Birthday

 

Last week was Jim's birthday and I had several surprises ready for him. I started the day out with a sort of gag gift. Earlier in the month I had gone to Cracker Barrel restaurant with Marge for lunch and they were serving diet coke with black cherry syrup (actually all flavors this just happens to be my favorite) in a 40 year anniversary commemorative glass. When I got home with my glass Jim was disappointed that I had not purchased him one as well (long standing joke that we get too many commemorative coffee cups and glasses built up in the cupboard). Then the day before Jim's birthday Tiffany and I met Jamie and Susie (Tiffany's cousing and aunt on the Brown side) at Cracker Barrel for lunch and I just had to have another diet coke with black cherry syrup in a commemorative glass and told the girls why. Later in the conversation it came up that the next day was Jim's birthday and Susie who had ordered the same thing gave her glass as a gift as well. So as we checked out I realized I now have three and one more trip should complete a set. I guess I'll just be forced to go back.

So thanks Susie, Jim loved the glasses. Then throughout the day I left presents on his chair consisting mainly of clothes. Now, clothes are nice but are they really presents?? He liked them all but was really exicted when he unwrapped the denim jacket. Sarah, CJ, and Micah came over for cupcakes, lemonade, and fireworks. Then just before midnight I gave him the final gift, which was a gift certificate to Forever Florida for the Zipline Safari and today (11/4) we went on the zipline. What in the world is a Zipline Safari? Well, in this case the setting is Florida pasture land and woods way down past St. Cloud outside Holopaw. On 4700 acres deep in the Florida woods Forever Florida has established eco tours by swamp buggy, horses and zipline. A zipline is a heavy duty cable strung between platforms mounted high up in the air on very large telephone poles. You then strap on a harness that makes a "seat" like in rappelling from rock faces, climb the towers, hook to these cables by carabineers, step off the platforms and zip through the tree tops to the next tower landing. Kind of like parachuting just without the plane and the parachute is the cable. I can't remember how high the first tower was but the guy said we were up to speeds of 17 mph. If you have any phobia about heights just climbing the first tower is almost overwhelming...the feet tingle, the nerves jangle, don't look down! and then you are there.  That first step off that platform was a bit scary and exhilarting at the same time! And totally fun sailing through the tree tops.

The second set of ziplines started with climbing a tower five stories high and zipping down the lines at speeds up to 25 mph and having to cross two "rope" bridges! We almost lost our courage at the bridges but we persevered, faced our phobias and made it across.

There was another couple on the same tour celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary, Ray and Elma from outside Seattle, Washington. Elma has been on a zipline in Juno, Alaska but for Ray, Jim and myself this was a first. We can hardly wait to go again. During the trip on this property we saw turkey, deer, alligators, horses, hawks, turtles, and the ever present buzzard. There is also a small zoo like exhibit with a Florida Panther, Macaw, Parrots, alligators, porcupine, and several other type animals.

If you are interested in seeing the "True" Florida check out Florida Forever.

Check out additional photos