Oh dear, well if yesterday was stickier than the day before, this afternoon was worse, as it rained lol. Walking out of an air conditioned place and it just hits you like a wet blanket.

Anyway, didn’t do much today except drive around car parks again. Had breakfast about 6.10, no waffle this time, but fruit salad & yoghurt, eggs & sausage. Headed down to Brandon for the very large collection of flat munzees there. It was still a bit dark, but peak-hour traffic gave me plenty to follow, lol. When I was last in Florida, I cleaned out the Brandon Mall of munzees, but in two years there were lots more, so repeated the exercise.

Back to the hotel about 3.30, and then headed across the road to the hairy-legged spider munzee garden. Finished that and then drove a fair way to have dinner at Shells seafood restaurant that the lass at the front desk had recommended. It was nice, much better than the cheese and biscuits I have here, lol. They might be tomorrow night’s dinner down in Fort Lauderdale.

Dawn with a bit of mist, no idea how that comes about in this warmth!

I just love all this hanging Tillandsia. It’s probably regarded as a weed as it hangs off everything.

Did I say it was sticky yesterday, well even stickier today, LOL.

Had a lovely breakfast, a waffle with fruit salad, which included blueberries, blackberries and raspberries! Cheesy scrambled eggs as well.  I walked out the front door with the intention of just doing 20-30 minutes of munzeeing, well 3+ hours later I walked back through the front door, hot, sticky and thirsty, as I’d left my bottle of water behind. The hotel is part of a business park complex, so no shops as such except a few along the main road. It wasn’t really a long way, but as I had to stop every 30-50 paces to grab the virtual munzees it took a long time, LOL.

Had a cool down, a rest and a snack lunch and then headed out in the car to tackle the munzees in car parks on either side of where I had walked. I was sitting in a car park when the car decided to tell me it only had 41 miles worth of fuel, so I found someone and asked about a ‘gas station’. Of course, I managed to get lost, but it was worth it, as I watched a pair of sand hill cranes walk sedately across the road, in front of the vehicle waiting for them on the other side of the road from me. Managed a photo, below. Found someone else to tell me how to find the gas station, which turned out to be 2 streets down from my hotel!

Decided I had had enough of car parks, so headed to Lettuce Lake Park which is where we are having the event on Saturday. Another really lovely park, very very quiet though. The ranger said the water levels were too high for the usual water fowl they get and it was still a bit early in the day for the smaller birds and the cicadas to start their noises, so it was almost eerily quiet.

I really need another week here to clean up all the munzee gardens, there are so many of them. Oh well, another visit maybe, LOL.

Sunrise There they go…Trees are full of Tillandsia
Not seen one yet!No idea what this is!
Sunset in Lettuce Lake Park

Forgot to say that I had grits for breakfast yesterday. A southern US dish of ground corn that basically looks like porridge. The lass serving recommended eating it with butter and salt, much better after that as basically no flavour to it, LOL. This morning I had biscuits and gravy. Biscuits are like scones and the gravy, well that is white with something in it. Googled it and it’s usually bits of sausage.

Headed out to a couple more local munzee gardens in Orlando before heading down to Disney Springs (it used to be called Downtown Disney) Managed to find my way into the Lime Garage (rather than the Orange Garage) and after having a snack in the car for lunch, headed down the escalators to the ground level. Wandered around for a bit, but it was quite hot and humid, and there seemed to be music coming from every open shop and in between, so it was quite noisy, not a huge crowd of people, but then it is mid-week.

Then carried on down the road a little way to Celebration (a Disney built suburb) where more munzees awaited me, LOL. From there I drove the 50+ miles to the hotel near Tampa.

My hotels have improved as I’ve gone along, lol, This one is so close to the munzee gardens at Lettuce Lake that I’ve been capping them from my room, lol. Very nicely, there was a complimentary dinner, so once I had hauled all my stuff up to the room, I went and had chicken & salad, cheese & biscuits and water! Then finished unpacking, showered, blog writing and now bed. Oh I managed to jam my thumb in the car door before I checked out this morning, it’s starting to get dark, sigh, and it’s sore!!!

I did get the check-in guy here laughing. He needed my postcode so I gave it to him and also said that I couldn’t use the pre-pay on the petrol bowsers as they didn’t like my postcode. He had never heard of petrol bowsers, they are gas stations here, so he said he thought I was talking gibberish, and I could come back after dinner and entertain them with my accent, LOL.

Muscovy ducks are native to Florida, but this brood of ducklings won’t last long standing in the middle of the road. Mum was sitting there watching them, and finally moved them off the road.

Oh I so wish I knew someone who can build this sort of thing out of Lego, LOL

This one isn’t Lego
A restaurant at Disney Springs

Didn’t get to sleep before midnight, so going to have a relatively early night tonight!

Had a great day today. Did some car munzeeing around the streets of Orlando for a while, then headed over to Lake Eola for the munzee pokemon ball garden positioned in the middle of it. A lovely park with lots of birds, I chatted with the birds, squirrels and turtles as I walked around the lake, about 2 kms. I did tell the white swans they were the wrong colour, until I turned a corner and there were the proper black ones, sitting preening, LOL. In one of the car parks earlier had been a smallish brown, non-descript bird that just kept up an amazing repertoire of sound. I sat and listened to it for ages.

From there I headed north to one of the giant shopping malls that had been munzeefied back in 2015. Drove around that a few times, then headed inside for the rest. Thought I might see if I could find someone selling FitBit One’s but not to be. I had a great, very late lunch, of bangers and mash from the Sausage Shack, served in a tub of all things. On my way around had seen that there was a Publix (grocery shop) across the road, so headed to that once finished and got some supplies for dinner and lunch tomorrow. Noticed a small area of munzees, so got them. It was quite obviously an area hit by the hurricane as there were tree branches still stacked on the sides of the roads. Then came back for this early night. Have showered, written blog, will have my cranberry & ham salad for dinner, then bed and hopefully some sleep.

 Hmm, he can’t read, lol  Duck & turtles
Apparently these turtles, which are enormous, are soft shelled, so they are quite nasty, hence called snapping turtles.
 An interesting art workWanted some of my nut bar!

My new cruise itinerary.

Nothing really much to say about today, except that sitting around waiting is tiring, LOL.

Up, packed and checked out just after 7.30. Headed for Erwin Park yet again, basically just for another drive around as I really did like the place. Then down to another park that I had visited once but not since the special flat munzees cane out. There were a few there, lol 800+. I then headed out to JR’s ranch where I think Dallas was filmed, but not really sure as I never watched it. Anyway, a new munzee emerald garden has been started there, and as I probably won’t be back this way for a little while, figured I may as well get what was there.

Hit the motorway and headed off to return the rental car, caught the bus into Dallas Fort Worth airport and then checked in 5 hours early. Sat for a bit and then caught the skylink monorail that runs around the terminals. It takes about 20 minutes for a full circuit so did that twice one way round and then changed sides and went round once the other way!

The flight was on time, but very full and I had to stow my hand luggage nearly at the back of the plane, so basically I was last off as I had wait to collect it. The Captain and crew enjoyed looking through my BOAC Junior Jet Club log book and commented as such as I left the plane.

My suitcase was out very early so then on down to the Hertz car rental. This was funny as I could take any car I liked from zone 3! I just grabbed the first one, a Nissan with Texas plates and not much of a nose on it! Found the motel eventually, and dinner comprised of cheese, biscuits, an apple and some fruit & nut mix. However, very exciting, breakfast is included, so somewhere between 7 & 10 that’s where I’ll be, LOL.

Now that I am in Florida, the time difference is exactly 12 hours, so it’s 11.15 pm Monday night and 11.15 am Tuesday morning at home! Definitely bed time!!!!

Sorry, it’s not a good picture, sun in the wrong spot, but it is JR’s Ranch.

We had our final munzee event this morning, a 3 km walk around Towne Lake Park. I went with Marie, Tim and Carol and with only a slight detour or two on the way got to the venue. Bagels, in lots of different flavours were on the menu for breakfast. After getting a ‘race number’ most people then had a leisurely walk around the lake, capping the odd munzee on the way, and participating in another Eventzee photo hunt as well.

Back at the start, Marie organised several photos of the Sunshine State clan members, and then I said goodbyes to old friends and new ones. Louise and I wondering what continent we’ll meet up again on! We left the park and commenced to drive around and around in circles, LOL. We kept finding ourselves somewhere we had already been, either today or yesterday, but the munzees just keep appearing. Had lunch at Whataburger which was nice and then drove around a few more circles, until we met up with friends at the Hutchins BBQ place, for dinner, which had divine ribs!!!!!!

Got back to the hotel with only one small detour, lol, and now to finish this and pack the suitcase ready for departure tomorrow.

Not due to land in Florida until 20.30, so the blog will be very late, in fact it may not be written until the morning, as by the time I find my hotel in Orlando it will be very late.

Finally a squirrel who posed!

Towne Lake Park
 2 turtles A college Library

Today was so busy, I had 4 munzee events to attend over the whole day. Marie & Tim (the top two munzee players in the world) and Carol picked me up at my hotel just after 8.15 and almost to the minute, 12 hours later dropped me off again.

We headed for Erwin Park, with a little detour or two first, for munzees of course, lol. We got to the park to discover there was a mountain bike racing event on as well, so is was rather chaotic, with bikes, cars and people everywhere. Our pavilion was down the road a bit further, but parking was a premium! Here we had a 10 stage Eventzee, photo scavenger hunt. We had to find the 10 locations which each had a casino based game that we had to do and then answer a question about that game.

It was quite a warm morning and the phone reception wasn’t great, but got all the clues done and questions answered. We then headed off to have a spot of lunch and on to Inspiration Park for the next event. Found the specials, had a chat and then moved on again. Back to MHQ this time and the Wallabee event. This is a card collecting game, which I don’t play, but there was a badge for attending so we all went, LOL. There were some more special munzees to cap and more talking, before yet again moving on.

The final event was in the middle of the McKinney town square, which had all been fenced off for their annual Oktoberfest celebration. Lots of noise, music, German food and beer, all the shops still open, fairground stuff for children, a petting zoo and thousands of people. The munzee event was modified to suit the situation which we completed. Had a lovely dinner at a restaurant near one of the gates and just watched people pouring past the windows!

After a few detours to find more munzees of course, I arrived back at the hotel.

PS for yesterday. In the morning driving through the suburbs I watched a roof being tiled, well sort of. They are individual tiles like we have, but sheets which have imitation tiles on the lower half and plain at the top. The top part is nailed onto the wooden roof and then covered by the next overlapping sheet of tiles. I was told in one of my many chats that the housing in Texas is very inexpensive.

Me playing Texas hold ’em (lol)

A beautiful house in McKinney

Where we were headed

For Dad, this dinky little fire truck in the centre of the festivities!

LOL, started the day off much the same as yesterday only changed the order, as Inspiration Park is right next to a school, and you are not allowed to use a mobile phone in the school zone whilst children are being drooped off (or picked up either). Went out to Erwin Park first off, had a chat to a park ranger, clearing up some fallen pecan branches. He said that the crops had been so good this year that the nuts were too heavy and the branches were breaking. Not small branches either.  Lots of squirrels around that early and a few more birds. Saw a huge white one at the lake, not sure if a heron or an egret.

On to Inspiration Park and met up with another couple of munzee hunters. Walked around for a while and then drove around for a bit before coming back for lunch and a nap!

Headed down to Towne Lake Park, another spot Maria and I walked around last year, very pretty recreation area. Then headed over to MHQ and the first event of the calendar for this weekend. Lots and lots of people, things to buy and things to scan, lots of talking and greetings. Had a photo scavenger hunt to complete as well which was fun. The theme is casino based, so there were tables and dealers all playing with chips that were redeemed for vouchers. The top 3 winners getting munzee vouchers for the online store. The night finished off with some entertainment by the staff, which was fun.

There are 4 events tomorrow plus a geocaching one as well, going to be well and truly busy!!

Now I know you can see the bird, but can you see the squirrel?
He’s sitting on the large bare branch.

School buses all lined up, ready for the afternoon shift

Towne Lake Park

It’s been a week already!

Didn’t really do anything much today. The special flat munzees were released at midnight and as they can give very good points, I returned to Inspiration, Erwin and Celebration parks to cap them. Just over 2000 of them in those 3 places alone, the munzee map is covered with them, LOL.

No muddy shoes at Inspiration this time, stayed on the short grass and footpath. At Erwin they are rehabilitating the large interior of the park with prairie vegetation, which looks mainly like tall grasses and short shrubs. There is also a protected section of vegetation that is not allowed to be mowed specifically for butterflies. Lots more squirrels, but no vultures this time.

Short nap and then on to Celebration Park. I was sitting in an empty car park concentrating on my phone, when I looked up the car park was full, about 100 teenagers getting off a bus and people everywhere. Apparently they have running practice every afternoon, even though it is unseasonably hot at the moment. Anyway moved on and eventually found another empty car park. Walked off to the middle of the park to come back and find, once again, the car park full and this time youngsters heading in for baseball.

One again going to try for an early night!

Tomorrow’s blog will be late because the first event of the MHQ Bash is from 7-10 pm.

Prairie revegetation. Hope they aren’t planning on letting these loose on it, those horns are huge! LOL

Well I did sleep better last night, so left here just after 7 and did some walking the streets at the new Munzee headquarters for the physical munzees around there. It gets too warm and it’s quite humid, to do much walking around later in the day. The cough I acquired from the plane seems to have settled in and not going away very quickly!

After a quick visit home as dopey here had forgotten her water bottle, I took a drive down to what turned out to be some newer areas and took some photos of the building going on as it’s quite different to our double brick! A bit more munzee hunting in a park used for one of last year’s munzee events and then back for a late lunch. I then headed out to the munzee garden that was put in over the Pecan Grove Cemetery. A pioneer cemetery that is still in use. Maria and I visited it last year, but there has been some virtual munzee retirements, so it had lots of new ones just waiting for me, LOL. Put some fuel in the car and then got home in time for the sunset.

Timber framed
 
Roof completely covered before the tiles go on
Insulated walls, and the brick work is done last

Grackles shelter under vehicles and they make the most odd noises, sort of like polystyrene being rubbed together as well as air squeaking out of a balloon. Most entertaining.

I think this vehicle has been designed to go absolutely everywhere! Not sure about the trailer though, LOL.
SunriseSunset