Florida 2015 - first days

After a great and uneventful trip down, with dry roads and plenty of sunshine, we arrived in Florida on Wednesday, Jan. 29, where we made our first stop at Daytona Beach.

 
 This is the first picture we always take in Florida - at the Welcome Station, where we are greeted with fresh orange and grapefruit juice.

We stayed at Daytona Beach for 2 days until it was time to check in at Kissimmee.  Nice to get our toes in the sand and salt water!

I love watching these little birds scurry along the beach.

Now THAT'S what I call a good breakfast!  We visited a chocolate factory in Daytona, and the eggs you see are made of chocolate, the fruit slices are candy, and the bacon is real bacon, covered with chocolate.  The bacon is their 2nd best seller, after chocolate covered Ruffles potato chips.  Yum yum!  Are they good!

Anthony was our excellent guide, after which he generously offered us 3 pieces of chocolate each.  There was no bacon on the tray, so he gave me one to try later.  I loved it!

And then it was off to the beach again - much colder than the day before, so we didn't stay long.

 We were lucky enough to see a group of pelicans right on the shore - something we have never seen there before.

I think this fellow was wrestling with a fish.

Sorry for so many, but just really like pelicans!

Today after church, we checked out the market in Celebration, then walked around the lake.  Saw a few of these ibis (AKA Florida Chickens).

We also saw our first alligator of the season - about a six-footer. 

 Later on, I went for a walk in the area, and came across this little guy.  He didn't seem the least bit worried about me being there.

"Just" a mallard drake, but so pretty!

I saw 2 pairs of hooded mergansers - so striking!

This is a Louisiana Heron, AKA tri-coloured heron.

The sun was shining through a fountain to give this lovely background for the Louisiana Heron.

Until next time.......