Poor Gecko

Went to open the patio doors only to see a lizard had got trapped between the door and it's runner. Poked it to discover it was already dead and really struck and I hate anything like that when it comes to animals. Got the tool box out and with some pliers tried to dislodge it but it's tail come off and that was it for me, I couldn't touch it again so Sally had to remove it. Once the poor little thing was dislodged I sucked it up the hoover.

Spent the rest of the day chilling at home and around the pool, spoke to my mum on FaceTime which was good. Also got an email from Hansa my agent and she is coming to see the condo tomorrow and to let me know if it's good to rent.

Indoors for a nice home cooked meal and a well earned beer.  

Back Home

On returning home we had a couple of chill/admin days where phone calls and meetings with Hansa took place. Rental all set up now, she just needs to find me a great tenant. Washing machine taken away for repair and is being brought back this Thursday. 

Had a lovely walk round the lakes at Celebration but this time only saw one alligator but lots of wild birds. Camera in hand I got some lovely photos of a heron inflight.

Took a day out to coco bench and the weather was great, the sea was a bit rough with waves crushing in, we just loved it. Down side to the day is I fell over, not just a slip but a full frontal assault onto the tarmac. Jumped up full of embarrassment not realising that I had hurt my knee, foot and arm, limped back to the beach to tell my tale and as I expected very little sympathy. The next day my foot was still sore so we didn't go too far as I was struggling to walk, hope it's a quick recovery as Disney is waiting for me.

Spent a day at the pool and tested my gopro camera, it works well and I can't wait to use it in open water. While at the pool I watched while a insect was being eaten alive by ants and wasn't happy watching this. I managed to clear the ants from the insect and place it on a sun lounger to see if it would live or die. While a watched a bloody gecko came out of the bushes and had it for his lunch, so much for nature..........
Went to the malls to pick up some gifts for the family and off course I couldn't resist a new pair of trainers and tee shirt, I think I have brought a whole new wardrobe.

Coco Beach

Decided that our last day should be spent at the beach and our favourite beach is Coco Beach. Up early and we were there at 10.30, parked the car and had some breakfast at McDonalds. 

The beach was already packed but it's so wide that it can cater for thousands and still you can have your own space. The waves were bigger and more powerful than last time and we had some great fun in them. It was hot again but was sensible and applied lots of lotion as we have a long flight tomorrow.

Brought a few bits from the shops before heading home to start the packing and would you believe it we can't fit it all in our two bags. Going off tomorrow to buy a bigger bag so our smaller bag fits inside it and we can then hopefully fit the rest of our kit in to it, if not I will have to pay for an extra bag.........is it worth it?

Exotic Car Festival

Headed down to Celebration's for there Exotic Car Festival, not really sure what to expect. It was packed with people and lots of really beautiful cars. There was top of the range sports cars, vintage cars, very high priced luxury cars and bikes from Orange County Choppers. The Dad from the TV show was there and I got my photo taken with him, he was a real sport as he spent hours in the sun having his photo taken. 

On a stage there was the Star Wars characters having their photos taken with people for $10 which went to Make a Wish charity. 

Was there all day and it was a real hot day but worth it.

Rented a DVD for the evening, not the best film but it past a couple of hours.

Tarpon Springs

Interesting day, finally got washing machine back so we can now wash some clothes, especially pants. And guess what it still has a small leak but we think it's the water pressure spraying up and over the drum, time will tell.

Off to Tarpon Springs which is north of Tampa and about 100 miles from here. It's a sponge fishing village and it's main population is Greek due to the fishermen all coming over when the sponge beds were discovered. It's a quint little place and it does feel like your walking down a street of a Grecian village. Heading off to Sunset Beach where we relaxed for a couple of hours before the drive home.

Disney Animal Kingdom

Well we woke to the rain again even through the forecast was good, anyway we headed to Disney. Glad we did as the day turned out good, the weather was fine and the park was good. It's divided up into parts of the world, Asia, Africa, Dinoland USA and Discovery Island, my favourite was Asia as it brought back lots of memories to my past travels. In true Disney style the sets were 100% accurate to the real places. Sally did the rides and I watched but I did go on the rapids ride and yes I got soaked. Met all the Disney characters as we walked round and had a very expensive but nice coffee. The African safari was good with wild animals in large area, nearly as good as their natural habitat. Disney do a lot of research here for the conservation of endangered animals with a breeding programme. 

My favourite bit was "it's tough to be a bug" show, with 3D glasses the show comes alive, really good.

Came home for hotdogs, beer and key lime pie, living the American dream.

Crystal River

Reached Crystal River around lunch time so we went of exploring the river, when at a little harbour area 2 manatee's gracefully glided past us. I was amazed as for many years I had been coming here and never seen any. Drove round to the coast area for a nice walk, a few more harbours and a nice little area of the river where people swim and relax, Hunters Spring.

Checking into a hotel for the night and the receptionist said about eating in a place called Cody's. We took her advice and I had a great steak there, while you are waiting they bring you a bucket of monkey nuts so everywhere in the restaurant is covered with nut shells. 

The next day we drove around the same places hoping to spot some more manatee's. Parked up in Hunters Spring and two young girls were in the water playing when a manatee swam right up to them. I was amazed and we just watched this huge creature just sitting there in the water. It wasn't long before I was changed and in the water with this lovely creature. I had dreamt this moment for years and now I was in the water with one. Sally soon joined me and for a good hour we just watched and took photos, our fun was cut short by a jobs worth tour guy with a boat full of kids looking for the manatees. He said we shouldn't be swimming so close to them, shouldn't duck dive to take photos, shouldn't this and shouldn't do this. Anyway the 2 little girls mum went mad at him for shouting at her daughters and then a shouting match started and when yanks get going they don't stop. We slowly slid out of the water and waited until the group had left the area, but sadly so had the manatee. We stayed in the park and got some sun then went to the shops to grab some bits for a picnic back at the park. Some more manatees were spotted so we went to look but the water was very murky but could make out it was a mother and her calf, amazing. Spent the rest of the day there just chilling and watching these amazing gentle creatures.

Very tired and hot we started the last 80 miles home. Sad the trip was over but it's always nice to be home in your own bed.

Tupelo

We decided that we should hit the road and try and make it to Tupelo about 80 miles on from Memphis. Found a nice little motel just 3 miles from Elvis's birth place, so an early start to beat the crowds. 

Once again I'm surprised by the location of this little wooden house down a everyday residential road. Only thing that would have changed is that they moved the little chapel that Elvis used to sing in so it could be next to his birth home. Never went into the house as I feel you don't have too, it was no bigger than the average garage with its little porch that you can just picture the scene. The whole area was in some landscaped gardens which I thought after coming from Graceland was very tasteful and peaceful.

Leaving Tupelo around lunch time we started the long journey home back to Orlando. Drove through some big cities such as Birmingham, Montgomery and Dothan where we checked into a hotel for the night.

In the morning back on the road heading for Tallahassee, where we remembered to put our watches forward by an hour.

Memphis Tennessee

Approaching Memphis you realise how poor the state is, the worst I have seen in America. Within minutes we found Elvis Presley Boulevard where I knew we would find Graceland, the home of Elvis. Paid a visit the the local tourist centre as they are really helpful over here, got $2 off each ticket and free parking, total saving $14.00. Graceland was how I pictured it from all the pictures I had seen but what I didn't count on was it being at the side of this horrible road surrounded by poverty. They have made this into a huge business now for people to walk round, there is Elvis's 2 planes you can go inside, car and bike museum, areas just for his concerts and film career. After a couple of hours it was our turn to board the bus to take us across the road and through the famous gates to the home of the King of Rock n Roll.

Once inside visitors are only allowed to visit the ground floor, the basement and the outside grounds. The house was very bitty, no flow to it no two rooms matched and the colour scheme just didn't go but I guess back in the 70's that's how it was. Elvis had lots of out buildings built to house things like his gold record discs, pool table, an office for his Dad, stables and a remembrance garden where his mother, gran, father and himself are buried. 

All my life I have waited for this day and a part of me is now sad as a lot of what I thought of Elvis is untrue, kind of scattered my illusions of him. But I'm also very happy that I have made it here and paid my respects to Elvis Arron Presley and his family.

Moving on from Graceland we drove to the Sun Studio where Elvis recorded his first track "That's alright Mama" again this place hasn't changed one bit, in fact the whole of Memphis is in a time warp. 

Just down the road is the famous Bearle Street, just like Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Cheap beer, loud music, lots of police and street performers.

The famous A. Schwab shore is still open and well worth a visit, also the Peabody Hotel and it's famous ducks. The Mississippi River was great to see in lovely sunshine and we enjoyed the walk along its banks.

On driving out of Memphis you notice the cemeteries and all the graves have no headstones only a small bunch of flowers to mark them, is this another sign of the poverty that is here?

Mississippi Leg

After leaving New Orleans we hit a real bad storm and the roads were flooded and the traffic was moving really slowly, so it seemed forever to clear the city.

Now heading for Memphis in Tennessee on the interstate 59 which was a long old road and we knew we wouldn't make it there in the day. Decided to make it to Granada so that would leave as 80 miles to do the next day. Checked into the first place we saw as it was only a small town and knew we couldn't be fussy, OMG this place was a shit hole. The room smelt of cigarettes, the bedding was all stained and creased as if it hadn't been changed. I didn't want us to stay there but Sally doesn't like to make a fuss, I went to the reception and demanded our cash back. She was very reluctant to do so and I had to speak to some guy on the phone. Driving to the Econo Lodge we came across a police drug burst, entertaining, a good nights sleep was had by all. 

New Orleans Louisiana

The drive into New Orleans was horrible, it's all built up and getto looking. The roads make our spaghetti junction look like a piece of cake, so where we were going to stay outside the main tourist area but we quickly decided that would be a bad idea. Straight into Canal Street where we found a Quality Inn hotel that had a room that we could check into straight away, as it was only 11am. Once checked in and car park sorted we headed into town.

Canal Street is a lively busy street that takes you down to the Mississippi river, which is where we headed as we wanted to book a paddle streamer boat ride. Slight detour into the 24hr casino, paddle streamer all booked for tomorrow. Onwards to the French Quarter where it's just how I pictured it with its tall buildings with balconies full of hanging baskets.

Had to stop at the famous Du Monde cafe for a coffee and their even more famous dough nuts. We then came across the market where the locals are selling mainly home made jewellery and voodoo dolls but the best part was the band playing real old rag time/blues music. I loved this and could off sat there all day listening to them playing their old instruments and singing away without a care.

Further along the street a large band were playing and singing more up to date songs, it just seems there were groups setting up everywhere, it was great. The French Quarter was very atmospheric and full of character, I just loved it. We then came across Bourbon Street as we headed back to the hotel, it was kinda what I expected but it wasn't. The music in the bars was a great disappointment as it was everything but jazz or the blues which is what you expect to find in New Orleans. We did find a street group with a black lady singing, what a voice she had, amazing.

Back at the hotel we chilled for a bit before we went out to get something to eat, that was a task as everywhere was fish. Anyhow we did find a place where Sally had catfish and I had a very nice cheese burger. The city came alive at night but it reminded me of the programmes on TV on Ibiza or Kavos as it was just full of bars selling cheap booze and sex shows.

Walked around for awhile then headed back to the hotel satisfied we had done a good day of sight seeing.

What a difference a day makes as we woke up to a really bad thunder storm with very heavy rain. Went out after getting the hotel to store our bags and got soaked through, not nice. The Mississippi wasn't there any more as the rain was so heavy you couldn't make it out anymore. We decided to cancel our trip on the paddle streamer and got a refund which was lucky. Had a lovely wet walk around Louis Armstrong Park, this place was a tribute to him and to slavery, where they say it all started from.

Rain was really heavy so we took a walk around the Cathedral, heading out into the rain again as by now we were so wet it didn't matter anymore. After a coffee we both decided we had seen what we had come for and decided to head off as this weather front was here for a couple of days. Disappointed about the paddle boat tour but there's always a next time.

Onwards from Tallahassee

Up early and hit the road straight away without any breakfast or even a cup of tea. We cruised along the coast state road 98 to  Panama City where we found beaches to die for, the sand was so white and soft between your toes, but the sea was a bit cold for the Gulf coast but who cares. We brought some food and sat on the beach for a picnic, fed a bird that had a bad leg but the other birds bullied him and he flew off.

Back in the car and onwards to Pensacola, where again the beaches were incredible but no time to stop as we wanted to make it through Alabama and into Louisiana where we stayed in a hotel in Ocean Springs on the interstate 10

It was here that we realised that we had gone through a time zone change and we had gained an hour.

Up early as we are now so close to New Orleans now.

Road Trip across The States

Well after 3 days not well with a chest infection we finally hit the road on Tuesday with the idea of getting to New Orleans, Memphis, Tupelo and Crystal River.

Getting out of Orlando and avoiding the toll road is a miracle and a confusing drive but we made it and now on the open road.

We stopped at a tourist centre in Hernando and got lots of info on the area and decided on a detour to Cedar Keys, what a great place. Had a picnic on the beach while we watched the dolphins at play in the sea, spent a couple of hours there before we moved on to Tallahassee. Stayed in a Red Roof Hotel which was very nice and next door to a restaurant. Still feeling abit rough I headed for an early night as still a lot of driving ahead of us.

Rodeo

Feeling a bit rough today but still I went to the gym for a light workout but rest of the day stayed in and played cards.

Late afternoon went to the Florida Mall for a look around and to go to the massive M&M store.

After a coffee we went of to the Kissimmee Rodeo, which I must say was very good considering trip adviser had said don't bother with it. Only lasted for 2 hours but it was some real action and cowboys getting hurt.

Think I have a cold now : (