So a last minute trip to Lake Erie did.
But it rained
and rained
and RAINED.
We saw the sun maybe twice in very brief moments before nightfall.
So our plans to enjoy Lake Erie and the pool were thwarted.
And the ability to leave early were thwarted by a ridiculous fee
that left us stuck with the mindset
that we were going to make the most of this adventure.
So we ate
Our room wasn't ready when we got to the lodge so they gave us bikes to ride around the grounds. |
We found this bungee trampoline ride on the beach that just happened to coincide with a brief moment of sunshine. Ellie loved it! |
Our view from the lobby our ENTIRE first day at the park.
They loved them!
Like ordered them everyday after that loved them.
We snuck in activities in between the rain.
When I pointed out a bug on McDaniel's knee
she freaked out wildly
and accidentally punched herself in the crotch.
I handled it poorly
and fell to my knees in laughter.
Then it started to rain.
We also played Walleyball in the lodge's indoor court.
Monte tried to give Ellie some serving advice and when she served it into a 90 degree angle smack dab into the wall for the 13th time
I handled it poorly again
and fell to my knees in laughter.
The next day we had more than a touch of cabin fever
McDaniel cabin fever bed jumping. |
so we made the decision
RAIN OR SHINE
to leave the lodge and drive an hour to an African Safari.
And we passed this on the way.
A nuclear power plant. |
Made me creeped out a teence.
This safari is part drive through and feed the animals,
part walk through and see the animals like a zoo
and part pig races.
Yes! I know.
Hang on, I will get to that later.
We bought 2 cups of feed and a bag of carrots to feed the animals.
There was a lot of instructions by the "Ranger" who was basically a college student in a vest.
We were told not to put our fingers anywhere near the animal's teeth
and if there is a struggle with the animal wanting to take the entire cup of feed
LET them take the cup.
Don't be a hero.
Oh yeah, and honk if you are in trouble.
The animals are not the least bit inhibited and have NO PROBLEM coming right up to your car window to see what is happening, in the form of food, in your vehicle.
So adorable. |
These llamas made us pull out our copy of Disney's "The Emperor's New Groove" when we got home. |
Baby llamas and baby deer.
Little babies.
Little babies running in and out of traffic.
McDaniel was absolutely convinced that Monte was going to run over the skull of one of these precious babies.
So she screamed,
"Baby! Baby! Baby!"
instructing Monte
like a hysterical Justin Bieber
at a drive through African Safari.
This buffalo decided to take the entire feed cup
after a brief struggle where Monte forgot the rules of the ranger for a second.
Then he came over to my side to see if I forgot the rules too.
He licked my entire window.
I was fascinated by this creature and was leaned in really close checking him out when Monte decided to
unbeknownst to me
roll down my window.
I could feel the hot breath of the buffalo on my face.
So I screamed loud and long right in his face.
The buffalo, not Monte.
He was a bit alarmed.
After the aggressive buffalo, Monte didn't even roll down the window for this elk.
Check out these antlers!
Mr. Yak seemed quite put out with us and gave a
pretty distinct stink eye to Monte.
Of course he wasn't happy with his bangs.
A white zebra!
We were somewhat disappointed that after dodging baby llamas and deer
and getting way too up close and personal with a buffalo
and the stink eye from a yak having a bad hair day
that the giraffes and zebras were behind fences.
But I guess the safari is just protecting their investment.
Or there was an "incident" to decide that they better
FOR THE LOVE OF PETE
keep these animals behind a fence.
The giraffes have dark purple tongues that wrapped around the carrot and pulled it into his mouth like an elephant uses its trunk.
Amazing!
Ok. I won't make your poor tired computer download one more picture, so I will leave the pig races and monkeys for the next post.
Stay tuned!
Wow. Sounds like maybe it was a good thing it rained and changed your plans up a little. What a fun trip.
ReplyDeleteThe African Safari looks like a load of fun!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post! You can never predict the weather, so it's great that you made the best of a challenging situation -- lemons to lemonade, so to speak!
ReplyDelete