Universal Studios and Cedar Key

From Wauchula we headed north to Orlando where we stayed at Bill Frederick Turkey Lake Park. It is the closest campground to Universal Studios.We spent three days at Universal. Before the Universal fun started,  we drove to the Naval Air Station ITT office in Orlando so Larry and Connie could get their Universal tickets.

For years Bob and I have had gift cards to Buca di Beppo. We got them with the intention of taking Larry and Connie the last time they were in Florida (2010). Unfortunately, the restaurant closest to us closed the day before they arrived! We held onto the cards just waiting for the right time to use them.....and it finally happened! After much trial and error, we finally found Buca di Beppo at Florida Mall! The address on the website indicated that the restaurant should have been across the street, but we persevered and found it. Of course we enjoyed the meal and the company so it was worth the wait.

We watched the Super Bowl with Connie and Larry on their outdoor entertainment center as Bob and Larry cooked our dinner.

Our first day at  Universal, we went to Islands of Adventure. We had to visit the Harry Potter area! It was a cloudy day so the sky was an excellent backdrop.

The next day we visited Universal Studios.

We rode some rides and walked the entire park. Connie had fun with Cleopatra's beaded hair after we rode The Mummy!

At the special effects show, Connie was chosen to be the gardener.

Our last day at Universal, we returned to Islands of Adventure just to eat at the restaurant in Harry Potter's world. We got the feast for four which was a great deal. Of course we washed it down with butter beer, not the plain water you see in front of Larry and Bob!

Before leaving the park for the last time, we all had our pictures taken near the Universal globe.

We returned to Universal to meet more Boomer friends for dinner at Bubba Gump's Seafood in City Walk. We had a great meal with great company.

The next day we left Turkey Lake and made our way to Cedar Key. We stayed at a campground on the mainland--Shell Mound. It was a county park and a nice find in the area. 

Alas, it was time to say goodbye to Connie and Larry. They had to make their way west for their summer jobs and we returned home. On a brighter note, we are looking forward to the summer of 2015 when we will travel to Alaska together!

Now that this post is done, I am ready to begin our next trip! It is now May and all this fun occurred in January and February!  See you again soon!

Key West, Ft. Jefferson, and the Everglades

Bob and I took the kayaks on this trip since it was just a Florida trip. When we travel out west, the drag on the car is too much when we are sightseeing and they are more trouble than we care to manage. So of course, we took Larry and Connie kayaking. We found a great spot to launch the kayaks at Boca Chica Naval Annex.  Connie and I went out first and paddled around the bay.

Bob and Larry took a turn....

....and then Connie and Larry rented ocean kayaks so we could paddle out farther.

 After an enjoyable kayaking trip, we stopped in the Boca Chica snack bar and had lunch. Then it was time to head back to camp to get ready for our next adventure--a trip to Ft. Jefferson in Dry Tortugas. We left early in the morning to catch the ferry, Yankee Freedom III. We ate breakfast aboard as the trip took a little over 2 hours.

 Sixty eight miles west of Key West, we arrived at Ft. Jefferson.

 The only ways to visit the fort are by boat and seaplane.

  Two seaplanes were docked near our ferry.

  After disembarking, it was picture time. We had to prove we were actually at Ft. Jefferson!

We enjoyed walking around the fort and learning the history. Dr. Mudd who aided John Wilkes Booth after he shot Lincoln was incarcerated at Ft. Jefferson.
This is a view of the moat as seen from inside Ft. Jefferson . You can walk around the fort on the moat wall. A few people braved the cold water and snorkeled around the outside of the moat.

 Ft. Jefferson was a nice place to visit, but one trip out there is enough!

 We made one last trip to Mallory Square before our time was up in Key West. We caught a pretty good sunset.

 Alas, our time in Key West drew to an end and we had to play like northerners and return north. We did stop at the casino again on our way out of the Keys. Our goal was to bicycle Shark Valley in the northern portion of the Everglades. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other ideas. It was a cloudy, rainy day!

 We were able to walk about a mile of the 15 mile trail. And yes, in that mile we saw a lot of wildlife that you would expect to see in the Everglades.

 We also walked Otter Cave Trail before the rains really came down on us.

 From the casino we headed north to Wauchula, Florida and the Escapees park. It was just a stopping place on our way to our next destination--Universal Studios!

Adventures in the Keys! Part One

Ahhh, time to get on the road again! One Saturday in January we headed south, isn't that what most people do? Our first stop was the fam-camp at Patrick AFB. Alas, it was full so what to do? I made a quick phone call to a nearby campground and found out they had 3 sites left!  We reserved one then made a beeline for Wickham Park in Melbourne. It is a nice county park with plenty of camping and activities for all.

Sunday, we did a little geocaching on our way to Port Canaveral to meet our friends, Connie and Larry,  as they disembarked after  two weeks of cruising the Caribbean. We took them back to Patrick and made plans with them for our trip to the Florida Keys. We must have been camera shy as I can't find any pictures from Wickham Park or Patrick AFB Fam-Camp.

Our first travel picture is at our lunch stop traveling south on US 27 just north of I-75. It was the first place we found where we could pull over and have room for both rigs!

Our next stop was the Miccosukee Casino north of Homestead,  at the intersection of SR 997 and US 41. The tall building in the background is the casino.

Larry needed to catch up on some work so Bob, Connie and I took a walk around the casino. At the rear of the casino we found an old wooden boardwalk. We set out to explore the area and get some steps on our fitbits.

We spent one night at the casino then continued toward our destination: Key West. After checking in at the Key West Naval Station we continued through road construction on US 1 to Trumbo Point.  Here we would camp for two weeks and explore the lower keys.

As you can tell from this picture, it was windy the first day we walked to Mallory Square. I think we saw a cruise ship in port every day we walked the area.

Our walking sessions on Trumbo Point took us by this abandoned sailboat. Most of the valuable items have been stripped from the boat and it has been tagged by the Coast Guard.

Now who in their right mind is going to skip a seafood festival---not us! We strolled from Trumbo Point to the festival and sampled the conch fritters. They were good, but not as good as the ones Bob and I had with Walter at a place in Goodland, FL. We enjoyed the music and also chatting with other Boomer friends.

On our walk back to the campground, we spotted one of the many unique signs in Key West.

Time for another walk to Mallory Square!

Another walk took us past Truman's Little White House. Several U.S. presidents  vacationed at Key West.

As is the custom when Connie and Larry join us for adventures, Bob, Connie and Larry get sick! I, on the other hand, am immune to their ills! Once Larry started feeling better, we went to Bahia Honda State Park south of Marathon. We are standing on the good portion of Flagler's railroad bridge.

This is the portion that has not been repaired!

Now any trip to Key West is incomplete without eating seafood several times. We enjoyed a chilly evening at Hog Fish Bar and Grill on Stock Island.

On one of our other walks we came across Key West Legal Rum Distillery. It was interesting to hear the history behind the distillery and to get a sample. Unfortunately the gentleman dispersing the samples was stingy and only let one person have the cinnamon rum and pina colada samples. We left without so much as a fare thee well since he was being rude.

Fortunately for Connie and I the Key West Winery was just next door! The samples flowed freely and we both purchased some wine. Who would have thought that Key Lime Wine could be so tasty?

I mentioned meeting more Boomers at the seafood festival.We made plans for a Boomer Happy Hour at the Key West Naval Station. Here it looks like we are enjoying a warm get together, but in all honesty, it was breezy and chilly! We ditched the jackets just for this picture. Gisela, Bill, Duane, Betty, Bob, Connie, Larry and I all grabbed our jackets as soon as the camera clicked! Of course, being Boomers, we planned another Happy Hour later in the week.

Key West is a great place to ride bicycles. One Saturday morning, we took our bikes and rode along the beachfront trail.

MWR at Key West Naval Station has a yearly potluck for those staying at the Fam-Camp and Trumbo Point. We enjoyed the food and visiting with other campers. Once again, the weather turned cooler while we were there.

I think that is enough for this session. I will continue the Keys Trip a bit later. We definitely enjoyed our time and will do it again soon!

Home, Baby Shower, and Our Newest Grandbaby!

Time flew last summer. It seemed we were barely home before it was time for the baby shower for our newest grand baby to be. Before the shower we took a day off to have a cookout and swim party for Andy's family visiting from Connecticut. All the boys tried a simultaneous jump into the pool.

 Then it was baby shower time!

 My sweet sister made the favors for the party. I made the diaper cake.

 Time for those last minute decorations.

 Everyone had a great time. Princess Petunia is going to be the best dressed baby anywhere!

 After much anticipation, Sydney Isabella arrived!

 Great Grandma Dot and Great Grandpa Bob came to visit when she was a few weeks old.

Bob and I took them sightseeing at World Golf Hall of Fame near St. Augustine. There was a lot to see in the way of golf memorabilia. There was also a traveling tribute to Bob Hope which we all enjoyed viewing.

Sydney had to meet more of her doting fans (Aunt Bea and Uncle Walter), so Jennifer and I made a trip to Jacksonville.

Whew, now that Sydney has arrived, maybe we can catch our breath before our next big adventure.....