I Told You Driving Was Bad For Your Health! *2/2* NEW TRIP REPORT LINK P102

[khertz]

So impressed with your video!! You are very talented.

You got some fun pictures inside of Test Track. I'm sure Denny was thrilled with your choice in car color. That girl in the back seat definitely does look like she is having a blast!

What a great view for lunch! That turtle sure seemed to be a camera hog. Very nice choice for a last Disney meal before heading out to Daytona.

 

[Disney9.9.10]

What a beautiful day at Epcot! Your photos are gorgeous and I never get sick of seeing the monorail!!

Your photo tour through TT is great! I'm excited to check it out on our next trip.

I'm glad that Coral Reef was so great for you! The food looks delicious and you scored a great table location too!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Mary Ellen, you video was soooo good! I loved that you incorporated the picture that I loved in it (the one with the teenager/young adult kneeling in the pews). You are so very talented!

From the looks of your pictures, you two really scored on the seating at Coral Reef. I'm glad that you enjoyed your meal there too. We have always had good meals there.

 

[MEK]

What a beautiful video! You are so talented, I'm impressed

Thanks you! and thanks so much for watching it!!!!

Your pictures of Epcot are beautiful, as are all your photos! I really need to get a better camera - my daughter was giving me photography tips on our last trip, but I think you really have to have an eye for it. I'm pretty sure I don't

Thank you! I do have a little bit of an eye, but I don't know as much as I would like to about using my camera. I just love photography because normally I am not good at concentrating on details. Photography helps me go back and actual look at details. I looks at things with a totally different perspective. It's fun. The best pictures are the ones that are spontaneous.

Love your photos of Test Track! After seeing yours, I'm getting some ideas of the type of pictures I would like to try on TT in a few weeks! :good vibes

A few weeks? NICE! I'm so excited you are going again so soon because you know what that means - MORE PICTURES!!!!!!

And love the reaction of the girl in the backseat. Either she's having the time of her life or something really heavy just fell on her foot!

My vote is on having the time of her life. She just looks so giddy. It's so cool!

Wonderful views at Coral Reef! I don't think I would have been able to focus on dining with Mr. Crush floating so close by.

Sitting so close to that turtle was really amazing. I have always wanted to sit near that tank and I finally got a chance. I loved it! Nothing like yummy food and a great view!

I just watched and listened to your video. You have been blessed with such a beautiful voice and musical talent. Thanks for sharing it!

Thank you! And thanks so much for taking the time to listen!

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I am not familiar with the Child of the Poor song.

Scott Soper is a Catholic composer, so the song is probably played mostly in Catholic churches. I think its such a creative way of combining a song with What Child is This. He did a great job.

I did not understand what I was doing on new TT but it seemed fine , I still don't like that last sprint , too fast for me . But I can tolerate it once a trip !! Now I have added Star Tours to my list, and weird thing is Carol didn't like it

So you liked TT and Carol didn't? I love the last loop around the building. I wish it was longer. I hate when it ends. Glad you liked TT, or sort of like TT.

Your video was great !!!! You really have a wonderful talent.

Thanks Pat! And thanks so much for listening!

Good use of FP.

I tend to agree!

I guess I like the new TT but the design process is a bit stressful.

Me TOO! That's why I let Denny do all the designing. I would be making constant modifications. I would never get it done. I think I'll let Cynthia do it in May.

Happy New Year!!!!!

Thanks. Same to you!

 

[englishrose47]

Thanks you! and thanks so much for watching it!!



So you liked TT and Carol didn't? I love the last loop around the building. I wish it was longer. I hate when it ends. Glad you liked TT, or sort of like TT.


!

Carol liked TT she did NOT like Star Tours

 

[scottny]

Nice video.
LOL at the fp times.
Nice TT pics.
You do look happy in the pic after the ride.
MMM, Coral Reef.

 

[afwdwfan]

I have no idea what that says, but it doesn't matter because we had instant FP's

Looks like they should have upgraded wait time signs when they did the refurb.

As you can see even small manipulations affect your score in one category or the other.

So what was the overall score on this one?

That girl in the backseat looks like she is having a great time.

Maybe it is just me, but it makes me think of Garth from Wayne's World.

Tired of the monorail yet?

NO - Of course you're not. It's cold outside and y'all wish you were in Disney right now. Am I right?

It's like you can read my mind!

Looks like a great morning and lunch at EPCOT. Too bad the Disney portion of the trip had to come to an end, but at least you have a bit more relaxation left.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

In my photos the signs show up as meaningless dots. It's some sort of effect of using a digital camera.

 

[MEK]

Hi Mary Ellen! Haven't been on the boards much lately, but I'm all caught up!

Yay! You're back! And your update yesterday was wonderful!

No Beverly?

That could have been Beverly, but I doubt it!

You guys are just no fun.

What, you think we have no sense of adventure? Well - you're right!

I'm glad I don't have a ticking clock at work. This would lead to seriously flawed designs!

Yup - that could be a serious problem!

What's he building, a Transformer?

It sure as heck looks like one, doesn't it? But at least he got it turned back into a car just in the nick of time!

Score! on the Coral Reef table. Still need to try that place out.

I really enjoyed that meal. I bet your kids would love the tank - especially Scotty!

I totally would have been taunting the fish. See this plate? Is this your buddy Hank? Maybe Phil?

Yeah - I thought about that. Believe me, I did! Especially after I had that glass of yummy wine.

All good things must come to a end. Thank goodness we have the DIS boards to relive the memories.

What a beautiful video! Thank you for sharing.

Thanks and Thank you for watching!

Love the color of your vehicle. Looks like one slick car.

I think the designs are all so cool! I love seeing what other people design just with a twist of the imagination.

I'm happy to hear you went to Coral Reef and loved it. Your entree is the best dish on the menu, hands down. And what better way to round up your day at Disney before leaving than with a delicious meal and an awesome view.

I did LOVE it and that entree really IS the best. I hope they never get rid of it. So, so good! And it was really the perfect way to end a Disney trip!

Oh, and there's no such thing as too many monorail pictures! Because you're exactly right, it's freezing out, and a warm day in Epcot sounds perfect right about now.

I heard even Florida is freezing right now. Gotta love January. It can be so fickle.

Monorails are great. I never get tired of seeing them OR taking pictures of them!

Just checking in on a cold day here in Western New York !!! Sure wish I didn't have to go to work !!!

OMG Rosie, I can only imagine how cold it must have been yesterday! It was like 8 degrees here. You should have seen all the clothes I had on just to walk into work from the parking lot. Stay warm!

 

[annmarieda]

Great updates! As always I love your pics!! Glad you tried CR... I haven't been terribly excited about my ADR there, but now I think I might know what I want to have there. Yum!!!

 

[MEK]

So impressed with your video!! You are very talented.

Thanks and thank you for taking the time to listen!

You got some fun pictures inside of Test Track. I'm sure Denny was thrilled with your choice in car color. That girl in the back seat definitely does look like she is having a blast!

What? You don't think Denny liked the pink car? He loved it. Yeah right!

That girl in the back seat was too cute. I love the pure joy on her face! It's awesome!

What a great view for lunch! That turtle sure seemed to be a camera hog. Very nice choice for a last Disney meal before heading out to Daytona.

He was a bit of a camera hog, wasn't he?

It was such a yummy last meal. I loved it!

What a beautiful day at Epcot! Your photos are gorgeous and I never get sick of seeing the monorail!!

It was a gorgeous day. A little warm, but considering it was June it could have been a heck of a lot worse.

I have to agree that its pretty hard to get sick of seeing a monorail. Is that even possible?

Your photo tour through TT is great! I'm excited to check it out on our next trip.

IMHO its a fun change to the ride. I really like. I hope you enjoy it as much as i did.

I'm glad that Coral Reef was so great for you! The food looks delicious and you scored a great table location too!

It was a really nice meal. Everything was perfect - the food, the wine, the company, and the scenery. Definitely a win-win!

Mary Ellen, you video was soooo good! I loved that you incorporated the picture that I loved in it (the one with the teenager/young adult kneeling in the pews). You are so very talented!

Thanks and thank you so much time for listening. I love that picture, too. I actually took it in Orlando at the Mary Queen of the Universe shrine. I almost forgot I had it.

From the looks of your pictures, you two really scored on the seating at Coral Reef. I'm glad that you enjoyed your meal there too. We have always had good meals there.

The meal was excellent and sitting so close to the tank was definitely the icing on the cake. I won't wait another 6 or 7 years until I return, that's for sure.

Carol liked TT she did NOT like Star Tours

Ahhhhh. That makes more sense. Star Tours is not for the motionally challenged, so I can definitely see Star Tours being much more of an issue than TT. Thanks for keeping me straight!

Nice video. .

Thanks. And thanks for taking the time to look at it!

LOL at the fp times. .

Pretty lame, huh?

Nice TT pics. .

Thanks. I loved the ride and now I'm glad I took so many pics.

You do look happy in the pic after the ride..

I think I was still on an adrenaline high from my multiple rides on TT. Nothing better to get the smiles going.

MMM, Coral Reef.

It really WAS that good. I loved it!

 

[MeMom]

Beautiful day!

Yes, it was.

We have not eaten at Coral Reef, but we have eaten at The Aquarium Restaurant here in Nashville, which is somewhat the same. The girls thought it was very cool to be eating with the fish.

I say goodbye to everything as I leave my last Disney Park, too. Not a bit weird, right?

 

[eandesmom]

Ok first before I forget I thought of you on our trip. My feet were scary red after we were in the hot tub, legs too. Not that I was over heated and I didn't notice till back up in the room. They weren't irritated feeling at all but it was weird. And bright red! All I could think of was what happened to you at Typhoon. It faded.

I do have some good news. As most of you know, I started a new job six months ago. I am finally settling in and I no longer have to work OT starting in January. How great is THAT? I also will only be doing two overnight shifts a month. I am thrilled. I feel like I am finally getting my free time back. Woo Hoo!

YAY for no more OT!

but the stand-by line was lengthy and Denny doesn't do single rider and we didn't feel like waiting in line.

He doesn't do single rider????

Instead we went here

The Legend of Jack Sparrow.

I thought this was cute as did the kids. Jeff didn't care for it but whatever. LOL!

In case you don't recognize that picture - we were getting ready to check out the new improved Test Track.


So what did I think of the new TT?

I really liked it. I liked the whole idea of designing a car. It was a challenge. I also liked the refurbishment of the track. It was fun and held my interest. I think Disney imagineers did a good job of taking what already existed and changing the concept of the ride. I know not everyone is a fan, but I think they really reworked the old ride to the best of its potential

Jeff hated it. He got ridiculously hung up on the fact that some of the enhancement options weren't real. And that it could have been a learning opportunity and they blew it. He wants real that one. Which is pretty funny coming from a sci fi geek. Oh brother! The kids loved the changes. I liked some of them, disliked others but overall would call it a wash for me on the changes.

I was looking for a specific mug, which they did NOT have. But spoiler alert - I was able to bring that mug home in October!

ooh, which mug? I am so sad to say I didn't fine one I wanted. At least not at Disney. Hoping to rectify that in May with a flower and garden one.

Our lunch destination

Didn't see that one coming! your entree looked really really good! The E's wanted to eat there...until they looked at the menu aren't realized their cousins wouldn't like a thing on it, not to mention it being a bit pricey for picky kids.

Fun! and some great pictures.

 

[SimplyGoofy]

I need to catch up, but I look forward to reading about another of your Disney adventures!

Returning to the beginning to start reading...

 

[Leshaface]

You did such a fantastic job with your video. I know i've said this before, but your voice is so wonderful and soothing Thanks for sharing!

Ooh Coral Reef! I rarely hear about that restaurant. Haven't been there since our first trip in 2008 and I think I got a mahi mahi dish and it was delicious! Glad your meal was a winner!

 

[MEK]

Looks like they should have upgraded wait time signs when they did the refurb.

Yeah maybe or maybe its just my photography skills …or lack there of!

So what was the overall score on this one?

It was over 200. I want to say 208 but the winning score was something like 223.

Maybe it is just me, but it makes me think of Garth from Wayne's World.

OMG! Your right! That is way TOO funny! It's the crazy hair.

It's like you can read my mind!

See - I KNEW someone would get tired of the monorail.

Looks like a great morning and lunch at EPCOT. Too bad the Disney portion of the trip had to come to an end, but at least you have a bit more relaxation left.

We really went out of that trip on a high. It's always sad when the Disney part of a trip ends, but I was looking forward to a few days or relaxation in Daytona.

In my photos the signs show up as meaningless dots. It's some sort of effect of using a digital camera.

So it's the digital camera? Hmmm - I wonder why that happens. Weird.

Great updates! As always I love your pics!! Glad you tried CR... I haven't been terribly excited about my ADR there, but now I think I might know what I want to have there. Yum!!!

If you like fish, you will love it. SO yummy good!

I hope you are having a great trip. I'm not sure which run you are doing, but I wish you the best this weekend.

Yes, it was.

Welcome back MeMom! I'm not even going to ask about your trip, I am just happy that you are making a full recovery!

We have not eaten at Coral Reef, but we have eaten at The Aquarium Restaurant here in Nashville, which is somewhat the same. The girls thought it was very cool to be eating with the fish.

It IS cool to eat with the fish. It must be especially cool to be a kid and eat with the fish. I would have been out of my mind with excitement.

I say goodbye to everything as I leave my last Disney Park, too. Not a bit weird, right?

Not weird at all. I would venture to say that most of us do the exact same thing.

 

[MEK]

Ok first before I forget I thought of you on our trip. My feet were scary red after we were in the hot tub, legs too. Not that I was over heated and I didn't notice till back up in the room. They weren't irritated feeling at all but it was weird. And bright red! All I could think of was what happened to you at Typhoon. It faded.

Yikes - that sounds terrible! I'm so glad it faded. I am sort of weird about skin rashes. I have this irrational fear of allergic reactions and one time when I got back from Disney I actually did get this boil on my upper thigh that I just could not get rid of. I think it was from shaving and then hitting the pool and getting bacteria under my skin.

I know you have really sensitive skin, and so do I, so I suspect our issues were related to that. Still - I would NOT like having red legs.

YAY for no more OT!

I feel much more relaxed knowing that. Not that the OT money wasn't nice, because it was. But working 11 or 12 days in a row is not normal and certainly not something I want to do at my age. That's for the young.

He doesn't do single rider????

I thought you knew that. I have no idea why. It's one of his idiosyncrasies. I guess he just doesn't like sitting with people he doesn't know. Whenever I pick single rider I have to go alone. He just waits.

I thought this was cute as did the kids. Jeff didn't care for it but whatever. LOL!

It was cute for what it is. I just enjoyed the visuals and I always like trying to take low light pictures. It's always a challenge.

Jeff hated it. He got ridiculously hung up on the fact that some of the enhancement options weren't real. And that it could have been a learning opportunity and they blew it. He wants real that one. Which is pretty funny coming from a sci fi geek. Oh brother! The kids loved the changes. I liked some of them, disliked others but overall would call it a wash for me on the changes.

That's the engineer in him. I guess for someone with that level of knowledge it might be disappointing because it really IS fictitious. I know a lot of people don't like the design changes, but if I had to watch that old video in the pre show one more time I was going to That was so tedious.

ooh, which mug? I am so sad to say I didn't fine one I wanted. At least not at Disney. Hoping to rectify that in May with a flower and garden one.

I'm too lazy to look for a picture, but I have that series of coffee mugs that are blue, green, and brown. They say "Mickey's Really Swell Coffee". My yellow one broke - awhile ago - and I could not find a replacement. All I could ever find was blue and brown. But FINALLY I found it! YAY!

Didn't see that one coming! your entree looked really really good! The E's wanted to eat there...until they looked at the menu aren't realized their cousins wouldn't like a thing on it, not to mention it being a bit pricey for picky kids.

I felt weird about booking it because it often gets bad reviews. But maybe I saw a review on Scott's TR. I was intrigued and decided to give it a try because I hadn't eaten there since 2005. I loved it. You would have loved that entree. So good!

Fun! and some great pictures.

Thanks.

I need to catch up, but I look forward to reading about another of your Disney adventures!

Returning to the beginning to start reading...

Thanks for joining in. Hopefully the links will help. I am just about ready to wrap this TR up because I have to start my October 2013 TR. I'm not organized enough to do 2 TR's at the same time!

You did such a fantastic job with your video. I know i've said this before, but your voice is so wonderful and soothing Thanks for sharing!

Thank you! Thanks so much for watching. That's a lovely compliment.

Ooh Coral Reef! I rarely hear about that restaurant. Haven't been there since our first trip in 2008 and I think I got a mahi mahi dish and it was delicious! Glad your meal was a winner!

It's sort of an unpopular restaurant and, you're right, you don't hear it mentioned too much. But I loved it. It was a great meal and I'm so glad we went there. Just perfect!

 

[MEK]

Tampa Time


Denny and I have a late February trip planned. I feel like its just around the corner so I have been doing some planning that I'd like to share with you.

We initially planned this trip because when we got back from our October trip I went right into an 11 day work stretch with 3 overnight shifts. I was so stressed, going into that long work stretch, that I knew I needed a getaway before May. I suggested the west coast of Florida because there were some cheap flights out of Wilmington.

However, the flights were only a couple days a week and the dates just didn't give us enough time. I wanted 5 nights, not four. Four is a tease.

So I had a light bulb moment and decided - heck - why not fly into Tampa and come home from Orlando. That would work and give us a 5 night trip. We could spend the last one or two nights at WDW. Why the heck not? We still have an active AP.

But the Orlando flight into Wilmington was early in the morning, basically wasting part of a day.

So instead of flying out of Wilmington I booked through SWA flying out of Baltimore. That allows use to fly out late at night after work, then have an additional 5 nights and 5 days.

Following me so far?

Now to find a place to stay near Tampa. Yikes - with spring training season on the horizon, the prices were high. Like $250 plus a night for any of the hotels I wanted to stay in, and there really weren't that many I liked. Oh Disney, how you have spoiled me!

So I started looking at VRBO and sent out a bunch of inquiries. If I was going to spend $200 plus a night, why not stay in a condo?

Then I hit on a carriage house in Tarpon Springs, Florida (which is northwest of Tampa Bay). Denny wasn't crazy about this property because it is located on the owner's property. Me, on the other hand, well I like trying unusual lodging, so I was all for it. Plus - $145 a night and she allowed a 3 night stay. Finally I convinced Denny, even though he still claims the awesome reviews on TA are fictitious.

Then the owner contacted me and asked if I wanted a 4th night for $90.

Hmmmm -

So I tweaked our plans a bit and decided to fly INTO & Out of Orlando and sandwich the gulf coast in between. This plan has the added advantage that it is cheaper to rent a car when flying in and out of the same airport. It saves us about $100.

So here are the plans folks (I'm leaving out the actual dates)

1st night - 7pm flight to Orlando. We both work this day. In October we found that leaving after work and flying out late was not such a bad thing. We sort of liked it.

Because of the late MCO arrival Denny didn't want to use DVC points, so I booked an AP rate here

(Note - I borrowed these pictures from the internet)



Yup - That is All Star Sports. I haven't stayed in a value resort in a long time, but I have always said I need to stay in every Disney resort. So I get to add another to my list. I figure its worth it to get the magic band and to avoid the endless obsessing I do over where to stay off site.

I think the rooms are cute



I think this pool is adorable



And the Hoops Hotel is such a visual treat that pictures can't possible do it justice.



The only thing I don't like about this stay is that I have to leave my room and get coffee in the morning. (I always pack my own) I think I'll just head down the street to Mickie D's for coffee instead of the Nesca-crap.

I did see that the counter service area at All Star Sports just got a face lift. It looks cute



Since we missed HS during our last visit I already have FP reservations there for the morning and a lunch reservation at Sci-Fi.

I think we'll hang around till mid afternoon and then head over to our Tarpon Springs digs.

It's a one bed room carriage house



It just looks so adorable



You can see the bath and bedroom in the background



It got excellent reviews on trip advisor and apparently the owner stocks the refrigerator with breakfast foods. How great is that?

There is an outside deck



And a cute little table outside



Plus a little tiki bar and fire pit on the property



I think we head into Tarpoon Springs for dinner on the Sponge docks. Yup - you heard me right - Tarpoon springs is home to the sponge docks.

I guess its not quite as popular as it used to be, but people do literally still dive for sponges in Tarpon Springs.



Sounds like there are still some gimmicky attractions related to sponge divers. You can actually go out on a boat and watch some guy put the scuba diving bell over his head while he dives for sponges. Hmmmm&. I'm probably not going to put that on the itinerary.



There are many greek restaurants in the area and they all have menus and reviews that sound amazing, so I am SO there!

I am not sure what our minute by minute itinerary is for the next 3 days, but it will involve this



There are a couple segway tours of the Tampa Riverfront and Ybor City. They both sound cool, but the one I am leaning towards is a tour at Fort DeSoto State Park. It meets in Saint Pete's for training, I guess, and then we drive to the state park.

Another thing on my bucket list is a visit to the Sunken Gardens in Crescent City, Saint Pete. I can probably do both of these things in one day



You know I love to take pictures and there is a groupon for this. $10 for two people.



I also want to see the historic district in St Pete.

We also want to going Kayaking



We missed our kayak tour at HHI because of Denny's hospitalization. There are a TON of places to rent kayaks, but since we are novices and Denny can't swim, I think we would both prefer to do an organized tour. Unfortunately, there aren't a ton of tours, but there is an outfitter that goes out of Tarpon Springs and Palm Harbor. We will most likely go with them.

I would love to do a Mangrove Tour, but I'm not sure the outfitter we picked does those. Whatever we end up doing will be OK with me.



One of our days will definitely be devoted to touring the local beaches.



I love seashells, so I'm sure my pockets will be full.



I want to tour Caladesi and Honeymoon Island. I know you can take a ferry from one to other. I forget which is which.

I wouldn't mind watching a beautiful sunset



One of the last things I want to do is tour the Big Cat Rescue in Tampa



The pictures of this place on trip advisor look amazing. They literally have every type of big (and some small) cats imaginable. They only offer tours once a day and advance reservations are necessary. It's $36 a ticket, but the reviews are outstanding. If I can't photograph the lion up close and personal at this sanctuary, then I might as well hang it up.

Denny isn't too keen on this addition to the itinerary, so we'll see.

Bottom line - the whole area sounds like an outside paradise with tons of small and large beaches and cool state parks. I keep uncovering more and more things to do. It's really hard to decide.

My only concern is I'm really not sure how long it will take to get from point A to point B. Not just mile wise (I've got that covered), but traffic and infrastructure wise.

If anyone is familiar with the area, plus jump in with tips and suggestions.

So, after our 4 nights and 3 full days in the Tampa Bay area, we will get up early and drive back to WDW for a day in the parks. Right now I have FP's for AK with lunch at the Tusker House. Denny LOVED the food there and keeps asking to go back. Well, Denny -you are finally getting your request.

We are staying at SSR for one. night It's our original home resort and I haven't stayed there in forever. I could have gotten BLT for one night, but I just don't think Denny will love it there. There were actually several resorts available for the one night, but I decided to go with nostalgia. Nevertheless, I am wait listed at BCV because Denny has never stayed there either and I wouldn't mind a visit to SAB. You never know - I might get lucky.

After visiting AK I'm not sure whether we'll go to Epcot or MK in the evening, so I don't have any dinner reservations. If the BCV wait list comes through then it will definitely be Epcot. If not, I'm not sure.

I have MK FP reservations for the next day and no lunch reservation. I'll add something later.

Our flight leaves at 5 that evening.

So that's my itinerary folks. Would love to hear what you think.

Continued In Next Post&.

 

[MEK]

Continued From Previous Post

So, on to my TR update (which is going to be short)

We were now on our war to Daytona and it was obvious we were gone from the bubble for good.



We needed to make a Costco pit stop. We were heading to see our friend's K & T and it was K's milestone birthday. We wanted to find him a good bottle of bourbon and thought Costco might work since they carry some top end liquor.

Holy crap - I am used to our tiny little outside liquor store here in Delaware.

But this is Florida where the liquor laws are much more relaxed and liquor can be purchased inside the store. The selection covered 5X the size of my crappy little liquor store. Pretty amazing with a huge selection.

And, apparently they offer manufacturer rebates on booze inside the store



I have to admit I was intrigued by a $5 reduced to $3 bottle of Orange mimosa champagne.



No - I did NOT buy it! But I was tempted by the bargain basement price.

We did pick up a couple bottles or better wine and a bottle of bourbon for K and headed to our Daytona home for two nights.

I love K&T's house. It's never messy (they don't have kids) and its got a huge lanai which looks over this lake.



T cooked a surprise dinner for K's birthday and hie brother and SIL joining in the festivities. There was too much drinking involved - I am sure of that!

Despite the hangover I am sure I had, I got up early to go out for a run. I ran through K & T's development and for some random reason I took a picture when I got to this gate and hand to turn around.



There are quite a labyrinth of streets in their development and they all look the same, but I found my way back



T decided that since they had 4 bikes, we should all go for a ride. I have no clue where we went or how far we went. I think perhaps we road along the inter coastal because we did pass some lovely houses. I know we were out for several hours and I remember that K pays no attention to traffic patterns or signals. Yeah - it was one of THOSE kind of rides.

I did take a few cell phone pictures of the place where we took a break



They're pretty crappy pics



I thought it was odd that this tree had a lock around it. Like someone might want to steal it?











After our break we headed towards a rest area where we could see Daytona beach

Hmmm - I suspect I never even tried to edit these pics because they are all crocked. No wonder they are extra crappy. Oh well. Too late now!









After our bike ride we changed into our bathing suits, no even bothering to shower, and we hit the beach. K & T always take us to Daytona Beach Shores. It's part of the drive on beach and away from the hustle and bustle of the main beach area. We love it there.



Kind of makes you want a beach house, doesn't it?



It's never really very crowded.



And the lifeguards are pretty laid back



Work that umbrella Denny!



Ah, yes, Denny's 2012 F&W T-shirt makes a rare appearance. So rare that he left it at home during F&W 2013.



Continued In Next Post

 

[MEK]

Continued From Previous Post

Interesting



So what does one do when they have their camera on a relatively uncrowded overcast beach day.? Well take pictures of other people's kids, of course.



This kid has half his body in a hole.







Of course, when I'm not busy photographing other people's kids, I photograph the cloud formations.



and umbrellas





and beach bikes





and birds





and sandcastles in the making



and lifeguards again



and a cool mother-daughter moment



I'm pretty sure we had lunch on the beach.

It was a perfectly relaxing day, but it's not over yet. Up next - Ponce Inlet and a Lighthouse visit.