Fuel Prices for Diesel - April 2016

Fuel prices April 28, 2016

Diesel prices seem to be falling if GasBuddy maps are accurate.  I am liking the $1.59 in the Carolina's ... colour me happy.

I was paying $1.89 to $2.15 on the way down ... using the gas buddy app could easily save $0.10 to $0.20 per gallon ... and for 100 gallons, that adds up !

Click the maps below for static images of the app Diesel prices for April 28, 2016 according to GasBuddy.

The Scooter on the other hand .... I have filled it about 3 times for a total of $12.00 ... and have run about 700 miles on it.  So I like the economics.   In fact, I prepaid $2.00 of gas (a gallon or so) and used High Test to use more money.   lol

Cheers
sd

April 14-16, 2016 : The Miami RUM Renaissance Festival

Miami - Opulence and Rum ... Jaw Dropping luxury and a Fun Festival

Hitting Miami was one of the highlights ... and one of the key events during the trip was most certainly the Miami RUM Renaissance Festival held annually and improving over the eight years it has run.   Their www site says "

"Rum producers from all over the world come to introduce new products, meet with importers and distributers, buyers  and retailers, as well as consultants on the distillation, packaging and marketing of rum worldwide.

For consumers, the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival is one of the world's premier international rum events, presenting a unique and exciting range of great rums to be sampled. For professionals, this is the world's largest and most important trade exposition for rum."

The Miami Everglades RV Resort is where I stayed before and after the Festival.   During the show, I stayed in the convention parking lot - The Doubletree by Hilton Miami Airport Convention Center ... a great deal at $40 for 3 nights !    The RV site was about $60 per night ... with full services mind you.

The Country Coach in Everglades RV

Miami Everglades RV park

Exploring Miami  ... 

Upon arriving in Miami, I had a chance to explore South Beach before the festival started and, after the festival, even tried to get to Palm Beach, where the World Championships were being played.   Unfortunately, entering the on-ramp to a freeway in Miami, heading north, the throttle cable broke on the Scooter !!   Yuck.   At least it happened at the END of the Miami visit !

Thanks to CAA, I was being towed back to the RV site on a flatbed within an hour ... so much for that day.   And to fix it, I ended up setting up an appointment at a Scooter shop in Key West.  Oh well.... nuts ... next on the trip.

To Miami Beach- Cruise ship Galore

Downtown Miami - Heat and Concrete

South Beach strip ... bars, bars, bars & Scooters

Beach, Beach, Beach ..... Miami Beach .... South Beach in fact.

Miami Rum Renaissance Festival

When I got to Miami, a friend, Alan B. who was also attending, texted to say their flight was delayed ... "could I sit in on being a Judge" ...   Why "yes I could" :-)  ... and so there were 19 rums to test and judge.   I believe I did fairly well, as my #1 and #2 rums were eventual award winners... !  Some plenty good rums there.... 

Try to imagine a 40,000 sq. ft. conventional hall, complete with hundreds of booths, and each of them crooning ... "Come here ... try some of THIS ! " ... ooooo eeee ... pace oneself for sure.  Ha.

Hmmm.  Three pics may be too many.

Rum Consumer Jury - Tasting & Judging

A Favourite - Diplomatico

Blind Tasting/Judging : 1 to 10

Blind Tasting/Judging : 9 to 17

Blind Tasting/Judging :  to 22

Sponsored Party after Rum Jury	Good Friends - Smiles all Around	At The Show
More booths at the Show	Miami TV Hostess putting a new meaning to the words "Bottoms Up"	Spoils and acquisitions.  Day 1.

As a dessert menu, I am off to see the Florida Keys ... wanted to do that for some time now ... 


Check the trip routing here ... on Google Maps ...  

check out the "Likely Stops Along the Way"

and Tag along ... Next Stop 

Fiesta Key RV , Florida


Cheers
sd

April 9 to 12, 2016 : Disney Set the Stage ... but the Act Just Keeps on Getting Bigger - Orlando, Florida

Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, Lego Land, Busch Gardens ... Oh My
April 9 to 12, 2016





Most people know of Disney World, the infamous attraction in Orlando, Florida ... .but what about the other numerous gargantuan entertainment Attractions ?


My goodness,  where Las Vegas is Spectacle, Orlando is Sprawling and Magical.    The theme parks go on for miles and miles .... and so do the people.


Borrowing an image from FloridaTravelMap.com, one can see the number of Attractions in the Orlando area.

This page has a number of scattered images of small parts of both Disney and of Universal Studios.


I called ahead to find Doug, an associate from the Construction industry in BC, to see if he would be around.   Yessiree ... and that was good news.  I was able to park the motorhome in his Community Estates marina area - a private gated community.   Nice to be in Orlando for 4-6 months each year, and settle back to Stewart, BC for the summer fishing season !

An awesome winter home with all the comforts ...










Disney World for dinner the first night, then joining up with John & Monica, neighbours across the street, for a trip into Universal Studios.

Another neighbour of Doug's, Miguel, is a captain on one of the boats in Universal and we hopped on board to check out his route and to get to the restaurant ....

A terrific spot in a Venetian themed location ... accessed by water taxi.

Steve D, Doug S., Miguel, John	Universal Studios	Oasis ... man made.
Universal Taxi's ... c/o Miguel !	Venicia !    Dinner was Fabulous.	Universal water ways - Impressive

Guitar Man at Disney 

Doug tells me that no trip to Disney is complete without listening to the "Guitar Man" ...  WOW ... what a talent.   Really enjoying spending some time watching.   Great chance to check out the crowds too ... watch the video below ... 9 Mbytes.. 

The Never-ending Shows ! 

Millions and millions served .... almost round the clock.  Orlando would take months to fully take in !!

Sandhill Cranes ?   Herons ? or Egrets ?  hmmmm

After several great days and eyes wide open visits ....  it was time to go 

.... loading up and a few tweaks on the Motorhome ... 


and then the locals walked by !


Had to laugh ... 

Check the trip routing here ... on Google Maps ...  

check out the "Likely Stops Along the Way"

and Tag along ... Next Stop 

Miami, Florida and Miami Rum Renaissance Festival


Cheers
sd

April 6 to 8 : Jekyll Island Croquet Club ... Visiting Georgia and Playing Croquet

Jekyll Island Croquet ... Georgia Beckons

Continuing down the interstate  -   actually along the coastal route  -  I had managed to secure a game at Jekyll Island.   I had seen pictures of the hotel so was excited to see the location.   This is another wonderful coastal island.

John Donohue had corresponded by email ... he was in New Jersey until the Friday ... so on Thursday, I was able to explore the island a little bit.   Friday would be Croquet day.

The hanging moss from trees all over provided the uniqueness of location ... perhaps common in Georgia and the Carolinas ... but foreign to me.   Rather impressive.... and very soft as it happens.   The hotel is spectacular ... and with the waterfront location, is no doubt a favourite for weddings and romantic getaways !  :-)

The beach photos are from east side of the island where armour stone has been added.

Atlantic ocean - shore erosion evident - Armour rock protecting ... 

Jekyll Island Hotel in the Trees

Moss hanging from trees ... 

TEA and Croquet Anyone ?

Hotel Arrival 

John Donohue and Steve Dimond ... Fun Game on the Lawn.

Swinging for the hit 

The game progressed as a bit of a scrappy affair, neither John nor I seemed to worry about time or the clock.   A few breaks and some tough hoops .... John had me down and was left to sweep up and lock the door ... but deadness arose for John and I was able to claw my way back in ... with a 20 foot peel shot ... and work around to peg.   Job done.   It was a great day and a fun game...   John and partner Lorraine were wonderful hosts ... I was honoured to treat for a few beers and munchies at poolside !

Jekyll Island Club Hotel

Jekyll Island Club Wharf Plaque

Great memories !!

Back on the road ... scooter rolling.




Check the routing here ... on Google Maps ...  

check out the "Likely Stops Along the Way"

and Tag along ... Next Stop 



Orlando, Florida





Cheers
sd

April 3-6, 2016 : Bald Head Island, Southport, and Oak Island - Croquet & Golf in a Unique & Wonderful location in North Carolina

Croquet in North Carolina

As part of any journey, one plans for stops and ports in the route .... the next couple of stops would be some of the most memorable ever.  I had checked on the USCA www site for Croquet clubs and Croquet tournaments but found no tournaments within reach while passing through.  I did however, reach out to Bald Head Island Croquet Club and to Jekyll Island Croquet Club, both being coastal islands in amazing locations.

Ferry To Bald Head Island Arrives

On Ferry ... Motorhome in distance

The Bald Head Island Croquet Club contacts, Dick Johnston and Brewse Barnard, were ever so accommodating on my visit.   I wanted to check out the club, but also the area, the real estate, and what the lands were all about.  Bald Head Island is, indeed, an island ... you need the help of a ferry to visit, and when on the island, electric cars and mopeds are the primary form of transport. 

Arriving late on the Saturday evening, I found security staff at the ferry were tremendously helpful and friendly.   I was provided with a spot on the grass to park the motorhome (Pic to left shows moho in the distance while on ferry), and it could stay for the two evenings I would be in the area.   

During the summer peak season, the 1700 parking stalls for the ferry are in high demand. Fortunately, this shoulder season left lots of options and the time for staff to be attentive.  How nice.  I was on the 10 am ferry over to Bald Head Island … a nice 20-30 minute journey with fresh salt air and the promise of a great sunny day already beaming down.  

Upon arriving at the other side I was met by Dick Johnson - I had originally said I would hike it to the courts to get a bit of leg stretching, but I didnt mind the pick up in the Golf cart.   Finding the courts should have been straightforward, but could have been a challenge.  About 10 players were engaged in some manner of play … it appeared that golf croquet was the game of choice.   I hadn’t played since April of 2015 in Seattle … so welcomed Golf Croquet as the introductory play.

Immaculate Lawns - Bald head Island

Once a fourth member joined us, Dick and I partnered against John Alexander and Bill Daigle in a game of USCA rules.  In Vancouver, where I playedd most, there was never much of a cat and mouse approach to the game … we played more eat or be eaten … attack or be attacked.  So I did.  My first foray proved unfruitful and testament to the length of time since I last played!  An onlooker would have been puzzled as I assumed deadness with little fruit borne from the activity !  Ha.

Players and Friends

The game progressed as a somewhat scrappy affair with little in the way of extended break play.   A few unforgiving hoops yielded repeated rejections and great resulting opportunities for opponents.   Capitalizing on Bill’s deadness and an early 4 to 5 hoop break, we managed to remain in the lead as we snuck around the course, a few hoops at a time.

Steve Dimond, Dick Johnston, Bill Daigle, John Alexander (L-R)

The Bald Head Island Croquet Club has an impressive quality of greensward … simply immaculate lawns that were a joy to play on. The kindness and hospitality of the Host players was second to none in my experience.

Sights, Beaches, and Coast - Bald Head Island

Fine Homes on Island	One of the Island's Largest Homes	Shoals Club (Beach) at Bald Head
	Awesome Beaches

Golfing on Oak Island

Near Bald Head, on the mainland, is the town of Southport. Adjacent to that is Oak Island, and Cape Fear.  It is a beach area, and tourist mecca, and is home to Oak Island Golf Club.   I strapped the clubs on the scooter and ventured out to play a game.   Had a nice day ... but my golfing was none too impressive  ... at least the location and course were stellar !  :-)

Alligator Watching Greenside	Gator in the Water ... Hiding	Beautiful Flora Abounds
Oak Island Golf Course	Oceanfront... Oak Island Golf Course	Oak Island Golf Course

Scooter Power - 200cc

So ... onward we go ... 

Check the routing here ... on Google Maps ...  

check out the "Likely Stops Along the Way"

and Tag along ... Next Stop 

Croquet on Jekyll Island



Cheers
sd