Roaming around Florida...

We would like to take this time to wish all our family, friends and followers a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.  It has been a fun year that has seen us travel the four corners of this great Country.  From California to Washington to Maine and where we will end out the year here in Florida.

Here we are at Downtown Disney, spending a day just wandering through all the shops with just about everything that Disney could think of selling and to our dismay most of it was made in China.  We did manage to get out of there with just lunch and a couple of small gifts for grandkids.

Another day we had the pleasure of viewing the Manatees in the river next to the power plant where the water temperature was about 85 degrees.  They sit on the bottom and walk around looking for food and then will rise, take a breath of air and go back down again.

The fish will follow them and keep them clean; fun to watch.

Looking down the river you can see lots of the Manatees.

Spent another day walking Siesta Beach on the Gulf that is self proclaimed the most beautiful beach in the world.

 The pure white sand is the remains of shells rather that ground up rock. Firm to walk on but stays cool under foot on a hot day.  Lots of people enjoying the day and also...

lots of birds watching the people watching the birds.  Had to say that.

On Wednesday evenings when in the area we meet up with friends at Old Town Kissimmee enjoying live music, old cars and street dancing.

We have spent a lot of time just relaxing but still get out and see some of the area.  This time it was Kennedy Space Center near Orlando on the Atlantic.

We took the bus tour around the base and got a good, outside look, at the assembly building where the space shuttle was assembled to move to it's launching pad.  This is the largest single story building in the world.

Got the chance to view the Apollo/Saturn V rocket-- 363' tall and weighs more than 7 Boeing's 747 Jumbo Jets at about 6.2 million pounds. 

We also got to take a ride that simulated the take-off of the Saturn V rocket.  What a ride!!!

A full size wall mural with spectacular lighting showing the Apollo/Saturn V on the launch pad.

Had the pleasure of meeting a couple from Washington State and have made plans to take our rubber boat with them about 13 miles up the Peace River later this week. (We'll drive up and paddle back.)  If you don't hear from us soon just assume the gaiters got us and send someone to retrieve CC.

To be continued...