Devall Travels

The niggling problem is that I have 14 exchange points left to use with RCI after we were downsized for the second week in Florida earlier this autumn. I hate to see them expire on 31st December 2018. Just vanish unused. So where to go? Europe is artificially priced and only the crappiest or those with the worst reviews seem to be in that points range. Amazingly,  many of the "why is this dump on here" places are much higher. But turning to the US looks the best value for resort, and choice, but obviously the airfare is much higher. Now I know the term dates for the school year starting September 2018 I have something to play with. Update 2/11/2017 In the bit the bullet and joined the 14 left over points with the next year's allowance to create a 36 point year ending Dec 2019.

Up reasonably early. Quick breakfast and finish packing. The TomTom has chosen a run up I95 and then left on the 528 to the airport. Claire prefers the alternative route using the Florida Turnpike toll road. So TomTom fixed to take this route.  The odd thing is that the freeway is 4 lanes and the toll road is two. Still arrived in good time. Take car back. Cost $441 for 14 days rental. Gulp. Not bad to be fair. Works out at about £24 a day. Had lunch at a Perkins.  Just had to have pumpkin pie.  But restraint needed and had one piece between two of us. We had checked in, bags checked and through security in less than an hour.  I beeped on the scanner and they said I had something metallic around my belly.  God knows what. Sat about until the earlier flight left and then went to the gate to read and wait. Popped into the Disney Store and took a pic of Claire and Snow White. Careful positioning to miss out little girl that wouldn't bugger ...

Last full day in Florida. The consensus about my foot was gout. First suggested by my brother, Neill,  on a facebook post. Suggestions that Turmeric might fix it had me at a CVS looking at the many options. By the time that happened the pain had already started to go down.  But five a day with food is a little tough. But all that was yesterday's news.... Today we had a run across to Coconut Grove and Butterfly World. A seven mile journey that took 25 minutes. It seems wherever we go plan on an average of 20mph and leave accordingly. The site has a large aviary area filled with er, butterflies.  Plus an area with small birds. You can spend hours in the butterfly house. Some of them are as big as your hand. Claire had a surprise when a finch landed on her head. We'll worth the ticket price and not too hot in October.

Local do nothing day. Had a run to a shopping mall as Claire was looking for a Yankee Candle shop. The toe problem was decided on gout. Bought CVS Turmeric. And that's it. Reading and doing nothing.

Today my aching foot seemed a little better. The swelling gone down a little. So as I was walking wounded we decided to go to a wildlife rescue centre in Davie FL that we last went to when we were staying in nearby Weston. TomTom said 39 minutes and 23 miles. He was probably right but it seemed much much longer. Traffic and traffic lights. The park has some areas that were hit by the hurricanes and so parts are closed. The rest rooms by the aviary had the roof stoved in by falling bits of tree. Luckily none of the animals and birds were hurt. http://www.flamingogardens.org Of course there are flamingos. There are what seems like hundreds of Florida White Ibis. Everywhere you go. There they are. The highlight for us was the new home of the Florida River Otters. They are all there because they have been injured in some way. They breed and the young are then released into the wild. They are so quick getting a photo is difficult. The run back to La Costa via Pu...

Into double figures now. Day 10. Always the countdown to going home. It must be my age but I am finding a mere 220 mile drive to be tiring. It should be easy. The car is automatic.  Just sit and use two pedals.  It has cruise control to take even that job away from the driver. But. It's the sheer volume of traffic.  The rules of the road that seem to be few and far between.  Overtaking on both sides. Lane discipline that even in India or Vietnam would be sniffed at. Disregard for red lights at junctions... it all adds up to needing 360° vision. Today we had a lie in. The studio has stunning views and it was sunny all day.  A leisurely shower and coffee and then out to brunch.   We both like Perkins or Denny's.  No Perkins around here so Denny's  it was. Light lunch of egg and bacon with a pile of hash browns and a couple of pancakes. Nice. Then to Publix for "stuff". Bagels for breakfast. Pre-prepared salad for dinner. Yum. ...

The drive down avoiding toll roads was partially successful.  It was a long slow drag along 192 to Melbourne where we joined I95. Orlando and the outskirts seem to extend  for miles and miles.  After two hours we had covered 70 miles. Our first stop was for a coffee and a Dunkin Donut near Sebastian FL. It's a little over half way to Pompano Beach. I came off  I95 again near Delray Beach so we could get gas and get some lunch. In the end we got a roast beef sub and coffee drink from Publix.  Gas. I guessed $30 and that filled the tank. We arrived at La Costa Beach Club just about 4pm to check in. Parking looks to be at a premium here. Despite the kerfuffle of the last few days before we flew out, we seem to have lucked out as we have a sea view. Okay. It's floor seven. But there is a lift. We can sit on the balcony and enjoy the view. Anniversary Dinner was next door at the Sea Grill. Lovely food. Live music and $82 bill. We eat less expensively for the r...