For those of you that shielded your eyes from the spoilers...
We did KP missions in Mexico, France, and the UK. What you may not have read is that when you finish the missions, depending on the number of KP operatives in action in the different countries, you may or may not be asked if you would like to participate in another mission. If you answer yes, then you will be given a choice from available countries. We were given two choices and six choices.
We were ready for a bit of a break from the missions. We were in UK and high on the priority list was going to the Sportsman's shop that is located there. This is a great shop for the soccer (football) enthusiast. We had seen a great coaching book here two years ago. We didn't purchase it then, because, as I have stated before, I am a LIBRARY person. I prefer to borrow books. Then, when I am convinced that the book is purchase worthy, I'll probably look for it used first. It's a rare occasion when I would purchase a NEW book. Well. I couldn't find this particular book again. I didn't copy down the ISBN number and thus no amount of searching with all terms possible could bring this book into the light. It is an excellent manual for learning technique, and we were going to fork over the dough to buy it this time around.
We spent quite a bit of time in this store. Rugby is also featured here. Funny how people don't recognize the rugby ball and comment on what a weird football (American) this is. We ended up buying the book, a size 5 ball, and a skill ball, aka a juggling ball. We spent a bit of time conversing with the cashier who was from Liverpool. We talked about the different English football teams. Soccer in the US. The current tournament going on in South Africa. It was very interesting to talk to him. I understand what people say about talking to the CMs. It was really fun and informative. I asked him to take a pic of us.
Suddenly, the store felt overrun with patrons. Whereas there had been plenty of space, so much so that DS was kicking a ball around, doing some juggling off to the side, testing out the different balls to find the BEST one, all of a sudden, it was like an explosion of people. What's the deal?
Rain. Oh. Wait. RAAAAAAIN.
Typical southern storm rain. Thunder. Lightening. Big fat soak you in a heart beat drops.
DH and I looked at each other.
Being very familiar with these storms...we get the same kind in Texas, we know that they will often blow over in a matter of minutes. We decided to hang for a few minutes more to analyze the potential this shower had for staying power.
Now understand that I had brought a TON of rain ponchos with us. I have one emergency style poncho for each of us per day of our trip. Single use, less than a dollar each ponchos. So there are like 24 ponchos on this trip. It's just too bad that I didn't remember to pack them in our day packs for the park. They were stacked all nice and neat in the shelf area under the nightstand. Ugh. I was fairly frustrated. My men thought it was funny. I was glad for that. We are fairly easy going people.
We were at Sea World last summer. Couldn't swing the expense of WDW last year. We went to San Antonio for an overnight stay. We did two days at Sea World. One in the park. One in the adjacent water park.
So there we were in the middle of summer. Super hot outside. The kind of hot where you purposefully sit in the splash zone hoping to get drenched. In the afternoon, the clouds rolled in and the rain came. Pouring down rain. We happened to be eating in a sheltered location when it started. It didn't stop. Half an hour later, it was still going. The pathways at Sea World were flooding. Seriously. There were places were the water was ankle deep. NO ONE was walking around.
Well. Half an hour is our limit. We were done eating now. The shelter was crowded with people that would obviously melt away should they encounter any water from the sky. It was wrecking an otherwise lovely day. Time to go. I took off my shoes. DH and DS were good. Off we went. The rain came down. We were soaked within seconds. We had puddle fights. Splashing wars. You could say, when life gives you puddles, PLAY!
I was sad as I saw the unhappy faces that were crammed into any available shelter as we walked in the freedom of a virtually empty walkway having the time of our lives. Much laughter. Much fun. The car was fully stocked. There were beach towels and changes of clothes inside. We certainly wouldn't melt. Neither were we cold. Are you kidding? Sometimes, I think people end up more miserable trying to avoid being uncomfortable.
It was approaching the time for our Soarin' FP. Time to head on over to the Land. We disembarked the crowded shelter of the Sportsman shop and ventured into where few were going. The rain had lessened into a nice steady heavy sprinkle. You could see. The drops were no longer making you squint. We didn't dauddle, but we didn't run. We laughed and joked.
Our main concern was what would happen when we hit the air conditioning.
Not too much happened.
The funny thing about it all was that the rain was such that only the fronts of us got wet. Seriously. Our entire backsides were dry as a bone. Just the front was damp. This wasn't too bad. Dry back. Cool front. Somewhat refreshing. Did I mention that it was HOT?
We made our way over to the land with time to spare. We headed straight for the restrooms. Why is it that when you are desparately HOPING that there will be those annoying hand dryer machines, there AREN"T any. What? It this the only bathroom in all of WDW that doesn't have the blow dryers? Or have I been hilucinating? I thought they were all over the place.
I did my best to wring myself out and dry off with paper towels. Not too bad. I was wearing super thin nylon shorts. They'd be dry in no time. My shirt wasn't bothering me. I had on sandals, which I dried to the best of my ability. Not bad at all. And now we were in the Land and fixin to ride my favorite ride. Sweet. How cool is that?
Not too many other people were prepared for the rain apparantly. We had seen a surprising few walking around in their ponchos. Still fewer walking around like ourselves, sans rain protection. So when we arrived at Soarin', we were not surprised at all that there were virtually NO other people who were waiting there for this FP return time.
We blasted through the line area. The next thing we knew we were standing in the bright hall headed down the ramp. There was a family in front of us eating salt water taffy from a big huge bag. Oh my. I LOVE me some salt water taffy. I tried to not stare. I could SMELL the different flavors as we struck up a conversation with them. Yes. I like to talk to people in the lines. How kind they were to offer us some of their taffy!!
Would you like some?
I surely would, if you don't mind sharing.
We didn't wait long at all. We ended up in the lower row on the left side. Not the best seats in the house, but I didn't complain or ask to be moved. I was just excited to get to ride again. For DS, it was like riding for the first time. He couldn't remember this ride AT ALL. I must confess that he was somewhat doubtful that a ride that I liked so much would be a good one.
I am the cautious one. DH is the one that will fly down the slopes. When he accompanies me on the bunny hills, he seeks out every little bump along the edges that could possibly result in air and practices his jumps. He DOES own a snowboarding helmet. Meanwhile, I get cramps in my thighs and rear from the strain of trying to maintain control on a downhill. I know it would be easier if I would just relax and let go. Can't seem to help myself though. DS inherited the caution gene. He isn't too risky with his body. But he does like a thrill.
It seems that because I am cautious, and not sports minded, I'm a dancer/yoga enthusiast and not particularly enamoured with ANY sport, my taste is perceived to be somewhat tame. Not sure exactly how that happened since I LOVE roller coasters, but there you have it. If Momma really likes this ride, it must be pretty tame and therefore, not too much fun. Seriously. DS was along for the ride, but he didn't have high expectations that this was going to be a ride that he would find especially enjoyable. We have a policy in the family. Everyone will get to do what they want, and the others will do it, like it or not. We take turns. DS understands this. He had a good attitude. He just didn't expect to love the ride.
Which made it all the more gratifying when DS said, "That was AWESOME!!! Let's do it AGAIN!!!" at the end of the ride.
Oh yes. We will definitely do it again. We need to get into a better spot for sure. The rain had let up and the standby time reflected the increase in walking traffic outside. We wandered around the land a bit. We walked onto the boat ride.
This was a first for us. And I have to say. We all enjoyed this attraction. We will definitely do the Behind the Seeds tour on our next WDW trip. In some random way, we all found this ride to be highly informative and quite simply, fascinating. Maybe it's our interest in gardening? Maybe our interest in science? In seafood? In the random idea of living self sufficiently, off the land, the way that the Louis L'Amour men did back in the day. Owning a ranch in Wyoming or Montana, which well be completely self sustaining. People could mistake us for a freak family compound. Some day. It's going to happen. Not that you have to be a freak like us to appreciate this ride. Even the atmosphere is cool. Especially on a cloudy day. It's bright as blazes in there but not glaringly so. Very cool.
The rain had completely let up. We decided to see if the TT standby had benefited at all from the downpour. Not at all. Still WAY too long. It really was unbelievable.
I was eagar to ride Spaceship Earth. It was closed on our last visit. DS was surprised to learn that was actually a ride inside the big golf ball. We headed over to the walk on that it was.
So hope the trip to CO is going well and the wedding goes off without a hitch!
Hang up and drive!!! Must be that long ago desire to be a truck driver...
