OldiesonTour

Thursday 2nd April

An early school run this morning as Elton has his audition first thing; good luck Elton.

Today looks a little overcast, what a shame as our days are getting numbered and our time in the sun in dwindling😩😩, so a casual morning, lunch at home; no “apple-fritter” today!!! Then off to the pool.

As we have done most things that can be done in and around this area,   I did some research on the history of Florida, and rather interesting it is too, well for me!!!   I will write that up on my next log.

We spent much of the afternoon around the pool, and though it was sunny one moment and cloudy the next, it was still nice and warm and jumping in the pool was like a warm bath.

There are just three of us tonight, Andrew is off out so we finished off last night’s roast chicken and Christine enjoyed looking after Elton, and putting him to bed and reading the story; I cleared up!!  Andrew isn’t expected back so we have our instructions for the morning’s activities for Elton, he is joining many of the children for a “day-camp”

Wednesday 1st April 2026

Christine is feeling much better this morning after a good, and very long night’s sleep, but no plan to head out for the day.  Also we are all collecting Elton from school before heading to one of the many beaches for a swim in in the sea, followed by dinner in a restaurant Andrew wants to check-out.

Our first mission this morning is to head off to the car rental people to  shorten our rental agreement dates, and hopefully get a refund; better “face-2-face” than on the ‘phone.

Driving around there are all makes and models of cars, American, European and Eastern varieties in abundance except one: this is another “Tesla” creation; the “Cyber Truck”.    This interesting looking electric, extremely “high-tech” pick-up vehicle, is quite big but drives small due to its adaptive, fly-by-wire, 4-wheel steering.   It is roomy and certainly looks different. ;-  We arrived at the car hire office late morning and after a short discussion the guy said he would only charge for the days hired; good result and now wonder if I needed to go into the office at all???

Back home for lunch today, that makes a change, and not long after we got the call from Andrew; we will leave in 10-minutes, so scrambled around getting our kit ready for the beach.

We collected “little-one” from school then headed off to the beach.  We had two topics of conversations in the car; would there be another red flag or not, and would we be able to catch sight of the launch of the rocket “Artemis” on its way to the moon around 1830hrs.

The sea was very “lively” due to poor weather and strong winds blowing in from the sea, producing strong waves, though these didn’t bother Elton: no fear I suppose, though Andrew was on hand should he be needed.   Christine and I on the other hand struggled, not helped by an abundance of recently arrived seaweed and some underwater rocks.   The best bit was the temperature, I certainly expected it to be cold but it wasn’t. It was very pleasant.   After Elton and his Dad tried to dig for Australia, we made use of the beach foot showers and after a spell in the kiddies play area, we headed to the restaurant Andrew had booked.   We kept looking out for the rocket launch but didn’t see anything, after all we are 169-miles to the south!!!   Andrew did get the actual launch on his ‘phone to watch as we were driving!!!!!

The restaurant Andrew was “sussing” out is called the “Motek” and is in Boca Ratan, and looks very popular.   It is an Israeli/Mediterranean restaurant, apparently known for its vibrant atmosphere and dishes inspired by Tel Aviv street food, it Is located in the Town Centre area and offers indoor/outdoor seating as well as a “valet” car parking service!!! 

After a very nice meal we headed back home, tomorrow morning Elton has to be in school before his usual tarting time of 0800hrs as he has an audition for a singing competition.

Tonight we watched the film “Going in Style” with Michael Cain and Morgan Freeman about three American OAP’s who were cheated out of their pensions who robbed a bank; a funny film well worth watching.

Tuesday 31st March 2026

Christine woke up to a nasty cold; too much air-con I expect, so she missed the school run.

By mid morning she was ready to head out and our first port of call “recommended” by Simon was “Fishermen’s pier”, at a place called Deerfield beach, where we could stroll around, enjoy a coffee and watch the world go by; just the job today as Christine is one degree under.

Again we found ourselves on the A1A road as we arrived at Deerfield, and to our amazement car parking was difficult; being a Tuesday we assumed it would have been quiet!!!   We found a spot alongside the beach and just by the pay meter, and again surprised by just how many people were on the beach.  The Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier, to give it its full title, is a 976-foot pier for fishing, “sightseeing”, (ha ha) and walking along, but mainly for folk who want to go and fish.  This pier “apparently” is the “centrepiece” of this beachfront district.    The promenade running alongside the beach was well laid out with the usual abundance of colourful flowers etc., but to use the pier as the centrepiece did stretch the imagination; it just jutted out into the sea, nothing on it and they charged $2 each for the pleasure!!, we walked by; we have a better pier in Weston s Mare and haven’t done that yet!!!   The place was buzzing with people but to find a coffee place that was open was very difficult; restaurants serving lunches yes, but not just hot drinks.   we walked everywhere and eventually found an ice cream parlour that served coffees/teas etc., so went in.   

As suggested, we returned to the promenade, found a seat and sat in the sun and watched the going’s on, though with the strong wind and big seas, the red flags were out; so no swimming, only sunbathing.

Once our time was up on our parking meter, we headed back home.

We had recently been thinking long and hard about our 10-day road trip and were gobsmacked just how expensive motels along the way were going to cost; my recollection of motel prices has been completely shattered not to mention the general cost of living here in the US.   With everything going on at present, the re-furbishment of our bungalow, planned trips later in the year etc., it became a head V heart decision, so we let fate make the decision; can we change our flights with minimal cost.   Christine got to work, and after many expletives whilst on-line she achieved her mission.   We were always leaving Andrew’s on the 8th, so no change there, just not travelling for the sake of it.

Tonight Christine was doing a “Sunday Roast”, but whilst she took on the “might” of Virgin’s web site, I prepped dinner.

Being a week day little-one was in bed at his usual time as was Christine as she was feeling very groggy, just hope a very early night with a good sleep sorts her out

Monday 30th March 2026

Today was much like another except for one big exception, it was the “second” day of rain; we didn’t come here for rain!!!!!

Later today we are heading to a place called “Gumbo Limno”, a nature centre for marine life: we also planned to head to an area known as “Caps Place” around lunchtime where there is an interesting restaurant, not least as one has to take a short boat ride to get there, but first we headed to Red Reef Broad-walk, as recommended, here there there is a pleasant broad walk winding its way around the sand dunes and hardwood trees and skirting a golf course.

The walk was very nice and though windy, there was sunshine between the clouds, Fortunatly by now there was minimal rain as we took a seat to “stare” at a four ball as they played up to the green and then putted.   I have to say all theses golf courses are very inviting  

To get to most areas there is the “highway”  but also a minor road numbered as ”A1A”, a coastal road that runs on the Atlantic side of the inter-coastal waterway; it is this road that has all the “super big” and expensive houses owned by “anyone who is anyone”; the super rich.   Each day we go out we always find ourselves on this road, by the end of our time here, we should have done the whole road!!

We found the car park for “Caps Place”, it was empty and no site of any boat!!   It struck us that, being a Monday it could be closed, so checked, and it was.   Oh dear, what a shame as the write-up got our “juices” running.  Apparently this place is famous for its history and for the number historical figures, including several past Precedents, that have visited here; oh well another day when open and now headed back to Gumbo Limbo another 25-minutes away. 

Gumbo Limbo Nature Centre is set in a 20-acre coastal preserve here in Boca Raton, it features a butterfly garden, and large marine aquariums with native fish and sea turtles and a boardwalk meandering through tropical hardwood trees.   At the end is a 40-foot observation tower, known as Jacob’s Outlook. The top is above the tree canopy, so there is a good view of the surrounding area and inter-coastal waterway .  This place is naturally an education centre whilst looking after the marine life and the erosion of these sandy areas that are exposed to the full force of the Atlantic.  The main attraction was the big aquarium containing all sorts of fish including a 30+ year old, 7-foot green Moray Eel called Mortimer.    The other interesting place was their hatchery, bringing numerous turtles into the world.   This was a worth-while place to visit and entry fee was a donation, even better.   Thank you Simon!!!

After dinner and little one was in bed we settled down to watch “Crocodile Dundee”; I also enjoyed a Jack Daniel’s. Whilst out shopping the other day I came across this rather big bottle, so naturally had to get one!!

Sunday 29th March 2026

Today we woke up to rain, what a shame as we have tickets to go to the Palm Beach boat show; still it will be warm rain!!!

Having “dug”  out our light-weight rainwear, we hit the road, but this time on the main highway; 6-lanes plus two hard shoulders, one alongside the fast lane and the other in the usual place!!!  The rain was bucketing down at times with cars throwing up lost of spray.

Parking in this city is limited so had to use another multi story carpark, but this time they charged, but no worries, there is a shuttle laid on to get you to the boat show for your money.

The boat show was enormous but no sailing boats, only power boats of all shapes and sizes up to multi million dollar “gin-palaces”  and some yacht that resemble a cruise ship.  Shame about the weather though, still we saw what we wanted to in between the heavy showers.   What a shame it would have been such a good event if we had chosen a better day!!!

Back at the “ranch” it was chill-out day except for Christine who decided to catch up with the ironing’s, I on the other hand did something unheard of, I had a “siesta”!

Tonight we are dining at the country clubs buffet for which Andrew had to book a table; I suppose that’s because it’s  Sunday night on a rainy day.

Rested after my siesta we got ready and Christine and I headed out, other two had already left and we were meeting them in the kiddies play room..   again we peaked around the back and ‘slipped” in through the back door.

Kiddies play room, wow, it was more for older kids, such as Dads; full of high tech games though there was another “basketball” net!!!

Onto the buffet room; this was even grander than a top notch cruise!!   If it wasn’t on display it didn’t exist, there was soo much, it even had three chefs cooking fresh pasta dishes to order and the room was heaving, no wonder we had to book.   There was even a fellow going around the tables where there were children, making animals out of balloons; Elton asked for and got a “bear”, so well done too.

Once “stuffed” we left, this time by the front entrance and Fortunately it had stopped raining, just as well as we had to walk all around the complex to get back to our car!!!!

Saturday 28th March 2026

No rush this morning as school is out👍👍👍👍 so a leisurely one.   Elton is heading to a lunchtime birthday party so Christine was busily wrapping presents for Elton with “Dad” in the background giving words of wisdom and advice on the subject!!!!

Eventually we escaped and agreed to meet later in the day at an activity that was being held at a place called “Mizern Park”, somewhere nearby; thank goodness for SatNav maps on our ‘phones.

Firstly we had an appointment with a jeweller in the local shopping Mall; we had to collect Christine’s neck-chain that was in for repair.  Next we decided to get a bite to eat but didn’t want to go to a Dunkin Donuts again, and be tempted with apple-fritters.   We had read about an outfit called “WaWa” so headed to the nearest to us.   Allegedly WaWa is the nearest thing to a “Greggs” in the uk; cheap, tasty and vert quick.  Upon arrival we were quite intrigued; from the outside it looked lake a small supermarket and upon entry realised it was more of a convenience store with a coffee station in the middle and a number of computer terminals to order from.   We couldn’t find a menu board anywhere and when we tried to see what they had to offer on the terminal, nothing jumped out at us other than breakfast “rolls”, so we left; Oh dear back to Dunkin Donuts then.   We found one a couple of “blocks” away, parked and went in.   This was a posh one, it had two counters, the healthy option which we naturally ignored, and the usual “nice one!!!”.   We went in with the intention of ”not” having  apple fritters, this was an easy decision as they had run out!!!  We went savoury, but just as bad!!!!

We received a message from Andrew telling us he had arrived so hot-footed to Mizen Park and parked in the Multi Story car park.

Mizen Park was a very pleasant Plaza with lovely gardens, trees and fountains, but today it was full of local market stalls selling all sorts of things, rather like a farmers market at home.   At one end there was a stage with some sort of group “banging out” noise pro-porting to be music!!!!   We enjoyed the wander round but it was very hot so headed to the beach.   We were very impressed with this multi story carpark park, no pay machines, no cameras, totally free!!! The beach of course was also very busy and no parking spaces available; not doing too well, so we did a drive-by some more luxury homes; these are a bit of “old-hat” now!!!!, so headed back.

Tonight Elton was very tired; he’d had a busy week at school, then we were out last night ‘till quite late and he was on the go all day so tonight all he wanted to do was go to sleep.  We were in charge as Andrew took advantage of us and went out, good for him.

Dinner and an early night again, we are also tired in the heat and being on the go?