The End (maybe)

This is all over – but is it the end ?

31/05/08

We flew out of Orlando on Thursday 22nd May back to the UK on a completely full Virgin 747, in stark contrast to our trip out to the USA last November on the same airline. This did not detract from the excellent service given by the crew of VS028, who were bright, cheerful and accommodating.
I suppose we could actually add the miles travelled from and to the UK across the Atlantic, but it would not be miles driven, so they would not count. We have not included the miles driven in the rental cars at the start and finish of our epic journey, or fuel for the same, but I can reveal a few facts about the trip.

We travelled through 22 states covering 11,324 miles and if it were not for the fuel increasing in price almost daily, we would have come in under budget on fuel costs, as it was we were slightly over. The food and drink came in under budget, but gawd knows how, ‘cos we didn’t stint on either. Some people said that we had our fair share of troubles with the RV, but considering the age of the beast, it was quite reasonable, and repairs actually came in $1 under budget. We were assisted by a weak dollar which made for a favourable exchange rate, for anyone else wanting to emulate our trip, I would say GO FOR IT, but you would need to budget at around £2000 per month.

So after a nine hour flog across the Atlantic and multiple journeys by train and car we finally arrived back where it all started, to be greeted by friends and family for a BBQ, in what was very reasonable weather for the UK.

21/5/08

Tuesday saw us back at Universal, but this time for the Islands of Adventure. I haven’t been on a roller coaster for years, but it was Janes birthday, and how can you possibly spoil that, so whenever she said “lets go on there” I succumbed. Started off on a quite small but quick and twisty one, and worked our way up through the Dragons Duel (twice) to the “Hulk”, with the odd water splash on the way. We must have been too much for the Hulk, ‘cos it didn’t run for ages afterwards, and when it did there were no riders for the next four trips that we watched.
Legs were completely shot this time, good job they have moving walkways back to the car park.

So Wednesday was spent very quietly buying a couple of odds and sods to take back with us to UK. Flight VS028 is timed for pushback at 17.50, and it has been on time the last two days, so tomorrow we are out of here.
Sad ain’t it? The blog is not quite finished though, a few statistics will get published after a period of recuperation in the UK, depends on how long the bruises take to heal after my grandsons have finished with me!!!

The drive back to Orlando included about five drops of rain, but then the sun took over as usual. We were far too early for check in but managed to pass time with a meal and a sunbathe.

Monday saw us at Universal Studios checking out all the shows, especially The Blues Brothers, as good as they were last time I was here. All the shows are good, it all depends how old/young you are at heart. The legs were starting to have a whinge by the end of the day, and the long walk back to the car seemed to take for ever.

17/5/08

Tomorrow we are off to Orlando for the final part of our adventure, perhaps as well, this place is going to get awfully crowded with the 50th running of the Daytona 500.
We have already bought the tickets for Universal and Islands of Adventure, so it looks as though the final days will be hectic enough to keep our minds off the fact that we fly home soon.

We were going to visit Laurie & Robbie from Lake Roselie, down the coast a ways in Sebastian State Park, but there are brush fires down in that area, with major road closures, so I do not see the point in putting ourselves in dangerous situations when there is no real necessity.
Keeping in touch with people in the UK has not been a problem, as you can see from the PC shot of Jane talking to Sue.

I really do not think we have got over our “lazy days” at Lake Rosalie, the time just seems to disappear into thin air, but I really do love watching the Pelicans as they fly in formation along the beach line, hardly ever flapping their wings as they cruise along. The sea is colder here than at Clearwater, and although many do, I do not think I will be going in there, the pool is a much better bet, just a wimp I guess. The temps are higher now, as you can see from the picture, 91F at 19.20.

The West coast to the East coast drive on Monday was made in perfect weather, although it was a little windy, and would have rattled the RV a bit, but that is long gone now. We are still carrying a lot of odds and ends that the “normal tourist” would not. We seem to have accumulated a milk crate full of toiletries and anti bug stuff, along with food etc. which tend to fill the crooks and nannies in the car. So when we arrived here in Daytona, and the receptionist told me the room was on the 5th floor, I wasn’t best amused. The maid at the next hotel is going to think all her birthdays have come at once when we finally depart from Orlando.

10/05/08 b

The drive to Clearwater Beach was very pleasant with hardly any traffic, but then it was Thursday and not in rush hour.
On arrival we drove along the back streets looking for a seedy motel with “amenities”, and boy did we find one. It did have a heated pool etc, but the microwave would not have held the many roaches that appeared to live in the dingy smelly room and no cooker.
We did find a reasonable place, at a reasonable price and cheaper than seedy Harrys, pity about the Hyatt having a new hotel being built opposite, but if you look carefully at the building site picture you will see the beach umbrella on the beach..
The temperature is much higher than when we were here in December, (see TV photo) and the then deserted beaches, are quite full and active now.

10/5/08

Yesterdays morning walk to get some goodies, turned into quite an adventure, we bought tickets to go Parasailing in the afternoon. A 1½ hour cruise on a fast boat, and 15 minutes of exhilaration in the air, with the mandatory dunk in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico at the end. We both agree that it was a fantastic experience, and after all those years in the RAF, the first time I had been on the end of a chute.
Seems we were really doing the touristy stuff, with Margaritas overlooking the sea, a walk along pier 60 and then watching the street entertainers plying their trade. A young escapologist and break dancers who were very good, and belly dancers who were absolute rubbish.

8/5/8

Yesterday we took advantage of Susans offer to use the boat, and with a crew of one captain Ahab set off across the bay for a small uninhabited island. Turned out there were about eight other boats there as well, together with a million dogs. A trip on the bay that turned out to be yet another pleasant experience.

Susan & Normans boat parking

She would have been miffed if I hadn't let her drive!

The 6th was “sorting out day”, getting all the stuff back into some semblance of order in the cases ready for a little more travelling and the return flight back to UK.Then encouraged by Doreens comments on Skype, we decided to throw caution to the wind and went into the pool. The 18F degree difference was quite a shock to the system, but was very invigorating, and ended up being very pleasant in the sunshine after that.

Then a drive to Tampa Airport to pick up the rental car, and do not let any rental company con you into getting an upgrade. The economy cars are big enough for two and four cases, they are slightly spartan with hand crank windows, but we have been used to that in the RV. We just beat the rush hour, so it was a pleasant drive back, at least for me posing in the open top BMW. (see previous photos at Alafia)

Evening of the 5th was very pleasant, but a bit sad. We drove over to Alafia where Eric and Margaret were camping and enjoyed a BBQ in that beautiful State Park.

Eric and I managed to dispose of a few beers and a considerable amount of wine, (the girls were not drinking so we had to).

It will probably be a while before we meet again, but friendships last, as this one has done for almost 52 years. Cannot remember much about the drive back, but I woke up at Apollo Beach so it must have been OK.

Spare ribs were great.

Eric in a pensive mood??