Invitational Trip 2018: Orlando

Saturday and Sunday Dec 8-9:

This year we beat the snow.  We left the day before Ashland got the 14 inches (the most snow that early in December in a LONG time).  Last year we left just as the snow started – and it was a scary drive into NC, with a car spinning out of control almost hitting the RV.

Yet, we did not escape all bad weather.  The rain started on our way to Yemessee.  We stayed one night at the KOA – easy pull through site.  Fortunately, we were able to walk the dogs around the lake before the skies opened.   And, in the morning, there was enough break in the rain to get the dogs pottied before the next downpour.   We only hit one major downpour on the way to Orlando – taking the dogs out in the rain at the gas station.  It was miserable.

The bad weather and my work obligations caused a lot of shifting in the plans.  We were supposed to vacation at Huntington Beach before Orlando.  In the revised plan, that vacation will happen after the Invitational.  Even with all the struggle, things started to work out.  We got a site at Thousand Trails Clermont that we have liked for a long time – a corner spot with a yard, 94E.

On Monday we walked Lake Louisa State Park, starting with the trails around Wilderness Point, at post 21 and walking to post 28. This trail proved to be a favorite for the dogs throughout the week, specifically the thicket along the creek as you approach post 28.  Frye’s ears remained upright and when she sensed a deer, and there were many, she got into her backwards lunge stance while delivering the greyhound shrieks of excitement.  I had to correct her many times.  Poor Braddock had to remain on the head halter because I couldn’t handle him otherwise.  Gracie was in crab stance pull mode the whole time.  Cadia watched intensely for squirrels. 

After this 1 hour walk, we headed to the campground to walk around Hammond Lake, walking first 53-45, but the trails got screwy so we ended up back on the road and decided to try again going in the opposite direction, 53-51 and then ending at the campground loop.  This was a nice walk with scenic views of Hammond Lake.  Total walking for the day was about 2 hours.

We stopped by the Orchard on the way back to the RV.  We decided to pick our own oranges but were unsure whether we preferred the red navel or white navel - so we had to sample  Both were delicious.  The orchard was packed with cats - drove the dogs crazy.  We had to park them away from the store.  I bought some cherry preserves and we took some pictures by the shop.

Ate lunch in the RV and then Russ and I returned to Hammond Lake to kayak.  It was chilly, only 58 degrees and a good wind.  The lake was smaller though so we were able to get around it pretty easily – spent out 45 minutes out there.  It was relaxing.

We walked the dogs the loop around the campground which takes about an hour and then got in the hot tube.  Took a pretty picture of the sun peering through the Spanish moss as it was setting.  We have learned all the trees filled with squirrels in the campground and so have the dogs.

We fixed crab cakes, sweet potato, and coleslaw for dinner.

On Tuesday we came back to Lake Louisa.  It was the coldest day – winter coats.  We walked the fields from the ranger station – 35 – 34-28, and then the usual walk along the creek to 25, and then returned.  However, when we returned going up 29 – 31, we meant to go 33-35 back to the car.  However, we accidently went 33-32 and that trail was covered in burrs and we all (humans and dogs) got covered.  We will never walk 33-32-35 again.  It took us about 2 and ½ hours.

It was too cold to kayak so we decided to go to Celebration in the afternoon.  We walked around the lakes there, talking about retiring there as a potential option.  It’s a very nice community.  By the end of the week, though, we determined this move would not be practical.  Traffic would be horrible and the summer weather would be a challenge.  That said, we always enjoy it when we go.  The Christmas tree was out, but the snow was just getting put down for the kids later that night.  The dogs loved the walk, viewing all the squirrels, and we even saw a deer. 

We went into the WolfGang Bakery.  Braddock remembered exactly where it was and pulled us in.  Cadia made a beeline for the goodies on display in the center of the room and even stole one.  We bought some duck feet, pumpkin crunchers, and got more raw for Braddock.  We sat by the lake for the small moment it took the dogs to enjoy their duck foot.

Like Father

Like Daughter

Then we ate at Celebration Town Tavern.  Last year we weren’t crazy about the food, but this year it worked out pretty well.  We got a corner table outside and kept all the dogs with us.  They were pretty tired from all the walking and somewhat easier to handle.  Braddock did try to jump on the waiter once, and Gracie jumped on the table multiple times.  People love to pet them, but Gracie is very aloof.  The most aloof we have had.  She doesn’t really want anyone else messing with her except me. 

A woman looking at Gracie but she keeps a safe distance

We ordered cheeseburger sliders without the onions.  The dogs split 2 and Russ and I split one.  Then we got the blackened Mahi sandwich with sweet potato mash.  Next time I would just get the fries and coleslaw.  We really went there for the desserts , because they are homemade and I don’t have to worry about my allergy.  I got Boston crème pie again and Russ got the gingerbread cheesecake – no whip cream!

Cheeseburger Sliders

Gracie trying to get the last bite

Although cool out, the heaters on the patio kept us warm, but it was a chilly walk back to the car.  We got in the hot tub briefly and got to bed early as I had to fly back to work the next day.

On Wednesday I flew back to work.  Feeling the difference of the chill in Richmond, I was happy to return to Florida.  I must say that it felt strange to feel a visitor in my own city.  Had dinner with my friend Jenna.

On Thursday, we headed back to Lake Louisa and parked at 28 and walked the creek, but this time crossed the road towards 18 and walked the equestrian trail.  That proved difficult due to the soft sand, so we aborted the mission and took a vehicle road back out and finished up walking along the creek.  We drove to the Lake Louisa beach area, sat at a picnic table and worked on the journal and this blog.

Russ and I came back after lunch to kayak Dixie Lake.  The wind was fierce.  We fought it until we got to the cove areas, which were calm and peaceful.   We stayed out about an hour, only making it along one side of the lake to the back corner.  To go around the whole lake and fight that wind would have exhausted us.    The hot tub afterwards helped relax the worn out muscles.

Then we biked the dogs around the campground (except Cadia), and took them all for another walk to  tire them out before Russ and I went to Narcoosees with my parents.  This year we ordered the lobster bisque and salmon for dinner.  Per usual, the food is mediocre.  You only go for the ambience and fireworks.  However, fireworks were later this year and we were all too tired to stay.  We took the usual pics of the tree from the Grand Floridan hotel.  Next year we will try California Grill.

On Friday we headed to Lake Louisa and walked the Hammond Lake trail to Dixie Lake – lots of wild orange trees along the way and a pretty cove of moss covered trees.  We then biked Gracie and Frye in the campground to tire both of them out. 

Now it was time for the Invitational event.  Even though we had done all we could to tire Frye out, her enthusiasm got the best of her in the T2B warm-up run and she ran wild – even jumping through the apex of the Aframe over the chains.  Thank goodness she did not kill herself.

Afterwards we walked the rest of the dogs around the campground and then were excited to go get dinner from Sonny’s – even though last year they didn’t have the peach cobbler and didn’t tell us until we got there.  Well, once again, this decision proved a mistake.  We got caught in a traffic stop for a serious accident.  Police had to back us up into an intersection one by one since we couldn’t go forward on the road.  It was dangerous, scary, and pouring rain out.  We were an hour late getting the food and they wouldn’t remake it for us.  Even though we only ordered sides (as I was fixing crab cakes for main course) the food was horrible and we both agreed that in Florida we will never visit Sonny’s again.

Saturday was a day to celebrate.  We got up early to walk the dogs around the campground, and then we headed out for Frye’s first JWW run.  Sadly, this run didn’t go well – I lost connection with her early, trying for a rear cross at jump 3.  We got it back together and from the 3^rd jump on she was brilliant.  We came back home for a quick walk at Lake Louisa, dodging the rain, and walked along the creek from 28 – 21 and then returned to make an hour walk.  This was the best for the dogs – seeing deer and squirrels along the way.  Gracie did her crab-walk pulling the whole time, we let Braddock pull on the way back, Frye was on high alert, and Cadia was Cadia. 

We returned for Frye’s standard run and she was amazing – all the day’s activity took the edge off, and she rocked out a 3^rd place finish in Standard out of 155 dogs.  We took the guys for a quick bikeride when we got back (only Gracie and Braddock), and we have to ride them separately because Gracie’s stride makes her go so much faster.  We ate salmon, coleslaw, sweet potato and green beans left over from Sonny’s. 

Sunday was another good day to remember.  Up incredibly early for the first run so we had to bring all dogs with us.  This was absolute torture for Braddock who knew exactly where he was.  We brought Gracie inside to expose her to the environment and she was fine with it.  Then ran Frye in hybrid and she rocked out another qualifying run - ~32 seconds.  Then walked all the dogs around the nearby park for about an hour.  The mistake was not taking Frye back home with the other dogs for a while – Russ was scared she would miss the second run.  So, she sat and stewed in her crate waiting a few hours for that last run.  We didn’t bike her beforehand and she was a wild woman, not with me at all.  We got it together at the end, but it wasn’t the way I wanted it to end.

Yet, all in all, she is a green dog finishing with 2 Q’s, and one with a 3^rd place.  Probably the least seasoned dog there and she had a decent showing.  She took best of breed for Greyhounds.

I couldn’t pick up my breed medallion (Best of Breed for Greyhound) until after the 24’s finished running.  I got to see Moette take best of breed for Ridgebacks.  The clean dog dropped a bar on round 4.  Jiff went in as #1 dog again and won the finals again. 

Although it likely would have been the same outcome, with Braddock taking second to Jiff again this year had he run, perhaps repeating 2017 would have felt lackluster.  I don’t know.  All I can say is that I woke up Monday morning with a depression, a sense of loss, that something was missed on this trip not running him.  The realization hit again that the best days are behind us and his phenomenal career is coming to a close.  Also true is that no matter how good Frye does, she does live in Braddock’s shadow.

Given the delay to get the medallion, we got home late, so decided to pack up the dogs and head straight to Celebration to walk them.  This was not the best decision.  The town was in mayhem, people descending from all over to see the fake snow, ice-skate, eat, and whatever else.  We made the mistake of walking the dogs down main street…TWICE!....and fought our way through the crowds.  If that doesn’t get Gracie over her sensitivity to environmental stimulation, I don’t know what else will. 

Given the crowds, we decided to flee from the streets and walked the dark paths through the woods, dimly lit by sparse lamp-posts.  It was enjoyable, but we did skip the back dark section.  We headed back to the streets for a longer walk to see some house decorations, talked to a woman sitting outside to get directions back to the car and she said she loved living there.

We ate at the Columbia Restaurant, our favorite.  It was a nice night to sit outside, about 58 degrees and they had the heaters on.  My parents met us there.  I waited a while for everyone as Russ tried to find parking closer, but that proved fruitless, and mom and dad had to wait forever for a spot to open up.  The traffic coming in was worse than D.C. or Atlanta!

We ate the same appetizer as last year – Scallops Casimiro – and they were just as good.  We change it up this year, however.  Normally we get Mahi Verdadero, but this time we got Pollo Manchego.  In fact, everyone got the same dish, only Russ and I split ours – they give a big portion.  I did enjoy the meal, but if pressed, I’d say I’d prefer the Mahi Verdadero. 

The waitress, from Aiken, SC says she loves living there for the weather, BUT, people aren’t as friendly.  She said that the place is home to no one and therefore there is not a feeling of accountability to care for it or others in it.  Didn’t sound like a place I’d like to live full-time.

Monday – the last day in Florida – we walked the favorite trails.  The first starting at 28 walking through the thicket of moss covered trees along the lake towards Lake Louisa for about an hour walk.  Then we headed to the campground to walk around Hammond Lake for the last portion of the walk.  We ended sitting overlooking Lake Louisa to finish the blogs and journal writing for Florida.

We went back to the RV, had lunch, and headed back out.  The first destination was the orchard with mom and dad.  But, when mom tasted the oranges she said that she’d rather wait for the good stuff to come in after Christmas.  And, because we had just discovered an orange we had picked going bad in the RV, putting mold on the carpet where the bag sat, we decided to pass on bringing anymore home.

So, we continued on to Lake Louisa to kayak Lake Hammond one more time.  However, we chose to go left off the dock, like last time, and saw an alligator wading through the lily pads.  I should mention that we were in an inflatable kayak.  Now, I’ve always had a fear of alligators, but I pushed that aside so we could get the opportunity to kayak.  But, when seeing that alligator, that fear all came back, and when we turned the boat around, and the alligator turned towards us, that fear reached monumental levels.  Surprisingly, we did stick it out and went along the opposite side of the lake, but I never felt comfortable so we cut the kayak time short to 30 minutes, when normally we got for about 45min to an hour.

Looking back on it now, that was an incredibly scary experience and we have decided not to use this kayak in lakes filled with alligators. 

We came home and did the 1 hour walk around the campground, turning around early in the walk to get Braddock’s head halter as the dogs pulled Russell all over the place.  The walk went better when Russ started grabbing Gracie’s scruff and saying “leave it.”  Surprisingly she respected the scruff pull.

Dinner was simple – Russ had hotdogs and chips and I had some popcorn as I walked over to my parents to spend a little time before we left.  We turned in early, though, as we were leaving at 4:30am to head to Huntington Beach State Park.