Our Kids are Here!

South Beach Grill

I haven't blogged in the last week, but we continue to love Florida.  The weather has been a little gloomier and we hadn't planned any day trips, so it was a time of relaxation and getting caught up on office work.  One afternoon, we were all getting a little restless so Betty suggested going out for a drink.  Well, it ended up being a mini- pub crawl, going to 3 really fun bars.  We had a great time!








Sunset Grill



On Friday, Ashley, Chad and Lindsey were arriving in Orlando at 10:00 PM, so Gordy and I decided to go early in the morning and take in Epcot.  We had a great time, riding the rides, and enjoying the scenery; but it felt like something was missing-- it was our first time ever at an amusement park without kids!!! 



Gordy enjoyed a bratz with sauerkraut in Germany



We actually stayed 9 hours!


Off to the Orlando airport to pick up the kids. 



Lindsey & Ashley- (Ashley is hiding behind the pole)

  Our first full day with Ashley, Lindsey, and Chad, involved going to DeLeon State for make-it-yourself pancakes at the Sugar Mill.  We take all our visitors here.  It's Gordy's & my fourth visit here - and we still love it.  The kids really enjoyed them too.



Gordy can't believe he's here again!




Walking the grounds, enjoying the scenery.

Then off to Blue Spring State Park to see the Manatees!  We never get tired of seeing them.  We also got to see an alligator, turtle, and armadillo.




One of 244 manatees at the park today!




On the way home, we stopped at Finn's for a drink.




Then on to Golden Lion for awesome fish and chips. 

It was a fun first day.  We really enjoy having the kids here.

Today was also a great day.  The weather was warm and sunny.  Ashley went out for a run, then Chad, Ashley, Lindsey and I went for a walk on the beach.  Ran into Betty, Jen, Brian, Reed, Emma & Jillian there.



The rest of the day we enjoyed at the pool, having lunch there together with Jen, Brian & the kids.



Hot game of Euchre.

Finished the day grilling hamburgers together.  An awesome day at Surf Club II.




Day Trip - Ponce De Leon Inlet Light Station Museum

After working out in the morning, I like to walk down to the end of the pier. This is a picture of our beach early this morning at high tide.  It is beautiful no matter what time of the day we go down there.

We decided it was time for another day trip so off we went.  Traveling partly on the Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail, our first destination was the Ponce DeLeon Inlet Light Station.  I have a fascination for light houses so this was an awesome trip for me. 



On the way there.



This is our first view of the lighthouse in Ponce Inlet.  It soars 175 feet into the sky- the tallest lighthouse in Florida and one of the tallest in the nation.It has a 32 foot diameter base and narrows to a 12 foot diameter top.  It took one and a quarter million bricks and 3 years to build.  Completed in 1887, it has guided mariners safely to their destinations for over 120 years, and is a National Historic Landmark.

Before entering the lighthouse we walked thru the nature trail at the back of the property.

These next 2 pictures are for my cat- lover friends, especially my tennis captain, Nancy.  Cats had a very important place at the lighthouse.

Surrounding the lighthouse were several buildings, including the keepers' dwellings.  The buildings contained displays, not only about the lives of the lightkeepers but important parts of history.



The First Assistant Keeper's Dwelling- Notice the phonograph player.

  Finally we entered the lighthouse!


John and Gordy starting their trek to the top- 203 steps!




We all reached the top.




View from the top.




A little windy out on the ledge.




Now I know where I get my fear of heights. 




The beacon at the top.




Going down went twice as fast as going up- but still a little scarey.




The Ponce DeLeon Lighthouse is a beautiful lighthouse and the grounds around it are also beautiful.  I would suggest this trip to everyone!

We did a little more sightseeing in Ponce Inlet and stopped at a great eating place called Down the Hatch.  The food was great and it was fun eating outside with all the beautiful scenery.





We continued south to New Smyrna Beach, a beautiful white-sand beach where you can see all kinds of boats, surfers, waders, pelicans, etc.

 Betty and I loved the little shops on Flagler Avenue, which is right off the beach.  We treated ourselves to ice cream at Treats on the Beach before heading home.

It was a full, fun day.  We assured each other we will repeat this trip when we're here next year!

Iowa Boys Get Scared by 10 Foot Alligator

Our last day together before our visitors have to leave to go back to Minnesota and Iowa.  We started out the day with a walk from our condo to the intercoastal waters--about a mile walk through a rain forest-like area.

When we got to the intercoastal waters, we enjoyed the scenery for quite awhile.  A few boats went by, we saw a kayaker take off and then were treated to a few dolphins swimming right by us. 



Terry & Sue



Chuck and Mary



John & Betty



Dee & Gordy




Laurie & Mike



After our walk from the intercoastal waters, we went to the pool.  We grilled brats and ate down by the pool.



Mike - our Master Griller



John & Chuck entertaining us with their synchronized foot ballet in the hottub.

Early afternoon we went to Fort Matanzas National Monument about 5 miles north of here.  A little bit of history... In 1565, French soldiers were massacred here by the Spanish, which was the beginning of Spain establishing a colony in Florida.  St. Augustine was the heart of Spain's coastal defenses in Florida.  Not protected well from the south, Spain constructed Fort Matanzas in 1740-42 to ward off British encroachments on st. Augustine.    When Spain transferred Florida to the US in 1819, the fort was so badly deteriorated tht its soldiers could no longer live inside.  The US never occupied the fort.



Took a boat over to get to Fort Matanzas



A Very Informative Guide





Climbing to the Soldiers Quarters





Climbing to the roof



Hope he doesn't get stuck.



The Soldiers' Quarters




The Garita (Sentry Box)





Walked the nature trail after getting back across the water.

  For our next adventure, I think you really had to be with us to appreciate the thrill of it.  We had heard about an area called River to Sea, which we decided to explore on our way home from Fort Matanzas.  After we parked our cars, we walked into the area and came to a pond which we started to walk around.  When we got to the other side, we were looking over the pond and thought we saw an alligator in the water but not positive.  So after enjoying the scenery for awhile, we walked back the way we came.  Getting back to where we started, we looked back over the pond, and Chuck discovered a huge alligator sitting on the bank of the pond about 40 feet from where we had just walked by.  So Chuck & Gordy decided to go investigate.  They went over to that area, and even tho they couldn't see through the vegetation, we could tell they were about 30 feet away from the alligator.  They picked up branches and thru them up over the vegetation and over the alligator and into the pond.  When the alligator heard the splash, he jumped up and leaped into the pond.  It was so fast, we all screamed.  Gordy said Chuck can run really fast.  I don't know what we would have done if the gator would have gone toward the guys instead of towards the splash.  He was huge.  We decided we would not be walking in that area again.

Back to the condo, where we had our last meal together.  Grilled hamburgers.  And this plate of chocolate goodies was made by Betty.

We took off for the airport about 5:15 this morning.  We so hated to say good-by and send them back to the cold. Hopefully, they will all come back next year.

 After they left, we went to the pool.  There was a plane circling overhead, and John said that might mean they spotted a whale.  So we headed to the beach, and there I saw my first whale of the season!  Not only a whale, but a baby whale too.  Betty and I walked a mile south on the beach watching them the whole time.  I was amazed at how much of the whales we could see.  I love it here!