Denver Trip USA 2016

October 10th Monday PM 2016

ok guys i have typed and lost this post a few times so will attempt to catch up this morning.

after getting back from the canyon we checked out the airport at Flagstaff so we knew where to go drop the car etc. we also checked in for seat so next morning just the bags

11th October Tuesday 2016

we checked bags in early and had some breakfast

also to say the restaurant next to the Howard Johnson Inn at Flagstaff had a model LGB ( about garden gauge ) which was running at above the picture rail all evening and at breakfast. the food was good here only the waiter did not understand Neill’s sense of humour when he asked about the fish & chips and he said that did he know that the fish was the animal that swam in the sea – this was because when he ordered a coke they brought him a Pepsi which was all they served hence the comment about the fish.

We had also had a chat with a guy the previous night who was retired navy intelligence that now worked in security and intelligence in Phoenix and we chatted about a whole range of stuff and he said that they used to get fed up with the politicians that git the factual intelligence but that if it did not fit their agenda they would say they got bad intelligence, but he says intelligence is facts as they see them, and not good or bad, and since it is all secret they cannot talk about it anyway and they found that frustrating.

Folks the few that may be reading this forgive me if I duplicate stuff because I typed stuff last night until nearly 2 am and it vanished, so now I am typing on word and will copy and paste it. That seems OK for the moment.

So to take up the story again

Once we had checked through security and then boarded they said Phoenix control had just come through to say there was an hour delay so we sat on the runway waiting to get the all clear from Phoenix as they were working on the one runway which caused a few delays.

Eventually we got to Phoenix and Angela at Sure Travel had given us a lot of time to change flights at Phoenix for Orlando so we had time for a look around bought some books to read and swop, and then had a decent lunch not just burgers, some leisurely coffee (not from the restaurant) as often theirs is not as good as the coffee stalls.

The check in lady at American airlines in Phoenix changed our seats for us as it is a 4 hour 15 minute flight with some time change, meaning we landed at 22.25 in the evening in Orlando.

Anyway when I said that we both found it difficult to sit for long periods of time she gave us the very back row with a window and an aisle seat and a vacant seat between us, this was great and I got some e mails done both work ( an Old architect contact sent me a mail regarding Ecore Rubber and I answered and sent it to the office and they have picked up the ball and are running with it.

I also manage an update letter to Sheila’s friend Yvonne who was on Facebook with a/her/boyfriends dog ?? that her brother in law Mike sent me, so she is in Canada, and I brought her up to date with where we are at here and Kleinemonde and she replied “Whew” a lot to digest so she will write again later.

We landed at 10.25PM and got a taxi in humid warm Orlando to the Buena vista suites which are very nice just a little way outside the park and have a nice Aircon room with a small lounge which is very comfortable.

Wednesday 12^th October 2016

I woke up with a jolt and shot down to the concierge as we had to book the shuttle to Disney – the magic kingdom – at least an hour before going so that was done then came up and got showered etc. and had breakfast, left at 9am as we were early enough for that.

We were dropped at the magic kingdom where I realised that I was out of my depth as when last here Tandy and the girls did all the bookings on the phones and I pads booking fast passes to reserve a time for each attraction and ride – which was beyond my computer capability.

So we wandered up main street and I tried to get Neill to indicate what he may like which was the haunted house so we did that but it was quite tame, then tried to do “The Hall Of Presidents which we missed as Neill had a call of nature, and the doors close and you have to wait for the next show, so we wandered off and did “It’s a Small World “cute and relaxing.

We then looked at shops and various things and maybe did one other attraction which neither can remember so it was not outstanding, we had some lunch and wanted to do a ride on the river paddle steamer, which had a technical problem, so we walked further and waited for the big parade at 3pm, which now is a fantasy parade and not the original Mickey mouse parade, but still with all the dancers and characters a marching band and the usual great Disney music played through incredible hi Fi sounding speakers throughout the entire park.

We were lucky the ladies at the water and ice cream stall said we could sit on the pole fence behind them and stop anyone from coming behind them and their stall during the parade as they had a till full of cash – they also gave us a full bottle of ice cold water each.

So we had good ringside/roadside seats. The one young girl studying music was there on a 6 month program from the local university where she was studying music as a singer, her name “

“ Kelly” same as Harv’s Granddaughter in Stutterheim, hope you are reading this Kel. !!!

We watched the ride called “Splash Mountain” which is like a mining mountain that takes you up in a boat/car thing and you come down a steep slope splash inti water and through a tunnel under the road and out onto a calm small canal, but Harv was not keen anyway we took some pics.

After that we went for a ride on the steam train old 4-4-0 as that took us back to main street USA and the shops also gave us a rest in the cool as the train with a lady engineer travelled slowly along.

We then wandered up the one side of main st USA looking at shops etc. and had another ice cream.

Then I wanted to go back to the hall of presidents where they have models that look so real and wave and talk stand and sit of all the USA presidents, and they name & spotlight each one, and then go into a brief history of the USA and each key speech is given by the relative president as they stand and deliver the talk – it is difficult to believe they are not real, and finally Obama.

Neill again missed that as he went off photographing things outside as he seemed not to realise we were waiting in the foyer for the next show, only about 22 minutes but so well done, ah well that’s how it goes.

After that we went down the other side of Main st USA looking at the shops, and then caught the bus to Disney Hollywood studios which is another theme park about 20 minutes away.

Before we left I went to the city hall where they have people to help book fast passes for the next day, and the young lady said we could do it on line, so I got out my I pad and asked to show us how, and when we were finished we had done all of the stuff for the next day – all booked.

There we watched the Star Wars fireworks and light show which was OK after which we went back by bus to the magic kingdom for the fireworks spectacular in front of Cinderella’s castle that is on all the Disney posters and is the trademark of the Magic Kingdom. After which we caught a cab home for $25 as we were really beat with saw everything, and the next bus to our hotel was at 12.30 pm and it was now 11pm.

We just fell into bed after rolling our feet on a frozen bottle of water as per Kirsty’s instructions which really helped for the next day.

13^th October Thursday 2016

We slept until nearly 9, at least I did Neill is sometimes awake and reads. – we were late for breakfast but managed to get then man in charge get a lady do eggs, bacon and toast + coffee for us – lucky.

Then we left by cab as we were too late for the scheduled shuttle bus to Disney Hollywood studios which is a Hollywood theme park where we had watched the “Star Wars” show the night before – there we watched the stunt show of the” Indiana Jones” movies and they asked for volunteers to assist from the audience – not us.

They explained how the stunts were done and then proceeded to do them, with some close up demos with one of the volunteers who turned out to be a set up stunt guy.

We had Indiana Jones and his lady star with all sorts of dangerous things and explosions fighting, guns and swords.

It is a tough game and very realistic after which we were able to talk to the actors and actresses and get a picture with the “Indiana Jones” double very nice.

There was also a street parade with Garth Vader and his men who march like robots again to the Star Wars music played all through the park.

Then we headed to Epcot, and had a look at some of the countries where Neill managed to get a few golf trinkets at the UK St Andrews golf shop. From where we walked past a number of countries to the big ball like a giant golf ball really big taller than most buildings in Epcot which is another the park with mostly things looking at the future.

There we had a scheduled ride in Spaceship earth which turned out to be the story of creation and development of us all through the ages and the development of all the things we have today electricity, books, painting writing and so on to the modern computer world, ok buy not what I expected which was like a space ride ??

After that we had a bit of time to kill and had a big bit which was a huge turkey sandwich and at least not a burger, very big though.

Then we went in to “Soarin” which I thought was the highlight of the day.

You get strapped into a seat for a photo flight around the world as though you are in a flying chair, they strap you in and tell you about all the safety stuff and you have to take off loose slops and put back packs and stuff under your seat.

Then take off which is scary although you are only 1 meter off the ground, but the chair and the screen photo give the illusion of flying around the world over mountains and under bridges and just missing the Eiffel Tower and just missing other planes etc.

Although I knew what was coming and had warned Neill that it was all photography and we were only a meter off the ground we both held on the bars around the seat with a real tight grip an once or twice when we thought we were going to crash into something we shut our eyes.

That however was fantastic although a little scary at times,

After that we walked through a few shops and looked at a few things waiting for the fireworks and laser show, which was much the same as the night before, and the lasers were not as good as usual as we had a nearly full moon.

After this we rushed to catch the monorail to the ticket and transportation centre where the hotel bus would collect us and while waiting could see the fireworks from one of the other theme parks.

It seems Disney is now going to going to build a dedicated Star Wars Park as that has been so successful for them.

When we got back to the hotel we wandered next door where the bar was open till late and had a beers and orange drink before going to bed and on the way Harv had to take some photos of some cars like Mustang, and Corvette,

Neill seems to have a thing about cars and we have a running commentary about which car that is and have you seen that, we don’t have that, and how powerful that one is and how good the Chev’s are and bemoaning the fact that there are no Isuzu’s here.

He seems to have an absolute fixation about cars all day while driving and walking, and maybe a bit about golf too !!

Then we hit bed, and I typed as much of the blog as my eyes would aloe till the early hours and when I was adding to it this am it vanished !! which is why this is on word and I will hopefully copy and paste.

14^th October Friday 2016

After some discussion and the fact that a ticket to Sea World will cost about $100 plus the taxi and food which is around R1500 each we decided that it would be good to rest before the long flight home tomorrow after a bunch of hours waiting at Washington Dulles airport for a good few hours.

So I am typing and Neill is sleeping again but this time in the day – this will be good as we have done a lot and we have a long flight home tomorrow night arriving at around 5pm Sunday afternoon.

Cheers for now I will take a walk to stretch my legs get some fresh air and try and add the photos when I get back.

these photos are not all in order as we are loading from 3 cameras