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23rd - We went with AC and UJ to the Everglades and to a place called Shark Valley (Ralph and I have not yet worked out why its called this as there are no sharks there!).We had the option of a trolley ride to and from the observation tower which overlooks a large part of the Everglades, or hiring bicycles.We were brave and went for the bicycle option, not actually realising how far 14 miles is on a bike until we had reached the observation tower after 7 miles of cycling and realised we had all that to do again to get back!AC was particularly brave as the bikes were not really meant for short people like us and even with the seat lowered to its full extent she could only just reach the floor on tip toes!We saw lots of wildlife on the way, including alligators who just lay on the path and are free, should they choose, to take your legs off!We also saw green turtles, but this time in the wild as opposed to the previous day.We were all shattered after our 14 mile bike ride and so we stopped for lunch at restaurant owned and run by Native Americans.AC got in to the Christmas spirit when we arrived back at the house by making scones (or were they rock buns?!) and mince pies (or were they apple pies?!)
24th - Ralph was desperate to get some fishing in and UJ, being a long term fisherman, was the ideal companion.We therefore had a day of fishing from one of the bridges in the Keys.UJ caught the first few catches of the day and then, finally, Ralph made it 2-1 to the fish with his first ever catch in America!There were lots of variety of fish but the ladies showed them how it was done!AC held the rod for about 20 seconds and caught and reeled in a fish and then Kirsty did the same!!Not bad for a first timer!Ralph is now insistent on me getting a pink rod so I can join him fishing around the rest of the US!Whilst there we also saw a huge turtle pop up right in front of us.This guy was absolutely massive and also very elusive!Every time AC got the video camera out to film him he would disappear down into the ocean until she put it away again.This continued for at least an hour!A fellow fisherman at the side of us caught a baby Hammerhead Shark and put it on the path for us to take a look at.It was incredible to see such a cute thing itching to get back in the water, knowing it would grow to be something so dangerous.After quite a few hours fishing, and after Ralph was satisfied he had caught enough fish to get them back for his earlier attempts, we left and had a picnic at St Anne's Beach.The weather once again was scorching hot as we watched the hundreds of tiny crabs running in and out of their holes on the beach.Later that day AC surpassed herself by making a lamb dinner (Ralph's favourite) complete with mint sauce (although this being America it was called Mint Jelly!).We realised that this was the last Sunday-type dinner we would have until we return to the UK where we have been promised a Christmas dinner by Kirsty's mum.Ralph wanted this putting in writing on the blog so that Kirsty's mum cannot back out of the offer!
25th - Christmas day arrived and we were treated to a small piece of home - rain!It took us all by surprise as we had not seen anything on the weather forecast predicting it (and the weather forecasts here are usually spot on to the minute, not like the ones we get back in the UK!) and we have had nothing but blue skies and scorching heat since we arrived in Florida.The rain looked set for the morning so we opened our presents and had breakfast.Kirsty's parents had given us $200.00 (more on what we spent that on later), her sister Kariss had bought me a book and Kirsty Russell Brand's new book (so far her most prized possession!) and her sister Kaycia also bought me a book and Kirsty a ton of Cadbury's chocolate (this is currently being demolished at an astonishing rate!).We also got Cadbury's selection boxes and mugs from AC and UJ.Once the rain cleared up we headed out to one of the state parks, called Curry Hammock, for our Christmas day barbeque lunch.Unfortunately, due to the rain, AC slipped on the outside stairs leading down from the house and consequently has some of the most impressive bruises you have ever seen.Its certainly not a Christmas day she will forget in a hurry!!The weather at Curry Hammock was back to best and we tucked in to chicken (the chicken must have been the size of a dog as the legs we were eating were huge!), steak, sausages, burgers, salad, rice, jacket potatoes etc.All full up the boys headed down onto the sand for some more fishing leaving the girls to chat.Kirsty once again showed them how it was done by walking down to the water, taking the rod, getting a bite immediately and reeling in the first fish of the day, before walking off muttering something about "showing them how it was done".She explained to UJ she cannot understand why fishing takes so long, you just bowl up, catch a fish, and leave.Why do they spend all day at it?!!As the sun started to set we made our way back as the sand flies were really starting to bite (one disadvantage of the Keys is that it's the only place we have experienced so far that has biting sand flies and mosquito's which leave ugly red blotches on your skin and itch like mad).
26th - We decided to make use of the money Kirsty's parents had given us for Christmas and took a flight above the Keys in a bi-plane.It was an amazing experience and lovely to see the Keys from above, linked by lots of bridges.All was well until the pilot decided to do some "interesting" manoeuvres, diving us down towards the ocean and tipping us up, and we both felt more than a little icky!Unfortunately Ralph faired the worst and ended up handing the pilot a lovely bag of things from his stomach once we had landed!We both still enjoyed it though and it was a great experience, one to add to the list!We went back and said our farewells to AC and UJ, as it was time to move in (we have tickets to see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play American Football on Sunday 30th).They have looked after us so well and we have certainly been pampered to the extreme whilst staying with them - so thank you so much.We drove to Fort Myers, on the West coast of Florida, and got back to our usual routine, trying to sleep through the noise of the French family staying next door!
27th - We took a drive to the Babcock Wilderness Ranch.We were lucky in that, as we had not made reservations and some Americans were still off work for the holidays, we managed to get the last two places on the trip that they offer.Babcock Wilderness Ranch is a 90,000 acre working ranch and they offer 1.5 hour swamp buggy rides round the place, taking in over 5 different eco systems with a wide range of animals including wild hogs, alligators and Cougars.They even brought a baby alligator on board the buggy so that we could take pictures and stroke it, as long as we did not get too close to the head and those razor sharp teeth!We left and went shopping as Ralph's trainers have finally given up the ghost with all the walking we now do, and he was thrilled with his find of a brand new pair of Vans trainers for £13.00 (Customs creepers as they call them as his work).This exchange rate is totally amazing!!!
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