A sad post for all previous expeditions

Day 2

After a wonderful hot breakfast at the hotel we drove to John Pennekamp Park and had a wonderful experience with a remarkable 50 foot of underwater visibility .  We can't wait for Wednesday when we do it again! Afterwards we had lunch at a Cuban restaurant, visited the injured bird sanctuary, bought souvenirs at shell world and then headed off to Robert is here!

Our first day

We awoke early in order to make a trip to the Columbia airport and arrive by 730. 12 of the 13 students have never flown before so I gave them their wings and they wore them on both legs of the flight! The moving sidewalk in Atlanta, The train between terminals, the shuttle bus in Fort Lauderdale, and the rental cars were also part of our day. We actually entered Everglades national Park and saw liguus tree snails, A variety of tropical birds and trees, and a very large alligator.  And yes, the mosquitoes are out!

WHAT SHOULD I PACK?

What to bring:

·        Backpack for plane and van (must be small enough to fit under plane seat)

·        Carry-on sized suitcase(22 x 14 x 9 in) or 115 centimeters (23 x 36 x 56 cm) including handles and wheels.

·        Spending money (about $120 for meals and souvenirs)

·        Sunglasses

·        Camera

·        Sunscreen/mosquito repellant (in Ziplocs or buy it there)

·        Towel (one; hang it up and reuse)

·        Swimsuit (one; hang it up and reuse)

·        Shoes that can get wet!  (laces! Tevas are OK, but old sneaks are way better.  Bring some that you can throw away if you want)

·        Clothing for 4 days:  4 socks; 4 underwear; 4 shirts; trousers/shorts

·        Toothbrush and other toiletries/contact lens stuff/etc.

·        Photo ID (we can make this for you if you don’t have SC license)

WHAT NOT TO BRING

Knives or anything that makes airlines nervous.  If you choose to bring electronic devices, know that we will be in water situations every day.

Itinerary

Off To See the Lizard 2016 Itinerary

(created on 7 October 2015)

REVISED 1 FEBRUARY 2016

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27

12:00  Mamacita drives to Winnsboro; everyone else checks the weather reports.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28

6:00 Wake up; drive to airport; meet B’wana at Delta counter by 7:40 a.m.

9:00  Flt. 5153 departs and arrives in Atlanta; Flt. 1827 departs at 10:55 a.m.

12:55 Arrive in Ft. Lauderdale.  First palm tree?  Get vans. Drive to Florida City.

2:00 fast food lunch on your own at McDonalds or ? 

2:30 Anhinga Trail and Gumbo Limbo trail; First alligator?

4:30  Robert-Is-Here

5:30  At hotel; pool; pizza dinner poolside at 7:00 (prepaid). 10:00 in rooms.

Monday, 29 February 2016  SNORKEL TRIP I

(wear bathing suit under clothes; towel; spending money; sunscreen; Dramamine )

6:30 wake up call; breakfast at hotel; in van by 7:30 for drive to Key Largo

8:10 check in with snorkel concessionaire at John Pennekamp; get dive equipment.

9:00 Snorkel trip I

12:30 Lunch at Denny’s Latin Café ($10.00 per person, cash only). 

2:00  Injured Bird Sanctuary

4:00  The Shell Man for souvenirs

6:00  Swim

7:00 Dinner at Pollo Tropical ($10.00 per person, cash only)

Tuesday, 1 March 2016  THE EVERGLADES

(Wear sturdy boots/shoes that can get wet; bring a bag and towel; spending money; sunscreen)

7:00 wake up call; breakfast at hotel; in van by 8:00 for drive to Everglades National Park

8:30 picture at The Rock

8:45  Visitors Center; tree snails; orientation movie;

9:30  Swamp Tromp I:  Payhayokee Overlook

10:30  Swamp Tromp II:  a cypress dome somewhere

11:30  Mahogany Hammock trail

12:30  Mrzyzk Pond:  Roseate Spoonbills?

12:30  Flamingo Marina:  crocodile?  Lunch on your own.  Manatees?

1:30  Flamingo Visitors Center

2:00  quick look at coastal prairie and salt wort

3:00  brief stop at West Lake for view of black mangroves

4:00  Everglades Alligator Farm:  Airboat Ride!

5:30  Robert-Is-Here (optional)

6:30  Dinner at White Lion ($10 cash only)

8:00  chill time

WEDNESDAY, 2 MARCH 2016 SNORKEL TRIP II

(wear bathing suit under clothes; towel; spending money; sunscreen; Dramamine)

6:30 wake up call; breakfast at hotel; in van by 7:30 for drive to Key Largo

8:10 check in with snorkel concessionaire at John Pennekamp; get dive equipment.

9:00 Snorkel trip II

Off To See the Lizard 2016 Itinerary   PAGE 2

(created on 7 October 2015)

REVISED 1 FEBRUARY 2016

12:00 Lunch at the Hungry Tarpon ($10.00 per person, cash only). 

1:00  Feeding Tarpon by hand at Robbie’s Marina

4:00  The Shell Man for souvenirs

5:00  Robert-Is-Here (optional)

6:00  Swim

7:00 Pizza dinner at poolside (prepaid)

THURSDAY, 3 MARCH 2016  EVERGLADES OUTPOST AND FLY HOME

8:30  wake up call

9:00  breakfast at hotel; in van by 9:30 for ride to Everglades Outpost

11:00 depart for airport; arrive around 12:30.  Return rental cars; check in.

2:45  Depart Delta #2446 for Atlanta, arriving 4:49 p.m.

7:45 Depart Delta #668 for Columbia, arriving 8:45 p.m.

10:00 everyone is home again!

FRIDAY, 4 MARCH 2016

No school for 10^th graders.

NOTES: 

1.         One carry-on bag plus your backpack per person.  The backpack is something you will carry every day as we set out on adventures. 

2.        Have your wallet ready + PHOTO ID!

3.        Dress in layers that you can shed when leaving cold SC and arriving in sunny Florida!

4.        Special notes about hotel rooms:

a.        No room to room visiting after 10:00 p.m.  

b.       Each day before leaving the room must be reasonably tidy.

c.        Hang up wet things.

d.        We do not want to pay a damage fee; take care of the room.

5.      Breakfast will be at the hotel from Monday through Thursday.  You will need $40 in $10 bills that you will give to B’wana for certain meals.  Those meals will cost more than $10, but the trip budget will make up the difference (and we will get only one bill from the waiter).  This allows you to order whatever you want from the menu!   You will need to spend your own money for lunch food on travel days (Sunday and Thursday) as well as Tuesday lunch.  In other words, you will need to bring about $100 for food and souvenirs.

Flights and Times

 THIS POST IS ACCURATE AS OF 2/8/16

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2016

DEP CAE     Delta 5153     9:00 a.m.       ARR   ATL  10:14 a.m.
DEP ATL     Delta 1827     10:55 a.m.     ARR    FLL   12:54 p.m.

 THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2016

DEP FLL     Delta 2446      2:45 p.m.      ARR    ATL   4:44 p.m.
DEP ATL     Delta 668        7:45 p.m.      ARR    CAE   8:45 p.m.

CAE-Columbia Int'l  ("Cayce")
ATL-Atlanta Hartfield Int'l  ("Atlanta")
FLL-Ft. Lauderdale Int'l  ("Ft. Lauderdale")