BONZO
<font color=660066>Has been known to go off topic!
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2001
- Messages
- 2,100
The Hopping Mad Easter Tour - 2004
Shaun - 40 something If its high fat, high sugar Ill eat it
Alison - 30 something 'If its not Atkins I wont eat it
Alexandra - 10 Can we play mini-golf? Can we? Can we? Can we? Can we?
Laura - 8 'If Im tall enough Ill ride it'
Sunday 11th April 2004
We woke up with a jump this morning at 8:25 with next doors radio alarm clock blaring out! Typical - all those nights in hotels, not a peep from any neighbours, and we stay in a villa and look what happens! But not to worry - its not too early! (The radio alarm clock ended up being on for around an hour or so until it turned itself off. Nobody appeared to be in next door! Weird!)
We decided on a chill out day today - Alison was feeling rough after a dodgy evening and night - and in any case, we knew the parks would be packed today, so hadnt planned doing much.
So we had a relaxing start to the day with breakfast in the villa
Me: Bacon Bagel (not burnt this time!)
Alexandra: Bacon and Egg
Laura: Dry bread and water (more good parenting!)
Alison: nothing except for water (still feeling rough)
Decided to take it easy today due to Alison and my eyes are still really sore so we walked to the pool for a swim and sunbathe. Commando strategy is now well out of the window! The weather was nice - not too hot today, but sunny and just right for sunbathing!
At about 2pm we went back to the villa to grab some lunch and to get ready for Boggy Creek airboats at East Lake Fish camp. This was one of our must do attractions for this trip - wed never been before and had heard lots about it!
The drive to Boggy Creek was interesting as it was rather off the beaten track. Cue music from "Deliverance" - LOL I could almost hear those banjos!
Checked in at the desk and paid $68 for all of us and after a short wait we were introduced to our Captain. Wed only just squeezed in on this trip and the other people were already lined up and grabbed a row each - as they were in 2s and 3s. It meant that we had to split up. Laura and I sat at the front and Alison and Alexandra were in the back.
We had a short safety briefing and then we had to put our ear defenders on - very effective they were too!
We pottered out on the main river and then picked up speed rapidly. Shortly afterwards we veered sharp left through the reeds and bulrushes and now the fun begins! Soon we were flying across the water at a rate of knots and my poor eyes were streaming from the rushing wind (rather than the eye infection!)
Not long afterwards we saw some wildlife! Although Im sure the Captain just pointed out dodgy looking logs at times!
First we saw a baby alligator, and then a full size Alligator.
We also saw a Bald Eagle. The captain said that we were very lucky as the previous trips of the day had bought nothing as the weather was too hot and the Alligators were staying under the water to cool down.
We were out for about 30 minutes in total and although overall the experience wasn't cheap we were really glad that we did it.
We gathered up our stuff and headed back to the villa via the Wal-Mart on Osceola Parkway not the one on the 192, as it was much nicer. The girls had some fries in the café while Alison and I bought some supplies for the evening meal.
Back at the villa I rustled up the following after slaving over a hot stove: -
Shepherds Pie and vegetables (for Alexandra)
Savoury mince and vegetables (for Laura)
Spaghetti Bolognese and salad (for Alison and I, although Alison only ate a little!)
Beer and snacks - that was the easy one! - LOL
The girls were desperate for what they call English food - so we indulged them just for one night! (Completely the opposite to home - where its a treat to eat out - not in! LOL)
As the evening came a HUGE storm came by and the heavens opened with the roads completely covered. The rain only lasted for two hours between 7 and 9 and then stopped as suddenly as it started. As it was still hot the girls went for a swim avoiding the frogs and other wildlife that had come out!
Swim finished and then back to the villa to bed about 10pmish.
Weather: Very hot and sunny until the evening. Can't complain really as they hadn't had any rain for over a month and it didnt affect our plans at all.
Plan for tomorrow: Busch Gardens if Alisons OK and the weather holds up - the forecast isn't brilliant.
Shaun - 40 something If its high fat, high sugar Ill eat it
Alison - 30 something 'If its not Atkins I wont eat it
Alexandra - 10 Can we play mini-golf? Can we? Can we? Can we? Can we?
Laura - 8 'If Im tall enough Ill ride it'
Sunday 11th April 2004
We woke up with a jump this morning at 8:25 with next doors radio alarm clock blaring out! Typical - all those nights in hotels, not a peep from any neighbours, and we stay in a villa and look what happens! But not to worry - its not too early! (The radio alarm clock ended up being on for around an hour or so until it turned itself off. Nobody appeared to be in next door! Weird!)
We decided on a chill out day today - Alison was feeling rough after a dodgy evening and night - and in any case, we knew the parks would be packed today, so hadnt planned doing much.
So we had a relaxing start to the day with breakfast in the villa
Me: Bacon Bagel (not burnt this time!)
Alexandra: Bacon and Egg
Laura: Dry bread and water (more good parenting!)
Alison: nothing except for water (still feeling rough)
Decided to take it easy today due to Alison and my eyes are still really sore so we walked to the pool for a swim and sunbathe. Commando strategy is now well out of the window! The weather was nice - not too hot today, but sunny and just right for sunbathing!
At about 2pm we went back to the villa to grab some lunch and to get ready for Boggy Creek airboats at East Lake Fish camp. This was one of our must do attractions for this trip - wed never been before and had heard lots about it!
The drive to Boggy Creek was interesting as it was rather off the beaten track. Cue music from "Deliverance" - LOL I could almost hear those banjos!
Checked in at the desk and paid $68 for all of us and after a short wait we were introduced to our Captain. Wed only just squeezed in on this trip and the other people were already lined up and grabbed a row each - as they were in 2s and 3s. It meant that we had to split up. Laura and I sat at the front and Alison and Alexandra were in the back.
We had a short safety briefing and then we had to put our ear defenders on - very effective they were too!
We pottered out on the main river and then picked up speed rapidly. Shortly afterwards we veered sharp left through the reeds and bulrushes and now the fun begins! Soon we were flying across the water at a rate of knots and my poor eyes were streaming from the rushing wind (rather than the eye infection!)
Not long afterwards we saw some wildlife! Although Im sure the Captain just pointed out dodgy looking logs at times!
First we saw a baby alligator, and then a full size Alligator.
We also saw a Bald Eagle. The captain said that we were very lucky as the previous trips of the day had bought nothing as the weather was too hot and the Alligators were staying under the water to cool down.
We were out for about 30 minutes in total and although overall the experience wasn't cheap we were really glad that we did it.
We gathered up our stuff and headed back to the villa via the Wal-Mart on Osceola Parkway not the one on the 192, as it was much nicer. The girls had some fries in the café while Alison and I bought some supplies for the evening meal.
Back at the villa I rustled up the following after slaving over a hot stove: -
Shepherds Pie and vegetables (for Alexandra)
Savoury mince and vegetables (for Laura)
Spaghetti Bolognese and salad (for Alison and I, although Alison only ate a little!)
Beer and snacks - that was the easy one! - LOL
The girls were desperate for what they call English food - so we indulged them just for one night! (Completely the opposite to home - where its a treat to eat out - not in! LOL)
As the evening came a HUGE storm came by and the heavens opened with the roads completely covered. The rain only lasted for two hours between 7 and 9 and then stopped as suddenly as it started. As it was still hot the girls went for a swim avoiding the frogs and other wildlife that had come out!
Swim finished and then back to the villa to bed about 10pmish.
Weather: Very hot and sunny until the evening. Can't complain really as they hadn't had any rain for over a month and it didnt affect our plans at all.
Plan for tomorrow: Busch Gardens if Alisons OK and the weather holds up - the forecast isn't brilliant.
