bar and wine shop in Pointe Orlando, and very nice it is too. We purchase a few bottles of wine as they have a lovely selection and it is no doubt better than the choice at Wal-Mart, albeit I do not see Cousin Billy Bob’s special grape juice, which I am sure features heavily at the Redneck shop of choice.
From here back to the car and on to the afore mentioned purveyor of all you can imagine, and most things you cannot. A quick visit sees us complete our shopping adventures with some beer and some other stuff – don’t ask me what – who cares I say!!
We get back to SSR and are have already called about the room we head straight there. We are in room 4629 (we think!) and have a lovely view of the golf course and treehouses. The room is bigger than we remember and we are both very happy with it.
Chez Churchill at SSR:
The view:
Baggage arrives, is unpacked and we kick back for a while and have a beer – well it is 5’o’clock somewhere!
Washed and readied we head off for Raglan Road to meet the rest of our Adventurers. As we are crossing a bridge we hear all sorts of ungodly noise coming from a boat, hold on a mo’ I’d know that coarse, woodbine and whisky induced voice anywhere – its Tam! And, she has the remainder of the family with her, a quick wave is exchanged and they disappear off into the distance.
It goes through my mind for a few minutes to leg it across to Raglan Rd and beat them there, until I remember – it’s boiling hot and I’m bone idol!
As it is we meet a few minutes later and begin to prop up the bar. A very pleasant barman comes along, let’s call him Clarence, asks if he could get us a drink?
Well I am sure you know what’s coming –
HELL YEAH BABY!! As always it is 5’o’clock somewhere.
As usual, my memory starts to cloud here. I can remember 5 or 6 Guinness’s, Mark and Sue from the DIS come over – they are drawn by the legend that is Kevin “just call me Kev” Stringer. Susan and LuBeth arrive after having had the scenic bus trip of WDW – what a 10 min trip in a car takes 6.5hours in a bus!! Who’d have thought it!! Some gifts are exchanged; well more like received, and a pleasant meal is taken.
I’m not too keen on Raglan Road personally, I find it over-priced for what it is, but the meal is quite nice I seem to remember. Unfortunately, for a group of friends meeting for the first night it is tricky as the music is rather loud. There’s even a Irish girly jumping around on a table – Clarence! I’ll have a pint of what she’s having!!
We pay up and depart for a somewhat quieter drink at Cap’n Jacks bar over by Rainforest Café – well it would be churlish not to have a “Top Shelf” Margarita accompanied by a large-ish Romeo y Julietta cigar. The evening ends at 11.30, as this is the last boat time.
So, a pretty good night – good friends, nice food, the odd beer or two. I have a feeling this is going to be a good time.
See you tomorrow for another one – if you know what I mean!!
