Days of Chunder 2016 - Day 14

[wizzo]

Day Fourteen - 25th August 2016

THE INDEX IS HERE

So this is it, the last full day of this holiday. I would say “Hasn’t that flown by?” but it has taken me bloody ages to complete this years’ trip report!

Standard beach day start here so I’ll be brief, we’ve documented this breakfast routine a lot already. We were in iHop for 8:45am. Me and Lynn Split decisions, Lauren had cinnamon swirl brioche French toast (that’s a bloody mouthful) and Maddy had a short stack.









Not long after breakfast, I’d parted with another $25 for a cabana (two deckchairs nailed together with an awning) and we were in the sea again.









At some point in the morning I was talked into getting a wave runner and parting with yet more hard earned cash. Here’s a tip! If you stay in this hotel, get a wave runner from the bloke on the left of you as you look at the sea. He’s half the price of the bloke to the right with the freshly painted hut and printed signs! You’ll have to make your own call on his health and safety policies!

We trusted Lynn to get some pictures of the three of us speeding around on the ocean. We got two and they aren’t up to much. She obviously couldn’t drag herself away from her Kindle.





Luckily, we also took the GoPro with us!



Today was largely a snorkelling day for me and the kids. We did a lot of it in these few days and learned a lot about this seemingly quiet bit of sand and sea. We found out that if you splash about in the usual beachgoers fashion and snorkel, you see very little. If you utilise stealth on the other hand, float silently and most importantly, look behind you, this place is teaming with fish and they aren’t bloody small! They’re following you.









The big long ones are Snook. Decent eating they reckon and are very close to shore but quite timid. Hang out in little shoals. We got good at drifting in amongst them but could never get too close.

The stripy ones (will have to look up the species) were the tamest. In fact they were downright friendly. When in large shoals, you had to sneak up on them but we made friends with one particular loaner who liked the bottom stirring up to expose food. We’d move the sand, he’d come in and examine the contents and go back, then repeat a thousand times. In the following video you will also see him chasing off another similar fish that was trying to muscle in on his human!



Those of you who have stayed in gulf coast hotels may have seen the notices telling you to do the ‘Stingray Shuffle’ when walking in the sea during the breeding season of Stingrays. This is just shuffling your feet across the bottom so that you don’t stand on one.

Now I didn’t think there would be many stingrays kicking about but we saw a lot in these five days. We saw 3 or 4 every day at least. They are pretty harmless though and certainly don’t hang about when you approach, even if you’re snorkelling above them.



Here’s one scooting off when approached.



Having seen how skittish these things are, it’s a million to one shot to stand on one. Even if you did, it must be a slim chance to get pricked by something that hurts about as much as a bee sting apparently.

I’ve probably just stopped hundreds of Dibbers getting in the sea again but you really don’t have to worry, it’s safe and if you don’t want to see any fish, you never will.

That said, once Lynn heard the kids talking about the cool fish and stingrays, we had to escort her out to the sand bar for a sit every time she wanted to cool down!

The morning was turning to afternoon by now and we were ready to do something else.

We had a quick wash and brush up and jumped in the car to head North today for a bit of a mooch about. We son ended up parked at John’s Pass. This place is famed for the dolphins that frequent the inlet. We saw none.













My notes read that John’s Pass was a bit like Skegness. I don’t think it was that bad (No offence Skeggy but St Pete’s you’re not!) but it didn’t have a lot for us.

We had a look in more ‘Tatt shops’ and I was massively stung for a few frozen custards. I must have been enjoying myself on holiday because I wouldn’t normally order anything from somewhere that doesn’t have a visible pricelist. It was something like $25 for four bloody ice creams! Avoid the custard shop at all cost people! They weren’t even that good. Not a patch on the Drury Lane Custard from Shake Shack (Covent Garden) if you are ever there. Now that is a dessert!





We will return to John’s Pass but only because they’ve got a great branch of ‘Lids’. We spent a fortune in here on sports paraphernalia.

Had another look for dolphins, saw none, returned home is the quote from my notes. By 4:30pm we were back at the hotel. We went back to the room, did a little bit of packing and then decided to go swimming yet again!

Me and the kids wanted one last snorkel session as the sun dropped. Lynn sat on the beach this time and didn’t get wet. We only swam for an hour or so and when it was time to make our way back to the shore Maddy kept saying “Something’s in my top”. Lauren and I kept saying “Just swim back Maddy you’re imagining it” or “It’ll be a bit of sea weed”

The poor kid wasn’t happy though and kept jumping as she swam back. “I can feel something” she said all the way back to shore.

The second she stood up she started shouting “There’s a fish in me! There’s a fish in me!” and waving her arms about. She pointed to her armpit, I pulled her UV shirt up and out popped a lovely little fish! She wasn’t imagining it, she had a passenger!



I quickly got a photo, and got it back into the water. It would appear that the shock (or smell) of a Maddy armpit was too traumatic and it popped its clogs. It was flapping when it came out of her shirt but laid there barely moving in the surf on its side.

Then a bigger fish came and ate it right at our feet!

That my friends, is the circle of life in action.

Lauren and I spent the next couple of hours going “There’s a fish in me!” and rolling about laughing (as did Maddy)

We went back to the room, showered, changed, had a quick beer on the balcony and then headed to Bongos for one last time this holiday.







For all you menu fans, I took photos so you can plan your trips. I don’t think it’s changed much in the 5 years we’ve been staying here.







It’s amazing how many people comment on my trip reports now, saying they come to the Grand Plaza & Bongos on my recommendation. Please feel free to say Wizzo sent you this summer eh? I’ll try and get an upgrade again! Also, if the Florida Tourist Board are reading this and you want me to do reviews for you too, you know where I am!

Last night after dinner we filled in comment cards for our server. We wrote something like “As old timers at Bongos, we miss the lanterns you used to have on the tables”

Look what was on the tables tonight!



Not only bring in business but making improvements too! #winning

The kids went in search of those birds they’d named and we had a drink in peace it was bliss and involved separate cameras.











I have no idea whether that bird was Cliff, Cliff Jr or Clifford and I’m sure it’s not high on your 'need to know' list either.

Sitting with your feet in the sand here as the sun sets is pretty special.





Dinner came and looked Very similar to previous evenings.











We had a few drinks (long island Ice teas tonight) and the lanterns looked a picture on all the tables.



I wonder if we’ll have to remind them next time? I doubt it.

By 10pm we were heading back to the room. The kids got to the lift first and when we got in had pressed the button for our floor and all the ones above too! Little sods!



The kids watched a bit of Battle Bots (Robot Wars) and we had a drink on the balcony before turning in.

Another cracking day, Lynn will remember it for hours of peaceful reading on the beach. Me and the kids will remember it for the snorkelling and Maddy wearing a fish in particular.

Tomorrow – Time to go home but not before dropping in to Hollywood Studios

[Leelsisy]

Looks like pure bliss to me, apart from Maddy having a fish in her! You've got these holidays taped now. Ever fancy a change? Wouldn't blame you if you didn't!

[disneytrio]

Yeah we saw no dolphins at St. John's either, I laughed out loud at maddy with the fish, I would of been freaked out though, hate the buggars. Great last full day!

[stevo25]

"no Dad, no Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, I can't hold on!'
You rotten Dad. I would do exactly the same thing while laughing like a maniac

[mick]

A cruel Dad but I bet when she got off she said that was great!

A brilliant last day

Joan

[Stardust5]

Another great day, couldn't help but laugh about the fish. We have 2 nights booked at Grand Plaza, I will be sure to mention your name!

[Tartan Tigger]

Another great day 😀

[Gill H]

Love the Maddy fish story! Beautiful pics again.

[tracynoe]

Great last day, We did see dolphins at Johns Pass :-)

[Loopylooloo]

Mmm Laurens french toast! Yummy.
Your girls are so cute, love the fish bit!
Dont think I could go in the sea after the stingray incident either. Giving that a miss. Are you not scared of sharks?