January 14, 2005 –

Well the rain started about 5:30 this morning – and came down hard until about 8:30 when Mickey decided to wake up and bless us with his presence – poor boy must have needed his sleep. He did more rollercoaster type rides yesterday than he has done in all his previous years – and even wanted to repeat Space Mountain without encouragement from anyone else.

We had an appointment booked with Disney Vacation Club this morning so made our way through the rain to Dizzy World. They were reporting that the torrential rains had resulted in major delays on the roads – but we were able to avoid most of them – however it was hard to keep the windows from fogging up – just due to how wet we got getting into the car.

As promised the presentation was no pressure and something that we will think about when we return home. The accommodations were top line and the two bedrooms – was bigger than most homes. The reciprocal arrangements they have with other Disney resorts – as well as resorts elsewhere are very positive. The other advantage is that being that it is a deeded title for 50 years – you have the ability to by an annual pass which is only available to Florida residents – and considerably cheaper than a 7-day pass. Kids seemed to enjoy themselves in the supervised games room – and then we all stopped for ice cream and a complementary picture.

Spend a bit of time walking around downtown Disney looking at the shops. Mickey was disappointed as the Lego store was in a temporary tent location (due to repairs and rebuilding of a new store) – and did not carry much of the older stock he was looking for. Further the store (tent) was fairly wet as the water was running in under the walls of the tent and they had to constantly squeegee out the floor.

As the rain was letting up a bit – we headed for Epcot – and for the most part only occasionally got sprinkled on for the rest of the day. The boys were able to complete a number of things in Innoventions (robot building) and then we walked around the World Showcase – which we had only seen in the dark up to now. Took in some performances the various countries – including some phenomenal young acrobats from China.

The displays that the various countries have are incredible – and the rain threatening throughout most of the day has kept the crowds down. Mom and Dad were able to complete their quest of having a beverage from each of the countries represented – (it’s important to have goals) – before heading for home.

Stopped by a Latin American buffet that we had seen on one of our previous days – to experiment with some new cuisine. We were able to recognize some of the foods – and although it was for the most part palatable – we did not find anything that jumped out at us, as a future “must have”. It was economical and the staff was really friendly and helpful and they did make a powerful Margarita.

January 15, 2005

The rain continued off and on throughout the night – and this morning – it was misting (not really enough to see or feel a drop – but you continued to get wet). Went on our second day to Sea World – and for the most part were content to walk around and look at the exhibits. Mom and the boys got to feed and pet the dolphins – and Mickey got soaked when a Dolphin jumped out of the water right beside him. He did not seem to mind too much however as it resulted in him being able to get a new T-Shirt for his trouble. Mom and the boys were also able to have a Dolphin play catch with them with a volleyball.

Mom and Keelan took in the Pet show again – but Dad and Mickey were content to walk and look at the various exhibits that they have. Ended up leaving before the park closed – feeling that we had seen all that we had wanted to see – and wanting to get back early one night so that we could start to get caught up on our journals and sleep. We also have to plan out what we want to see tomorrow on our last day at Dizzy World – and who will be going with who – as the interests are different enough we will probably have to go different directions.

January 16, 2005

Although the rains had let up during the night – it was still cloudy and blustery – and a bit cool. Everyone changed into long pants (for the first time since we were here) but Dad insisted on wearing his shorts and sandals – saying it wasn’t that cold. Looked kind of funny as some of the Japanese and Mexican tourists were walking around in long heavy winter coats. Mickey chattered and shivered for the first 1/2 – hour (and ended up with a cold the next day) but handled things like a trooper.

Although our list of things to see was very ambitious and involved rides or exhibits in three separate parks – we were able to accomplish most things – and this is despite today being the busiest crowds that we have seen (weekend and it being a holiday Monday – Martin Luther King Jr. day). This included all their favourite rides and a trip to Germany exhibit to pick up some of Mickey birthday presents from the money that grandma and the aunt’s sent him. Mickey also made a decision that he wanted to do Test Track – which they had not wanted to do before as it looked quite intimidating – and ended up going the first time with Dad and then the next time with Mom and Keelan (after convincing them that the ride was fun). The sun started to break through in the early afternoon and by evening it was quite nice – although the wind continued to gust from time to time. Dad continued in his shorts until they left the grounds at 9:00 PM – and was seen drinking beer – while everyone else was seemed to be wandering around with hot chocolates and blankets. Finished off the evening with sharing some of the foods from the World Showcase (Roasted smoked Turkey Legs – (dad’s favourite); English fish and chips (complete with Bass and Guinness) and Pretzels.

All in all everyone seemed to be content – with having seen and done everything we could (we are proud to say between us we went on all of the adventure type rides except Tower of Terror, pretty good for a bunch of wimpy woozles) – and were glad to be heading out and getting our life back onto more of a normal schedule – and not having to deal with crowds all the time. It will also help Dad’s feet heal up – as he still has not recovered from his favourite hiking scandals breaking on him and the resulting blisters that the variety of new shoes have given him.

January 17, 2005

It remained clear last night and as a result got somewhat cool overnight. The locals were all up running around in heavy jackets – complaining that it hadn’t even got up to 45 degrees yet. Packed up the camp and headed south from Kissimmee towards the Glades. Boys got back into the routine of doing their schoolwork – to make up for the time we spent at Dizzy World. They worked hard – and although Mickey was really getting stuffed up – they were able to keep focussed for the most part – and get back into the swing of things. We will have to keep them focussed on this for the next little while and keep our day trips to a minimum.

We travelled through citrus groves for the early part of the day – complete with warning signs indicating that wild boar may be crossing the road to get at the fruit on the ground. (Sure wouldn’t want to hit one of them, as they are big and low to the ground). The orchards seemed to be growing on little more than sand with a very thin layer of topsoil covered in grass. It seems amazing that they would be getting enough nutrients in this type of soil.

Closer to Moore Haven (our destination for the next week), we started to encounter sugar cane crops and grazing land on either side of the road. Occasionally the swampland would come in closer to the road but for the most part we travelled over slightly higher land.

We pulled into the campground, which is located several miles west of Moore Haven – a small town on the shores of Lake Okeechobee and just north of the start of the Everglades. The campground was required in increase their fees by $2.00 per day as a result of a new tax imposed by Glade Country in order to deal with some of the costs related to this year’s hurricanes. The campground has posted signs asking that you do not feed or hassle the alligators and also advertises paddle boats for use (seemed like an interesting combination – however a later checking revealed that they had gotten rid of the paddleboats – too many people hassling the gators.).

Driving through Moore Haven itself – you could see evidence that the town at one time had money – with some nice buildings downtown – and evidence of a water front park and Marina’s. It has evidently fallen on hard times – and most of the downtown is boarded up – and the largest number of open businesses seemed to be in used car parts. The majority of people in the town seem to live in mobile homes – which are in varying states of repair – and you can see several that were severely damaged by the hurricanes. In addition to several large RV parks that cater to the snowbirds – there is a medium size correctional facility on the edge of town. The one grocery store in town seemed a little higher priced than the surrounding areas. Picked up some essential items and headed back to the campground for an early supper and an ice cream social.

Wanting an early night as we have all been run a bit ragged – and Mickey seems to have a good cold settling in. The next couple of days will be spent catching up plus trying to determine the next leg of our trip – given that although campgrounds are more plentiful, the number of “snowbirds” seems to outnumber them considerably. There is a divey little mobile home park right under the freeway in Moore Haven that is advertising fully serviced lots for $295.00 per month – however Mom did not think that there was enough to do around here for a month – and the neighbourhood was not the best.

January 18, 2005

Up this morning and the cold weather had moved in. The temperature was about 8 degrees but with the wind – it felt closer to zero. The television news broadcasts showed the kids all bundled up in coats and scarves, waiting for the school buses. The campground was offering breakfast for $2.50 per person (bacon, sausage, eggs, biscuits, potatoes, coffee and juice) so we hurried down to partake in it before it ended. This campground seems to have a multitude of activities going on all the time – which appear to be well attended. Someone from the welcoming committee came and gave us an invite to a meeting should we want to know more about the resort. This is the first time that someone has actively tried to solicit our interest in becoming a member.

Today was designed as another catch up day – with the boys busily worked on their journals, and Mom and Dad doing clean up and minor fix ups around the motor home. Mickey finished up his journals first so he and Dad took a run into Clewiston – to look for a birthday cake for Mickey. Clewiston was gearing up to host the FLW and Outdoor Sport Network in a major bass fishing competition. The town is full of huge customized fishing boats and fancy trucks. There was a combination of professionally sponsored teams with coordinated colours and logos and some less fancy amateur teams in their down home outfits.

There were several major sugar cane refining plants in and around Clewiston – all of which have tall smoke stacks belching out major clouds of smoke and steam. You can see this smoke for many miles – partly due to the amount, and partly due to the surrounding area being relatively flat. Clewiston calls itself the Sweetest Town in America – because of the Sugar Cane – but other names come to mind.

With the wind today – Mom did a major wash on the sheets and comforters and allowed them to dry in the breeze. Mickey was a bit slow today with his cold but was able to do everything – except for the afternoon swim with Keelan. However with all the fresh oranges and orange juice around, we are hoping he will be able to get over the cold quickly.

January 19, 2005 – (Mickey’s Birthday)

Lazy morning getting up – as the kids slept in and Mickey was still a bit under the weather with his cold but appeared to be on the mend. Did school work and clean up interspersed with a free hot dog feed at the Club House and Mickey opening his presents. The big Playmobil Castle that Mickey bought in Disney with the money from Grandma and the aunts – was open and inspected – the smaller pieces assembled – and then put into the upper storage – for the trip home. Mickey felt that it would be better to play with at home with his friends – than risk pieces getting lost down here. Also into storage went the 6-inch round puffer fish that Keelan gave him (in order to keep it safe until it can be hung up at home). Mickey was pleased with his Mission to Mars Lego from Mom and Dad (after being unable to find any of it at the Lego store in Disney) and that will remain out to be played with for the time being.

The day finished up with us having Carmel Apple Pie – Mickey’s pick for his birthday “cake”- and a great pick at that. After that he was able to make a call home to Paul, his best friend, and talk to him for a while. Mickey said that the birthday felt a little different and that something was missing without his friends being around – but that was okay as he was really enjoying the trip.

January 20, 2005 –

Up this morning and after showers for everyone – drove to Labelle for an opportunity to pick Oranges and Grapefruit. There were two types of oranges and one type of grapefruit available and so we got about 20 pieces of fruit – at a cost of 10 cents a piece. The picking was offered through a real estate agent who was selling a house that had a small orchard. The house was vacant – and the orchard was small enough that it was not worthwhile to bring in commercial pickers – and therefore was offering this to opportunity to people at the campground.

Came back to the campground for lunch and some of the wonderful fruit. I am not sure if the oranges will last until we leave or if we will have to go for another picking before we pull up stakes. Deb was able to make reservations for the next little while at a couple of campgrounds in Everglades National Park – so we will be headed there on Monday. We have also heard from our friends from Alaska that camping on the Florida Keys may not be a practical option as they were just there and with Key West wanting in excess of $100.00 per day to for a campsite – I think we will satisfy ourselves with day trips through the area. Mom had already figured this out, however, we are still struggling to find places to get us up the west coast of Florida. We may have to break down and stay at a ‘Wally World’ parking lot.

Also got some disappointing news in regard to Sugar Cane tours. They are organized by the Clewiston Chamber of Commerce and follow the Sugar Cane from the farm through the refining process. The tour is about 4 hours long and demonstrates and explains everything in the making of sugar. It ends off at one of the local hotels with a lunch and sampling of some of the local products. Unfortunately due to liability reasons, some of the farms and factories do not allow children under the age of 12 on the premises – and therefore it does not look like we will not be able to go on this (to say nothing of the $27.50 per person).