Arrived!
Airboat
Biking Shark Valley
2Ty’s
Sleepers
Grandma&Tessa
Little Cold after snorkeling
March 24-March 31
Ty and Tessa Visit!
We made our way down to Homestead FL to get ready for Ty and Tessa to come in and visit for the week. I am happy to report that we managed to get the Ups and Downs correct and got Wanda hitched up with no problems. Bid adieu to Arcadia and off we went. Arrived in Homestead and what do we encounter when we pull up to the gate? No record of our reservations. No one in the front office works on the weekends so the security guard had to make a lot of phone calls to find someone to help us which after a ½ hour the maintenance guy pulls up and directs us to our site – and what do we encounter there? Another RV parked and well established with screen tent and bike and BBQ scattered around. So, the maintenance guy goes and talks to them and it turns out they were supposed to leave this day, but decided to stay on another day or two. No can do explains the maintenance guy. So, these people had to pack up everything and leave while we are parked in front. Takes them about an hour – heck, we got nothing to do so I knit and Ty snoozes in-between the book he is reading. We actually felt bad kicking these people out as there were no other sites available.
Ty and Tessa Adventure
Think it was important to plan out the week with T&T because they are teenagers and boredom can come up quickly overcome a visit with the “old folk” as Tessa refers to us. And this being spring break many of the activities we did needed reservations. I was informed from Amy (T&T mother) that the kids like to sleep in so don’t plan anything early in the day. Most activities were planned for the afternoons and the T&T usually got up around 8 or 9, got immediately on their devices, then gradually woke up ate cleaned up and we were ready to roll out of rig by 11.
First up was a terrific air boat ride in the everglades and this one is just like I imagined as it was out on the swamp grass. What was amazing is our guide/boat captain was definitely a swamp boy and he would stop the boat then call the gators and sure enough they gators would come out of no where and up to the boat. Same thing happened when he called his favorite bird to feed it these little mealy worms. I was convinced that he goes out there when not on tour and feeds the gators and birds so they come when called but he insisted on not – bet he has some swamp land I can buy. Oh we also hit the beach for a quick sunburn.
Next, we rode bikes in Shark Valley where we saw at least 38 gators all just lying around and an immense number of birds.
Then we kayaked in the keys – which Tessa did not want to do and it was pretty hard as the wind was head on coming back in. Tyman is stronger on the left side than right which I had to compensate by doing a lot of rudder steering to keep us straight. Wish I counted the number of times he said “Uh Grandma….” And I think I already explained my preference when canoeing or kayaking.
Finally, we snorkeled in Key Biscayne National Park. Was a cloudy windy day, with a little rain so instead of the tour being in the coral reefs we went to a Mangrove on Billie’s Point which was a little calmer. It is strange to snorkel with your head in water and to feel the rain on the back of your head and back. You almost want to stop so you don’t get wet – oh wait, you’re in the water! Saw lots of baby fish, jelly fish and baby sharks. Tyman was very nervous but once they said it was in so shallow of water you could stand in it (not recommended) he gave it a try. He did good!
Tyman’s Birthday! Sweet Sixteen and he wanted to go to the Miami Sea Aquarium which was a good choice since we had a very busy week and this was more laid back. It was like going to SeaWorld as we saw a lot of shows where the dolphins, and sea lions performed, the Manatee’s not so much. Back to beach so Tessa could even out her sunburn.
Getting up at 2:30am to go to airport for a 6am flight was more of a challenge for me than T&T which surprised me. Sad to see them leave so on the ride to airport we did a bubble up (what happened or feeling did you have that gave you happy feelings) and surprise surprise Tessa says the kayaking! She even said “Now Grandma don’t say “I Told You So” when I say my bubble up”. Told You So.
Speaking of “I Told You So”
I have learned (finally) that you can’t tell a teenager anything because they know better. Before I learned this, I tried to get Tessa to use sunscreen, that she will get tan with it. But no, she wants to get a tan fast so no sunscreen. Now here is a post from Tessa that she posted on Instagram:
“#beach#family#sunburn#tan You know that time where you tell your grandparents that you don’t need sunscreen because you don’t get sunburned, and they keep yelling at you to put it on and you don’t listen, but then that night you look at your legs and arms and see red and then it starts burning but you can’t tell them because you needed to prove a point but you know that they will find out and all along they were right,,,,well…”
So from now on, I will make the suggestion (not yell – didn’t think I was yelling, nagging yes, yelling no) and let it go at that…..
Onto Ormond Beach
After we put T&T on the plane, we packed up Wanda and headed to Ormond Beach for our last week in Florida.
Plans are to recuperate from a very busy week, do a lot of laundry (as I write this), make some repairs to Wanda, and look for a place to stay in this area for next year February and March. I love the weather and warmth (Ty is so missing the cold and mountains I’ve offered that he could stay back those months – will see).
2020 Already?
Can’t believe that we are actually thinking about next year, but if you want an RV site in FL for any extended period of time you have to reserve it now. We are thinking of coming to Colorado for November (starting around Thanksgiving) and staying until the last week of January. That way we can get our winter fix, do some skiing but then head out for the warmth.
Anyone know of a place we can rent for 2 months?
Lois Leslie – “You Told Me So!”