Off Shore Fishing Adventure

Sorry it’s been awhile since I’ve posted!  Life has been busy now that school is back in session.  We’re all trying to settle in to our new routine…

Cutie Pie pounced on us bright and early on Sunday morning with a special request.  He wanted to go off shore fishing for kingfish.  Now, J had no intention of setting off on such an adventure but I thought it sounded like fun.  When we finished breakfast I sweet talked J into taking us all out on the boat off Port Canaveral.

We have never taken this boat into the ocean so I know that J was a little apprehensive.  But he was a good sport about getting everything prepped and ready for us to go.  I whipped up a quick lunch for the cooler, sunscreened myself and the kids and we were off!  We launched at the Port Canaveral ramp amidst the cruise ships, parasailing tour boats and other recreational fishermen.

We cruised down the coast toward Cocoa Beach and were greeted by lots of friendly dolphins.

The boys and I climbed up on the bow for a better view of the wildlife.  They came surprisingly close to the boat.

There were probably 10 or so dolphins in the pod that surrounded us.  They were jumping and playing which thrilled the boys to no end.

Right around the time that we saw the dolphins J and the boys started getting motion sick.  Luckily, J had a stash of Dramamine in his bag.  One of the side effects is drowsiness, however…  Both boys zonked out for a while.  Cutie Pie found a spot on the bench in the cabin.  Wildman eventually succumbed to sleep on the bow while we watched the cruise ships set sail.

The Disney Dream was the third ship that we watched leave port.  It is the newest vessel in the Disney cruise line.  There is a water ride between the stacks on the top deck that looks amazing.  It’s a twisty see-through tube.  Perhaps we’ll have to save our money for a voyage on the Dream one day.

We hadn’t had any luck fishing all day so we pointed the boat back toward the port.  Just as soon as we made the decision to head for home, the fishing pole that J had been trolling a lure with went crazy.

After a strong and steady fight, J managed to reel in a nice looking barracuda.  It wasn’t the kingfish that Cutie Pie wanted but it looked very similar.  At least we caught something!

Once we landed the boat on the trailer I glanced down to find this little guy swimming around.  Which reminded me that I need to find a little slip of paper with the website that Wildman’s class is using to track sea turtles.  His teacher wrote it down and I stuck the paper somewhere…  Just not sure where.  It’s part of their class project.  They’re adopting a sea turtle with a tracking device.  The children can log on to the website to see where their turtle has traveled.  Pretty neat!

Also, would you say a little prayer that this thing does not hit us?

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Hole-in-One

J and I took the boys miniature golfing on Labor Day because Wildman is obsessed with golf.  When I ask him what sport he wants to learn, golf is his answer most of the time.  He’s been begging to go putt-putt golfing ever since I first took him last summer.

We decided to head north to Funntasia where they had BOGO games for the holiday.  The golf course is in Cape Canaveral right across the street from a cabaret and next door to an adult “toy” mega store…  I don’t know what it is about Cape Canaveral but somehow it has become infested with these types of adult businesses.  And miniature golf courses.  They have two.

Anyway, it’s not too sketchy in the light of day.

The boys had a choice of either the “Waterfall” course or the “Cave” course.  Guess what they chose?

Cutie Pie had a little trouble learning how to grip the putter so J and I took turns showing him how to do it at each hole.  Once he got his hands right, Cutie Pie did surprising well at miniature golf.  He was either right on par or very close.

I am no expert at putt-putt but I surprised myself by doing as well as Cutie Pie.  LOL!

Wildman shocked us all when he made a hole-in-one on one of the last holes.  We were right next to the road and some guy in a BMW saw Wildman’s triumph while stopped at a red light.  The guy started honking and giving Wildman the thumbs up.  It was really cute!  Wildman was so excited and jumped up and down.  I wish I had my camera ready when he sunk that shot.  It was great!

After some celebratory ice cream at the golf shop, we headed up to Port Canaveral to check out the cruise ships.

As you can see, a storm started rolling in so we headed toward the car after a brief trip to the docks.

I’m looking forward to taking the kids back up that way next weekend when we go to the Kennedy Space Center for their salute to Brevard County residents.  J will be out of town for work and I know I’ll be looking for something to keep us occupied.  I’m sure it will be a mad house but the kids will totally love it.