We're Back

Another good sleep night and we really needed it. Finally dragged ourselves out of bed just before 0700. Got cleaned and packed and loaded our stuff into the Expedition.

I was looking through my pictures, looks like some good shots but we will know for sure when I see them on the computer.

Just crossed my mind, Mum, Dad, Tammy, and Tom should be having a really good time. Their first port call is tomorrow, should be exciting.

Today we have a bright sunny day, yesterday was kind of gray and overcast but we never got caught in the rain just a few sprinkles.

After putting our stuff in the car we were walking back into the hotel and looked up and who did we see but Andy and Riley waving and smiling at us.

Dan and I went in to eat our breakfast and it was pretty crowded again but thinned out while we were eating. When we were done walked over to the mini-mart to get ice. By this time Andy, Nikki, and Riley were down eating breakfast so we went up and got Riley's bed to load up because it needed to go under a couple of things in the back. Joined the crew while they ate breakfast. When they finished Andy and Dan got the rest of the luggage and we were on the road at 0859.

Started out and the traffic seemed a bit heavy but it lightened up and the next three hours went by pretty fast. Most everyone slept so it was pretty quiet. We stopped at the Florida Welcome Center. Stretched our legs and let Riley run around a bit. Back in the car with Dan driving to search for a place to have lunch. We ended up having to wait until we got south of I-10 which I kind of figured would happen but it was worth the wait. Went to Arby's and everyone had a good meal. Although Riley did eat just grapes and curly fries. He was very disappointed when the grapes ran out.

After lunch we got back on the road to look for some cheaper gas, the price at the lunch exit was $3.55 and that was the most expensive we had seen on the trip.

Did a survey to find out everyone's favorite part of the aquarium. Andy's was the big tank with the whale sharks. Of course there was lots more in that tank as you can see here:

Here are two of the whale sharks, there was another one in the tank but could never get all three in the same shot.

Another shot of one of the whale sharks. Of course the people who work at the Aquarium knew their names and can tell them all apart.

Nikki's favorite was the pregnant zebra shark. We asked to be sure that she was pregnant and not just our imaginations. By asking just one question we learned so much. Spring had come to the Aquarium and many of the fish were pregnant or had just given birth and for the most part all were doing well.

Dan's was the jelly fish display, which was very interesting. The lighting was low so the water looked very blue and there were lots of jelly fish in the tank.

I think it looks like this was one of Riley's favorites also.


I really enjoyed the touch tank with the sea anemones, they are alway so gracefully.


For some reason gas didn't seem to drop in price much so we just picked an exit and luck out because the gas station we picked had a Dairy Queen so we all got dessert. Gas still ended up being $3.53. Next stop was home.

This drive also took us 7.5 hours, we couldn't have done that if we tried. Dropped Andy, Nikki and Riley off. Dan and I went to Publix to get salad stuff and then it was home.

I spent the rest of the evening going through picture, catching up on my blog and doing 3 loads of laundry. I'm ready for bed.

It was a great weekend, not a trip I would like to make every weekend but once in a while it wouldn't be bad. I thing our next few trips will be closer to home.