Friday, April 15th and Saturday April 16th, 2011
Coming home – Day-1
This morning we got up at 6:00 a.m. to start our journey home to Gatineau. Since most of the packing was done the previous day, all I had to do was unhook the outside connections (sewer, water, cable, phone, electrical) hook the trailer to the truck and drive away. Unfortunately, on checking the trailer lights we discovered that one rear light was burned out and we had to wait for the RV centre to open at 8 a.m.
Once the repair was done we were finally on our way. The drive was rather uneventful, except that we found the price of gas had gone up almost one dollar per gallon since January. I certainly had not factored this in the planning of the trip. After a good day of driving, we stopped at the Walmart in Martinville, West Virginia. Other RVs and transport trucks were already parked for the night so we felt safe for the night. Unbeknown to us, a major storm was brewing in the south and heading our way. Over the course of the night I noticed that the winds were strong enough to shake the trailer. Both Dee and I were restless and by 4:00 a.m. we were both awake, so we decided to continue our journey.
Coming home – Day-2
The temperature had drop significantly overnight and it was really cold this morning. Even Keisha was not to keen on taking a morning walk before leaving. I was already starting to miss the hot sunny days of Florida! After getting a coffee at Macdonald's and a gas fill-up we left Martinville around 4:30 a.m. The interstate was definitely not busy at this time of the morning so it was nice to go through the road construction in Pennsylvania in light traffic. The edge of the major storm that hit North Carolina finally caught up with us as we drove further north. The wind was very strong and with low temperatures and rain it made for icy roads and I could sometime feel the trailer swaying more than usual. This weather system stayed with us for the whole day so I was very tired by the time we got home around 3:30 p.m.
It was nice to get to the border and after the customary questions from the border agent, we finally cross into Canada! Even if we truly enjoyed our three-month adventure in the south of the USA, it is always nice to come back home. The weather could have been better for our arrival, but like they say, this is Canada! It will take a few days to unpack the trailer and truck and get back into our daily routine, but we look forward to the summer and we will start dreaming of our next adventure.
We enjoyed sharing our Florida adventure with you all and we hope you enjoyed reading about it. Our final blog will be our list of travel tips we learned through the course of our travels.
Take care and may God keep you safe on your travels and where ever your life journeys may take you
Denis and Dee
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Island Green / Packing Day
Wednesday, April 13th, 2011
Island Green
We played our last golf game today. We choose to play at the Island Green Golf Club which was recommended by Maynard who with played at Indian Wells. The course design is interesting; however the fairway conditions were not the calibre we have become accustomed to. Having said that, we did enjoy our round with two club members, Ricky and Alice who live in Texas but own a home on the golf course here. They both are very good golfers and they were leaving the next day for a three-day couples tournament in the Atlanta area.
I have posted pictures I took during our round of golf. Have a look.
Thursday, April 14th, 2011
Packing Day
Today we took Keisha to the groomers at 7 a.m. and she was all pretty by 9 a.m. We came back to the trailer to start the process of readying the trailer for our journey home. Tomorrow morning we leave our paradise here at Myrtle Beach and start the first leg of the return journey via North Carolina and Virginia with an overnight stop somewhere in Pennsylvania. The last day of the journey will take us through Pennsylvania and New York State then up and over the bridge to the Canadian Customs at Ivy League.
To end the journey Denis and I decided that our last posting on this blog will be a list of travel tips we learned through our three months on the road. Hopefully, the lessons learned, the travel tips, what you must bring and what you must do to make this a really great trip may be of some use to others who may one day make this pilgrimage. I know y’all just can’t wait! (A wee bit of Southern drawl) Hey!! I have been here three months it starting to slip out!!! Yikes.
All day long I have been having little weepy moments when I think about leaving. I am really happy to be coming home and seeing our kids and grandkids and family and friends but I feel sad to be leaving this beautiful place that I have called home for twenty two days of this ninety day trip.
The drive home is expected to take 18 hours. We hope to reach Harrisburg Pennsylvania and stay overnight at a Wal-Mart. If everything goes according to plan, Denis should be backing up the trailer on its pad in the backyard sometime Saturday afternoon. We just might finally get to watch a hockey game again!
Island Green
We played our last golf game today. We choose to play at the Island Green Golf Club which was recommended by Maynard who with played at Indian Wells. The course design is interesting; however the fairway conditions were not the calibre we have become accustomed to. Having said that, we did enjoy our round with two club members, Ricky and Alice who live in Texas but own a home on the golf course here. They both are very good golfers and they were leaving the next day for a three-day couples tournament in the Atlanta area.
I have posted pictures I took during our round of golf. Have a look.
Thursday, April 14th, 2011
Packing Day
Today we took Keisha to the groomers at 7 a.m. and she was all pretty by 9 a.m. We came back to the trailer to start the process of readying the trailer for our journey home. Tomorrow morning we leave our paradise here at Myrtle Beach and start the first leg of the return journey via North Carolina and Virginia with an overnight stop somewhere in Pennsylvania. The last day of the journey will take us through Pennsylvania and New York State then up and over the bridge to the Canadian Customs at Ivy League.
To end the journey Denis and I decided that our last posting on this blog will be a list of travel tips we learned through our three months on the road. Hopefully, the lessons learned, the travel tips, what you must bring and what you must do to make this a really great trip may be of some use to others who may one day make this pilgrimage. I know y’all just can’t wait! (A wee bit of Southern drawl) Hey!! I have been here three months it starting to slip out!!! Yikes.
All day long I have been having little weepy moments when I think about leaving. I am really happy to be coming home and seeing our kids and grandkids and family and friends but I feel sad to be leaving this beautiful place that I have called home for twenty two days of this ninety day trip.
The drive home is expected to take 18 hours. We hope to reach Harrisburg Pennsylvania and stay overnight at a Wal-Mart. If everything goes according to plan, Denis should be backing up the trailer on its pad in the backyard sometime Saturday afternoon. We just might finally get to watch a hockey game again!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Indian Wells
Monday, April 11th, 2011
Indian Wells
I always wondered why a golf course would be named Wells. I now know! Indian Wells has more water in play than you normally find on a “normal” golf course, hence, the name Wells! Today we were paired with a couple, Maynard and Linda, who are members of the golf course. Playing with someone who knows the course is very helpful, especially when it come to holes that have unique features.
The temperature again was great for a round a golf and even though both Dee and I struggled a bit, we enjoyed our round. Indian Wells is part of the Signature Group as well as Burning Ridge which we played last week so we again were treated to the cart GPS which eliminates the distance guessing game. Maynard gave us a few tips when we will return to Myrtle Beach on seasonal selecting golf memberships.
If you have been following us throughout our Florida Adventure, you may have notice that we have been using golf carts for all our rounds of golf. This was not planned because we have brought along our hand carts for the trip but we soon found out that very few golf courses in Florida and Myrtle Beach allow walking the course. Since a good majority of courses are built in and around communities, some of the distances between green to tee are far apart and if the golfers were allowed to walk the course it would affect the pace of play. It will be difficult to go back to walking courses when we return home, but it will probably be better health wise! Net time we come down south, will leave the hand carts home.
We have just a few days left before our return, and even though we are looking forward to getting home, we are a little bit sad to see the trip end; especially Dee, knowing that it’s back to work. As for me, I will have to get some golf games lined up with my buddies!
Indian Wells
I always wondered why a golf course would be named Wells. I now know! Indian Wells has more water in play than you normally find on a “normal” golf course, hence, the name Wells! Today we were paired with a couple, Maynard and Linda, who are members of the golf course. Playing with someone who knows the course is very helpful, especially when it come to holes that have unique features.
The temperature again was great for a round a golf and even though both Dee and I struggled a bit, we enjoyed our round. Indian Wells is part of the Signature Group as well as Burning Ridge which we played last week so we again were treated to the cart GPS which eliminates the distance guessing game. Maynard gave us a few tips when we will return to Myrtle Beach on seasonal selecting golf memberships.
If you have been following us throughout our Florida Adventure, you may have notice that we have been using golf carts for all our rounds of golf. This was not planned because we have brought along our hand carts for the trip but we soon found out that very few golf courses in Florida and Myrtle Beach allow walking the course. Since a good majority of courses are built in and around communities, some of the distances between green to tee are far apart and if the golfers were allowed to walk the course it would affect the pace of play. It will be difficult to go back to walking courses when we return home, but it will probably be better health wise! Net time we come down south, will leave the hand carts home.
We have just a few days left before our return, and even though we are looking forward to getting home, we are a little bit sad to see the trip end; especially Dee, knowing that it’s back to work. As for me, I will have to get some golf games lined up with my buddies!
Friday, April 8, 2011
People you meet in your travels / Burning Ridge / A Beach and a Fry
Wednesday, April 6th, 2011
People you meet in your travels
After a cold and rainy day yesterday, we woke up to a sunny day and the temperature a high 60! We had a hearty breakfast and then we headed out for a walk on the beach with Keisha. During our walk on the beach we met some interesting people including John from Michigan who, upon hearing that we were from Canada, said that he has invested all his money in Canada! He thinks we are lucky to be Canadian and I must say I agree with him! His view of the USA is that the country has lost its way and unfortunately there are no leaders to right the ship. I guess he has not heard of Steven and Iggy!
After walking about a mile down the beach we reached the city limit of Surfside Beach. This city has posted a sign forbidding horses and dogs on their side of the beach! So off we went through a neighbourhood hoping the find an entrance back to Ocean Lakes RV. Unfortunately it was not going to happen! The whole property is fenced in and the only entrance is back on the beach or walk to the front entrance. We chose the front entrance and two miles later, Keisha panting, Dee slowing down, we reached the entrance! We still had about 500 meters to walk before reaching our site.
Before continuing our walk Dee decided to visit a few of the trailers on display at the Ocean Lakes RV Center. Of course she picked the most expensive ones and all it did was make her dream! No I am not trading in the Eagle. Anyway, we finally got on our way and walking down a street Keisha decided to drink water that was on the asphalt from a car being washed! I guess she was really thirsty. The guy washing the car saw Keisha and his wife came out and offered Keisha a fresh bowl of water. No one offered me a drink of water! The couple, Dee (yes another Dee) and Harry are from Rochester, New York and have been staying at Ocean Lakes for more than 10 years and own one of the cottages that border one of the lakes. They are also owners of two beautiful four year old shitzu’s, one of which was rescued from a puppy mill in North Carolina. They are very nice people and we discussed the possibility of getting together for a round of golf.
After spending half an hour socializing with the neighbours we continued our walk to our site and met a couple from Nova Scotia who also has a Jayco Eagle fifth wheel. A discussion ensued on the pros and cons of the Eagle model and of course exchanging some background information and traveling experiences.
Meeting total strangers and striking up a conversation about RVing experiences is a common occurrence when you travel in a RV and stay at the RV resorts. There seems to be a common bond between RVers and most are always prepared to help you out and provide good tips on things to do, what to avoid and places to visit.
Thursday, April 7th, 2011
Burning Ridge
Our second round of golf was scheduled for early afternoon at the Burning Ridge golf course. The sun was shining brightly, the wind was calm and the azaleas are in full bloom. It was a perfect Myrtle Beach day. The Golf course was a 20-minute drive from our resort. After a nice welcome from the staff, are clubs were loaded onto the cart and to our surprise it was equipped with a GPS! Denis did not have to ask”how far do you think I am from the green”. This GPS tells you everything you need to know about each hole and how to play it. It also keeps track of your score and at the end of your round you pick up a printout of your scores at the pro shop.
We were paired with a very nice couple, the Dicarpo’s from southern Ontario. It was an enjoyable round playing with Nick and Laurene. After the round we shared a drink with them in the clubhouse and exchanged contact information. Hopefully, we will get together again for another round and maybe dinner.
Friday, April 8th, 2011
A Beach and a Fry
This is the start of our last week in Myrtle Beach. Next Friday we will be on our way home! With the sun shining brightly, I could hear the roar of the rolling waves beckoning me to come spend some time sitting under an umbrella watching the waves roll in and the children building sand castles. Off we went with Keisha in tow because she is one dog who loves the beach and the water and mostly the kids.
We spent about four hours on the beach with about ten thousand others that had the same idea but thank goodness the beach, known as the Grand Strand, stretches for miles and miles. There was ample space for everyone. This being the beginning of April, I can only imagine how occupied the beach will be in the summer months. It was a good thing that there was a nearby bar that served great Margaritas! I even had some barbecued hotdogs courtesy of Denis who volunteered to go to the trailer and prepare the lunch and bring it back to the beach. It is so convenient being a short walk from the beach, I just love it.
Ocean Lakes had a fish fry tonight and we decided to try it. It was not as good as Luc’s fish fry but it was ok. They also put on a free bingo for patrons. Not so complicated that Denis was able to play along! The bingo consisted of five games, and the prizes were bags of candies and coupons for ice cream and the prize for the last game was a limited edition 40th anniversary Ocean Lakes t-shirt and a coupon for some food. We did not win any prize but we had a good laugh.
I have posted a few pictures of our day at the beach.
People you meet in your travels
After a cold and rainy day yesterday, we woke up to a sunny day and the temperature a high 60! We had a hearty breakfast and then we headed out for a walk on the beach with Keisha. During our walk on the beach we met some interesting people including John from Michigan who, upon hearing that we were from Canada, said that he has invested all his money in Canada! He thinks we are lucky to be Canadian and I must say I agree with him! His view of the USA is that the country has lost its way and unfortunately there are no leaders to right the ship. I guess he has not heard of Steven and Iggy!
After walking about a mile down the beach we reached the city limit of Surfside Beach. This city has posted a sign forbidding horses and dogs on their side of the beach! So off we went through a neighbourhood hoping the find an entrance back to Ocean Lakes RV. Unfortunately it was not going to happen! The whole property is fenced in and the only entrance is back on the beach or walk to the front entrance. We chose the front entrance and two miles later, Keisha panting, Dee slowing down, we reached the entrance! We still had about 500 meters to walk before reaching our site.
Before continuing our walk Dee decided to visit a few of the trailers on display at the Ocean Lakes RV Center. Of course she picked the most expensive ones and all it did was make her dream! No I am not trading in the Eagle. Anyway, we finally got on our way and walking down a street Keisha decided to drink water that was on the asphalt from a car being washed! I guess she was really thirsty. The guy washing the car saw Keisha and his wife came out and offered Keisha a fresh bowl of water. No one offered me a drink of water! The couple, Dee (yes another Dee) and Harry are from Rochester, New York and have been staying at Ocean Lakes for more than 10 years and own one of the cottages that border one of the lakes. They are also owners of two beautiful four year old shitzu’s, one of which was rescued from a puppy mill in North Carolina. They are very nice people and we discussed the possibility of getting together for a round of golf.
After spending half an hour socializing with the neighbours we continued our walk to our site and met a couple from Nova Scotia who also has a Jayco Eagle fifth wheel. A discussion ensued on the pros and cons of the Eagle model and of course exchanging some background information and traveling experiences.
Meeting total strangers and striking up a conversation about RVing experiences is a common occurrence when you travel in a RV and stay at the RV resorts. There seems to be a common bond between RVers and most are always prepared to help you out and provide good tips on things to do, what to avoid and places to visit.
Thursday, April 7th, 2011
Burning Ridge
Our second round of golf was scheduled for early afternoon at the Burning Ridge golf course. The sun was shining brightly, the wind was calm and the azaleas are in full bloom. It was a perfect Myrtle Beach day. The Golf course was a 20-minute drive from our resort. After a nice welcome from the staff, are clubs were loaded onto the cart and to our surprise it was equipped with a GPS! Denis did not have to ask”how far do you think I am from the green”. This GPS tells you everything you need to know about each hole and how to play it. It also keeps track of your score and at the end of your round you pick up a printout of your scores at the pro shop.
We were paired with a very nice couple, the Dicarpo’s from southern Ontario. It was an enjoyable round playing with Nick and Laurene. After the round we shared a drink with them in the clubhouse and exchanged contact information. Hopefully, we will get together again for another round and maybe dinner.
Friday, April 8th, 2011
A Beach and a Fry
This is the start of our last week in Myrtle Beach. Next Friday we will be on our way home! With the sun shining brightly, I could hear the roar of the rolling waves beckoning me to come spend some time sitting under an umbrella watching the waves roll in and the children building sand castles. Off we went with Keisha in tow because she is one dog who loves the beach and the water and mostly the kids.
We spent about four hours on the beach with about ten thousand others that had the same idea but thank goodness the beach, known as the Grand Strand, stretches for miles and miles. There was ample space for everyone. This being the beginning of April, I can only imagine how occupied the beach will be in the summer months. It was a good thing that there was a nearby bar that served great Margaritas! I even had some barbecued hotdogs courtesy of Denis who volunteered to go to the trailer and prepare the lunch and bring it back to the beach. It is so convenient being a short walk from the beach, I just love it.
Ocean Lakes had a fish fry tonight and we decided to try it. It was not as good as Luc’s fish fry but it was ok. They also put on a free bingo for patrons. Not so complicated that Denis was able to play along! The bingo consisted of five games, and the prizes were bags of candies and coupons for ice cream and the prize for the last game was a limited edition 40th anniversary Ocean Lakes t-shirt and a coupon for some food. We did not win any prize but we had a good laugh.
I have posted a few pictures of our day at the beach.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
River Oaks
Monday, April 4th, 2011
Today was our first golf game since arriving back in Myrtle Beach. We were scheduled to play River Oaks. For the pass week or so the GPS has not been operating properly so we started off in the wrong direction before it finally “located satellites” and we ended up taking a circuitous trip to the course. We will have to replace the GPS soon.
The River Oaks golf course is average in quality; however, it felt good to play a normal course after spending a month on the Clerbrook course. With the exception of a strong wind, the weather was good for golfing with the temperature in the mid 70s and no clouds.
We were paired with two guys from Pennsylvania, Walt and Glen. They had stopped in Myrtle Beach for a couple of rounds of golf before heading to Augusta to take in the Wednesday practice round for the 2011 Masters. Glen had won the right to buy up to four tickets through the lottery that Augusta National holds every year. Both put in their names each year and they last attended in 2004 so like Walt said, it’s been a long dry spell. Like most avid golfers, they attested to the fact that Augusta National is the Mecca of golf courses. Even their wives who are not golfers love to visit the course with all its beauty and splendour. Maybe one day we will be so fortunate to visit the course.
Returning to the RV in late afternoon we started to be concern that we had left the awning down and the wind was intensifying. Dee checked the weather network and they were announcing a severe storm was due to hit during the night. We decided to put the awning up and secure everything around our site. Hopefully the storm will bypass us.
Today was our first golf game since arriving back in Myrtle Beach. We were scheduled to play River Oaks. For the pass week or so the GPS has not been operating properly so we started off in the wrong direction before it finally “located satellites” and we ended up taking a circuitous trip to the course. We will have to replace the GPS soon.
The River Oaks golf course is average in quality; however, it felt good to play a normal course after spending a month on the Clerbrook course. With the exception of a strong wind, the weather was good for golfing with the temperature in the mid 70s and no clouds.
We were paired with two guys from Pennsylvania, Walt and Glen. They had stopped in Myrtle Beach for a couple of rounds of golf before heading to Augusta to take in the Wednesday practice round for the 2011 Masters. Glen had won the right to buy up to four tickets through the lottery that Augusta National holds every year. Both put in their names each year and they last attended in 2004 so like Walt said, it’s been a long dry spell. Like most avid golfers, they attested to the fact that Augusta National is the Mecca of golf courses. Even their wives who are not golfers love to visit the course with all its beauty and splendour. Maybe one day we will be so fortunate to visit the course.
Returning to the RV in late afternoon we started to be concern that we had left the awning down and the wind was intensifying. Dee checked the weather network and they were announcing a severe storm was due to hit during the night. We decided to put the awning up and secure everything around our site. Hopefully the storm will bypass us.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Moving Day / Destination, Myrtle Beach
Thursday March 31st, 2011
Moving Day
Today is moving day and we couldn’t have picked a worst day to leave the resort that we have been staying at for a month. The weather going through Central Florida was like a hurricane. The lightening and thunder was continuous and the rain was pouring down so hard at times that we could barely see in front of us.
We knew this storm was coming and the day before we took the time to pack as much of our stuff as we could so that all that was left were the bins that normally are hidden underneath the outside table.
Denis was outside in his yellow rain gear disconnecting the sewer, water and cable and hooking the trailer to the truck during the lull of the storm. I inside the trailer monitoring the weather network because they were giving time frames in minutes for areas that would get hit with the storm and I would yell outside to Denis that he had six minutes, then four minutes. He would rush into the trailer to ride out the tornado force winds and rain then back outside to finish. I sat out the storm in the truck (it is my job to back it up to the hitch)so Keisha and I watched the storm in the darkness of the truck while Denis struggled with the last details of hooking. Denis was soaked and although he had clothes in the trailer it wasn’t a good idea to change out of them so he started the drive towards South Carolina soaking wet.
We had to drive about 18 miles to the town of Leesburg to drop off the cable and internet boxes that we ordered for the month. Leesburg was into this massive storm as well so I knew that it would get hit by the cell around 11:22 a.m. It was 10:30 a.m. when we left Clerbrook Golf Club and RV Resort. Not good timing.
We were just going through Leesburg towards the Comcast building where we were instructed to drop the boxes off. We made a right hand turn and could not see anything. We were in a horrendous downpour of water and the wipers couldn’t keep up for us to see. All of a sudden, I see this green thing flying towards the truck. It was a tree being ripped out of the ground and it just missed us! It fell short of the truck. Had it been a taller tree it would have hit the passenger side of the truck exactly where I was sitting. Whew - talk about dodging a bullet (or a tree!).
Denis was awesome and remained calm during this episode and we dropped off the boxes and headed towards the I-95 with Georgia on our minds. The weather settled down but we still had a raining day of travelling. After five hours of driving, we decided to stop at the Wal-Mart in Brunswick Georgia. Our first impression of Brunwixk is that it's a really pretty town and it is located just south of Savanhah. The Wal-Mart allows RVs and trailers to stay overnight in their parking lot. We were asked to setup near the garden centre and the tire centre. As the evening was fast approching we were soon joined by two other trailers and a few more and RVs arrived for the night.
There is something to be said about “comfort in numbers”. In the RV world it is called “boon docking” and even though you don’t know these people we do meet and greet and get to share our traveling experiences and there is a common bonding and some comfort knowing that you are safe with like minded travelers around.
This type of camping is great when it is just an overnight stop as you travel to your destination but its not recommended nor allowed on a regular basis as you have no water or electricity.
We had to do some grocery shopping anyway so it was the perfect spot to park for the night. Most Wal-Marts in the USA have grocery stores and sell everything. We’ve been grocery shopping at Wal-Marts since Daytona Beach.
We also picked up a roasted chicken and some potato wedges and dined by candlelight.
Friday, April 1st, 2011
Destination Myrtle Beach
We woke up early on Friday and got on the road right away. The fridge in the trailer was not operating properly on the gas setting. It worked well with the electricity but there seems to be a problem just with the gas setting. this worried Denis and he didn’t sleep well and woke up tired. I slept very well and we hit the road on a sunny Georgia morning. Two hours into the drive we finally stopped at a Waffle House for breakfast. I don’t like Waffle House or Denny’s or I-Hop. I only like Country Kitchen’s partly because they are RV friendly and the food is good. But, they are not located everywhere. So when you are hungry you take what you can get. The drive was uneventful and when we stopped for gas I drove the rest of the way into Myrtle Beach. I don’t drive often but I need to once in a while just to give Denis a break when he is tired and mainly to practice. It isn’t easy pulling a trailer. I do like it when all I have to do is drive straight and this was my main goal for the day. Just drive straight!!!! Fortunately I didn’t have to turn much. It was around 2:00 p.m. when we arrived at the Ocean Lakes Resort.
I love the city of Myrtle Beach. The shopping is wonderful, the golf courses are the best anywhere in North America and the beaches are so lovely. It is clean and pretty. In my opinion, Ocean Lakes RV resort is the BEST anywhere and we have decided the next time we come down south we will stay for an extended period.
We set up the campsite today and then went to Martin's golf store. there is a kiosk at this store that will arrange golf packages for you. Spring golf in Myrtle Beach is the biggest time of the golf season. Rounds are expensive and it is better if you look at the many packages that are available that will suit the level and the amount of golf you want to play. We are here for two weeks and we decided that we will play four rounds of golf.
We also spent some time on the beach in the afternoon and spent the rest of the day just settling in. The RV park is much busier now than when we were here in January. It is great that we are just one block to the beach and we are on a concrete pad which makes all the difference when it comes to the trailer. Clerbrook RV Resort has larger lots but they are all sand based with not much grass (more weeds than grass) and it made for a dirty place as we and especially Keisha tracked everything into the trailer.
Here at Ocean Lakes, the concrete pad makes it so much easier to keep the trailer clean. We are parked away from the beach and its all good because the wind picks up the sand and just sandblasts the RV’s.
Including the regular anemities such as heated pools, laundry facilities, recreation centre, the cost of staying here includes free 70 channel cable, Wi-Fi internet access, telephone connection with free local calls (just bring a phone with you), daily garbage pick-up at your site and 24-hour security patrols and dogs are allowed on the beach but they strickly enforce the poup and scoup regualtion which is a good thing! The bathrooms and showers facilities are very clean. You can even get propane gas delivery at your site and we even saw a mobile RV cleaning and polishing service(needed because of sandblasting). They also have a RV and awning centre where you can buy RV parts they will come to your site to service your equipment if required. Finally, you can even rent golf carts to tool around the park! We will definitely return to Ocean Lakes RV Resort again.
Moving Day
Today is moving day and we couldn’t have picked a worst day to leave the resort that we have been staying at for a month. The weather going through Central Florida was like a hurricane. The lightening and thunder was continuous and the rain was pouring down so hard at times that we could barely see in front of us.
We knew this storm was coming and the day before we took the time to pack as much of our stuff as we could so that all that was left were the bins that normally are hidden underneath the outside table.
Denis was outside in his yellow rain gear disconnecting the sewer, water and cable and hooking the trailer to the truck during the lull of the storm. I inside the trailer monitoring the weather network because they were giving time frames in minutes for areas that would get hit with the storm and I would yell outside to Denis that he had six minutes, then four minutes. He would rush into the trailer to ride out the tornado force winds and rain then back outside to finish. I sat out the storm in the truck (it is my job to back it up to the hitch)so Keisha and I watched the storm in the darkness of the truck while Denis struggled with the last details of hooking. Denis was soaked and although he had clothes in the trailer it wasn’t a good idea to change out of them so he started the drive towards South Carolina soaking wet.
We had to drive about 18 miles to the town of Leesburg to drop off the cable and internet boxes that we ordered for the month. Leesburg was into this massive storm as well so I knew that it would get hit by the cell around 11:22 a.m. It was 10:30 a.m. when we left Clerbrook Golf Club and RV Resort. Not good timing.
We were just going through Leesburg towards the Comcast building where we were instructed to drop the boxes off. We made a right hand turn and could not see anything. We were in a horrendous downpour of water and the wipers couldn’t keep up for us to see. All of a sudden, I see this green thing flying towards the truck. It was a tree being ripped out of the ground and it just missed us! It fell short of the truck. Had it been a taller tree it would have hit the passenger side of the truck exactly where I was sitting. Whew - talk about dodging a bullet (or a tree!).
Denis was awesome and remained calm during this episode and we dropped off the boxes and headed towards the I-95 with Georgia on our minds. The weather settled down but we still had a raining day of travelling. After five hours of driving, we decided to stop at the Wal-Mart in Brunswick Georgia. Our first impression of Brunwixk is that it's a really pretty town and it is located just south of Savanhah. The Wal-Mart allows RVs and trailers to stay overnight in their parking lot. We were asked to setup near the garden centre and the tire centre. As the evening was fast approching we were soon joined by two other trailers and a few more and RVs arrived for the night.
There is something to be said about “comfort in numbers”. In the RV world it is called “boon docking” and even though you don’t know these people we do meet and greet and get to share our traveling experiences and there is a common bonding and some comfort knowing that you are safe with like minded travelers around.
This type of camping is great when it is just an overnight stop as you travel to your destination but its not recommended nor allowed on a regular basis as you have no water or electricity.
We had to do some grocery shopping anyway so it was the perfect spot to park for the night. Most Wal-Marts in the USA have grocery stores and sell everything. We’ve been grocery shopping at Wal-Marts since Daytona Beach.
We also picked up a roasted chicken and some potato wedges and dined by candlelight.
Friday, April 1st, 2011
Destination Myrtle Beach
We woke up early on Friday and got on the road right away. The fridge in the trailer was not operating properly on the gas setting. It worked well with the electricity but there seems to be a problem just with the gas setting. this worried Denis and he didn’t sleep well and woke up tired. I slept very well and we hit the road on a sunny Georgia morning. Two hours into the drive we finally stopped at a Waffle House for breakfast. I don’t like Waffle House or Denny’s or I-Hop. I only like Country Kitchen’s partly because they are RV friendly and the food is good. But, they are not located everywhere. So when you are hungry you take what you can get. The drive was uneventful and when we stopped for gas I drove the rest of the way into Myrtle Beach. I don’t drive often but I need to once in a while just to give Denis a break when he is tired and mainly to practice. It isn’t easy pulling a trailer. I do like it when all I have to do is drive straight and this was my main goal for the day. Just drive straight!!!! Fortunately I didn’t have to turn much. It was around 2:00 p.m. when we arrived at the Ocean Lakes Resort.
I love the city of Myrtle Beach. The shopping is wonderful, the golf courses are the best anywhere in North America and the beaches are so lovely. It is clean and pretty. In my opinion, Ocean Lakes RV resort is the BEST anywhere and we have decided the next time we come down south we will stay for an extended period.
We set up the campsite today and then went to Martin's golf store. there is a kiosk at this store that will arrange golf packages for you. Spring golf in Myrtle Beach is the biggest time of the golf season. Rounds are expensive and it is better if you look at the many packages that are available that will suit the level and the amount of golf you want to play. We are here for two weeks and we decided that we will play four rounds of golf.
We also spent some time on the beach in the afternoon and spent the rest of the day just settling in. The RV park is much busier now than when we were here in January. It is great that we are just one block to the beach and we are on a concrete pad which makes all the difference when it comes to the trailer. Clerbrook RV Resort has larger lots but they are all sand based with not much grass (more weeds than grass) and it made for a dirty place as we and especially Keisha tracked everything into the trailer.
Here at Ocean Lakes, the concrete pad makes it so much easier to keep the trailer clean. We are parked away from the beach and its all good because the wind picks up the sand and just sandblasts the RV’s.
Including the regular anemities such as heated pools, laundry facilities, recreation centre, the cost of staying here includes free 70 channel cable, Wi-Fi internet access, telephone connection with free local calls (just bring a phone with you), daily garbage pick-up at your site and 24-hour security patrols and dogs are allowed on the beach but they strickly enforce the poup and scoup regualtion which is a good thing! The bathrooms and showers facilities are very clean. You can even get propane gas delivery at your site and we even saw a mobile RV cleaning and polishing service(needed because of sandblasting). They also have a RV and awning centre where you can buy RV parts they will come to your site to service your equipment if required. Finally, you can even rent golf carts to tool around the park! We will definitely return to Ocean Lakes RV Resort again.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Hockey Night in Tampa / Packing Day
Tuesday, March 29th, 2011
Hockey Night in Tampa
Tonight we drove to Tampa and watched the Tampa Bay Lightening host the Ottawa Senators. We bought our tickets a few weeks ago and they were very reasonably priced. We also added the all-you-can-eat option to the tickets.
We had a great time even though the Senators lost to the Bolts 5 to 2.
Driving to Tampa was just short of 2 hours. When we arrived in the city we were surprised that the road conditions were as bad as the roads in back home. Their very rough condition took us by surprise.
We were directed right up to the main door to pick up the tickets and then parked just across from the Forum. Denis almost had a heart attack when the attendant said $20 please. As we entered the St-Pete Times Forum we saw some SENS fans in their red and black jerseys. As we went to the bag check and the ticket stand we were handed a Steve Downie bubble head so if anyone out there is a Bolt’s fan we have a couple of spares to give away.
Having no Sens paraphernalia, I headed to the Bolt store to see if I could find a SENS tee shirt. I did and for $20 got a nice one. Denis didn’t go to any expense to dress for the occasion because as everyone knows he is a big LEAFS fan and I say no more.
We were directed to the all-you-can-eat zone. The menu was hotdogs, nacho with melted cheese, popcorn, shelled peanuts and soft drinks. We were told that we could back as often as we wanted until the end of the second period intermission. How many hotdogs can one eat!!
The crowd was quiet and only really yelled when the very big center ice screen urged them to make noice. I was surprised at how many seats were empty and when I mentioned this to Denis he told me to remember where I was! The south is not the place where you find the most hockey fans. It is all about basketball the Miami Heat, football the Florida Gators and baseball. Hockey isn’t on the radar here. I don’t even bring up curling to the locals they just look at me and say what’s that? I say shuffleboard on ice and drop the topic.
Did you know that quite a few of the players on the TB Lightening team are Canadian? To console myself after the Bolts scored I turned to Denis and said “Canadian”. It is truly our game and we have young Canadian men all over North America playing “Our game” and making us very proud. Especially when we are so far from home and seeing them regardless of what team they play for.
As we watched the game we could see the scores from other games in the NHL and I was thrilled that my Vancouver Canucks won over Nashville and Denis was extremely happy that his Maple Leafs won their game to remain in the battle for a playoff spot.
We left the forum and headed down the highway excited to see a hockey game because it had been a long while.
Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
Packing Day
It is packing day. We are leaving tomorrow for Myrtle Beach. It will take us 10 hours to drive there but we will take it slow and drive only 6 hrs and stay overnight Thursday in a Wal-Mart parking lot.
Our original plan was to take us to Tybee Island Georgia at the Rivers End Campground. When I was reviewing the campground and looking at some reviews I soon discovered that this campground did not have many positive reviews. The sites are extremely small and dogs are not allowed on any beaches in Georgia. So we made some changes to the plan and now we are headed directly to Myrtle Beach.
I am excited because I truly love it there. I really love the beach and the golf and it is where I could spend my winters for sure. The climate is cooler and that is all good as well.
March is really hot in Florida and it is time for snowbirds to head north. The RV’s are packing and hitching and just this morning walking Keisha I saw two fifth-wheels and one motorhome head out.
This will be the last post from Florida and in a few days we will continue the story of our journey from Myrtle Beach. It is hard to believe that we will be home in two weeks. All in all the time has gone by really fast but to be honest we are ready to come home.
Things we must do when we get back:
Register for French classes next September.
Do the income tax reports.
And get my butt back to work!
As wonderful as it has been “There is no place like home”
Hockey Night in Tampa
Tonight we drove to Tampa and watched the Tampa Bay Lightening host the Ottawa Senators. We bought our tickets a few weeks ago and they were very reasonably priced. We also added the all-you-can-eat option to the tickets.
We had a great time even though the Senators lost to the Bolts 5 to 2.
Driving to Tampa was just short of 2 hours. When we arrived in the city we were surprised that the road conditions were as bad as the roads in back home. Their very rough condition took us by surprise.
We were directed right up to the main door to pick up the tickets and then parked just across from the Forum. Denis almost had a heart attack when the attendant said $20 please. As we entered the St-Pete Times Forum we saw some SENS fans in their red and black jerseys. As we went to the bag check and the ticket stand we were handed a Steve Downie bubble head so if anyone out there is a Bolt’s fan we have a couple of spares to give away.
Having no Sens paraphernalia, I headed to the Bolt store to see if I could find a SENS tee shirt. I did and for $20 got a nice one. Denis didn’t go to any expense to dress for the occasion because as everyone knows he is a big LEAFS fan and I say no more.
We were directed to the all-you-can-eat zone. The menu was hotdogs, nacho with melted cheese, popcorn, shelled peanuts and soft drinks. We were told that we could back as often as we wanted until the end of the second period intermission. How many hotdogs can one eat!!
The crowd was quiet and only really yelled when the very big center ice screen urged them to make noice. I was surprised at how many seats were empty and when I mentioned this to Denis he told me to remember where I was! The south is not the place where you find the most hockey fans. It is all about basketball the Miami Heat, football the Florida Gators and baseball. Hockey isn’t on the radar here. I don’t even bring up curling to the locals they just look at me and say what’s that? I say shuffleboard on ice and drop the topic.
Did you know that quite a few of the players on the TB Lightening team are Canadian? To console myself after the Bolts scored I turned to Denis and said “Canadian”. It is truly our game and we have young Canadian men all over North America playing “Our game” and making us very proud. Especially when we are so far from home and seeing them regardless of what team they play for.
As we watched the game we could see the scores from other games in the NHL and I was thrilled that my Vancouver Canucks won over Nashville and Denis was extremely happy that his Maple Leafs won their game to remain in the battle for a playoff spot.
We left the forum and headed down the highway excited to see a hockey game because it had been a long while.
Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
Packing Day
It is packing day. We are leaving tomorrow for Myrtle Beach. It will take us 10 hours to drive there but we will take it slow and drive only 6 hrs and stay overnight Thursday in a Wal-Mart parking lot.
Our original plan was to take us to Tybee Island Georgia at the Rivers End Campground. When I was reviewing the campground and looking at some reviews I soon discovered that this campground did not have many positive reviews. The sites are extremely small and dogs are not allowed on any beaches in Georgia. So we made some changes to the plan and now we are headed directly to Myrtle Beach.
I am excited because I truly love it there. I really love the beach and the golf and it is where I could spend my winters for sure. The climate is cooler and that is all good as well.
March is really hot in Florida and it is time for snowbirds to head north. The RV’s are packing and hitching and just this morning walking Keisha I saw two fifth-wheels and one motorhome head out.
This will be the last post from Florida and in a few days we will continue the story of our journey from Myrtle Beach. It is hard to believe that we will be home in two weeks. All in all the time has gone by really fast but to be honest we are ready to come home.
Things we must do when we get back:
Register for French classes next September.
Do the income tax reports.
And get my butt back to work!
As wonderful as it has been “There is no place like home”
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Disney Studios
Sunday, March 27th, 2011
Disney Studios
This theme park is probably Disney’s least busy park. The layout is a bit random and even with the park map it was sometimes confusing where to go. I can’t see the need to spend a full day at this park unless you want to inspect all the tiny details of movie production.
Having said that, it was nice to be able to walk around without the big crowds we experience the last two days! Even though it was a ridiculous 90 degrees.
Our first stop - American Idol Experience
We got in just at the last minute before the start of the show. The American Idol Experience offers you the chance to watch, perform and vote for your favourite singer. Of course they select young talented signers so that eliminated Dee and I on the young factor! The attraction features all the glitz and glamour of the Idol television series' set, and gave us an opportunity to experience the thrill as if we were at a real Idol show.
There are three judges, three singers vying for a spot in the final that is schedule for later in the evening. Just like the real show, the host introduces the singers and the judges (imitations or Randy, Paula and Simon) provide constructive criticism. After the three performances, the audience got to vote for their favourite singer.
The winner of the final gets a gold ticket which will allow her or him to go to the front of the line in the next Idol auditions in any city they choose.
We had a blast at this attraction and gave it an A rating.
Second stop – The Great Movie Ride
We were ushered onto The Great Movie Ride for a journey in moving pews that put us in the middle of the action from gangster flicks of the 1930s to the adventure of classics such as Raiders of the Lost Ark. Through the use of film footage, special effects and Audio-Animatronic replicas of legendary movie stars, some of the most memorable moments in motion picture history are recreated in this attraction, including scenes from Alien, Mary Poppins, Tarzan and much more. This one earned a B rating.
We were hoping to take in the Toy Story Midway Mania but the wait time was 60 minutes and they had no more fast pass available. Disney only issues a limited number of fast pass. We were told that the fast pass for this attraction is usually gone by early morning!
Third Stop – Voyage of the Little Mermaid
In a reef-walled theatre, we took in the live 17 minutes musical show. With the use of colourful puppets, live performers, special effects and movie clips you follow Ariel as she travels back and forth from the ocean floor full of fish and creatures up to the world where she dreams to be, among the humans. We even felt the cooling effects of water mists; after all we are supposed to be under the sea!
The production is well done; the singing is excellent and overall, deserving of a B+ rating.
Fourth Stop – Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian
This attraction is basically a viewing of some of the important scenes of the movie. It’s shown in an imitation of Aslan's Stone Table Chamber, the underground vault where Aslan sacrificed himself in the first movie. We were a bit disappointed with the attraction and rated this a C.
Fifth Stop – Muppet Vision 3D
If you enjoyed the Muppets, you will enjoy this attraction. They did a very good job with this 17-minute 3D movie. You find yourself in the center of the action. You can almost reach out and touch Kermit, Miss Piggy and the gang as you are taken on a behind-the-scenes tour of Muppet Labs. The production uses a combination of 3D features and Audio-Animatronics characters. It merits a B+ rating.
Sixth Stop – Sounds Dangerous – Starring Drew Carey
Sounds Dangerous with Drew Carey takes place in a soundstage-like setting. Upon your entry into the theatre, we were provided state-of-the-art headphones (to me they looked very ordinary) which we are suppose to wear throughout the show. When the lights go out and the mayhem begins, we are suppose to experience crystal-clear sound through the use of special audio technology. If that was the case I guess I must of had a very ordinary headset. Dee refused to wear the headset because of the concern of who and how many people had worn them before her! I guess she has a point. I am certain that Disney does not change the foam covers of the headsets for each show!
One more thing, most of the show takes place in total darkness! This attraction got the first D as a rating. Dee even yelled boo on the way out.
On our way toward the exit we got to see a bit of a live Star War play with of course Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. The costumes were pretty cool.
This was the end of our theme parks journey and both Dee and I are not sorry to see the end! It was a difficult challenge to visit five theme parks in eight days with temperatures in the 80s and today it topped the 90s.
As Porky Pig said, “that’s all folks”!
Disney Studios
This theme park is probably Disney’s least busy park. The layout is a bit random and even with the park map it was sometimes confusing where to go. I can’t see the need to spend a full day at this park unless you want to inspect all the tiny details of movie production.
Having said that, it was nice to be able to walk around without the big crowds we experience the last two days! Even though it was a ridiculous 90 degrees.
Our first stop - American Idol Experience
We got in just at the last minute before the start of the show. The American Idol Experience offers you the chance to watch, perform and vote for your favourite singer. Of course they select young talented signers so that eliminated Dee and I on the young factor! The attraction features all the glitz and glamour of the Idol television series' set, and gave us an opportunity to experience the thrill as if we were at a real Idol show.
There are three judges, three singers vying for a spot in the final that is schedule for later in the evening. Just like the real show, the host introduces the singers and the judges (imitations or Randy, Paula and Simon) provide constructive criticism. After the three performances, the audience got to vote for their favourite singer.
The winner of the final gets a gold ticket which will allow her or him to go to the front of the line in the next Idol auditions in any city they choose.
We had a blast at this attraction and gave it an A rating.
Second stop – The Great Movie Ride
We were ushered onto The Great Movie Ride for a journey in moving pews that put us in the middle of the action from gangster flicks of the 1930s to the adventure of classics such as Raiders of the Lost Ark. Through the use of film footage, special effects and Audio-Animatronic replicas of legendary movie stars, some of the most memorable moments in motion picture history are recreated in this attraction, including scenes from Alien, Mary Poppins, Tarzan and much more. This one earned a B rating.
We were hoping to take in the Toy Story Midway Mania but the wait time was 60 minutes and they had no more fast pass available. Disney only issues a limited number of fast pass. We were told that the fast pass for this attraction is usually gone by early morning!
Third Stop – Voyage of the Little Mermaid
In a reef-walled theatre, we took in the live 17 minutes musical show. With the use of colourful puppets, live performers, special effects and movie clips you follow Ariel as she travels back and forth from the ocean floor full of fish and creatures up to the world where she dreams to be, among the humans. We even felt the cooling effects of water mists; after all we are supposed to be under the sea!
The production is well done; the singing is excellent and overall, deserving of a B+ rating.
Fourth Stop – Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian
This attraction is basically a viewing of some of the important scenes of the movie. It’s shown in an imitation of Aslan's Stone Table Chamber, the underground vault where Aslan sacrificed himself in the first movie. We were a bit disappointed with the attraction and rated this a C.
Fifth Stop – Muppet Vision 3D
If you enjoyed the Muppets, you will enjoy this attraction. They did a very good job with this 17-minute 3D movie. You find yourself in the center of the action. You can almost reach out and touch Kermit, Miss Piggy and the gang as you are taken on a behind-the-scenes tour of Muppet Labs. The production uses a combination of 3D features and Audio-Animatronics characters. It merits a B+ rating.
Sixth Stop – Sounds Dangerous – Starring Drew Carey
Sounds Dangerous with Drew Carey takes place in a soundstage-like setting. Upon your entry into the theatre, we were provided state-of-the-art headphones (to me they looked very ordinary) which we are suppose to wear throughout the show. When the lights go out and the mayhem begins, we are suppose to experience crystal-clear sound through the use of special audio technology. If that was the case I guess I must of had a very ordinary headset. Dee refused to wear the headset because of the concern of who and how many people had worn them before her! I guess she has a point. I am certain that Disney does not change the foam covers of the headsets for each show!
One more thing, most of the show takes place in total darkness! This attraction got the first D as a rating. Dee even yelled boo on the way out.
On our way toward the exit we got to see a bit of a live Star War play with of course Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. The costumes were pretty cool.
This was the end of our theme parks journey and both Dee and I are not sorry to see the end! It was a difficult challenge to visit five theme parks in eight days with temperatures in the 80s and today it topped the 90s.
As Porky Pig said, “that’s all folks”!
Disney World - Magic Kingdom
Friday March 25th, 2011
Magic Kingdom (day one)
Magic Kingdom is the busiest park we have seen so far and with the wall to wall people there it became apparent that it would be impossible to visit the whole park in one day. Friday, our first day there we were overwhelmed with the crowd and the sights and the heat. Magic Kingdom averages 45,000 visitors per day!
Our day at the park started in the late morning and we found that it takes 30 minutes to actually reach Main Street from the time you arrive in the parking lot. First you are directed to your parking spot, and then you take a land shuttle to board either the mono rail or a riverboat that ferries you to the entry gates. We opted for the mono rail. After the short trip you enter a checkpoint area where security personnel check the content of your handbag or a backpack which most people have. Once you cleared the checking line, you are then directed to booths that scan your ticket and fingerprint. With that completed you are in! Oh yes, you must remember the name of the parking lot your vehicle is located and the row number! Otherwise, with the capacity to park 12,000 vehicles it could be a long search. We were parked in the Donald Duck lot!
With the big crowd located in the front part of the park we decided to take the steam locomotive that circles the park and get off at its one stop Frontier Land. For sure it would be less busy there, WRONG.
Frontierland
This area of the park was packed with people and every time you turned, you would bump into someone or something! We decide to board a raft to visit Tom Sawyer Island. The island is an outdoor playground based on the Mark Twain novels. For those who love the Tom Sawyer stories, you would enjoy a visit to the island. We rated this attraction a B.
Since the island was not as busy and there was an area with tables and chairs even rocking chairs, we took the opportunity to have lunch there. Today we decided to bring our own sandwiches and drinks. Other than having to carry our supplies in a back pack, it was the least expensive way to visit a Disney amusement park.
We were tempted to try the splash mountain, the one where you plunge five stories into a pond of water! The wait time was 60 minutes! So on to the next attraction, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. This is a roller coaster ride that loops through a mountain. After watching it for a few minutes, and with a wait time of 60 minutes we decided postpone until later if we have time to come back in this area.
Liberty Square
This area depicts colonial America. You will find replicas of the Liberty Bell and the Liberty Tree. You feel like you are back to the 1700’s when you step onto the street of this town.
We took a ride on the Liberty Square Riverboat. It tours Tom Sawyer Island and takes about 15 minutes.
Our next stop was the Hall of Presidents. In honour of the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barak Obama, the Hall of Presidents has undergone some important renovations since its 1971 opening. Seated in a theatre you get to enjoy a film that illuminates the USA’s origins, the formation of their Constitution and the hard-fought struggles, including the Civil war.
Using Audio-Animatronics figures we got to listen to President Lincoln recites the Gettysburg Address. The finally was a curtain raise and all 44 Presidents are either standing or seated and each one is introduced. The current President then recites the President’s oath of office. The figures looked and moved just like a human being that sometime you wonder if they were not actors dressed in costume! This is a good attraction to visit if you want to learn a bit of American history and for that reason we rated this a B+.
We visited the last attraction in this area, the Haunted Mansion. Again, the lines were long with a wait time of 40 minutes. Once you do get in, the crowd is brought into a room and you are plunged into total darkness. After that experience you climb aboard the Doom Buggy and ride through the haunted house where a Ghost Host introduces you to his dearly departed friends. Dee got a scare when a character popped out as we were coming through a bend. We were a bit disappointed in this attraction and rated it a C. I did read in the newspaper that Disney will be redesigning this attraction.
Fantasyland
We boarded a floating vessel that glides past brightly costumed dolls and animals as they sing "it's a small world" and dance on the shores of the Seven Seaways water canals. The dolls are dressed in costumes that represent more than 100 nations and sing the "it's a small world" song lyrics in 5 languages. Boundaries dissolve and continents are connected by this singular song. The colours and animations are spectacular and I am certain kids would be in awe with this attraction, we were and for that we rated this a B+. The pictures does not do justice to the attraction.
Next stop, Mickey`s PhilharMagic. Let me say that Dee and I rated this A. Sitting in a theatre; you are swept into the scenes from classic Disney films as Donald chases the Sorcerer's hat that starts all the trouble! This movie was filmed in 3D movie and the effects are unreal including the ending which you will have to find out by yourselves when you visit Magic Kingdom.
After our visit in this area we searched for a place to eat our dinner. What we found is that with so many eating establishments in Magic Kingdom, the number of picnic areas is limited and not easy to find. We did manage to find one near Frontierland and had a well deserved break.
With the temperatures in the mid to high 80`s for the week, it is taking a toll on our not so young bodies! After dinner we decided to take the steam train back to main street USA and buy some souvenir. I did pick up the tiara for Princess Audrey and another special souvenir that I am certain she will be thrilled with. Dee also bought Minnie Mouse ears for Mycknli and Princess`s ears and tiara for Serenity and Phoenix got her Tinkerbelle ears.
We got back to the RV around 10:00 p.m. knowing that we would be back at Magic Kingdom the next day.
Saturday, March 26th, 2011
Magic Kingdom (day two)
Today we planned on leaving the RV in late afternoon, hoping that the crowds would be less and maybe catch the night parade and fireworks.
On arrival we were directed to the Dopey parking lot and after this time we decided to take the riverboat to the checkpoint. You should expect to take a good 30-minute from the time you park your vehicle and enter Magic Kingdom. And remember your parking lot!
Was there less of a crowd today? Not really. You could see young kids being pushed, dragged and cajoled by parents to keep going, especially with the incentive that the Electric night parade would be soon! Oh well, I think all parents behave the same way with young kids. Seeing this behaviour from a different perspective we wondered if we were the same with our kids and the answer is yes!
First stop Tomorrowland
The most popular attraction in this area is Space Montain which is an indoor roller coaster and the. Since we are not big roller coaster riders we moved on to the Buzz Lightyear`s Space Ranger Spin. The wait time was 40 minutes and we decided to get a fast pass and come back later.
Our first attraction we got in was Stitch’s Great Escape. We take a seat in a round theatre and get strapped in for a multi-sensory experience featuring audio, video and sophisticated Audio-Animatronic technology. You might even get spit on (water spray) by Stitch and your nose gets involved with smells that fill the air during the show! The mechanical harness that straps you on will move you may feel a bit uncomfortable and for that reason we rated this a C-.
Before going to the Buzz attraction we stopped in for a spin at the Indy Speedway. The lines were long but it moved rather quickly so in no time we got strapped into our race cars and off we went! This attraction is definitely not built for speed! After a tortuous drive around the track we were glad to leave the fuel smell! Not sure if it’s real or they purposely odorize the area with the smell of fuel. It’s no more than a C
On our way to Buzz, Dee decided to drop in at the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. This is a kid-focused comedy show hosted on a digital stage by a monster host. The monster characters are based on the movie Monsters Inc. The object of the show is for the audience to help the monsters power the city of Monstropolis with laughter. There is interaction between the monsters and the audience through jokes and general mayhem similar to the skits you see on just for laughs. Dee rated this a C+.
Finally we cashed in our fast pass to get into the Buzz Lightyear attraction. This is a video-game-inspired ride. As junior space rangers, we boarded a space cruiser and as we travel through the universe we each had a lasers cannons and our job was to shot as many evil minions as we could! After the ride Dee had a score of 6,500 and I scored 40,000. Must be the power of my pirate eye! This attraction gets a rating of B.
On our way back toward Main Street we came across crowds lining the street in preparation for the Main Street Electrical Parade. This was at 8 p.m. and the parade was scheduled for 9 p.m. Thinking that some of the popular attractions would be less busy we decided to check some out. No, they were just as busy and the wait times were still 60 minutes plus. Don’t these people have to go home or what?
Making our way back to Main Street to get a glimpse of the parade, we visited the Swiss Family Treehouse. They did a great job replicating the house that the Swiss Family Robinson lived in the movie of the same name.
When we reached the parade site the crowd was at least 10 deep on both side and almost impossible to see. Now we know why they line up an hour before the parade!
If you do visit Magic Kingdom, you must see it at night at least once. The lighting, the parade and the fireworks are worth it.
Remember when I wrote that it was important to remember where your vehicle was parked? Well the inevitable happened to me. Somehow, with the crush of people and Dee leaving to get a drink, we got separated. Not a problem, just go to the truck and meet up there, right? I went to the Goofy parking lot and started searching for the truck. No GMC Sierra truck to be found. As I walked back toward the land transportation area, I hear my name called! It’s Dee calling me to get in the tram because we were actually parked in the Dopey parking lot. Yes I did feel a bit Dopey! We got home around 11:00, tired and almost done with theme parks!
Tomorrow, we are off to Disney Studios.
Magic Kingdom (day one)
Magic Kingdom is the busiest park we have seen so far and with the wall to wall people there it became apparent that it would be impossible to visit the whole park in one day. Friday, our first day there we were overwhelmed with the crowd and the sights and the heat. Magic Kingdom averages 45,000 visitors per day!
Our day at the park started in the late morning and we found that it takes 30 minutes to actually reach Main Street from the time you arrive in the parking lot. First you are directed to your parking spot, and then you take a land shuttle to board either the mono rail or a riverboat that ferries you to the entry gates. We opted for the mono rail. After the short trip you enter a checkpoint area where security personnel check the content of your handbag or a backpack which most people have. Once you cleared the checking line, you are then directed to booths that scan your ticket and fingerprint. With that completed you are in! Oh yes, you must remember the name of the parking lot your vehicle is located and the row number! Otherwise, with the capacity to park 12,000 vehicles it could be a long search. We were parked in the Donald Duck lot!
With the big crowd located in the front part of the park we decided to take the steam locomotive that circles the park and get off at its one stop Frontier Land. For sure it would be less busy there, WRONG.
Frontierland
This area of the park was packed with people and every time you turned, you would bump into someone or something! We decide to board a raft to visit Tom Sawyer Island. The island is an outdoor playground based on the Mark Twain novels. For those who love the Tom Sawyer stories, you would enjoy a visit to the island. We rated this attraction a B.
Since the island was not as busy and there was an area with tables and chairs even rocking chairs, we took the opportunity to have lunch there. Today we decided to bring our own sandwiches and drinks. Other than having to carry our supplies in a back pack, it was the least expensive way to visit a Disney amusement park.
We were tempted to try the splash mountain, the one where you plunge five stories into a pond of water! The wait time was 60 minutes! So on to the next attraction, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. This is a roller coaster ride that loops through a mountain. After watching it for a few minutes, and with a wait time of 60 minutes we decided postpone until later if we have time to come back in this area.
Liberty Square
This area depicts colonial America. You will find replicas of the Liberty Bell and the Liberty Tree. You feel like you are back to the 1700’s when you step onto the street of this town.
We took a ride on the Liberty Square Riverboat. It tours Tom Sawyer Island and takes about 15 minutes.
Our next stop was the Hall of Presidents. In honour of the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barak Obama, the Hall of Presidents has undergone some important renovations since its 1971 opening. Seated in a theatre you get to enjoy a film that illuminates the USA’s origins, the formation of their Constitution and the hard-fought struggles, including the Civil war.
Using Audio-Animatronics figures we got to listen to President Lincoln recites the Gettysburg Address. The finally was a curtain raise and all 44 Presidents are either standing or seated and each one is introduced. The current President then recites the President’s oath of office. The figures looked and moved just like a human being that sometime you wonder if they were not actors dressed in costume! This is a good attraction to visit if you want to learn a bit of American history and for that reason we rated this a B+.
We visited the last attraction in this area, the Haunted Mansion. Again, the lines were long with a wait time of 40 minutes. Once you do get in, the crowd is brought into a room and you are plunged into total darkness. After that experience you climb aboard the Doom Buggy and ride through the haunted house where a Ghost Host introduces you to his dearly departed friends. Dee got a scare when a character popped out as we were coming through a bend. We were a bit disappointed in this attraction and rated it a C. I did read in the newspaper that Disney will be redesigning this attraction.
Fantasyland
We boarded a floating vessel that glides past brightly costumed dolls and animals as they sing "it's a small world" and dance on the shores of the Seven Seaways water canals. The dolls are dressed in costumes that represent more than 100 nations and sing the "it's a small world" song lyrics in 5 languages. Boundaries dissolve and continents are connected by this singular song. The colours and animations are spectacular and I am certain kids would be in awe with this attraction, we were and for that we rated this a B+. The pictures does not do justice to the attraction.
Next stop, Mickey`s PhilharMagic. Let me say that Dee and I rated this A. Sitting in a theatre; you are swept into the scenes from classic Disney films as Donald chases the Sorcerer's hat that starts all the trouble! This movie was filmed in 3D movie and the effects are unreal including the ending which you will have to find out by yourselves when you visit Magic Kingdom.
After our visit in this area we searched for a place to eat our dinner. What we found is that with so many eating establishments in Magic Kingdom, the number of picnic areas is limited and not easy to find. We did manage to find one near Frontierland and had a well deserved break.
With the temperatures in the mid to high 80`s for the week, it is taking a toll on our not so young bodies! After dinner we decided to take the steam train back to main street USA and buy some souvenir. I did pick up the tiara for Princess Audrey and another special souvenir that I am certain she will be thrilled with. Dee also bought Minnie Mouse ears for Mycknli and Princess`s ears and tiara for Serenity and Phoenix got her Tinkerbelle ears.
We got back to the RV around 10:00 p.m. knowing that we would be back at Magic Kingdom the next day.
Saturday, March 26th, 2011
Magic Kingdom (day two)
Today we planned on leaving the RV in late afternoon, hoping that the crowds would be less and maybe catch the night parade and fireworks.
On arrival we were directed to the Dopey parking lot and after this time we decided to take the riverboat to the checkpoint. You should expect to take a good 30-minute from the time you park your vehicle and enter Magic Kingdom. And remember your parking lot!
Was there less of a crowd today? Not really. You could see young kids being pushed, dragged and cajoled by parents to keep going, especially with the incentive that the Electric night parade would be soon! Oh well, I think all parents behave the same way with young kids. Seeing this behaviour from a different perspective we wondered if we were the same with our kids and the answer is yes!
First stop Tomorrowland
The most popular attraction in this area is Space Montain which is an indoor roller coaster and the. Since we are not big roller coaster riders we moved on to the Buzz Lightyear`s Space Ranger Spin. The wait time was 40 minutes and we decided to get a fast pass and come back later.
Our first attraction we got in was Stitch’s Great Escape. We take a seat in a round theatre and get strapped in for a multi-sensory experience featuring audio, video and sophisticated Audio-Animatronic technology. You might even get spit on (water spray) by Stitch and your nose gets involved with smells that fill the air during the show! The mechanical harness that straps you on will move you may feel a bit uncomfortable and for that reason we rated this a C-.
Before going to the Buzz attraction we stopped in for a spin at the Indy Speedway. The lines were long but it moved rather quickly so in no time we got strapped into our race cars and off we went! This attraction is definitely not built for speed! After a tortuous drive around the track we were glad to leave the fuel smell! Not sure if it’s real or they purposely odorize the area with the smell of fuel. It’s no more than a C
On our way to Buzz, Dee decided to drop in at the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. This is a kid-focused comedy show hosted on a digital stage by a monster host. The monster characters are based on the movie Monsters Inc. The object of the show is for the audience to help the monsters power the city of Monstropolis with laughter. There is interaction between the monsters and the audience through jokes and general mayhem similar to the skits you see on just for laughs. Dee rated this a C+.
Finally we cashed in our fast pass to get into the Buzz Lightyear attraction. This is a video-game-inspired ride. As junior space rangers, we boarded a space cruiser and as we travel through the universe we each had a lasers cannons and our job was to shot as many evil minions as we could! After the ride Dee had a score of 6,500 and I scored 40,000. Must be the power of my pirate eye! This attraction gets a rating of B.
On our way back toward Main Street we came across crowds lining the street in preparation for the Main Street Electrical Parade. This was at 8 p.m. and the parade was scheduled for 9 p.m. Thinking that some of the popular attractions would be less busy we decided to check some out. No, they were just as busy and the wait times were still 60 minutes plus. Don’t these people have to go home or what?
Making our way back to Main Street to get a glimpse of the parade, we visited the Swiss Family Treehouse. They did a great job replicating the house that the Swiss Family Robinson lived in the movie of the same name.
When we reached the parade site the crowd was at least 10 deep on both side and almost impossible to see. Now we know why they line up an hour before the parade!
If you do visit Magic Kingdom, you must see it at night at least once. The lighting, the parade and the fireworks are worth it.
Remember when I wrote that it was important to remember where your vehicle was parked? Well the inevitable happened to me. Somehow, with the crush of people and Dee leaving to get a drink, we got separated. Not a problem, just go to the truck and meet up there, right? I went to the Goofy parking lot and started searching for the truck. No GMC Sierra truck to be found. As I walked back toward the land transportation area, I hear my name called! It’s Dee calling me to get in the tram because we were actually parked in the Dopey parking lot. Yes I did feel a bit Dopey! We got home around 11:00, tired and almost done with theme parks!
Tomorrow, we are off to Disney Studios.
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