Moving Day

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Well we hoisted the anchor and pointed our ship north for the return trip home today. We have had such a great stay, but still leave with a few things not accomplished. We wanted to get together with Carol Gilley one more time. Never got to Bahama Breeze. Never got to The Big Wheel Flea Market or back to Webster. They'll all have to wait till next year I guess.
We have had a wonderful time, seen some new sites, and shared great times with many wonderful friends and family.
We now move on to Asheville, NC and the Biltmore House.

Stopped for a pit stop in Daytona and got a view of the track.



We racked up 1000 km and went from sea level to over 2000 feet here in Asheville. We arrived around 6:00, checked our bags at the hotel and checked out the downtown area. What a pleasant surprise. The downtown area is loaded with artsy fartsy stores and loads of young people. We've seen more than a few Old VW vans. It seems like a thriving Hippie Village. In fact our server tonight said that it was used as a Hippie Village in the new movie The Hunger Games.

A long and tiring day, but looking forward to the Biltmore House tomorrow.




Last Day

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Our last day here in Floridise. We decided to try and find the Disney Collectible store that Quinton and his wife Margaret had told us about. Followed the GPS out to Winter Garden and there it was.



Over 250,00 Disney items. Some real interesting stuff here.



You could have this Mickey for $1500!



Picked up a few items including 3 used Vinylmations that were huge scores!

From there we went back to Disney Market Place. Sat and watched Sunny Jim for a set.



Asked him to do Hotel California. He does an awesome version along with steel drums.



Went through the various stores trading and upgrading a few of our Vinylmations. Took one last cruise up to Key West then back to Pleasure Island and worked our way back to our vehicle with one last stop at Ghiaradellis 80)

We headed back for one last dinner at Miller's Ale House. A great way to end the Florida portion of this most memorable trip. Packed up and ready to go in the morning.

 



Rambling

Tuesday, March, 27, 2012

This tree on the property reminds me of the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom. A very majestic looking tree.



This is my office view.



While I was doing this, an Osprey came by and I watched him soaring for 15 minutes before he finally put his wings back and plowed into the water. Unfortunately, he came up empty handed (taloned??)



So just to explain, the bridge below leads to an island where one of the greens resides for one of the 4 golf courses here. I don't know which one it is, Bud & Mardi could tell you.



Now tell me, how stupid is that?? I have sat and watched golfer after golfer put their balls into the water again and again. I have heard a lot of £!##%. I have also picked up a few balls that golfers have hit just feet from our patio and are too embarrassed or rich to pick them up. And they say golf is relaxing. Hahahahaha, not from what I've seen. It is however; extremely relaxing and entertaining to sit in the sun with the gentle breeze blowing watching these crazies put on a show!
And it's another "free" activity that I've enjoyed!!

We were on our way out to pick up a few things and as we passed the Gaylord Palms we were discussing how we hadn't stopped in this year. Eeerrrrch! quick right hand turn and we're in the parking lot. First half hour is free. After that it's a $15 flat fee! Yikes! So I start my stopwatch and we head in, check the place out again, take a few pictures.......
Not sure if you can make out all the turtles and alligators on the rock in this shot.

 

 Lots of beautiful flowers and fauna.

 
 

 
Chris does a bit of shopping and we come out 50 minutes later.......... So I turn on my charm with the parking attendant and she let's us out for "free"!!.…fistpump!

We stopped at the Loop and  Premium Outlet for a few last minute things.  When we were at Premium we of course went into the Disney Character Store and they had 2011 Vinylmations on sale for $1.99.

 

They only had three left so we bought them all.  We immediately traded one and ended up getting Ariel which is selling for $125 on E-Bay!!!  Yeah baby!

 

We traded another for a Cave Painting from Urban #8



Then traded him to a Vinylmation Trader that we met there for "Dan from Animal Kingdom Series 3" which is currently selliing for $60! 



Quinton and his wife (the traders) were very interesting young folks.  Very knowledgeable and we had a very interesting discussion with them covering all sorts of interesting topics.

Has anybody noticed the neat sky show recently?  That's the Moon, Venus and Jupiter all together in the night sky.  Very cool.  Always thought it was cool that we could be 1500 miles away and looking at the same thing in the sky as people back home.




Has anybody noticed the fluffy white clouds in all our pictures?? We have lived in Paradise almost every day for the last 3 months. Barry sent me a local weather report from home last week where it was unseasonably warm. Well I think today he is wearing long underwear again. You know, the kind with the trap door in the back. We have been experiencing cool nights this week, dropping down to 65 sometimes (that's 18C for you idiots that still use that system).
The forecast for Asheville, Nashville and Branson is still 70's, so could someone please turn the weather back up before we get home?

Thank You 80)