Wildlife, Disney & Heading Home 🌍✈️

Our last day of this amazing whirlwind trip 🥲

> Morning Wildlife

After a quick tidy up of the apartment, we headed out for one last wildlife adventure.

Crossing over to Merritt Island, we made our way north to a manatee observation point.

And we struck gold.

A small family of Manatee were gathered in the shallow water, gently rubbing themselves against a fallen tree.

Even through the cloudy water, we could make out their paddle-shaped tails and the smaller flippers of the youngster.

They seemed completely content… slowly drifting, surfacing and diving again.

Nearby, a couple more manatees moved steadily along the river.

Each time they dived, they left behind a pattern on the water’s surface… starting as a large circle, then slowly shrinking and softening into an oval before fading away.

After a few moments…

A small nose would pop back up for air, and the pattern would begin again 😂

We stood watching them for quite a while.

Such a peaceful and special experience.

> Bird Drive

Next up was what turned into more of a bird drive than a game drive 😂

We spotted many familiar birds from our time in Okeechobee, plus a few extras including:
• eagles 🦅
• a kingfisher

And of course… more gators 🐊

By the end, they were becoming a bit like spotting buck on a safari… you stop noticing every single one and just start calling them out as you pass 😂

Still, it made for a lovely and relaxing drive.

> A Touch of Disney

From there we headed back towards Orlando, making our way to Disney Springs for lunch.

As much as Alex was hoping to avoid all things Disney…

This was my leg of the trip 😂 and I couldn’t leave without at least a small dose.

Disney Springs is a much more relaxed part of Walt Disney World Resort… restaurants, shops and entertainment without quite as many children running around.

And importantly… free entry and parking 👍😂

> Final Meal

We made our way through West Side, passing yet another giant doughnut perched on top of a building 😂 before heading over the bridge to The Landing.

Our final stop… The Boathouse… a beautiful spot right on the water.

I chose the pan-roasted corvina with crispy Yukon potatoes, wilted kale and green onion soubise.

Absolutely delicious 😋

To go with it, I had a Shipwreck cocktail 🍹

Don’t let the name fool you… this tropical mix of gold and silver rums, passion fruit liqueur and fresh juices definitely lives up to its name… if you’re not careful 😂

> Final Ticks

Before leaving I managed a few final ticks:

✅ Disney
✅ Turtles 🐢
✅ more shopping than planned 😂

> Journey Home

Soon it was time to head to the airport and begin the journey home.

Not much to report on the flight… although the train from Gatwick Airport back to Pembrokeshire felt almost as long as the flight itself 😂

> The End… For Now

And just like that, the trip came to an end.

From Istanbul to Tashkent, Singapore to Tokyo and across the USA…

So many places, experiences and memories packed into one incredible journey.

What a trip 🌍Read more