March 17 Saturday Day 20

Tonight we are in Sanford Florida, another Comfort Inn.

Today we traveled up A1A where possible and through to Orlando today. Saw many people with green on today, must be John Deer or Packer fans.

A stop at McKee Botanical Garden in Vero Beach FL it was right alongside highway 1. it had been damaged by the last three hurricanes but looked amazingly well kept. Out front was a big cypress the circumference was roughly 16 feet and 20 feet tall. We had seen the live ones at Fairchild and were told they were from the African continent and that elephants used to rub off the bark for moisture. The inside of these trees were mostly water with a wood outside structure. It had a noticeable large reservoir internally. Another good morning walk.

The scenery was pretty, many palms and underbrush. An emperor palm grove was one of the nicest displays of that variety of palm. There were waterways and stone bridges to breakup the greenery. Three or four painters were painting the scenes that we took in visually.

We traveled up the ocean side highway enjoying the big homes and condos. Most painted in the yellow orange shades. We found an out of the way restaurant. We sat outside even though it was around 64 and real windy, but no snow. The waves crashed along the shore giving that rhythmic beating of the surf against sand. The Sebastian Beach Inn by Melbourne FL. Both had a bowl of good chili and a Yuengling beer.

We drove by Patrick Air Force base and it reminded me of my Navy days. We had gone to Cape Canaveral to fire a A3 Polaris missile down range, I seem to remember 1,800 miles and within 100 feet of the target. I digress, we were coming back from the E-Club and cut across an landing strip. All of a sudden there were the Air Patrol telling us we were in a restricted top secret area. The air strip was being used by U2 planes flying over Cuba. We told them who we were and they said OK get back on the road.

Towards Cape Kennedy we went. Found a nice close parking space, got to the gate and saw a 37$ entrance fee for both, I said I thought we paid for this with our taxes? We looked at each other and said we saw this twice already and the second time the kids in their mid teens didn’t think much of it. Back to the car we went. Heading out of the area there was a bunch of cars parked alongside the road all looking toward the Cape. I stopped and ask a guy what’s up. He said there was an air show and it was just about over. He said did you hear about the accident they had here yesterday, one of the planes did a couple rolls and an end over and crashed near by. Reminded me of 1961 when I was in Seattle on the old Blackfin, there was a flyover of 5 or 6 planes and one veered off to the right and crash beyond my sight line.

Off toward Orlando we went. We found Universal Studios Citywalk to find Emeril’s Restaurant. We went to the parking lot and mentioned we were going to Emeril’s to eat, he asked if we had a reservation? No we were just going to try, he gave us a free pass, otherwise 11$. Got to the front door of the restaurant and were told that the only reservation open for two was 11pm. Or we could eat at the bar, first come first served. That was our ticket. Skip to the next paragraph if you don’t want to know what we ate. Sitting down with a couple other couples, one that frequents the restaurant, and said many times during the year they are 4 to 6 weeks out. Shirleen a glass of cabernet Lady in Red I think by Kestrel, frightfully full and rich and I a cosmopolitan and a glass of chardonnay. Shirleen’s dinner was comprised of a Roasted Filet Mignon With a White Cheddar Grit Cake, Sunnyside Up Quail Egg, Serrano Ham and Natural Reduction Sauce and I Andouille Crusted Texas Redfish With a Grilled Vegetable Relish, Creole Meunière Sauce, Toasted Pecans and Shoestring Potatoes. What a treat!! jerr