TravelStream™ news feed for member mckelsos on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/mckelsos en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:33:03 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2009/1154528932/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2009/1154528932/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2009/1154528932/tpod.html Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:33:03 -0400 Kelsos's Reno

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Chelsea, Quebec, Canada


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1246161600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1246161600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1246161600/tpod.html Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:36:35 -0400 2009 Eastern Canada & U.S. Road Trip Adventure

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Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada

Okay well let me just tell you that today will be extremly short because not only did we spend 10 HOURS DRIVING, i slept and listened to music through most of it. So first thing the grils and I haeded down for some breaky and heidi hit the pool. I had to through her crocks in teh deep end of the pool to get her to swim haha. We got on teh road at about 10:40ish but stopped to get dad some clothes at LLBean while heidi and I wasted our life saving at the dollartree...not really but really it wouldnt be a dollar if it was useful or biult to last, right? Anyways we then proceded to re-enter the torture chamber a.k.a the van and drove. And then we drove...Oh yahh i almost for got we drove. Did i mention we drove? You get the picture....anywyas we ended up in Mt Tremblant at about 9 ish and began to settle in. Unfortunantly that didnt last about an hour later we were all still sweating and needed a room change due to a broken A/C. Everyone but me is now asleep because I commited to doing this blog for you and still want to get a christmas present...uhhh i mean i wanted to make you happy! Haha just kidding....but everyone is asleep and im being worked to the bone for a penny a day. Oh just a lottle afterword...Heidi was an angel all day which helped mem have a good drive and we are in an awsome hotel witha big kitchen, huge family room, parents bed room and heidi and I are upstairs on a balcony overlooking the family room...very nice. I hope your all doig well back home and please god do not let heidis goldfish die!

Day #16...
Today was one of the best days in mind so far because we did lots of stuff. Alright so we woke up and got ready in a reasonable time and decided to head out for the luge on the ski hill. The luge involves being brought to the top of a hill by ski loft and then riding down the hill on a weaving path on bugies. It was super fun! Dad and I went 4 times heidi went 3 and colette....went 0!!! She was too much of a wimp to go on the ski-lift...heidi was making fun of her the whole way up haha. It was really cool and lots of fun. next we decided to have lunch at "Le Shack" mostly because they boasted the best burgers in Tremblant...i wasnt dissappointed! We all had a great lunch and proceded to our next activity, boat rentals. Colette, Dad and heidi too a canoe while I took a kayak. It was fun becayse the water were mildly rough so i was getting soaked, i had a blast!! Colette on the other hand not so much....i dont want to embarrass her so ill leave it at that. We then went and relaxed for an hour at the hotel before looking at the town and getting some takeout. We headed back to the hotel with our food and had dinner. Heidi wanted to hit the pool before bed so we all haeded down to watch her. i went back upstairs soonafter because i was being eaten alive by black flies. All in all i had an amazing day and everyone but me is in bed. Sheesh people its only 9:30!!! Dad just dropped teh bomb that we might be heading home to morrow due to bad weather conditions! We'll see how it goes....heidi is missing you both tons!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245729600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245729600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245729600/tpod.html Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:22:18 -0400 2009 Eastern Canada & U.S. Road Trip Adventure

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Alma, New Brunswick, Canada

Day #12..
Alrighty...Today was a fun day, we woke up early so that we could head to the Hopewell Rocks that are only visible when the tides out. The constant changes of the tide direction leave enormous rocks standing on whittled little pedestales somewhat like a big fat pig sitting on its high heel like hooves. It was gorgoues however extremly buggy! It was cool looking at all the rocks except apparently flip flops are frowned apon to our dismay as colette and I showed up in them. The muck was almost impossible to walk in and we left muddy from sliding around. We then hopped back in the ol van and went on a secenic route to Cape Enrage...weird name but it in the end it was soo foggy the sites were blurred and we ended up having a windy foggy picnic atop "the most beautiful outlook in all of canada"....or so they say. Afetr this we went back to the cottage where dad and mom played tri-ominos, heidi played poly pockets and i red. At about 5:30 teh oldies decided that they needed a nap so heidi and i ran up and down the stairs for a while and eventually headed outside to do sprints up and down the lane way. About and hour later we all headed to the ocean for some beach combing and walked past two horeses..kelly and pepper that heidi adored(despite being sovered in hore crap). We walked around the end ess ocean floor and all left with handfuls of beautiful scallop shells. By this time it was late so apon returning to the cottage heidi went to bed while the "grown-ups" played tri-ominops...i won both games just for the record:) Thats about it for today, relaxed and fun.

Day #13...
This morning began crazily foggy and i was skeptical about heading to the fundy national park for hiking and swimming. I quickly changed my tune when it became sunny skies and hot air. We ended up forgoing on teh hike and spent hours on a gorgoues lake where we ate, heidi made friends, dad and i (mostly me) caught enormous tadpoles, and colette got 3rd degree burns...not literally but they were brutal...someone forgot the sunscreen, ahem way to be prepared mom haha. Anyways it was super fun and we all had a blast. On our way back to the cottage we stopped at wolfe point which began as an endless walk DOWN stair through a forest ended up in teh beach unfortunatley teh walk back was all uphill all up stairs. We survived and decided it was time to head back to the cottage. We all had a super fun day although colette is in excruciating pain and mu shoulders are beet red ohh wellll....it was fun!

Day #14....
Today was relatively eneventful, we said goodbye to our beautiful cottage and headed to Bangor, Maine ( pronounced bang-OR) The us crossing guard was extremly attentive and didnt even check the passengers in the back seat or teh fact that i was holding 19 and 1/2 pounds of tropical fruit, that really helps me sleep at night...NOT! Anyways we stopped at a playground for lunch at this amazing park and heidi made friends and burned off some steam. We spent almost 6 hours in the van and when in BangOR we stopped at a walgreens to get somethign for colettes burnes and chips for me and heidi. We had subway for dinner and just chilled in teh hotel. All in all, uneventful day. We changed some plans and are now taking an easy breezy 10HOUR DRIVE to MtTremblant. YAY i cant wait! Oh well at least w ewont have to do any more long driving after tha, unless dad decides we need to go to lousiana really quick....pray for me haha.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245556800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245556800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245556800/tpod.html Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:01:44 -0400 2009 Eastern Canada & U.S. Road Trip Adventure

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Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Today was an amazing day because we didn't do much, we relaxed and chilled. Due to my run the previous day I can barely walk today so I decided I was going to stay in bed all day. First thing the girls all went and got some breaky. Colette and heidi hit the pool shortly after while dad and I lazed about in bed. When the girls got back they got ready to go do some shopping, pick up some games and water toys. While they were gone dad and I played board games and cards and were thrilled when the girls returned with treats for us. Heidi and I immidiatly hit the pool with our new water toys while Colette worked out and dad played tubes, his new iphone game that hes addicted to. Hes no longer conquering the world and has replaced it with connecting tubes, wow at least hes got his priorities straight..haha. After swimming the girls and I decided to go to east side marios for dinner for a gilrs night and had a great time!! Heidi ate pizza, Colette had pasta and I had a chicken parmigian no smaller that a salade bowl…no exaggeration it was ridiculous. We then went to walmart where heidi and I picked parent trap, a little girls movie and brought it home to watch. Well the person who enjoyed the movie most was…DAD!! It was crazy he was obsessed, he loved it, he smiled the whole way through. It was weird haha. We then all trailed off, heidi fell asleep, Colette was thrilled to find tetris on the internet and was OBSESSED, dad played tubes, also OBSESSED, while I red fitness magazines even though the thought of walking made me cringe. Anyways tomorrow we're heading to the cottage and\ I’m so excited to be staying in one spot for 3 nights…yahhhh. Unfortunatly theres no internet ahhhhh!!!

Day #11...
Today was an amazing day. We woke up and the girls and I headed for breaky. Colette and heidi hit the pool while Dad and I once again did nothing. I went to check on the girls and was surprised to see dad already showered and ready to go. We checked out at about 11 and headed in the direction of new Brunswick. We stopped at an amazing indoor amusment park and had a great time. Heidi, the little daredevil, went on a scary roller coaster 6 times!!! We spent a few hours there and all had a blast. The shining moments were heidi on a mini-drop zone, Colette freaking out but pretending she wasn’t on the swings and me kicking dads butt in bumper cars. We left and heidi, Dad and I went to chapters while Colette went and grabbed some groceries for the cottage. We all left with a book and Colette had the food. We headed to the cottage about an hour and a half away and I had heidi asleep after 7 minutes of listening to slow high school musical tunes on my ipod. We arrived at the cottage and were thrilled with it. It is more like a house with full kitched several bedrooms a Jacuzzi tub, satellite tv and an overall modern rustic feel. Colette prepared a dinner of chicken ceasar salads and delicious chocolate cake..YUM! Heidi went to bed right after as it was almost 9. dad is now playing tubes AGAIN the addict, Colette is reading and im watching tv woohoo! Tomorrows gunna be full of adventures and im super excited!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245470580/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245470580/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245470580/tpod.html Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:00:47 -0400 2009 Eastern Canada & U.S. Road Trip Adventure

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New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada

Well today was a CRAZY day it began at about 7:20ishh when we were running around our hotel run trying to prepare for our races. We were changing, clipping hair, pinning on our race bibs, attaching the timers to our shoes and attempting to eat. Colette ate a banana and drank a coffee and I shoved a abnana and half a peice of bread....big mistake. I'll try to be as discriptive as possible.... we arrived 10 minutes before the race began and i wen to hit the porta poti while colette lined up because her race starts about 6 minutes beofre mine. If you'll notice from my breakfast choice i forgot the most important thing to do.....hydrate, drink water!!! Well i payed for that the first 10 km loop i felt very nauseas and i couldnt shake it. About 45 minutes into the race i stoppped to throw up! I felt better after and was able to get into a zone dispite my aching joints. Colette finished her first 5k in a great 35 minutes and change and felt absolutely great and accomplished. I finished my half marathon in about 2 hours 24 minutes and felt not too great. My joints were killing me and the race was in complete downpour which was distracting and slippery. All in all race weekend was a success and Colette and I have a medals to prove it! Afetr the race we went back to the hotel for showers and to wait for the ferry. We took the ferry from nova scotia to pei. We arrived in pei and spent almost 2 hours going to chapters, looking for a cake (i really wanted one) and looking for the hotel. Heidi and I hit the pool while we waited for our take out of pizza and fries. We ate our food while we watched an action movie. Heidi is now asleep, colette is journaling, dad is throwing socks in my face and im dieing...actually just amazingly sore. Tomorrow is going to be a chillax day, colette and heidi are gunna explore pei, im gunna stay back and rest and dad is still unknown!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245470400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245470400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245470400/tpod.html Sat, 20 Jun 2009 19:49:58 -0400 2009 Eastern Canada & U.S. Road Trip Adventure

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Cheticamp, Nova Scotia, Canada

Today was a pretty easy day to tell you about because we did most of our activities once again in the van. We had breaky of toast and fruit salad and hit the road, unfortunatly, at about 11:11. We headed for the Cabot Trails and enjoyed the amazing views. Colette spent most of the ride in the back with heidi which she loved and i did aswell. On the ride up we grabbed a delicious ice cream and made our way to pleasant bay. We had a nice picknik of leftovers and headed back down the mountain so we would make it to New Glasgow to pick up our race kits by 7. We made it with 15 minutes to spare and quickly grabbed our race kits including bib number, technical tee, and souvenir hat. Colette is very excited to be running her first 5k race and i'm nervous for my half marathon AHHHHH! Anyways its almost 9 Heidi is in bed, dad is looking at pics from the trip, colette is paying blow fish on dads iphone and i'm mentally preparing to be victorious...ok actually just to finish strong. I hope all goes well tomorrow it's supposed to be raining so slipping may occur, lets cross our fingers!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245384000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245384000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245384000/tpod.html Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:21:26 -0400 2009 Eastern Canada & U.S. Road Trip Adventure

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Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, Canada

Today was a great day! Heidi slept in so jay and heidi went on adventure at 9:30 to find a tim hortons to bring back the family for breaky. The excursion took about 45 minutes even though it was only 4 blocks away. The main problem is there is no walking signals so you pretty much just have to wait or get yourself out there. Neither very effective when you with a four year old and both your hands are full of food and hot drinks. We then hoped in the car for a short ride, about 30 mins, to the fortress of Louisberg. It is a really neat set-up with everything from the people to the food all dating back to the early 18th century. We were lured by the promise of delicious fresh bread and gladly bought two huge hunks, costing 7 dollars by the way, and were promised that while the outside is hard as a rock the inside would be soft as a cloud.....YA RIGHTTTT! The inside was just as hard, it was a brick that tasted like sawdust held together by cheap glue. In other words a total rip off and the only one that was able to even swallow a bite was, surprise, surprise...Colette. Other than that the experience was fun. We hit the road again nin search of our new home away from home a cute little cottage somewhere in cape breton. The cottage is really cute with 2 floors, fun games and sataliette T.v. :)...everything i could have ever hoped for, that way theres fun stuff to do and dads snoring will be far away from me haha. Anyways we had a salad dinner and rounded the healthy meal out with a heaping portion of strawberries, wipped cream and angel cake...I think colette is trying to fatten us up. Its now quater after nine, the oldies are already in bed, wow what party animals, Heidi is also asleep, and I'm sneaking out to the pub down the street....haha ok really im just watching family channel:) Tomorrow we're hitting the Cabot trails before picking us our race kits...ahhh the nerves are setting in!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245297600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245297600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245297600/tpod.html Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:27:38 -0400 2009 Eastern Canada & U.S. Road Trip Adventure

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Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada

Well todays entry is going to be painfully long...haha not... its going to be over in a flash because we did nothing but DRIVE!!!!! Ok that may be a slight exaggeration because we stopped for about an hour at a cute little beach were Heidi and mom made some nice local friends while jay and dad simply sat around and slept while sand blew into our hummus. We resumed driving after this short interlude and continued for about 1 1/2 hours until we stopped for lunch at the only restaurant within miles and chose food off a menu that had a total of roughly hmmmm....10 items...wow what a selection. In other words the choice of what to eat was pretty much non-existence since there was only one thing each of us liked. Heidi had fish and chips just like her poppa, colette had a salad about the size of heidis foot and jayme enjoyed a nice peice of charcoal that they tried to dress up and tell me was a burger. It was somewhat satisfing and ended with heidi and jay eating some ice cream. The next thing we did may or may not shock you....we......CONTINUED DRIVING!!! WOWW!!!! We FINALLY got to the hotel around 9pm. Heidi never slept all day but the girls even stayed up to watch some family channel untill about 10pm. Psst...Heidi thinks i'm doing her a favor but really i like when she stays up late cuz i get to sleep in!! Anyways after that Colette and Jay hit the gym for a dissappointing work out due to the poor diet and long periods and sitting like rocks. Its is now 11:30...Dad is curling his hair, heidi is smoking a cigar, colette is practicing her hip-hop moves and i'm completely making this up! The entry needed a little excitment so lets pretend its true. Well tomorrow we're hitting the good ol historical LOUISBERG for a day of pertending that no one even set foot on the moon, I can't wait! Wait, did they have toliet paper back then, cellphone service...ohhh goodd!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1244865780/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1244865780/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1244865780/tpod.html Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:14:24 -0400 2009 Eastern Canada & U.S. Road Trip Adventure

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Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada

Unfortunately the original entry was lost in cyber space so the accuracy of todays events may be skewed in favor of the narrator….So the day was filled with sightseeing and adventure. We spent the majority of our time in the hell house other wise known as the van as we drove roughly 600 miles to Bar Harbor, Maine or as we like to refer to it as Bahh Habahhh. 30 minutes into our drive dad noticed a suspended bridge hanging over a death defying gorge. No joke this bridge was not only long and rickety in appearance it was also EXTREMLY HIGH!!! We decided to take a hike so we could cross the amazing bridge the girls passed first, no problem. Colette on the other hand was a different story, she was glued to dad, eyes closed and insisted that the two girls carry her ½ pound water bottle for fear that it would way her down….sure way the kids down…sheeshh what a "great" mom. Anyways we all survived….come to think of it I haven't seen Colette in a while….just kidding! The hike was beautiful and even took us up a look out that Colette once again attempted yet you could literally smell the fear off of her (note to self: by Colette stronger deodorant for Christmas). Really, she braved it like a champ and we all had a blast seeing the sights and posing for cheesy pics. We were then herded back into the van to continue on in our driving. We finally arrived at the cottage like motel at 8:15 pm resulting in the girls rushing around throwing on their swim suits so we could hit thhe pool before closing in 45 minutes. The pool was a large outdoor heated and pool and we all had a blast. Dad watched from the sidelines and occasionally got splashed from Heidi when she pretended she needed a town because she got water in her eyes. It is now 10:30 colette is journaling, Heidi is passed out, Dads picking his wedgie and I'm writing a best-seller….I cant wait till tomorrow, if its anything like today its sure to be a blast.

Heres the original.... Today started off quite early for the girls because Heidi decided that she’d supply us with a 6:30 wake-up call. The girls got ready and headed down stairs for a nice breakfast, Heidi and Jay had a hot breakfast and Colette had a bagel and fruit. The breakfast was not only delicious, but our servers were extremely attentive and helpful. While the girls had some breaky Dad took him time getting ready in the room. After clearing out the hotel room we were once again on the road, destination Bar Harbor Maine. While driving, Dad noticed a suspended bridge hanging over deadly gorge. We decided to go on the hike and were amazed by the beauty and excitement of it all .Heidi and Jayme went over the bridge first and were brave and had a blast. Colette on the other hand was absolutely stricken with fear and clutched Dad the entire way. Jay and Heidi had to carry her water bottle across because Colette feared the 1 pound water bottle would "weigh her down"!!! The hike was called Coaticook and was roughly an hour out of Sherbrooke. The hike not only took us over a surreal bridge, it also took us up a 100 foot lookout tower that Heidi had no problem with. Colette toughened up and came with the girls up the tower but was terrified to go near the edge as we climbed higher. The hike was a hilly 3 and a half kilometer walk that took us from the bridge to the water falls below. All in all, the entire hike was well worth the 2hour detour and was filled with adventure and excitement!! We then climbed back in the car and traveled to the border of Vermont and crossed into the land of the free, a.k.a. The United States of America. We drove rather quickly through Vermont and New Hampshire. Jay slept most of the way and Heidi alternated between movies and activity books. Once in Maine we noticed a “Dollar King” and decided that a good leg stretch was needed. The dollar store was heaven to the girls and everyone left with a useless, piece of junk that they adored, dad left with bug nets, Colette found a great place mat, Jay found two great biographies and Heidi got some Fun Dip lip gloss. Other than the Dollar King, the town we stopped in was run down and crawling with hillbillies. Throughout Maine the scenery was beautiful especially as we came upon the ocean. Finally, after about 6 hours in the van we got to our next home away from home, a cute little cottage like motel in Bar Harbor Maine complete with a pool and hot tub within 5 minutes of the ocean. We arrived at about 8pm and quickly threw on our swim suits so we could try the pool before closing at 9. Heidi, Jay and Mom all swam in the large round outdoor pool as dad watched from the sidelines. The weather was cold and rainy so we rounded out the trip to the pool with a quick soak in the hot tub. At 9pm we rushed back to the hotel and Heidi and Jay hit the showers to wash up before bed. It is now 10:30, Dad is drifting fast, Colette is journaling, Heidi is fast asleep and Jay is watching the NBA finals. The day has been great and fun and we are all very excited to being staying here again so we can avoid long drives for at least one day!! Hopefully the weather is nice tomorrow so we can rent bikes and hit the beach!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245124980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245124980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mckelsos/2008/1245124980/tpod.html Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:14:49 -0400 2009 Eastern Canada & U.S. Road Trip Adventure

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Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Today started much later than the last due to Heidi 's late nigth at the pub the previous night. She woke up at 9am which was a blessing for everyone. The girls headed downstairs to eat some breaky while dad slept in die to his conquering the world until the break of dawn, how heroic....NOT! Anyways the kids were ecstatic when they noticed that there was lucky charms on teh breakfats menu. The girls ate breaky in record speed and headed back to the room to put on some swim suits. The pool was huge, there was two hot tubs and.......the was a water slide. We swam for over an hour and Heidi and Jay created a new record by going down the water slide at least 5 378 times, at least thats what it felt like. Heidi even went in the pool with Jay with no life jacket right before we left. After showers the girls decided to head tpo the movie theaters while dad attended to some business. The girls went and saw UP and had a blast winning heidi a snake on the video games after the film. We headed back to the hotel and picked up Dad and headed for Halifax to hit the town. We ate at a beautiful italien restaurant and all loved our pricey meals. We then walked around the town and ended up by the harbour, beaver tails in hand watching the boats sail across the water. We then headed back to the hotel. Unfortunatly Dad wasnt so lucky and ended up having to go to a near by clinic to have his eye bulge removed due to its now golf ball size and hot tamale shade. The girls kicked back and watched family channel until 9 and decided it was best to crash so we could hitthe pool before departure to Sydney. The day was relaxed, except for dads umm little situation, and tomorrow is gunna be spent mostly in the car, I cant wait!!! NOT!!! Ohh well hopefully we'll stop at the ocean!!
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