Mike Jones
<font color=993300>....nothing clever to say... ju
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2003
- Messages
- 1,372
The Cast:
Mike, 39, chief organiser, driver and brew maker
Heather, 40, wife and mum
Bethany, 11 (going on 20!), coaster addict, hates getting wet.
Adam, 9, (going on 8!), hates coasters (except BTMRR), LOVES getting wet!
DAY 15 NEW YEARS DAY THURSDAY 1ST JANUARY 2004
Today: Myakka River State Park
Woke up at 7:30 thats serious lie-in territory for old Mikey boy! The children awake soon afterwards, but Heather needs a prod before she joins us! I make her a cuppa and feed the kids, (sounds like I toss them a couple of herring or something, doesnt it?!!- I heat some pancakes in the microwave and stand guard over the maple syrup, as they tend to float the cakes off the plate if left to their own devices!!) before making coffee and retreating to the gazebo by the pool for half an hour or so.
We are all showered and dressed by 900 and set off towards the mainland. We pick up US72 and follow it for approximately 15 miles to the Myakka River State Park. For several miles around the outskirts of the park, more or less as soon as we leave the city suburbs, the countryside has a much more open and undeveloped feel about it. Although its a holiday, the roads are empty and we arrive at the Ranger Station main gates without incident. Quick weather report: clear, blue skies, sunny and warm.
A genuine ranger welcomes us Adam much impressed! who charges us the grand sum of $5 for entry. (http://www.myakkariver.org/) We ask the ranger for directions to the Airboat tour on the Upper Lake he tells us to go ahead for about 3 miles. The drive through this part of the park is stunning a mixture of palms, scrub and other (to us) exotic trees. We pass over a bridge with a lovely view across a wide river or lake area.
The area around the Airboat station (dock?) is very attractive. The road widens to parking areas under the trees, the boat is parked over to our right in an inlet cut back from the main lake, about 300 feet away, and on our left is a substantial log cabin complex housing a café, store and restrooms. A staff member directs us to the line area for the boat ride, where we are given tallys to reserve our seats and advised to be back at the gate by 945 for the 1000 sailing. We have a wander up to the lakeside its an impressive body of water, probably a mile or so across to the nearest bank and extending a long way to our right. Its millpond calm and we can see a couple of canoes (presumably carrying fishermen) in the distance. Idyllic.
We are in line by the appointed time, and other families soon join us. A guide gives us basic safety advice and then we board. The pilot/guide, Lloyd, chats and collects fares ($8 adults, $4 for 6-12 year olds) before literally pushing off apparently there is no reverse gear option!
The airboat is NOTHING like the Everglades/Boggy Creek variety - http://www.myakkariver.org/airboat.html - it is a large, passenger carrier, which is of a very shallow draft to cope with the 2-3ft deep lake, while leaving very little wake disturbance which would adversely affect the wildlife. Although driven by a damn big fan, in typical airboat fashion, it is surprisingly quiet and we dont require ear defenders! Its pretty slow, too! Lloyd points out a large (15 ft) gator sunning himself a few feet away on the side of the inlet! As first on board, we get the option to grab the few outside seats, with better visibility. Much to the kids annoyance, you have to be 13 years old for this, and so they have to sit in the first inside row while I block the view in front of them!
Our guide is very dry and humorous. He gives us the standard safety talk, including the fact that the rules state everyone has to remain seated at all times he then goes on to say that he doesnt enforce this, so move about if you want to take photos etc.. but as he has been known to hit sandbars occasionally, be seated when possible!
We head left across to the nearest bank area, with Lloyd pointing out blue herons and then, at the top of a tree, a mature Bald Eagle. He talks about the birds habits, while making ground towards it for a better view. The bird waits until we are all nicely in focus and then swoops majestically off across the lake. Superb video footage. A few moments later, a similar sized but differently marked bird flies off from the same stand of trees Lloyd advises that this is an immature Bald Eagle apparently they dont get the well known plumage until 2 or 3 years old.
We head off to the far side of the lake on an alligator hunt. Although the banks are empty at first, we soon come across several groups sunning themselves, in ones, twos and threes. Within minutes we start to see others floating like logs in the water in most directions help! Were surrounded! Lloyds commentary continues and includes advice on how to out-swim a hungry gator (which can do 30 mph for short distances!) always go in the water with someone who swims slower than you!LOL!
We try to creep up on some of the floating reptiles, but they generally sink out of sight when we come close. Lloyd asks a passenger for assistance in enticing them closer he requests that she dangle her legs over the side! She declines, naturally, even though he promises her she can drive the boat and share the tips if she complies! There are no other volunteers!
Other highlights include watching an osprey dive into the lake and reappear with a large fish in its talons before flying off directly over the boat, its lunch still wriggling below it!
The hour is over very quickly and we head back in. As well as no reverse gear, Lloyd reminds us that there are no brakes he suggests we DO sit down at this point, as he has to stop the boat by ramming a telegraph pole sunk in the water! As it turns out, the controlled crash is very gentle and we disembark safely. Restrooms are visited, and while waiting for the girls, I chat to an Amish gentleman (of about 60 years) and his sons, who were on the boat with us. They are from Indiana, but like Florida in winter! (Who doesnt?)
We stop for a coffee at the café and then drive back into the park to see an aerial walkway and observation tower that is hidden in the forest. We climb the tower (75 feet I think) and spend a few minutes looking at the panoramic view across the reserve. You cant see anything beyond the tress, which stretch to the horizons.
The children are starting to whinge about food now, so, with reluctance, we head out of the park and back towards Sarasota. Whod like to go to Sugarn Spice again? ME! We get there within 15 minutes or so, but disappointment awaits us. Theyre closed! Its New Years Day of course, and not EVERYBODY works holidays. Never mind -we have a suitable alternative.. why not have a Broken Egg lunch? No reason we can think of, so off we trot! Arriving at 100pm, we are seated inside at once (the breakfast situation is reversed at lunch we really wanted to eat outside, but so does everybody else, and wed need to wait for 15 minutes or so. No way we can watch people taunt us with THEIR success at getting here before us for 15 minutes, while smugly spooning delicious morsels into their mouths, so we accept the inside table!) Its bustling and pleasant inside, with the usual banter from the staff and customers. Drinks are ordered Mimosas (champagne & OJ) for me n Heather, raspberry smoothie for Bethany (delicious) and choc milk for Adam (surprise!) For lunch, Heather orders seafood quiche, I have a steak with eggs, hash browns and toast. Bethany asks for a veggie wrap and Adam has a ham & mushroom omelette. All the food is excellent, but my best in show vote goes to Adams omelette, which is outstanding.
Our stomachs are gradually stretching to accommodate the portion sizes here, and we decide we can squeeze a dessert in! Heather has Chocolate Mousse, Key Lime Pie for me, and the kids ask for Double Fudge Delight. The check is $73 + tip ouch! (But it was good!) Quick stop at the supermarket - OJ and pancakes for breakfast - and back to the apartment. We change into beach gear and are over the road and on the sands by 245pm. The weathers great (as usual!) with a few fluffy clouds to break the monotony of the blue skies! Heather and I want to sit and chill for a while. Bethany has brought her garden design stuff and occupies herself with it. Adam sets off into the water, looking for sand dollars. Beth manages to stay quiet for about 5 minutes, before announcing that she cant write and draw in the bright light, so can she go back for a beach umbrella? Suspecting a ploy to escape for an Emerill fix, we time limit her with threats of grave repercussions if she isnt back in 10 minutes she is! (I normally find that the best way to get my kids behaving well is to threaten to treat the other one!)
I give in to Adams repeated requests for assistance and offer instead to help him with a sandcastle. The sand on Siesta beach is perfect for castle making, as its sticky and very fine grained we soon have a respectable castellated cube growing out of the beach. We fail to match some of the stunning creations we have walked past this week, which have included dolphins, alligators and fairytale castles!
I return to my chair and enjoy a cigar while watching the pelicans doing their thing. Adam messes with the moat around the castle for a while, determined to cut out the area under the drawbridge. When it collapses for a second time, he gets annoyed and stomps off into the sea! Just as he does so, we are again treated to the sight of a dolphin family playing in the water right behind him. Everyone nearby notices and stops to watch. Sadly, they soon disappear again, but what a treat!
The few clouds have now dispersed, and as the sun sets in front of us we get a perfectly clear view of the disc disappearing. As on previous nights, a lot of people just stop and watch the last few minutes. We pack up soon afterwards and are back at the apartment for showers at 600pm.
No one wants to do much this evening. I watch a bit of TV, trying to get some world news. When I do, its predictably bad a bombing in Baghdad and the cancellation of a BA flight from London to Washington on security grounds. Hope we arent affected at the weekend. I persevere, in the hope of a bit more focus on wider world matters, but give up after a short article on some channel or other about the Popes New Year speech.
I pop out briefly to get some carryout from Subway, before sitting outside and reading for most of the evening. The kids are virtually asleep on their feet by 900pm and are easily persuaded to bed. We follow by 1015.
Another good day.
Tomorrow: Packing (sob!) another attempt on Sugar n Spice, and Beach.
Thanks for staying with me only a couple more to go!
Mike
Mike, 39, chief organiser, driver and brew maker
Heather, 40, wife and mum
Bethany, 11 (going on 20!), coaster addict, hates getting wet.
Adam, 9, (going on 8!), hates coasters (except BTMRR), LOVES getting wet!
DAY 15 NEW YEARS DAY THURSDAY 1ST JANUARY 2004
Today: Myakka River State Park
Woke up at 7:30 thats serious lie-in territory for old Mikey boy! The children awake soon afterwards, but Heather needs a prod before she joins us! I make her a cuppa and feed the kids, (sounds like I toss them a couple of herring or something, doesnt it?!!- I heat some pancakes in the microwave and stand guard over the maple syrup, as they tend to float the cakes off the plate if left to their own devices!!) before making coffee and retreating to the gazebo by the pool for half an hour or so.
We are all showered and dressed by 900 and set off towards the mainland. We pick up US72 and follow it for approximately 15 miles to the Myakka River State Park. For several miles around the outskirts of the park, more or less as soon as we leave the city suburbs, the countryside has a much more open and undeveloped feel about it. Although its a holiday, the roads are empty and we arrive at the Ranger Station main gates without incident. Quick weather report: clear, blue skies, sunny and warm.
A genuine ranger welcomes us Adam much impressed! who charges us the grand sum of $5 for entry. (http://www.myakkariver.org/) We ask the ranger for directions to the Airboat tour on the Upper Lake he tells us to go ahead for about 3 miles. The drive through this part of the park is stunning a mixture of palms, scrub and other (to us) exotic trees. We pass over a bridge with a lovely view across a wide river or lake area.
The area around the Airboat station (dock?) is very attractive. The road widens to parking areas under the trees, the boat is parked over to our right in an inlet cut back from the main lake, about 300 feet away, and on our left is a substantial log cabin complex housing a café, store and restrooms. A staff member directs us to the line area for the boat ride, where we are given tallys to reserve our seats and advised to be back at the gate by 945 for the 1000 sailing. We have a wander up to the lakeside its an impressive body of water, probably a mile or so across to the nearest bank and extending a long way to our right. Its millpond calm and we can see a couple of canoes (presumably carrying fishermen) in the distance. Idyllic.
We are in line by the appointed time, and other families soon join us. A guide gives us basic safety advice and then we board. The pilot/guide, Lloyd, chats and collects fares ($8 adults, $4 for 6-12 year olds) before literally pushing off apparently there is no reverse gear option!
The airboat is NOTHING like the Everglades/Boggy Creek variety - http://www.myakkariver.org/airboat.html - it is a large, passenger carrier, which is of a very shallow draft to cope with the 2-3ft deep lake, while leaving very little wake disturbance which would adversely affect the wildlife. Although driven by a damn big fan, in typical airboat fashion, it is surprisingly quiet and we dont require ear defenders! Its pretty slow, too! Lloyd points out a large (15 ft) gator sunning himself a few feet away on the side of the inlet! As first on board, we get the option to grab the few outside seats, with better visibility. Much to the kids annoyance, you have to be 13 years old for this, and so they have to sit in the first inside row while I block the view in front of them!
Our guide is very dry and humorous. He gives us the standard safety talk, including the fact that the rules state everyone has to remain seated at all times he then goes on to say that he doesnt enforce this, so move about if you want to take photos etc.. but as he has been known to hit sandbars occasionally, be seated when possible!
We head left across to the nearest bank area, with Lloyd pointing out blue herons and then, at the top of a tree, a mature Bald Eagle. He talks about the birds habits, while making ground towards it for a better view. The bird waits until we are all nicely in focus and then swoops majestically off across the lake. Superb video footage. A few moments later, a similar sized but differently marked bird flies off from the same stand of trees Lloyd advises that this is an immature Bald Eagle apparently they dont get the well known plumage until 2 or 3 years old.
We head off to the far side of the lake on an alligator hunt. Although the banks are empty at first, we soon come across several groups sunning themselves, in ones, twos and threes. Within minutes we start to see others floating like logs in the water in most directions help! Were surrounded! Lloyds commentary continues and includes advice on how to out-swim a hungry gator (which can do 30 mph for short distances!) always go in the water with someone who swims slower than you!LOL!
We try to creep up on some of the floating reptiles, but they generally sink out of sight when we come close. Lloyd asks a passenger for assistance in enticing them closer he requests that she dangle her legs over the side! She declines, naturally, even though he promises her she can drive the boat and share the tips if she complies! There are no other volunteers!
Other highlights include watching an osprey dive into the lake and reappear with a large fish in its talons before flying off directly over the boat, its lunch still wriggling below it!
The hour is over very quickly and we head back in. As well as no reverse gear, Lloyd reminds us that there are no brakes he suggests we DO sit down at this point, as he has to stop the boat by ramming a telegraph pole sunk in the water! As it turns out, the controlled crash is very gentle and we disembark safely. Restrooms are visited, and while waiting for the girls, I chat to an Amish gentleman (of about 60 years) and his sons, who were on the boat with us. They are from Indiana, but like Florida in winter! (Who doesnt?)
We stop for a coffee at the café and then drive back into the park to see an aerial walkway and observation tower that is hidden in the forest. We climb the tower (75 feet I think) and spend a few minutes looking at the panoramic view across the reserve. You cant see anything beyond the tress, which stretch to the horizons.
The children are starting to whinge about food now, so, with reluctance, we head out of the park and back towards Sarasota. Whod like to go to Sugarn Spice again? ME! We get there within 15 minutes or so, but disappointment awaits us. Theyre closed! Its New Years Day of course, and not EVERYBODY works holidays. Never mind -we have a suitable alternative.. why not have a Broken Egg lunch? No reason we can think of, so off we trot! Arriving at 100pm, we are seated inside at once (the breakfast situation is reversed at lunch we really wanted to eat outside, but so does everybody else, and wed need to wait for 15 minutes or so. No way we can watch people taunt us with THEIR success at getting here before us for 15 minutes, while smugly spooning delicious morsels into their mouths, so we accept the inside table!) Its bustling and pleasant inside, with the usual banter from the staff and customers. Drinks are ordered Mimosas (champagne & OJ) for me n Heather, raspberry smoothie for Bethany (delicious) and choc milk for Adam (surprise!) For lunch, Heather orders seafood quiche, I have a steak with eggs, hash browns and toast. Bethany asks for a veggie wrap and Adam has a ham & mushroom omelette. All the food is excellent, but my best in show vote goes to Adams omelette, which is outstanding.
Our stomachs are gradually stretching to accommodate the portion sizes here, and we decide we can squeeze a dessert in! Heather has Chocolate Mousse, Key Lime Pie for me, and the kids ask for Double Fudge Delight. The check is $73 + tip ouch! (But it was good!) Quick stop at the supermarket - OJ and pancakes for breakfast - and back to the apartment. We change into beach gear and are over the road and on the sands by 245pm. The weathers great (as usual!) with a few fluffy clouds to break the monotony of the blue skies! Heather and I want to sit and chill for a while. Bethany has brought her garden design stuff and occupies herself with it. Adam sets off into the water, looking for sand dollars. Beth manages to stay quiet for about 5 minutes, before announcing that she cant write and draw in the bright light, so can she go back for a beach umbrella? Suspecting a ploy to escape for an Emerill fix, we time limit her with threats of grave repercussions if she isnt back in 10 minutes she is! (I normally find that the best way to get my kids behaving well is to threaten to treat the other one!)
I give in to Adams repeated requests for assistance and offer instead to help him with a sandcastle. The sand on Siesta beach is perfect for castle making, as its sticky and very fine grained we soon have a respectable castellated cube growing out of the beach. We fail to match some of the stunning creations we have walked past this week, which have included dolphins, alligators and fairytale castles!
I return to my chair and enjoy a cigar while watching the pelicans doing their thing. Adam messes with the moat around the castle for a while, determined to cut out the area under the drawbridge. When it collapses for a second time, he gets annoyed and stomps off into the sea! Just as he does so, we are again treated to the sight of a dolphin family playing in the water right behind him. Everyone nearby notices and stops to watch. Sadly, they soon disappear again, but what a treat!
The few clouds have now dispersed, and as the sun sets in front of us we get a perfectly clear view of the disc disappearing. As on previous nights, a lot of people just stop and watch the last few minutes. We pack up soon afterwards and are back at the apartment for showers at 600pm.
No one wants to do much this evening. I watch a bit of TV, trying to get some world news. When I do, its predictably bad a bombing in Baghdad and the cancellation of a BA flight from London to Washington on security grounds. Hope we arent affected at the weekend. I persevere, in the hope of a bit more focus on wider world matters, but give up after a short article on some channel or other about the Popes New Year speech.
I pop out briefly to get some carryout from Subway, before sitting outside and reading for most of the evening. The kids are virtually asleep on their feet by 900pm and are easily persuaded to bed. We follow by 1015.
Another good day.
Tomorrow: Packing (sob!) another attempt on Sugar n Spice, and Beach.
Thanks for staying with me only a couple more to go!
Mike
