MetalDad

People have a tendency of underestimating the Red Sox when they think they're down.

Carl Crawford's problems can all be traced to the bad habits he picked up in St. Pete. It's going to take a while to de-Ray him.

You just don't know what you're going to catch in the Tampa Bay area.

Bad habits like chicken and beer? Although...both good habits...there goes that argument!

Wow, I just realized how you non-NASCAR people feel when you read the NASCAR thread.

Never got into hockey, I'd love to see a game in person though, because I hear there's good fights!

I just got into NASCAR this year. My son and I follow Army Football, and have made camo a main theme in dress and decor, so naturally we picked Ryan Newman as our driver and car, the first race we watched together, he had a full camo car...that was all we needed!

Lou, we'll just see about baseball season! I think part of Carl Crawford's problem this past year was he might have hurt himself falling off of his wallet!

There's really nothing like a Lightning game. I have a lot of Canadian clients that agree, no matter what you think of the team, they've created a great hockey experience. Keep in mind, a lot of the hockey fans here in Florida have not had the chance to "grow up" with hockey the way that those in the north have, a different hockey culture to be sure. Expect to see plenty of people wearing hockey sweaters/jerseys and flip-flops! Last time I went to the game, Ace Frehley from KISS was performing in the courtyard for free after the final buzzer. Please post here after you're experience. Would love to read your thoughts on 'southern hockey'! Enjoy!

Tim you are correct. The Umbrella policy goes over and above your underlying policy. It is usually a 'follow-form' policy which extends the underlying home/auto policy by 1 or 2 million, or whichever limit you choose. Which is to say, whatever limitations your auto or home policy has, extends to the umbrella. The ideal way to cover yourslf in a GC is to add it to the auto policy if the carrier offers, otherwise, if the homeowners policy will accomodate (it must extend off-premises coverage, otherwise, coverage is limited to your community.) Or, a stand-alone Golf Cart policy. The other thing to consider...the insurance carrier my deny coverage if there is any undeclared mods like lifting or over-sized tires. That's Florida anyway...I'm not on TV but I play an agent in real-life!

I know there are a lot of teachers here, my wife included. Sea World offers an educators discount, and sometimes free for teachers when you buy other tix. Last time we went, we paid very little. That was between Christmas and New Years last year, we stayed at Tropical Palms, and it was only a few degrees. That's when we discovered the heat strip in the popup no longer worked. I had to use my Amex card to scrape the frost off the windshield to get to the bathouse. The next day dumbass me sits in the splash zone.

I found a photo from the trip...two days later it was 80...crazy weather we have here!

Wow...this took me 3 days to read, at home and at work. I really enjoy your writing style, you tell a great-detailed story...and the photos are outstanding. What are you shooting with? We'll have to join up down at Flanagan's one of these days, swap some stories...let me know.

Our used 1995 Coleman PUP is part of the family, a used PUP is a great way to get into the lifestyle, and see if it is something that will work for you and your family, then move on up. Our last trip, the Mrs. advised that we're ready to move up, so we're looking hybrid because we still like the bunks PUP-style, nothing like being "unzipped" in great weather!

Wow, Red Sox/Rays, son-of-gun gonna have big fun next season Lou! I'm a Bucs fan, a semi-pro team to be sure. We've got issues here!

I think a check-in thread would work.

She kicks ass on that Barbie pole. She received a certificate from a CM in August, she caught a catfish 3/4 the size of her own body. My son can do some damage with his Spider Man pole too!

Where in Dunedin are you?

Indeed, that british guy was pissed, I was in one of Kenny's carts, the governor is set higher than the FW rental carts, I passed him by 500 loop, didn't know he was chasing me, he was probably licking his chops when he saw us go off piste. Funny, the photo of Ben above is taken from the exact spot he nabbed me.

Next trip is set-up for late March, may have to squeeze in one before then...that messes up my average. Maybe around Super Bowl. I happen to know my team won't be in it! May also set one up at Fort De Soto in the next few weeks. Just ain't right unless there's a trip on the calendar!

Lou, Sorry, I didn’t know my site number until arrival, and after futzing around with the website on my phone for like 20 minutes, I couldn’t get to where I needed to be, ff.net looked way different on my phone. Is there a running thread for “Hey, I’m in site #...”. I did yell over to the bus stop…”Lou, I’m here” but alas, no joy…We’ll be back soon. Ben’s still there, go to 1712 and harass him, he’s there until Tuesday morning.

Dave, my bluegrass Christmas collection was Dave Grisman’s Acoustic Cheer, and an assortment of Skaggs, New South, Union Station, Tim O’Brien, Bela Fleck a bit of a mish-mash…

TCD, I’m not sure who the segue operator was, but he had a British accent. The ranger issued us a flyer of acceptable and unacceptable fire pits, and blamed a Reedy Creek crackdown, which I can see, so now I have to shop for a new fire pit…I could think of worse things. As for the pics, yes a cooler or two. That’s actually two fridges stacked, the small one is usually inside, but counter space was at a premium.7 people in that little camper! I usually put ‘Tampa Bay’ as my location because nationally, that’s what people associate this area with; Rays, Bucs, Lightning... I too am from Dunedin (Belcher/580), believe it or not!

We go to see Bob often. I first went two days after 9/11, went to the bar with friends from NY that were stuck at POR, and here comes Bob to cheer everyone up during a tremendous time of crisis. Thrilled that he’s still there and doing his show. He added some Christmas material this time. Was a lot of fun.

One nice thing that I forgot to mention. Had to send Ben to Meadow for some syrup, we had a mishap (the kids got into a maple syrup eating contest behind the camper). Whilst cooking, my wife advised me that I would be upset that my son got sand in my bunk, that I had to see it. I immediately blew smoke from my ears (my biggest pet peeve), she wouldn’t let me yell at him, said I have to see it. So I slam down the spatula and go to survey the damage, only to find a brand new, never been camped-in Fort Wilderness t-shirt draped over my pillow. And… no sand!

Here's some pics, hope I'm doing this right!

Our site, 1712.

Our visit to Piano Bob's show at the Port Orleans Riverside

Our lights. Not much, but meaningful, and well-meaning, whatever that means...

Our DIY FF.net sign

Ben and William - The Bassmasters

My Annie rocks the Barbie fishing pole like no other!

And just like that…we’re home again. Had a great weekend at the Fort. I took a half a day off Friday and journeyed in to the Fort with the wife and kids and my buddy Ben and his son, arrived about 3:30pm an hour later than expected. Change of plan on the dog-sitter.

We were in site 1712, on the absolute opposite side of the loop from the comfort station, but…sometimes you get ‘em, no one complained. Once we got the camper popped-up, me and the missus walked the loop to the comfort station, passing 4 or 5 people, and not a single one failed to smile, nod, or say hello…one of our absolute favorite aspects of camping culture. We finished setting up the site, and put-up some lights; the tacky lights on the camper, rope light on the cabana over the table, and our holiday lights by the road…a spiral tree, my new homemade Mickey head, and the neon Nativity.

Once we were all set, we picked up the rental carts, whipped up some burgers, brats, and dogs, and commenced to looping to see the lights (really our whole reason for the trip!). How amazing! Some of the walk-through sites were mind-blowing. We did the best we could with a pop-up and a blazer, but if we had the time and the vehicles, it would be awesome to host a walk-through site.

We went out to the Trail’s End porch where the kids played horseshoes and checkers, they sipped some hot chocolate, and I sat in a rocking chair for about an hour sampling some local beer, Orange Blossom Pilsner. After MK fireworks, I took the two little ones out to the dock to watch the lighted boat pageant. I was thrilled when they both agreed that the best part was the American flag portion. More looping, and back to the site.

Earlier, whilst cooking dinner, we were damn near blinded by a flood light that some tent campers had facing our direction from across the street, it made the site look like that scene from Close Encounters. Now, it was late and we needed to put the kids in to bed, and screening on a pop-up is no match for surgical lighting. I’m typically not confrontational, and hoped that a request to point the light more at the ground would not create an issue. I was grateful, that they turned it off with a “sorry, no problem” before I even finished the sentence. I was even more appreciative when the next morning, they had re-mounted it on the other side of the site to fire the other way. Campers really are the salt of the earth.

Saturday morning, my turn to cook breakfast. I think cooking camping breakfast is one of my favorite camping activities. Have to have the correct soundtrack as well, this time it was all bluegrass Christmas, funny, coming from “Metal Dad”, but the mandolins and banjos fit the character of the Fort. After breakfast, Ben took all the kids fishing, and Metal Wife and I stayed behind, she reading her book, and me staring at the treetops for like an hour and a half, it was most tranquil. Got the text, we’re fishing behind the 300 loop by the bridge…off we go.

Flying through the 300 loop, through the opening between sites, over the bridge, “Honey, the sign says no carts beyond this point.” “It’s OK, we always come back here!”, unbeknownst to me, I was being chased by a CM on a segue….Busted! So after hanging my head in shame while the rest of the class pointed and laughed, we headed over to the canal by the bike barn, my 5yo daughter pulled in a brim in no time, then she was done, my 9yo daughter sent a hook through her fingertip, and she was done. Left my son with Ben, and headed to the buses to take the girls to Downtown for some Curry & Fries at Cooke’s and a chocolate-peanut butter sundae at Ghirardelli.

Back to the site for some Mojo Steaks, then the whole group went off to Port Orleans Riverside to see Piano Bob do his thing….always a great show, and can’t beat the price. Free is good. I highly recommend the Habanaro Lime Margarita! After the kids heads started nodding and hitting the table, we headed back to camp for a nice fire. We use a converted washtub for a firepit. After a fresh pour of our typical fireside nightcap, JD Tennessee Honey (Honey Jack), the ranger shows up, Busted twice in one day…a first! We didn’t have the appropriate cover for the pit, so we had to hose down one of the most delicious fires I’ve ever conjured. Drag….

Up on Sunday, Ben made breakfast, girls got lost going to the comfort station, packed up a few things (Ben is staying on until Tuesday with my camper), and headed out. The load out was so trouble-free, we spent 2 hours in Ikea on the way home. We noticed some purple flamingos at 1701, but they weren’t around the site whenever we happened by. I did make a sign, and taped it underneath the light by the roadside. Some random little girl rode by on a bike and took a picture of our pine-cone mickey and my fiend sign. I’ll try to get some photos up. The weather was perfect, the relaxation reached high levels, and we spent very little money. All in all, a success! See you on the loops!

This summer we were a bit naughty, rode the boats to the other resorts and went pool hopping. We bought drinks at each one, so we figured we were entitled to the use of a towel. Was a lot of fun, the kids felt like we were on an adventure.

My brother's a biker, I told him I'm in an outlaw group too, we have colors and patches (getting one this weekend from Meadow) just like his crew, when he asked what I was riding, I told him....a rented golf cart...he shuttered in fear. Thank you all for the warm welcome! Just finished my rope light Mickey. Came out pretty cool, multi-color rope from Walgreens! We hit the road tomorrow, should be in the gates by 2:30. I had to make my own sign, if your looping look for the homemade color printer version.

We developed a great way to budget and spend less. We haven't been to a park since 2007! My kids still get excited to "go to Disney", usually it's a weekend at the Fort or a weekend at Pop Century. The pool is really what they're after! We often have a night that starts with a bus trip to Downtown for a Guinness and chips & curry sauce at Cook's of Ireland, then, the bus to go see Piano Bob over at Port Orleans. Best show...and it's free!

We have another night where we pack the cart full of beer and hot chocolate and go looping. My 7yo son and I have a fascination with all different kinds of campers, so we have fun with that..."Oh, daddyman look at that hybrid!". (He'll be getting the Lego camper under the tree this year!). My daughter loves the whole hidden Mickey concept, so we do a search, and we always have to gawk at the dead and dying Disney artifacts at the Fort...the railroad tracks, River Country, the Lawnmower Tree, the cabin, Discovery Island. We'll have to go to Magic Kingdom soon, my youngest daughter asked this week if we'll see the castle.

We're good for a weekend at the Fort every other month or so. Unfortunately, we hadn't been during Christmas season before, but enjoyed a good looping run to see the Halloween decorations in October. We're heading up tomorrow, but wanted to show my wife some photos of Christmas lights at The Fort to sort of whet the appetite. My search led me here. Then, I saw that this site was set up for folks that had a falling out, as it were, with another board. That appealed immensely to my renegade nature. So, I told my wife that I joined an outlaw Disney camping group. Then, I went to Michael's for some purple paint.

We'll be there friday through sunday somehwhere in the 1600-1900 range in a green and purple pop-up. See you on the loops!