++ FLORIDA '97 TRAVELOGUE ++

This is the 27 Nov 2004 edition of this page

	        
 FLORIDA TRAVELOGUE - 1997
--- Part Two ---

Sunday 13:April:97
The Journey to, and at, CLEARWATER.

So I was off at 8.30am from my ORLANDO Hotel, in a different coach/bus for TAMPA BAY! Sharel Dover, the courier, had troubles with her microphone and talked much en-route on a miscellany of subjects. We are off to Tampa Bay, before CLEARWATER, to visit the BUSCH GARDENS for a few hours.

Arriving at 10am, we have until 3pm to do as we please here! Like all places visited we have "not a cat-in-hell's chance" of seeing everything! However, Doug and I got some good initial overviews by first:-

(i) making a train trip around the site (Egypt to Egypt)

- followed by

(ii) a 'sky ride' (cable-car/ chairlift type) from CROWN COLONY to STANLEYVILLE.

BUSCH GARDENS is divided into separate themed areas: Morocco, Egypt, Land of Dragons, Congo, Serengeti Plains, etc, etc - with various items in each. The train-ride revealed views of many animals, lakes, stations, rides etc..

There is the world's LARGEST INVERTED "roller coaster" - and another with the highest speeds (60mph) and highest g's (3.85g) in the world. There is also the world's largest LOG-FLUME (which Doug and I went on), a tidal-wave ride and a water-chute. Doug and I also took photos of each other with CLEOPATRA, a very nice a smartly dressed lady.





After Doug and I went on our water-chute ride, we went to the cafe area in STANLEYVILLE and had our food and drinks before exitting to the WARTHOG habitat, not to mention the ORANGUTANGS, FLAMINGO Island and MOROCCO. Following this, we went back to the Entrance area - where we waited for the bus to CLEARWATER ,via the Causeway crossings of TAMPA BAY. We chatted with several other passengers before our departure.

On the 'skyride', Doug and I were requested by two elderly ladies to accompany them (for their safety & comfort), so how could we refuse? We all had an enjoyable chat as we were "overflying" the site - this having large areas 'under development' (looking like an extensive 'building site' in parts!)

After the BUSCH Gardens, my journey was to CLEARWATER (via TAMPA) and continued via Causeways and Islands. At one point, TAMPA BAY was on one side and the GULF OF MEXICO on the other!! Arriving at CLEARWATER, the traffic was VERY heavy, but (as a passenger) the hotel came quickly enough! Sharel was briefing us on how to 'do things' diffently at this place. THEY were sure 'long-winded' in the way they 'processed' us!

However, once in our room, Doug and I were well-pleased with the decor and facilities. Similarly, the view from our window was better than Orlando's (Orlando's was onto a car-park, whilst at Clearwater, we had a view across from our own hotel's frontage with palms, a beach and water to the mainland.)


As I wrote these notes (on 14 April '97), Doug was out snorkelling in the Gulf of Mexico. Relooking at the map, I found out that the nearby bridge does NOT cross to the mainland, but to a string of off-shore beaches (e.g. Indian Rocks, Madeira and Treasure Island!) What we can see from our window (fronting the water and date-palms!) is the first of the islands of beaches.

Getting back to the mainland means crossing the other bridge opposite Pier 60.

Once unpacked, DOUG ans I took two strolls, - the first being a slow one by roads at the front of the hotel (NO promenade continues from our path outside our room's door!) - the second one being a much LONGER one NORTHWARDS until it arrived at a public car-park and beach.

It was here that DOUG wanted his first paddle in the GULF (of Mexico)! I decided to walk the length of the beach to PIER 60! Doug was by the lapping water's edge on firm sand whilst I made good progress and observed:-

(a) the black-headed gulls and
(b) the MANY curious birds doing their ROAD-RUNNER performances at TREMENDOUS speeds with their little legs and NO head-movements like other birds!!

On reaching PIER60, I walked underneath it via the soft sand, turning RIGHT towards its 'land-end'. I freely entered this coastal area and walked its length to the point where payment would have to be made if I'd been FISHING (which I clearly wasn't!) or travelling by car!

Just before this point, I saw that DOUG has also made the walk here (despite his 'dodgy' legs with deformed knee joints) and we agreed to meet at the end of the pier when we'd both finished our respective walks. This pier has many people selling 'arts & crafts' items as well as tourist momentos, jewelry etc.. So we DID meet up!

Then we headed south looking for food, drink & fruit. Eventually we came across CEASAR'S CAFE, a small establishment, with outside tables. It was a very nice ITALIAN place with MAMA (Italian/Sicilian) inside and the short stocky CEASAR outside.

We both wanted to order a small pizza (as they have 'medium' and 'large' as alternatives!). When MAMA showed us the 'small' one (surprise, SURPRISE, gulp, GULP) it was GINORMOUS for us BRITS. It was the normal 'small' one for Italian Americans! It had 6 segments, each one bigger than a British Large one! So what we agreed to do was to order ONE SMALL one between us and what we negotiated was to have 3 segments in DOUG's favourite (pepperoni) and 3 segments with mine (mushroom).

MAMA predicted that it would be a 10 minute wait - so we waited outside, at our table, talking to CEASAR. This was very entertaining and amusing and he prides himself on his cheaper prices. He also talked with his mate who was the driver of a 'Jolly Trolley' and a New Yorker. He, a jolly fat man, left his 'trolley' in front of Ceasar's place.

Eventually, our PIZZA arrived (3 * mushroom + 3 * pepperoni!) complete with 2 plates and two budweisers!! This will all take 'some processing'!!! It was at this point that I thought "Roy, you twat, you decided NOT to eat this evening - and did NOT araldite the teeth in!" Yes! It would be difficult and take some time. Furthermore, neither of us had proper knives and forks -just the pathetic plastic equivalents!!

Caesar explained that one can use a such a knife as a SAW. So I did. But it took a very long time, and I had to prevent the dentures leaving the mouth! It was a beautiful taste, both MY mushroom and DOUG's pepperoni. [We each had two of our own original 'selection' and donated the third to each other.]

The meal finished and the cost for each of us was $6.00 (including the pizza, 'buds', tax, gratuities, etc) and then we proceeded back to the hotel (about 2 miles - on a full stomach!). It was a pleasant walk with reasonable temperatures for both of us, very cloudy with hints of rain. It was dark as we approached the hotel and we began to meet other fellow-travellers PLUS our guide, Sharel Dover. We sat outside the hotel on a seat on the pavement, or sidewalk, until the rain really started. Then it was an 'early night', Doug and I chatting in our beds with the day's remenicences.

Monday 14:April:97
Wandering around rainy CLEARWATER.

There was all-night rain - and all morning, too, the rain greeted us. In fact it continued the complete day here in the 'Sunshine State' of FLORIDA!! This is truly CLEARWATER!!!!

"Good," I thought, "I was going to spend it writing, anyway!" Whilst I was doing that, Doug went for a swim in the Gulf of MEXICO, - and I got my notes 'up-to-date' for the first time! I also got cards written to some folks back home in England.

Whilst eating my own lunch (consisting of cheese, wholemeal bread and biscuits) the pouring rain continues - so I watch the appropriate TV channels. Weather reports & forecasts show that FLORIDA is the ONLY WET State!! And there'll be even more tonight!! The NW corner (Washington State) has current and future SNOW this week. That wrecks a few statistics, I guess!

Eventually, I watched a Motor Racing film (with Peter Fonda and Tom Cruise etc) - and Doug was back later to watch with me. Later still, at 2.30pm, we found a channel doing REAL Motor Racing. It was from Long Beach (Calif.) and featured the Toyota GP.

Later, Joan, another one of our co-travellers, visited us to compare our activities during today's rained-off schedule. We discussed why the USA has 50 States - and WHY only ONE has rain - the SUNSHINE STATE!!

The RAIN didn't "let up", and eventually, Doug and I decided to go to " JULIE's " Fish Restaurant. This was about a half-mile from the hotel - and was done in the POURING RAIN!! We arrived there, with their pleasant welcome, and took seats from which to scan the menu. I decided on Cod & Chips, Coffee and LIME PIE. The fish was accompanied with interesting items "in-a-basket" and each piece has a small batter coating.

The taste, consistency and denture-friendly nature of all items was VERY GOOD. The "lime pie" had an incredibly beautiful taste, - and its texture was fantastic.

After extra coffees, Doug & I walked through the rain (with cape & umbrellas) back to the hotel - and there - I watched the "Discovery Channel" programme on TV (concerning the technical searches into the TITANIC & the LUSITANIA). Tuesday 15:April:97
The Ringling Museum.

After having a low-calorie, zero-fat, help-yourself breakfast - we motored south in the coach (still, mysteriously, called a 'bus' by the Americans!) to take us across to TAMPA BAY bridge over the Gulf of Mexico on the 'Sunshine Highway'.

Apart from the view of the waters, here, the INTERSTATE goes far more inland than the old road - and then the water is not seen! The predominant features are:-
(a) the extreme flatness,
(b) the straights are always parallel or at right-angles,
(c) large numbers of trees, a flat and featureless countryside,
(d) still no policemen seen in the USA since our 'start'.

We arrived at SARASOTA in the late morning - for our tour of the Ringling Museum and Galleries. There were the 'Art' and 'Circus' collections of John and Mabel Ringling. My friend Doug and I sat by and photographed a BANYAN TREE - and noticed how it propagates. In the shade of the Banyan Tree we had a little nibble of our respective foods brought with us. Also, I took a walking visit to their rose-gardens for more photography.



Then I returned with Doug to the coach and the continuation of our journey to SANIBEL. There was a lunch-stop 15 minutes further on!

We arrived at about 4pm, being welcomed by a 'punch and cookie' (typically USA?!) and then got our 'cards' for our rooms. Doug went with others to a 'shopping outlet' (actually a 'factory outlet'!) which I decided to opt-out of!

After having little of my own food supply left, I went for a walk alongside the highway for half a mile and back. I called on a 'Gas Station' (that's american for Petrol Station!) to replenish my food supply with low cholesterol margerine, cheese and strawberry yoghurt. I ate some of these in my room when back and watched the weather forecast on TV - before Doug's return.

We had a comparative chat on our experiences, before Doug went out for a meal. I stayed in, ate my own food and watched some TV. After Doug's return we had another chat, deciding on no further TV and an 'early night' (10pm-ish)!

Wednesday 16:April:97
The DARLING Nature Reserve.

Breakfast was just before 8am, Doug and I choosing lots of items to make a BIG breakfast (NO more fried stuff for me!). Many other items got on my menu Then we caught the bus at 9am (actually a coach!) whose driver was SANDY, and that took us to the departure for SANIBEL ISLAND across the causeway.

Then we went to the DARLING Nature Reserve for the day. In the morning, I was in the half-group which has the description of everything done by BOB, a 'great' amusing person, friendly, knowledgable, eco-minded and preservation-conscious. He was an absolutely marvellous guy with a fabulous sense-of-humour. He showed us many sorts of EGRETS, many sorts of MANGROVE trees (including red, black and white!), several OSPREYS and CORMORANTS. He said that the mangrove is a 'walking' tree that 'holds' and 'creates' islands. Even in Hurricanes, they generate relative stability!

After the food, packed in our own room, we went to another part of SANIBEL ISLAND for some 'shelling'. Once there, the beach was SO bright that it was painful to my eyes. I, therefore, walked in the woods behind the beach - to explore and look for general wildlife, where it was neither too hot NOR too bright!

There were, indeed, many birds and even more LIZARDS. According to Sharel, "the lizards breed like crazy", and that sure explained how they covered the floor of the woods (just like ants in the UK!). I took some photos in the woods and also some on the beach! Without care, they could be crushed 'just like ants'!

After that place, we went back to the Sanibel DARLING centre to pick up others (involved a long wait) and return to the hotel. Once there, Doug said that we were going (if we liked) to ZOE's restaurant with JOAN for a meal.

None of us knew the way, but Doug got a fair idea whilst I was fetching Joan. We then walked there and arrived eventually. We were shown to a table and each of us chose our own meal. I had an "OCEAN GUMBO" (essentially a fish stew!) and then a "lemon chicken meal" (so did Doug) whilst Joan had a 'beef steak thing'. Mine (at $9.50 +Tax +Tip) came to $12, but we all chatted for a while before walking back to the hotel. That was a wonderful meal in wonderful company. Joan, for thanks for our company, presented "us men" with a diet coke each. [Even more wonderful, on our return to the UK, Joan sent Doug and I separate copies of her own VIDEO RECORDINGS in Florida.]

Back in our own rooms, Doug and I chatted from our own beds.

Thursday 17:April:97
The EVERGLADES.

Breakfast was at 7am (ish!) after putting the loaded cases outside our door. Doug and I went down and selected all sorts of 'fare',. I had various pastries, various fruits, orange juice, coffee and sat OUTSIDE for the consumption.

Today, we will be travelling Eastwards across Florida , with stops in the EVERGLADES (but not the National Park!). The 'water-tables' are, clearly, low and the flooded areas are pretty DRY now - many of them with miniscule streams in them.

Florida appears FLAT with boring countryside, - the Everglades now appearing like the Forest of Dean used to look, beautiful and natural, before its 'managed' phase! We had one 'stop' at Sandie's (the driver!) refuelling stop for about 85 gallons, costing about $100, far cheaper than in England - and a later stop for our 'eats'.

There was no place to eat, or even create, my own sandwiches (partially packed this morning) but I eventually found an ice-cream-parlour at one end of a shop. Joan invited me to join them at their table - and we all enjoyed our separate tubs of ice-cream or yoghurt.

My first one was a chocolate-type ice-cream and the second (half an hour later) was a beautiful BLUEBERRY flavour. We then meandered back to the coach (here, called a 'bus'!) for our journey to MIAMI. I had an earlyish night after the tiring city-tour explained by our local-guide. We visited over-developped conglomerations, banking areas, residential areas etc.. It looks like HELL to me - far TOO MUCH CONCRETE!! Its best area was Coconut Grove, but grassy, good areas were few and far between! Doug, Joan and I ate out at an Italian Restaurant before the return to our hotel.

Friday 18:April:97
The EVERGLADES - continued

Our departure from the HOLIDAY INN (Coral Gables, Miami) meant that we headed towards the Everglades, first, before going to an 'alligator farm' for a presentation by an expert handler in alligators and crocodiles. I took . many photos before going on one HIGHLIGHT of the tour - namely the air-boat ride in the Everglades, looking at many 'gators and birds.

I did this, both on water - and at high speed over the relatively low waters of these man-made channels. We were provided with cotton-wool for our ears to protect against the roar of the engine when going with high throttle - and we moved quite fast too!! Whenever we stopped, the engines were stopped for the guide to talk. It was FANTASTIC!!

On the slower water stretches, many birds followed us along - and got photographed! We made several stops to look at 'gator' needs and hides.

Then it was onto the DINNER STOP (with our packed lunch-boxes) at LONG PINE KEY (?) From there, for the rest of the day, Doug and I were in the front seat of the coach (their 'rotation'system!) - first to Royal Palm Visitor Center (in the SE Everglades) and we took the ANHINGA TRAIL (with its raised wooden walkways about the swamps.) There, we saw anhingas (birds) and alligators - before making a short walk through the Gambo Limbo Trail, this being a narrow tarmac walk through the trees.

We had, earlier, visited the main visitor centre for EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK and seen a film about their work.

However, all this was over - and, Doug and I in one of the front seats, headed off to KEY WEST by first returning to "Route#1" and then heading south to KEY LARGO (the first of the 'keys') before going south-west over more interesting territory to KEY WEST.

The Key Largo area and buildings represented a very 'crummy' location - and I was pleased to be out of the area. After that the scenic qualities improved mile by mile as Key West got nearer. We stopped for refreshments and toilets at a McDonalds just before crossing the 'seven-mile-bridge' from Marathon (Key) to BAHIA HONDA.

I unpacked when we reached our hotel - and tried to relax before going out. It was quite dark (well - VERY DARK) after having odd 'nibbles' to eat - but I walked quite a distance along the road (both ways) outside the hotel. Headlamp LIGHTS made the eyes uncomfortable. There was SO MUCH 'light pollution' and only two stars could be seen.

Lack of 'constellations' meant that it was not possible to recognise anything - and I wanted to find CASSIOPEIA and Comet Hale-Bopp! NO CHANCE!! however, later in the evening, I went for a shorter walk to try and find clearer skies - and a lack of light pollution, for my 'observations'. Using my binoculars to focus on four or five individual stars, it became obvious that ONE was not a star, - and it was in the HALE-BOPP direction!!

This was when I had returned to the hotel's LEVEL2 balcony, which was above the main glare of street-level lights. Going up to Level3, I got a slightly better (well, less bad!) view of Hale-Bopp. That was my first ever sighting, and many more were to follow on my return to the UK. (It made, there, the best-ever comet-sightings of my life EVER!)

I decided to get an 'early night' after this exciting day.

( .. continued in the next chapter...) Return to Florida's Part1
or return to 1997's Index page
or return to Roy's home page for full list of books and other writings either finished or under preparation.