The Florida State Fair

Wednesday was going to be a beautiful day. Only a 30% of rain and that was to be in the evening.  We had made plans to head over to Tampa to attend the Florida State Fair.  John and Judy had gone last year to this fair and highly recommended it.  So we joined them to give it a go.
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 We arrived at about 11:00 and met up immediately with Judy's brother Howard.  He and his wife are also escaping the snow and spending a couple of months in the Sarasota area.  Howard pulled in right before us and saw us pulling in.  How is that for good timing!!



The fair grounds are very pretty.  Not like the fairs that I remember at home.  There were many attractions for us to check out.  There was a sea lion show, pig races and a circus.  The circus was a pretty good show with clowns, motorcycles riding in a big steel ball, dog shows, etc.  There were  two huge camels that came out and walked around with two llamas and a black stallion. They didn't put on much of a show but they were sure interesting to watch.

 This lady worked the trapeze for our entertainment.

We had some really greasy fair food for lunch and then headed over towards the livestock area.  We moved through the Moooturnity tent to look at all the farm babies.  Calves, goats, lambs, piglets,  chicks hatching.  You name it and it was there.  They also have an ongoing maternity ward with cows giving birth for the educational entertainment of the public.  I felt sorry for this poor cow laying on a floor of straw on a stage calving with all these people standing around watching.  I guess they have pregnant cows all lined up ready to keep the show on the road.



Of course there were all the food vendors and the midway to keep everyone entertained.

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We were on our way to watch the equestrians when we heard an announcement over the loud speakers that there was  severe weather heading into the area.  We were being advised to head to the permanent buildings to take cover.  The vendors were told to secure their signs and goods.  The rides were stopped.  The horses were all taken to the barns.  So we headed off to the expo center to seek shelter from the storm.  Not long after we got into the building the sky opened up the rain poured down and the wind came up.  We wandered around in the expo center looking at the displays for about an hour hoping the storm would pass.  But it just kept up.  Rather than spend the entire evening in this one very crowded building  John finally got brave enough to run for the jeep.  He soon arrived at the main gate to pick us up.  What a guy!!

We stopped in Lake Wales at Chili's for dinner on our way home. The rain continued through most of the night.  Our neighbors told us that the wind had been really strong in the resort during the late afternoon also.  They said the trailers were rocking and the palm trees were bent over.

Too bad the weather had to turn on us but we did manage to see a lot of the displays and shows that we wanted to see.  All in all it was a good day.

The Maple Leafs Win

Part of our holiday deal with John  & Judy was that if we went to a Leaf's game they would come to the Daytona 500 with us.  John is a HUGE Leaf's fan.  I don't think he ever misses a game.  So last night was our part of that agreement.  The Leaf's were playing the Tampa Lightning Bolts at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.  After stopping for dinner at Ruby Tuesdays we headed over early to the Forum so that we could check out the pre-game warm up.  John & Judy are both decked out in their jerseys.  Thanks John for lending me this photo.  I figured I took it so I can borrow it for my blog...lol.

Judy & John - Leaf's fans!!  I would think so.

The Lightning Bolts

 Judy had arranged for the tickets and the parking.  So convenient!!  The seats were up high and we had a perfect view of the entire ice surface.

The warm up  - what an awesome tv screen !!

 They have lightning bolts going off all the time..  Part of their theme and quite eye catching.  This little guy is a member of one of Tampa's minor hockey club.  He skated out during the lightning bolts with his illuminated hockey stick.  What an experience for this little guy.

 The game started out slow and I was thinking that it was going to be a boring game.    But by the midway point in the first period Toronto came to life and kicked butt from there forward.  They put the Lightning Bolts to bed with a 4-1 win.



You would have thought this was a home game as there was more cheering for Toronto than for Tampa.  The place was full of Toronto jerseys.   Just shows how many Ontario people are down here in the winter and are out to cheer on their team.  Unfortunately the comments you hear in the crowd are mostly about Rob Ford.  Hate to think that all Canadian's are being painted by that pathetic paintbrush.  There is so much more to Canada than a crack smoking Toronto mayor that should be in kicked out of office and even better in jail.

Thunder Alley outside the forum

Was a midnight by the time we got back home.  A good game and a good day.  Thanks John for FORCING us into a Leaf's game. It was fun.  Had a great time.  Go CANADA!!! I don't care what team it was - we beat the USA!!  I really do love going to watch a game of hockey.  Both of my Grands play hockey and it is awesome to watch them play.  Just wish I could do it more often.

Until next time - safe travels.

Kennedy Space Centre

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Up early and on the bus to the Kennedy Space Center and what a great day it was.  Our first stop was to view the shuttle Atlantis which is on display.  You can see the Canada Arm extended to the right of the space shuttle.

Tom got to the controls of a shuttle mock up and got to check out what it would be like to move through the space station.

Then it was over to have lunch with an astronaut.  His name is Tom Jones believe it or not.  He has gone into the space four times.  He gave us a very interesting talk about what it was like to live in space, how and what they ate, how they used the bathroom facilities and got exercise to stop the depletion of bone mass due to living with zero gravity.

Then it was onto another bus to take us out to a launch pad.  First stop was the building where they actually build the rockets.  The hand painted flag on the outside is 209' long and 110' wide.  Each star is 6' across.  It was painted on the building in 1976  as part of the bi-centennial in the USA.  This is the tallest one story building in the world!!  The building s 526' tall and covers 6 acres. Check out the tall grey doors on the right.  These massive doors open to allow the rocket to be moved out of the building on the crawler-transporter. The doors are 456' tall and take 45 minutes to open or close.

Once assembled the rocket would be moved to the launch pad on the crawler-transporter.  This machine has 8 tracks and moves at the whopping speed of 1 mile per hour and burns 1 gallon of fuel every 32 feet.  It moves down a 130' wide double  pathway to the launch pad.  

file picture of Saturn V being moved by the crawler

It was not moving today

The launch pad is a massive area. The crawler would move the rocket 3.5 miles to lunch pad 39A. 

Launch Pad 39A

file picture of the Discovery on the crawler positioned at the launch pad...man that would be something to see!!

At the Apollo/Saturn V Center we visited the Firing Room Theater where they actually launched the Apollo. These are all the stations where the men sat ensuring the launch was going as planned.  

 And the real  Apollo 14 Command module, the "Kitty Hawk".  This is what the astronauts returned to earth in, landing in the Pacific Ocean.

Back for a walk through the Rocket Garden before heading to our bus for the return trip to the resort. 

The bus driver decided since it was dinner time we would stop at the Cracker Barrel on the way home for a bite to eat.  Not my favourite place but it filled the void.

We could have spent many more hours at the Kennedy Space Center.  There were more things to see than there was time.  But it was a great day.  Maybe we will take tomorrow off!!!  Until next time - safe travels.  

Its About Time

Rick and Kathy Rousseau were one of the first people that started to follow my blog.  They found mine after they started following John's blog.  We have chatted back and forth over the past year or so but never met in person. Strange you would say since they also live in southern Ontario.

Well today they were in Lakeland getting a custom made skirt for the front of their 5th wheel and contacted John and Judy to see if we could get together.  We headed off to Lakeland this morning to meet up with them for lunch at Denny's.

Tom, myself, Kathy & Rick

Rick, Kathy, Judy & John

Rick is a super handyman who has customized both his truck and their 5th with all kinds of great add-ons.  We had hoped to get up the Crystal River during the month of January to kayak.  This is where Rick and Kathy were parked for January.  But the weather never cooperated for us and we did not get up to see them.  

So glad that this worked out and we were able to actually meet them in person,  We hope to be able to meet up with them again over the winter or next summer when we are all back up north.  Wonderful to meet people that you get to know through their blog,

We arrived home in time for neighbours, Jim & Shari to call over "get your butts over here".  The neighbours next to them, Dwayne and Marilyn were also there.  We headed over  for happy hour with them,  We have the best neighbours you could ask for down here.  Wish we could take them home with us!!!

Tomorrow we are on the bus at 7:45 am for a trip to the Kennedy Space Centre.  Should be interesting,  Until next time   - safe travels.

Battle of Bowlegs Creek, April 7, 1864

During the war between the south (Confederates) and the north (Union) Florida was of vital importance to the Confederate States as the sole meat supplier for the Southern armies opposing General Sherman in north Georgia.  During the dry season an average of 2000 head of cattle per week were driven north to feed the Confederate Army.  In an effort to impede this activity and shorten the war the US government reactivated Fort Myers as an army post.  Their mission was to steal or kill as many cattle as possible to disrupt the delivery of the beef to the Confederates.  The war in Florida was not for territory but for supply - livestock.

Confederate soldiers stationed at Fort Meade had the job of stopping the Union raids and keep those cattle moving north to Georgia to feed their grey clad soldiers.  In February 1864 a Union raiding party moved up the Peace River Valley to capture horses, cattle and whatever supplies they could take.  They burned homes and other buildings and destroyed crops.  They ran into Confederate soldiers where the Bowlegs Creek meets the Peace River near Fort Meade.  From what I have read it is hard to determine who really won that battle but it appears that the Confederate troops actually won that day and then retreated back to Fort Meade.  Anyway we all know who ultimately won that war.

To celebrate the 150th annivrsary of this battle there was a reinactment presented at the park near Fort Meade where we put in our kayaks last week.  There was likely 50 soldiers on each side.  Several cannons were being fired and all the weapons.  Very loud!!!

The Confederates

Union soldiers

Union soldiers are winning - the Confederates have many casualties

Tom chatting up a lady dressed in period dress.  Her husband was one of the Rebs.

Today the Union troops won the battle.  This lady was telling us that the actors have both a blue and a grey uniform so they can fight for either side.  They take turns winning but usually on Sundays they let the Union win.  They put on a very interesting performance and gave us a look at some American history.

We headed back to the resort to take in the Super Bowl party at the clubhouse.  It was a pretty pathetic game so Judy and I headed over the the pool room to shoot a few games will the boys watched football.

Another beautiful, hot and sunny day. This is what we came for!!   Until next time - safe travels.

Bok Tower

When we were at the Snow Bird Extravaganza we picked up a couple sample packages of Louisiana Gumbo Spice mix.  I tried it out with chicken and spiced sausage and it has been slow cooking for two days. I tried it on the Hollinger's for lunch today.  Gumbo and biscuits....wow we are becoming southerners!!! 

John and Judy had toured the Bok Towers last year and wanted to show us around.  After lunch we headed off for the 85th anniversary celebration.  The gardens were started in 1921 on 250 acres by Edward Bok who was a Dutch immigrant that made it good as an author and  the editor of the "Ladies Home Journal".  He and his wife lived in nearby Lake Wales in the winter months.  He used to walk on the hill nearby called Iron Mountain.  This hill is reported to be the highest point in Florida.  He decided to turn the hill into a bird sanctuary and botanical garden.

 The great white hunters captured this big boy!!  Sure glad we did not see this fellow in the Peace River the other day. 

 This is the entrance to the gardens where the museum, gift shop, restaurant, etc are located.

We watched a short video of the history of the area and then headed out into the spectacular gardens.  The Singing Tower was built as the centrepiece of the garden on the highest point.  The 205 foot  building started with a steel frame, covered by brick and then by pink and grey marble from Georgia with embellishments of Florida coquina shells. With the three different colours in the materials the tower looks like it is glowing. 

In the top third of the tower is the carillon, a stationary hanging set of 60 bronze musical bells.  The keyboard used to play the bells is housed in the tower.  The player uses his fist to play one keyboard and his feet on the other.  The largest bell weighs over 11 tons!!  The bells are played daily.  The tower was dedicated in 1929 by president Calvin Coolidge.  The tower is surrounded by a 15 foot moat built with pink marble and holds some huge koi fish.   

We moved on to Pinewood Estate and Gardens.



  This house was built in the early 1930's by C. Austin Buck who was vice-president of Bethlehem Steel Co as a winter residence,  This is a 12,700 square foot,  20 room Mediterranean Revival mansion.  It was purchased by the Bok Foundation and restored to its previous splendour including the original furnishings.  

 There are heavy wooden doors into each room and wooden shudders on the inside of the windows.  Each one is hand carved and each one is different.  All wrought iron sconce and fixtures are all hand made.  There are beautiful walled gardens, terraces, ponds, fountains and flowers everywhere.

A very beautiful spot.  And when you realize that it is all built on top of what was a barren sand hill in the middle of no where.  

This little guy looks like he is happy to call this place home.

The weather today started out rainy but the temperature rose to into the low 80's.  It was hot and humid in the gardens at Bok Towers today.  It felt like being in the tropics.  Pretty nice!!

Until next time - safe travels.