Elle's 2005 Florida Trip
Monday, November 28th 2005
Monday, November 28th 2005
When I heard Elle was coming down to Orlando for a visit, I knew I just had to show her a part of Florida....MY part of Florida....that most visitors don't get to see.
The first part was easy! Elle and Roslyn are friends as well, and I wanted set it up so Ros would think I was dropping off a "package" that someone asked I deliver to her. For several days I tried to reach Roslyn. I couldn't reach her by e-mail at all, but subsequently found out that her monitor was acting up again. I tried calling on the phone a few times Sunday evening and that morning but got the answering machine. As a last ditch effort, I had to pass close to Ros' neighborhood and called one more time from the car. The last ditch effort paid off. She was home and said it was okay to bring the "package" over.
It took a second for Ros to focus in on who was with me, but the delightful shreik of surprise made me know that my wise ass surprise plan worked out okay!
We had a nice visit for about an hour before Elle and I continued on to our day of scenic touring of the Florida Space Coast.
East out of Orlando towards the Space Coast, we made a quick stop at the St. John's River....
We continued on with a few stops in Titusville, stopping at my home. Unfortunately, Debbie wasn't home for the two of them to meet. She did get to meet my friend and other roommate Don.
We continued on through my quaint little town. At the north end of town we crossed east over the Indian River Lagoon and out towards the north gate to Kennedy Space Center and The Canaveral National Seashore.
Entering out on to a dirt road that twists and turns through swampy marshes, we spotted a creature that Elle had never seen "in person" before! I think that if she thought she could get away with it, she'd bring this armadillo home to play with Muffin!
Further down this road for the next several miles we saw many more wonderful creatures, all in their natural enviroment....
As we exited the area, we weren't too far from some of the Kennedy Space center launch platforms....
With the nature part of our day about over, we were getting a bit hungry. So back into Titusville for a lunch of Rock Shrimp, sweet potatoes, and corn fritters at the world famous Dixie Crossroads Restaurant....
Elle really went nuts for their homemade corn fritters! This is the recipe located on their website....
Dixie Crossroads Home Made Corn Fritters
2 cups flour
2 eggs - beaten
1 Tbls. baking
powder 1 cup milk
1/2 tsp. salt
4 Tbls. liquid
butter blend 4 Tbls. sugar
1 cup whole corn
- drained
Heat oil to approximately
350.
Sift flour, baking
powder, salt, and sugar.
Combine eggs,
milk, and butter-blend.
Fold egg mixture
into dry ingredients. Add corn last.
Drop by tablespoon
into hot oil - deep fry about 5 minutes or until golden brown.
Sprinkle with
powdered sugar. Serve warm.
We're not done YET!
South out of Titusville, we crossed over the Indian River Lagoon again and out towards the KSC south gate, then south along Merritt Island, crossing east over the Banana River and to Port Canaveral and Cocoa Beach.
After the pier, we meandered through Cocoa Beach, made a quick visit to the world famous RON-JON Surf Shop and gift store.
Now late afternoon, we headed back to Orlando via Merritt Island, Cocoa Village, and the Bee Line Expressway. I got to meet elle's friend and the three of us had dinner at a nice restaurant in the Orlando Convention Center district. After dinner we said our bye-bye's and I headed back home to Titusville where I fell face first into bed to recuperate! LOL
What a wonderful day!!!
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