February was a tough year, but we made it! LOL!
In all seriousness though, February was a challenging month, which is why I didn’t post much. Some family members had some health issues that made us worry a little (all better now), my mom fell on the ice in Michigan and broke her arm and I hated being so far away and not home to be able to help out, and our little Bella ended up with a bad tooth infection that required a risky surgery (more about that in the next post), we had to leave the boat unattended on a mooring ball while on a work trip, etc. etc. . All in all, it was kind of a stressful month, but we did manage to sprinkle in some fun amongst the chaos.
We didn’t plan to stay in the Jensen Beach/Stuart area as long as we have this winter and fully intended on making it back to the Keys this year, but life sometimes has other plans for us and we must learn to go with the flow, especially in the boating life!
The second week of February, Dustin had a work trip to Orlando for an annual tradeshow that he always helps with. I of course wanted to tag along to partake in the enjoyment of staying at a hotel and having a lovely swimming pool to enjoy 😃 We decided to try something new with the boat this time and left it on a mooring ball while we were away. Typically, we have always chosen to put the boat in a slip at a marina when we go away so that it is hooked up to power, which also allows us to run the dehumidifier. But, we did not feel like coughing up a grand for a slip, so we decided to try this out and see how it went. We are in Southern Florida and they think money grows on trees here, and well, we have yet to find that tree, so had to think outside the box on where to leave the boat! Anyway, we emptied out the fridge and turned it off and left it propped open for ventilation and turned off anything else that would draw from the batteries while we were gone. We cleaned everything extensively before we left, added an extra mooring line to secure the boat to the mooring ball, prayed for God to protect the boat while we were away, and then headed out!
On the way to Orlando, we stopped in Fort Pierce at a place called Marine Liquidators. We had heard of this place and wanted to check it out while we had a rental car! This massive warehouse was jam packed full of new and used boat parts and supplies and was quite simply, a boater’s dream. They carry just about any part or item you could possibly imagine and at very decent prices!
We strolled around not planning on purchasing anything that day, but simply making mental notes of all the items we could possibly return for. Southern Florida is very set up for refitting a boat since there are so many boat and boat supply manufacturers located here. Bella was with us since we were heading on a week long trip, so she toured the store with us as well, collecting lots of adoring looks and comments along the way.
Afterwards, we headed out to the beach in Fort Pierce in search of some place on the water to grab a nice lunch. We settled on the first place we found, Manatee Island Grill, which was located right on the inlet and had a great view and breeze!
The food was ok but nothing special. After eating, we walked along the water out to the pier and found a much nicer restaurant that we wish we would’ve found prior to making our dining choice, the Square Grouper. Dually noted for our next visit! The water that day was stunning! It was a beautiful turquoise hue and we almost hated to have to drive inland away from it to Orlando!
Soon, we arrived in Orlando.
Dustin’s coworkers were all staying at a Universal resort with a lazy river and all the amenities but since we had Bella with us, we weren’t allowed and had to stay down the street at a Holiday Inn resort. I know Dustin was bummed that it didn’t have all the bells and whistles, but Bella and I were glad he sacrificed so that we could tag along. 😊
That night, we decided to take advantage of being in a big city with lots of dining options and settled on Benihana for a yummy hibachi dinner. Since we were only a party of 2, we were sat with another family for dinner. This would’ve been a little awkward no matter what, but we were sat with the most boring, quiet, and borderline rude family we have ever met. It was 2 parents and their 4 young adult children. They were “celebrating” their son’s birthday, and he was entirely ungrateful and on his phone the entire meal. So were his 3 siblings. The parents were just sitting there staring at us like intruders across the table. It was so uncomfortable. I felt terrible for the chef who was trying to put on a fun show for everyone and was met with blank stares and zero expression from them all. Dustin and I tried to overcompensate for the table and cheer him on, but unfortunately, that family’s energy was contagious, and we ended up with a very subpar performance compared to surrounding tables. We scarfed down our food and could not wait to leave! For how expensive it was, the night was quite a letdown.
The next morning (Sunday), Dustin had to go set up their booth at the conference center for his show.
I got up and went for a run and then came back and showered and headed to the hotel pool! Dustin got done earlier than expected, so he joined me at the pool and tiki bar when he got back. It was really nice to just chill and swim in a pool for a change!
On Monday, Dustin’s tradeshow started so he had to work, but I took the day off so that I could see a friend who was nearby visiting her parents. My friend Brandy and I have been friends since we were 10 years old. We usually only see each other a couple of times a year, but when we do, we pick up where we left off and it’s like time hasn’t passed. I got up early that morning and drove to Clermont to pick up Brandy from her resort. I said a quick hello to her parents and then we had to get on the road. We stopped for breakfast at a cute little café called Calypso Coffee Bar in Apopka. The café was decorated with décor of Greek mythology and had a cozy vibe.
The owners were a super nice family and the dad told us all about how he grew up on a coffee farm in Guatemala and the coffee they served in their café was from that farm. They send some of their proceeds back to the farm to help care for the family and the workers there, which we thought was so cool! I went to Guatemala in 2016 and they have delicious coffee so it was a pleasant surprise to stumble upon this place and to be able to help support their mission! Their coffee drink menu was impressive, with all sorts of inventive and delicious coffee creations! For instance, I ordered Aphrodite’s Love Potion which was a white mocha and rose latte topped with actual rose petals! It was divine! For food, Brandy and I both ordered the Avocado Toast and it our taste buds were equally delighted.
The owners told us that they were worried about business because a Starbuck’s had just opened across the street but I reassured them that they draw a totally different clientele than Starbucks and they will be just fine! People like myself prefer cute little eclectic cafes versus large chain coffee shops. Plus, Calypso’s menu was way more creative than anything I have ever had at Starbucks! If you ever find yourself in the Apopka, FL area, be sure to stop into this place for a treat! They also have lots of delicious pastries!
After catching up over a very satisfying breakfast, we got back in the car and headed to King’s Island which boasts that they are "Nature's Theme Park" to go kayaking on the Emerald Cut. A local friend of mine had recommended that we visit this place, and her photos were so pretty that we couldn’t resist checking it out for ourselves!
Brandy and I and 2 other ladies headed out on a 2.5-hour paddle in the most beautiful, clear water with an alluring emerald hue. This enchanting water comes from a freshwater spring, and it was such a welcomed change to be in fresh water vs. saltwater again. Having grown up in the Great Lakes with all the fresh water anyone could ask for, I have really missed it since we’ve been on the ocean.
Our guide, Xena, was amazing and told us lots of history about the area and pointed out wildlife as we paddled along the lush jungle trail of palm trees and tropical plants. It was really incredible!
We had to paddle against the current on the way out and then floated with the current on the way back. There were a couple of stops along the way where we were able to get out and swim, and our favorite was at a tree growing in the middle of the river that you can climb up on and jump into the water. The water temperature was perfect and very refreshing in the hot Florida sun!
We saw a family of racoons drinking at the water’s edge and the guide even spotted 2 alligators after we had just been in the water! We also saw turtles, great white egrets, blue heron, pileated woodpeckers, hawks, fish, and even though we didn’t see any, there are also bears and deer in this area. Overall, the entire experience was so enjoyable. We had such a great time exploring this gorgeous river, especially after having had to fight the traffic in Orlando for the past few days. It was so nice to escape the city and get back to my happy place, out in nature!
After a day that went by too fast, I dropped Brandy off back at her resort and hurried back to my hotel to shower up and get ready for a company dinner with Dustin and his coworkers. We went to a place in downtown Orlando called Delaney’s Tavern. They had a really great menu, and everyone got a kick out of the name of one of the appetizers, “Mama Becky’s Meatballs”. LOL
Dustin’s company is always so generous and has always included me in their company dinners for these trade shows. This time, there were all new faces that I hadn’t met, and it was a really fun group!
Dustin and I really enjoy going to places with a speakeasy vibe and I had found one downtown that we had planned to go to later in the week. Since our dinner spot was right around the corner from the speakeasy, we spontaneously decided to go that night after dinner. The address listed for the speakeasy was nowhere to be found. We eventually figured out that we had to walk into a separate bar on the ground level, walk up a staircase all the way in the back, and that led to what looked like an abandoned bar and lounge area. There were couches and places to sit, but no one in sight. At the back of the 2nd level was a large and ornately decorated door with a tiny opening screen. There was a doorbell on the side of it, so we rang it. I had read ahead of time that in order to obtain the password for entry, we had to go online and search their social media for clues to what the password was that night. Someone finally came to the door, opened the tiny screen revealing only the person’s eyes, and said, “What’s the password?” When we answered correctly, the door opened, and we were given access to the speakeasy upstairs yet another level. There’s something pretty exciting about gaining entry to a place that passersby on the street don’t even know exists!
The place is called Hanson’s Shoe Repair and is located in the oldest building in downtown Orlando which used to be a cobbler shop (shoe repair shop). The décor is funky and eclectic with low lighting and the drinks were modeled after those you might find in a 1920’s speakeasy. The entire place can only fit about 35 people at capacity. On the outdoor rooftop terrace, they have a cozy seating area and were showing black and white movies under the stars. We didn’t stay too long because the drinks were crazy expensive and the service was a bit slow, but all in all, it was a very cool experience!
The next day was Dustin’s birthday and unfortunately, he got stuck having to work the tradeshow all day, so I decorated the hotel room for him and surprised him with a cake, balloons, and some birthday treats before he left.
That evening when he got back, we headed over to Disney Springs for dinner. We ended up going to Raglan Road, a fun festive Irish pub that had an Irish band playing and intermittent performances from Irish tap dancers. We had a great time and the food was delicious!
We decided that we couldn’t go to Orlando without visiting one of the theme parks, so for Valentine’s Day, we took a trip to Sea World.
We went the day before the holiday because they were offering a discounted rate, which ironically enough was still $75pp! Normally it is almost $140pp! We were also shocked upon arrival to learn that we also had to pay $38 to park for the day. How ridiculous is that?! Once we were in, we went on the first roller coaster we came to. There was less than a 15-minute wait, and it was a really fun ride!
Unfortunately, the rest of the coasters that day were either broke down or the wait was like 2 hours long so that was the only one we went on that day. We went to the dolphin show, the sea lion show and checked out some of the exhibits such as the penguins and the sharks, but overall, we were pretty unimpressed with the entire park.
It was honestly pretty small and was mostly tourist trap gift shops and restaurants with largely inflated prices and a few animal exhibits sprinkled in. The areas where you could once view the orcas from behind a wall had been converted into a restaurant seating area so you could only see them if you went in and paid to dine. We tried to go to the Orca show and walked all the way across the park, just to learn that it too, had been canceled. We felt very ripped off that day and ended up leaving after only a couple of hours because the park was just a money pit and not all that exciting. We were a little let down by how much we had spent for such a lackluster experience. Rather than eating lunch at the park, we opted to stop at Olive Garden on the way home and were thrilled to leave with less than a $40 tab for 2 wonderful meals and 2 drinks. Finally, a good deal that day!
On Friday that week, we were beyond ready to leave Orlando. The traffic there is insanity! It had taken me an hour and a half to drive what should’ve taken 15-20 minutes when I went to pick up my friend at her resort. We literally couldn’t leave our hotel property without getting stuck in a traffic jam. I will probably hurt a lot of feelings by saying this, but we just do not get the draw to Orlando and all of the theme parks! Manufactured fun just isn't our cup of tea, I guess!
On our way back to the boat, we drove to Zephyrhills to visit Dustin’s dad and stepmom, Jerry and Pat. We had never seen their place that they bought a few years ago there for their winter home, so we thought this was the perfect time to go check it out. Jerry was very generous and paid for us to stay in a hotel nearby, took us out to dinner, and out to breakfast the next morning. It was great to see them and finally see their home. They have a great spot on the pond with lovely live oaks draping over the front of their property and a nice breeze that blows through their screened in front porch.
Thankfully, when we got back to the boat, everything was safe and sound. Leaving the boat closed up without a dehumidifier running is something we’ll probably never do again since we ended up having to do quite a bit of cleaning when we got back. After a couple of days of scrubbing inside and outside of literally every surface of the boat just to be sure, she was good as new again and we were very glad to be back in the comfort of our floating home!
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