Back in the Saddle

Fort Wilderness Campground, Disneyworld!

It sure felt good to wake up in a campground this morning. Nothing beats having breakfast in the great outdoors (racoons, snakes and gators included-you can keep the noseums). Jonathan Dickinson State Park has a fascinating history. It's 10,500 acres are named for a Quaker merchant whose vessel shipwrecked nearby in 1696. His book, "God's Protecting Providence" (no we didn't buy it) records the story of his party's capture by the Jobe Indians.

 

After breakfast we decided to take a bike ride to further explore the park. During World War II the land the park now occupies was home to Camp Murphy, a top-secret radar training school with over 6,600 men. The land became a state park in 1950. Our bike ride turned out to be close to 13 miles! We rode along the Loxahatchee River and through the pine and palmetto trees on biking paths. When we left it was 76 deg. when we got back to camp it was 89 deg.

This park also housed the infamous Trapper Nelson aka "The Wildman of the Loxahatchee". This guy was a real character. Starting in the 1930's he began living off the land, trapping and selling furs. He later opened up a Jungle Garden and Wildlife Zoo. They call him the real life Tarzan who was a trapper, hunter, alligator wrestler, gambler, celebrity host, snake charmer & woman charmer. He died mysteriously with a shotgun wound to his belly. We did buy the book about him. Who could resist a picture of him, naked from the waist up, with a woman in high heels and palmetto leaves covering up her almost naked body!

We finally arrived at Fort Wilderness in Disneyworld at about 3 this afternoon! Wahooo!!

Camping at Disneyworld is an experience in itself. As you can imagine everything is pristine and over the top. They discourage driving cars in the Fort Wilderness Park so it seems that almost everyone has rented an electric golf cart. All ages are driving them too. There are special bike paths to take you everywhere, but for the most part people are favoring the carts, which works well for us.

Upon check-in we got our personalized wristbands, with "Debster" and "Ned" embossed on them. They are our key to everything, boat rides, entry into the Magic Kingdom, reserving times for certain rides, restaurant reservations and even using the laundry room and comfort stations.

 

 

 

 

We synced things up and then decided to check the place out on our bikes. We rode just in the Fort Wilderness part of the resort and put another 10 or so miles on our bike.

FYI - there's a bottle of Pinot Grigio in that bag bought from the Trading Post:)

 

 

 

We decided to ride our bikes over to the Fort Wilderness Lodge. It's amazing! It's modeled after the great lodge of Yellowstone, complete with gigantic totem poles.

 

 

 

 

I thought it was a bit much to have a fire going in the big fireplace, afterall it was 99 degress when we got to the park this afternoon! (Polly I took a lot of pictures of the lodge and grounds for you. I'm looking forward to sharing them with you).

 

There's also an extensive water feature that starts in the lobby, bubbling out of the ground, which then becomes a roaring waterfall outside and ends up as a pool area for the guests. Ned sitting at the "headwaters" complete with fake fog.

We had a picnic dinner on the beach then decided to take in the campers Sing-along with Chip and Dale. It was great fun singing to all the old songs..."On Top of Ol' Smokey", "Oh Suzanna", "She'll be Coming Around the Mountain", "Hokey-Pokey"...

They also had several blazing campfires going for the kids to roast marshmallows. We cracked up watching everyone burn their marshmallows to a crisp. Also, I had no idea the things people put on their s'mores. Peanut butter cups...really?

I even got a chance to have my picture taken with Dale!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the sing-a-long there were Disney cartoons and Cinderella playing on the big outside movie theatre.

We didn't stay for the movie, but instead went back down to the beach to share some ice cream and watch the fire works.

And this was just our first half day here! I'm planning on waking Ned up at 6 am tomorrow so we can catch the first ferry over to the Magic Kingdom. Ned can hardly wait.

 

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Travel Day - Back in the USA

Location: Jonathan Dickinson State Park, FL

It's been an awesome 5 days, spending time with my ex sister-in-law (or as she likes to call us, outlaw sisters), visiting our Dominican cocoa suppliers, and having way too much fun at the Ocean Blue and Sand Resort. Alas, today we're headed back to the US and continuing on with our Winnie travels. Truth be told, I've missed the ol' camper.

Good-bye beautiful resort...

Good-bye new friends we made...

(Jack is covering up his nipples. He claims I bit them while we were dancing. Not completely true! He was whirling me about and I kinda fell into him, thus a head bump to chest happened). Jack was head of the activities and a lot of fun.

 

 

Good-bye decadent lifestyle...

(yes it has Bailey's in it)

 

 

 

 

Good-bye cocoa bean suppliers...

Our only challenge today was getting through security at the airport. Our cocoa bean suppliers gave us several pounds of cocoa beans to take back with us. At the Punta Cana airport Ned's backpack was selected to be searched. Yes, this is where we stashed the beans. The security folks at the airport had no idea what they were and before you knew it there were at least 7 security people surrounding poor Ned and looking at each and every bean. Ned thought it was ironic that they didn't know these were cocoa beans and what chocolate is made from. They were all very good natured, mainly just curious, and let Ned through with the beans. I wanted to snap a picture of the commotion, but I was reluctant to draw anymore attention to us. Here's Gary and Ned waiting to board the plane on the way back to the U.S.

We arrived back in Fort Lauderdale about 5:30, said our good-byes to Linda and Gary and retrieved Winnie from the economy parking lot. We had about a two hour drive north to our destination for the night, Jonathan Dickinson State Park. I called the Park Ranger to let them know we'd be arriving around 8ish. (This state park is gated at sunset.) The ranger, a really sweet young woman, waited for us and got us checked in. This state park has an interesting story, but I think I'll save it for tomorrow. We're tired, hot and going through withdrawals of not having our nightly refreshing after-dinner libations. Instead of exotic resorts and decadent drinks, I'll finish our blog with me blogging in our humble abode...ha!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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R&R in the DR*2

Ocean Blue and Sand Resort, Dominican Republic

Well that didn't take long. We swept the road dust off of us and brushed away the insects from the cocoa farm and settled right back into resort life. It was a r-e-a-l-l-y lazy day. Debi's big event was running in the morning followed by being immersed in a book the rest of the day, Linda took a Zumba class, Gary did some wide ocean swimming and Ned took a painting class.

 

 

Here's our resident artist's finished work.

Knowing this was our last evening to live up big, we reserved our strength for a fun filled evening. Linda and Debi danced the early evening away at a beach party

 

 

We had dinner at a steak house. Tonight we mixed it up and had the girls at one table and the boys at another.

Dinner was followed by watching the theatre circus entertainment. It was really good! This act was pretty impressive, but my favorite was the dog show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gary and Linda made such a good-looking couple!

The highlight of the day was definitely Linda and Ned getting up the courage and doing a karaoke duet singing, "Don't go breaking my heart." There was several hundred people in the audience, so kudos to them. The majority were Spanish speaking only so hardly anyone knew what song they were singing, which made it really difficult for them. However, Ned and Linda were awesome!! I have the video, but Linda said if I posted it she'd kill me so for now, here's a still shot from the video.

p.s. Those of you who want to see it let me know, I got the goods;)

I think it's time to leave this place tomorrow. I think if I stay another day I'll keel over from either too much food, sun and definitely too much alcohol!

 

 

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Visiting our Dominican Suppliers of Cacao - The Conacado Connection

Location: El Seibo, Dominican Republic

Making chocolate is a labor of love. Once we receive the cocoa beans from our suppliers we need to roast, winnow, grind, melange, temper, mould, and package the chocolate. But that is only part of the process. Growing the cacao, harvesting and cracking the pods, fermenting and drying the beans must happen first. We have a tremendous amount of appreciation for our suppliers for all this hard work that occurs in a very hot and humid climate. Most of the farmers live in very modest conditions and struggle to eek out a living. They rarely get a chance to taste the end chocolate product. It's our personal goal to meet each of our cocoa suppliers, thank them for their hard work and present them with a bar of chocolate.

Today we traveled to the Conacado Co-op in El Sebo. It was a special treat to have my sister and brother-in-law with us on this adventure. It was their first trip to the cacao source.

Also working on the farm was Blake, a Peace Corp worker. She's been there for 14 months helping them with their business and marketing.

 

 

Ned in front of the fermentation area.

Ned and Debi in the drying shed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doing the cut test to see if the beans have been fermented long enough.

One of the "cocoa dancers" flipping the beans to help the drying process. To fully appreciate this, the temperature was extremely hot and humid and he's in the baking sun fully dressed.

 

Ned and I giving some more of the workers a Cello Chocolate bar made with their beans.

In the field seeing the cacao growing on the trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had an opportunity to see how they prepare "cocoa balls." This is coarseley ground cocoa nibs rolled into ball form to be grated and sweetened for hot chocolate.

 

Of course Linda and I had to taste them.

 

 

 

 

 

They prepared a beautiful, typical Dominican lunch for us.

 

 

We had rice with peas, chicken, a type of spaghetti and a vegetable salad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ned especially enjoyed the cacao wine, which tasted like port.

 

They've invited Ned and I back to help them make chocolate. We are thinking of coming back next January. If we do, this will be our living quarters. We can't wait!!

 

 

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R&R in the DR

Ocean Blue and Sand, Punta Cana, DR

Today was very lowkey. Mostly just chillin' in the pool, walking the beach, and sampling the bar drinks.

They named the local tomato juice after Linda. She's such a celebrity.

 

Our beach boys...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking good Linda!!

p.s. Can I please borrow that shirt?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Playing in the ocean with my sister.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our big activity of the day was taking a long, long, beachwalk and checking out the other resorts.

Of course that called for a dip in the pool and some refreshing adult beverage afterwards.

 

 

 

 

 

Not wanting to give up the Swanky French Restaurant for dinner, and trying to find a solution to the closed-toe shoe dilema, we decided to go to the bowling alley and plead our case. Gabriel, the bowling alley attendant, took pity on us and let us borrow a pair of shoes for the dinner. He didn't have the correct size, so Ned settled for a size 13. Yes, a bit of a clown size but by golly we scored the shoes! Here's Ned looking quite pleased with his catch.

 

We had a fabulous dinner and thoroughly enjoyed our French cuisine. Duck a l'orange for Linda and me, and fish for the guys. Here's us celebrating our victory.

 

 

 

 

 

After dinner we took a stroll through the grounds and ended up at the Piano Bar. Nightcaps all around.

Tomorrow the business excursion commences with an early departure at 7 am. We're looking forward to seeing the real Dominican Republic.

 

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