2024-07-12 (Friday) Flying To Ft. Lauderdale ( Daily Diary )
Summary
We departed OC at 9:00 pm with a planned arrival at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport a few hours later. at 6:00 am.
We flew first class so we would have room to sleep and have a nice meal on board. The first flight was DAL1164 to Salt Lake City.
We had a short layover and then caught a Delta 2036 red-eye to Ft Lauderdale arriving at 6:00 am. Red-eyes do not bother us as we can sleep anywhere!
We took a limo to the Hilton Ft Lauderdale Marina (1881 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316) and got an early check in and waited for Colleen and Mark who are due in about 2:00 pm since there we departing New Hampshire a few hours earlier.
We wanted to get in a day early to adjust to the time change as well as make sure we made the start of the cruise.
The hotel was right on the Intercostal waterway!
Did You Know? - The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is a 3,000-mile (4,800 km) inland waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the United States, running from Massachusetts southward along the Atlantic Seaboard and around the southern tip of Florida, then following the Gulf Coast to Brownsville, Texas. Some sections of the waterway consist of natural inlets, saltwater rivers, bays, and sounds, while others are artificial canals. It provides a navigable route along its length without many of the hazards of travel on the open sea.
Details Of The Day!
We awoke early and did the last walk-thru of the garden before going to the Elks for lunch.
Our flowers were happy to see us.
We still have hundreds of tomatoes! Mary is like a one-woman Goodie Bag Express. Every time we go anywhere, she's on a mission to keep the neighborhood in a veggie-induced coma!
Picky picky picky!
Mary made her veggie delivery!
We love to see everybody so happy that we are going away!
Bill got some multicolored unmentionables as a "gift" from me, but he wanted to make sure. He asked what he should do with them, and I said two things: 1) wear them in the BACKYARD when you garden, or 2) use them as a slingshot to hit passing birds.
Mary explains the Amazon delivery to Bill!
We all had a super time shooting harpoons back and forth at each other, telling jokes, and ribbing one another. It was a typical Girls' Night Out event.
Vicky and Jim joined us today.
The Starlighters Hawaiian decorations are presented!
The next dance after the Hawaiian event is entitled "Around The World," and the centerpieces are being readied. Each centerpiece will have a passport where Starlighters will write down where they have been and share it.
You will need a passport!
Great times with Vicky leading the parade!
It is always fun with Vicky around.
The first to arrive and the last to leave!
Do you see it??? The darned rabbit knows we are going away! Lunch is served!
Robin came by at 3:30 pm. and took us to the airport. I drove, and we were there at 4:30 pm. for a 7:00 pm. flight. We like to be early just in case!
Mary's steamer trunks were shipped two days ahead of time!
Our preflight drink as been served!
She is ready to board!
It was a short ride, just 550 miles!
The cabin seemed brand new and the staff was on the spot with vino! The first class seats were first class!
6 am and it is still 77 degrees! Ouch!!
We stumbled into the hotel at an ungodly hour, dragged ourselves to our room, and promptly realized the only thing that could revive us from our zombie-like state was breakfast.
Brains… I mean, pancakes, please!. We went to the hotel restaurant and were shocked by the $25.00/person breakfast, but we were tired and hungry and paid the price. Breakfast was good, but the $50 for eggs and bacon seemed a little high.
We made it to the room.
The weather was beautiful!
Back in the room, we crashed for about three hours, which was much needed considering our epic battle with the snooze button. We had a view fit for royalty, and the silence was almost eerie, except for that one noisy seagull practicing its stand-up routine outside. That seagull must have missed its calling as a comedian!
We dragged ourselves out of bed and begrudgingly prepared for a much-needed drink, then stumbled upon the kids. We stumbled upon a great spot on the mezzanine, conveniently close to where we had breakfast.
We walked out on the patio ready for something to eat!
Colleen kept busy with the camera! A picture of an empty plate?
We were hanging out near this crazy bridge that seemed to have a mind of its own, going up and down like a roller coaster. As we watched the big boats pass by, we spotted a water taxi stopping point under the bridge.
Mark thought, "Hey, why not hop on a water taxi and let the waves rock us into dinner mode?" Can't wait for the water taxi ride to work up our appetite for a feast!
We heard a loud noise and it was the draw bridge!
We slowly developed a plan!
Breakfast was a drink!
We sat and talked for almost an hour, just catching up and making plans for the day.
The kids suggested a trip around the bay!
For the water taxi, you needed to get tickets via the iPhone. Oh my, everything is on the iPhone today. The kids took out their phones, and seconds later, we had tickets. It's good to travel with the young.
Tappy tappy tappy.... The beat goes on! (They are texting each other!)
Our ride arrives; it reminds me of the yellow cab of yesteryear.
Off we go!
Restaurants dotted the bay!
We had another place in mind!
We departed from landing #4 and had to go to landing #10, where our restaurant was located. On the way, we saw Jay's Floating Sandbar Food Boat, but we did not stop.
They are strictly Take-out and exclusively available to people with boats, jet-skis, paddle boards, etc. They are located at the Fort Lauderdale Sandbar at the mouth of the New River and Intercoastal Waterway. Just look for the flotilla and smoke billowing from a big huge pontoon boat with people surrounding it. Our BBQ smokers make us look like we're on fire.
The business is brisk!
Great groceries!
New buildings going in everywhere!
What do the poor people do for a living?>
Oh my, what if we had a disaster on the boat? We felt better knowing the Fire Rescue Boat was nearby.
Should we call them?
The kids were enjoying the ride!
Wonderful times together!
We passed the world's largest high dive, which was located at the Olympic Swimming facility. At 27 meters, the structure is the tallest dive tower in the Western Hemisphere, and it is the first in the world to incorporate diving and high diving for competition in one precast concrete structure.
Fort Lauderdale is an interesting place.
Did You Know? The history of Fort Lauderdale, Florida began more than 4,000 years ago with the arrival of the first aboriginal natives, and later with the Tequesta Indians, who inhabited the area for more than a thousand years.
The City of Fort Lauderdale is named for a Second Seminole War fortification built on the banks of the New River in 1838. That year, Major William Lauderdale led a detachment of Tennessee Volunteers south along the east coast of Florida to capture Seminole agricultural lands and battle the elusive Indian warriors.
Pink buildings? Sure!
What's up dock?
Did You Know? - When a former TGI Fridays executive sought to branch off from his old company, he wanted to name his new venture something memorable. Drawing on his passion for hunting, he called his new restaurant Shooters. And since it opened in 1982, that eatery has entrenched itself in Fort Lauderdale's culture. From spring breaker's paradise to neighborhood eatery, this waterfront restaurant experienced it all, growing along with its hometown.
The old turns new!
Did You Know? - Purchased by Meghan Leckey and her father William McIntyre in 2014, Shooters underwent a multi-million dollar overhaul, transforming this once-great party spot into an effortlessly elegant dining destination. Welcoming over 500,000 visitors annually and experiencing double-digit growth each year, Shooters is once again South Florida's premier waterfront restaurant, and is poised to preserve its status as an icon along the Intracoastal Waterway.
Give the greeter a raise!
Decisions decisions!
The cleanup staff works tirelessly!
These are huge shrimp!!
The steaks were wonderful!
Our resident food photographers was kept busy!
BBQ Salmon, wow!
Mark is eying his fishies! They are really scallops.
Just one more picture!
We had a fantastic meal on the water!
Hey, at least she tried it!
Standby bye, here comes a large Pa-Tooey!
Colleen attempts to keep a straight face. Daddy does NOT help things!
We licked the plates!
Looking suspicious!
What did she say?
Protecting his wife from seeing the alligators.
Careful, she bites!
It was getting dark!
The captain knew these waters well!
Ah haw, our hotel awaits!
It was 9:00 pm and we opted to crash as tomorrow is the big day; we get on the ship and set sail!
The only exercise I get lately is running my credit card up.
