Fort Wilderness, and another Rueben!

First off, Daniel Dye the owner of the web site floridabackyardsnakes.com confirmed that the snake in our previous post IS a Florida Cottonmouth, it IS venomous and "not a snake to be messed with!"

Now doesn't that just make you all warm and fuzzy? Can you believe another winter season is coming to an end?

Our ride takes us to Fort Wilderness. This time the Security Guard at the "Fort" was somewhat overwhelmed with our caravan into the campground. Let's suffice it to say that our lunch reservation was for thirty! Now that's a long "thin blue line."

The only thing that caught my attention as we headed out was that we typically start out at the check-in building to take care of business before we head out. While I was making reservations for thirty at The Wave, the group took off!

No problem! My new "sneakers" (that's what Ray calls bicycle tires) gave me the "boost" I needed to catch up. Besides, if I didn't I could have had them all standing outside the entrance to the Wave without reservations!!

Another thing, we all forgot what it was like riding with a group that large. Due to some walkway construction, we rode along the main street to get to the loops. That just made for a "testy" ride as the buses dodged many of us until we hit the Loops.

At one point we had to "pow-wow." After playing "catch the tail" (you know how dogs try to catch their tails) at each loop, we figured it's best for us to split up. After all, the "speedsters" felt the need for speed and the rest of us were getting tired of trying to find out which turn the group made, we made plans to meet on the beach to take the boat over to the Contemporary.

Feeling my oats (and doing nothing but standing for all of my shifts at ESPN) I thought it might be good to "stretch" the muscles and head out with the "speedsters."

We made a bee-line for the Wilderness Lodge...

Someone asked if he could take the photo so I can get into the picture. Between taking a couple of hits of oxygen and trying to catch my breath, I thanked him and leaned on my cane and "click!"

We all made it in time for our noon reservation. Some even had enough time to do some shopping upstairs.

I hear some of our members had the pleasure of riding over on the boat piloted by "Daryl." I believe he was the "other brother Daryl" from Bob Newharts TV show. "Daryl" was Mr. Personality (with tongue in cheek). And wouldn't you know it... just who do you think piloted us back to the campground?

We had an impressive group at The Wave...

Lunch was excellent and as you might guess we were the loudest, funniest and most pampered group by The Wave's staff.

The boat ride back was much more somber with "Daryl" at the helm!