We started out the day in our usual Saturday way; by working out. We figured we should try to work off some of the dinner pounds before driving over to Mum and Dad’s for a hearty breakfast with the family. We had a little time after breakfast to soak up the sun on the front lawn. It felt so good to have the warmth of the sun on our faces and exposed skin, especially knowing how cold it’s going to be when we return to New England in just a couple more days.
Just before noon we drove about an hour east to Sanford, where we hopped aboard an air boat at the Jolly Gator Fish Camp (and Bar & Grill). This boat was a lot faster than the one we were on yesterday, so the tour was one hour instead of the slower pontoon ride the day before. Nevertheless, we were able to get some great wildlife shots (and some shady ones which had to be deleted) and saw much larger alligators than the day before. Our pilot told us that occasionally they “accidentally” bite a cow that’s grazing in the area. If the cow dies, the alligators feed on it every day until its gone. He didn’t mention, and I didn’t ask, whether the same also happens of the horses which graze in the same area. As you scroll through the photos, keep an eye out for a bald eagle. It was the only one we saw in two days of looking.
The original plan when we left the house for the day was to have a few snacks when we returned and eat dinner around 5. We were all so hungry by the time we returned that we decided that Karl would could us dinner early while Chris and I took a tricycle ride and Lou ran along for a little ways after us. I had never ridden one of these before, and was surprised at how off-balance I felt on Dad’s, which rode a little higher than Mum’s. I’m certain that if Chris hadn’t agreed to switch with me I would have ended up sideways with road rash from hitting the sidewalk. After dinner (spaghetti with meatballs, green beans with mushrooms, garlic bread, and key lime pie) Mum took a little ride down the street to visit a friend, Lou and Dad sat and chatted on the front lawn, and Chris, Karl and I chatted in the kitchen. When Mum returned we played a game of Fart-something (it’s a game of chance with dice) before Lou declared “Uncle” and we left for the hotel so he could hit the sack.
It was another wonderful day with my family, and we’re looking forward to going to church with them tomorrow and spending the day celebrating their anniversary with some of their closest friends.
