Randy tried frog legs (tastes like baby chicken) and gator tails. Both were very good and being breaded and deep fried, he would eat them again. We also attended a Beaver motorhome rally and got to try our "aim" at a shooting range. Toured KSC (Kennedy Space Center) and learned ALOT. One of the Beavers retired from KSC and had a few "insider" stories, well actually MANY stories to tell. I'd share, except then I'd have to kill you so I will remain silent. Toured "Swampy" the alligator preserve and other various animals native to Florida. Randy held a baby gator and in this picture a tarantula. I observed, someone has to take the pictures.
After leaving the Space Coast we headed inland to Orlando/Kissimmee area for our biannual trek to our time share at Vacation Village. Our friends Karen and Pat Kelly came to visit from Wisconsin for a much needed vacation. Both have extremely busy lives and needed to take some time away from jobs, school, kids, grandkids to unwind. It was visibly obvious as the week went on. We were treated to a wonderful show and meal at Kobi Japanese Steak House. Chop Chop. Spent a day at Epcot and for the first time made it all the way around the World Showcase. It wasn't a very busy day and we were able to hit all the attractions/rides that we wanted without too much waiting in line. Fast Track isn't what it used to be. Way overused now and we went much quicker without using it. Test Track had a "singles" line versus 90 minute wait. We all went in singles line and were on in 30 minutes. We just didn't get to sit next to each other but we all got on within a few minutes of each other. We went to Downtown Disney to walk around. Swam in the pool and laid in the sun. Had a great friend of Pat and Karen's come share Thanksgiving with us. It was great to have a true holiday feast and friends around. Holidays are never easy on the road. Miss my kids too much and they were always big deals growing up. Now when it is just Randy and I sitting around, sharing a holiday it doesn't have the same WOW factor as a house full of family. I am working on how to resolve that or come up with a new holiday plan. Maybe in the future, when we are off the road, we can begin new traditions.
After Karen and Pat went back home we decided to spend another day at Disney. So we were now at a campground but drove the car back to the time share parking area and caught the free shuttle to the Transportation station. Its meant for the condo people, but we knew they didn't check room keys so we figured we would take advantage of our time share fees and use the serve. Worked out great and didn't have to pay the $15 to park each day. We ended up going 2 days. Did Magic Kingdom, a few more things in Epcot one day. Animal Kingdom and Hollywood the 2nd day. The time between Dec 1 and 15 is dead. We didn't wait in any lines. Just as fast as you could walk the rope lines was as fast as you got on the ride. Great time to go!!! We had purchased a 10 day Hopper ticket for both of us 7 years ago, figuring they never expire and over our lifetime we would use it. It averaged about $50/day - today it is $100/day admission. Glad we did that!!!
We had been talking about dog/no dog for the past few weeks. Looked into adopting a rescue dog but kept getting turned down because we weren't in a "large enough place with a fenced yard." They don't think our "dog house" could handle a dog??? or that we couldn't walk a dog???? I can't figure that one out. Do you want the dog to stay a rescue or give him a nice home with people that will spoil him? We did get approved for a 10 year old abuse/neglected Cocker. Almost picked her up until Randy saw a small ad on the campground wall advising of Cocker puppies due Dec 12. He called the number and they puppies had been born early, Dec 5. We went over to meet the owners, and puppies at 2weeks of age. We were hooked. 1 dog left out of 7 that were spoken for. So now we await our new dog!! We saw him again at 3wks, 5wks and will pick him up at 8wks. His name is Gator. He was named Noah by the owners, but we have a great nephew named Noah - just didn't seem right. Hunter was our next choice, but then we sudden met adult men named Hunter and that didn't seem right. Born in Florida - gator comes to mind and so it was. Gator Hunter Connell. NOT Gator Bait Connell as suggested.
Randy's been getting a bit of golfing in. I keep trying but it's not my favorite game. Traditional Floridian Christmas parades are boat parades. This one was a pontoon boat and the driver had on a Santa suit. Very cute.
The most relaxing place, is a beautiful sandy, quiet beach. Ahhhhh
They had a massive replica of a circus set up on display. Probably 3 times the size of our motorhome. And to think they set up and tore down this entire company every 1-2 days and moved on. 
We went to the Citrus Bowl parade. Even though Wisconsin wasn't playing in it, Bob had seen the parade many years ago and said it was really different and beautiful. He said that it wasn't as big or ornate as he had seen. Floats decorated in oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and any other citrus fruit was really neat to see. Mickey and Minnie even made an appearance. Universal studios even had a few of their characters in the parade. So it was really different then the parades we had seen before. We had to show them the Apollo Beach Power Plant, where Manatee go in the winter. We saw many Manatee, small sharks, and tarpon. Glad they were there, as you hate to take people to special places and not see what you went there to see. They continued on their vacation plans. Outback Bowl in Tampa to see Wisconsin Badgers play, Daytona Beach, KSC, St Augustine lights, and more of Orlando before they drove back to cold, snowy Wisconsin.
