Our journey South East took us from one Elks Lodge to the next as we made our way across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and finally Florida. We experienced Elks Lodges of varying degrees of decline for our nightly rest stops. Our first stay was in Louisiana with magnificent oak trees dripping pale green moss and Lilypad was nestled up against a quiet pond, the only drawback being its location, a few feet from an oft used shooting range. It went downhill from there. Our final Lodge stay was in Tallahassee Florida. The site was a rather forgotten stretch of rocky soil spread out behind an empty and desolate fenced in swimming pool next to a run-down and overgrown metal temporary building that the Boy Scouts had used several decades ago as a meeting room.
The Lodge members were a friendly lot. The actual meeting hall, which was exceptionally nice, housed the original 1912 lodge room furniture from Lodge #1 in New York. Still, staying in the forgotten thickly forested area behind the lodge triggered several abbreviated Texas Chainsaw Massacre nightmares and I awoke several times in a cold sweat.
Arrived at Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness Campground. Christmas is bursting at the seams, from the treetops to the sod paths that lattice the campground. Some guests decorate for a Disney Christmas so elaborately that they have to pull a trailer behind their rig to store the “Happiest Place on Earth” decor. Lighted, air filled Mickey’s with all his friends glowed far into the night, grounds and fences lined with additional twinkling Christmas lights, jolly holiday music and in a few corners, Disney characters eerily moving extended body parts. Looking out our windows nightly, in every direction, we see the explosion of Christmas, Disney style.
Thankful that Ribbit has been checked out by our mechanic from front headlights to rear double bike rack, we commence the meandering. First through the famed city of Buena Vista, stopping for groceries, a quick run by the Outlet Stores before our first glimpse of Disney’s Shopping Magic a.k.a., Downtown Disney. The evening floats an overload of strong scented boudoir gifts through the air, millions of multi-colored twinkling lights drip from the buildings and trees and we are surrounded by the sound of Christmas music, Disney style. When we reached our fill, we three (KatieBug came along to experience crowd overload) it was time to go back to our box on wheels for some shut eye. Next morning KatieBug has reservations at Disney’s Best Friends Pet Resort so we are free to scout out Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Plans are to walk all day, but keeping the wheelchair option open just in case my ankle has other ideas.
Dropped KatieBug off and entered the world of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, perfectly timing our arrival for my favorite stage presentation, The Lion King. After nine hours, John rolling me around for the last few, both of us has reached our exhaustion point and it was time to spring KatieBug from the pet resort and recline/ice/elevate everything that was swollen or ached. When we arrived to pick her up, to my surprise, the two walks we paid for were not given. They had kept her crated for the whole nine hours! Grrrr…not a happy camper. Paid, took her outside and she peed a river.
Next day I tried to contact the Resort manager but no return call. Emailed, but after 5 hours, no answer. Drove to the Resort, cancelled the next two visits and gave them several pieces of my mind. Daughter Liz was to arrive the next day and plans were to have KatieBug stay at the “resort” for 16 hours while we speed walked around three Disney parks. After I loudly clarified my displeasure, the manager returned our money and offered a free day. No way…not going to leave my fur baby at this “resort” ever again.
Called Hilda, our travel agent who booked our Fort Wilderness campground site and asked if she knew anyone who babysat at the campground. To my relief, she offered. Hilda is a permanent motorhome “guest” of Fort Wilderness. She drove up in her Mercedes to introduce herself to us and loved on KatieBug long enough for me to feel comfortable about entrusting her for the day.
Liz arrived later that night and we drove to Cape May Clam Bake for dinner. Had to wait a few minutes before our reservation so we enjoyed viewing the gingerbread and chocolate scenes in the lobby. Tummy’s filled with clams and crab legs, visions of Disney World dancing in our heads, we slept until our 7am wake call, dressed, ate a quick breakfast and began our one really long day of mad dashing through the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and EPCOT.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that we would be able to go on every ride in every park that we wanted to visit. Three parks in one day…amazing Disney spirit and determination on Liz’s part.
Next day we were off to Jonathan Dickinson State Park, 175 miles away from Disney, to visit John’s Mom, 101 years old and anxiously awaiting hugs from her youngest granddaughter. Liz flew home after two days of visits with her grandmother.
John and I managed to squeeze in a few side trips in-between Mom visits including an evening Christmas lights viewing in Palm Beach Gardens.