That day, has finally come!

That day, is the day that all our friends have left for home and the park is left to fend on its own. For all of you who packed up and left, this will be waiting for you in the fall....

You may be able to figure out the locations...

Even the sky was gloomy this day.

Jack left the day before, picked up Alice at OIA and headed north.

Pat and I headed over to say so-long to Buzz and Darlene.

The silence of the park was deafening.

Saying all those farewells meant that Pat and I needed to regroup and make the best of our time (alone) here in central Florida.

To help us ease the loss of our friends we headed to EPCOT.

Pat and I enjoyed a snack while riding in "Spaceship Earth."

Pluto was eager to say hi.

Of course, Mickey and Minnie didn't want to be left out...

Even with all of the flowers (and pollen) we eagerly awaited "Illuminations, Reflections of Earth."

I'd have to say, this is our favorite Disney fire-works program. It's an awesome way to end an evening. More often than not we come away with a lump in our throats after this show.

But, if you think I'm going to end this post on a somber note guess again.

This last photo is sure to make a lasting impression on you.

I'd like to thank Gary and Judy for allowing me to post this photo.

.

.

.

.

It's a photo that will make you wish you never left!

.

.

.

.

.

There are just so many memories to return to....

.

.

.

.

and this one you'll never forget.....

.

.

.

.

The Last "Disorganized" Bike Ride!

It's hard to believe, another season is over. Three lonely souls trudged through "Spring Breakers" traffic down 192 toward Celebration for our (sniff) final bike ride. (We almost had Pete and Joan with us but they had a prior engagement to attend.) We parked in our usual spots and lined up on the sidewalk where once nearly thirty of us made ready for the ten mile journey. We stopped at Celebration Hospital and were off again. We stopped again at the Celebration wall but this time there was no one to wait for. The wooden slats of the boardwalk seemed louder than normal.
We stopped for one last photo...

Buzz, Jack and I made for a quiet reminder that the "Palm Tree Bikers" are here in spirit.

Our ten mile ride brought us past all the familiar homes, ponds and but one lonely gator before we packed up our bikes till next year.

By the way, Pete and Joan are headed to the Keys for an extended Florida stay and then a relaxing trip home. Next year they'll be taking the train to Florida and we'll be looking forward to writing about their  experience.

"Flat Stanley" made his way to DisneyQuest to try his luck on a few of the attractions, only to find out there is a height requirement...

Cast member, Amanda, tried so hard to get him on the "Pirates of the Caribbean." Sorry Flat Stanley! See you when you're just a wee bit taller!

Being of stout heart, Flat Stanley didn't give up. He headed for "Cybespace Mountain Roller Coaster."

Guess what! He didn't make the height requirement there either. However, he did get to meet up with Meredith who made him feel special and treated him to a "behind the scenes" look at the Control Panel.

Well, two strikes against him and he's still smiling. By this time Flat Stanley still wasn't going to give up.

I treated him to a look (and a sample) of some scrumptious cupcakes....

Flat Stanley didn't strike out this day. He made some really neat new friends and got to see what goes on inside "the Big Green Building" in Downtown Disney.

Me? I've spent more than a few days woodcarving.

"Mickey Mouse... Ta Da"

and, "Tigger"

Pat has been working a couple of shifts a week working toward her 150 hours. She's getting there!

You'll all be happy to know that "Sweet Tomatoes" reinstated their "Senior Lunch" deal. Buzz, Jack and I took advantage of it today. Geesh, age does have some benefit!

Lake Magic is slowly emptying. Over the next two weeks Jack and Buzz and Darlene will be heading north.

I guess Pat and I will just have to focus on work. We do have a trip to CA for our Great Niece's college graduation to look forward to but neither Pat nor I cherish flying, gulp!

And so, I leave you with this...

Celebration Health Nuts!

"Flat Stanley!"

Over the next couple of weeks, our Blog may seem to be a bit "off topic" but I hope it will be fun for our "Blog Friends" to follow along with "Flat Stanley" as we tour Disney World and some of the local "haunts" we've come to enjoy here in central Florida. After all, many of our friends are or will be heading home in the days to come. It's hard to believe the "snowbird" season has come and gone. Soon enough I'll be taking the obligatory photos of empty campsites where so many friends gathered and so much activity took place.  Pat and I will be hanging in here a little longer this year taking in more hours at work and trying to deal with the routine heat of the summer. I suppose we'll learn to "heibernate" during the midday heat and make our way in and out of air-conditioned places. We plan to keep the "memories" alive in our Blog. Please, feel free to send a note from time to time and I'll be happy to include your thoughts/adventures in our Blog.

After reading about my brother's "adventure" with Flat Stanley and thinking this idea was quite original and full of fun for everyone, I just had to be part of Flat Stanley's "adventure." Then one day, Flat Stanley, showed up in our mail box.

First a little bit of history. Flat Stanley was introduced to "PaPa Bob" and "Nanaleen" by their Grand daughter Averi as part of the Kenneth C. Coombs Elementary School class project. I thought Flat Stanley was something new. Here's how Flat Stanley got started, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Stanley

My brother Bob, and his awesome wife Eileen, had so much fun with Flat Stanley that I just had to do my part and show Flat Stanley the "World!"...Walt Disney World that is!

There's only one problem. I was so enamored showing Flat Stanley around ESPN Wide World of Sports I was taken back when introducing Flat Stanley to several Cast Members. I found out that many of them knew all about Flat Stanley and even acted as "Tour Guides" in and around Disney World for their Flat Stanley!

Geesh, that brought me down a peg. But, I'm pressing on after all, our favorite gnome, "Gnorm the Gnome" had quite a following as he made his way west with us a few years ago. http://gnormthegnome.blogspot.com/

So, off we went to ESPN Wide World of Sports! I arrived early for my shift and took Flat Stanley to a few notable venues in and  around the 220 acre complex.

First, he goes undercover to enter where "no person" dare go!

Flat Stanley at the 385' outfield wall of Champion Stadium a few hours before the first pitch of the Atlanta Braves game.

Then, a tour of the empty stadium. (Click on this "stitched" photo to enlarge it.)

He wanted to sit in one of the seats.

He had a celebrity "meet and greet!"

Like many guests, Flat Stanley had to have a photo at the "Globe!"

Cast Members working the turnstiles just had to have their picture taken with him.

I asked Flat Stanley if he wanted to walk out to all of the fields.

He thought it just fine to view them from the "T."

Flat Stanley couldn't believe there are 30 athletic fields in the complex.

He wanted to see what the HP Pavilion looked like inside.

Seeing as Flat Stanley is very popular with the younger generation, I introduced him to this very special young man, Scott Carter.

Scott's brief life is memorialized at ESPN Wide World of Sports by the incredible display of sports memorabilea provided by Scott's parents.

The writing below Scott's photo tells his story. (Click on the photo to enlarge it.)

The tour of the display cases left both of us humbled and honored to learn about this inspiring young man.

We headed out and Flat Stanley bid farewell to ESPN Wide World of Sports.

.

.

.

.

.

In spite of all of Flat Stanley's visits to Walt Disney World by other friends...

we're still going to "Disney World!"