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| Friendships at the Nautilus |
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November is my favourite month of the whole year, as this is when I head down to Daytona Beach on the DeNure express bus. I have made many friends throughout the years and we try to travel during the same weeks each year to spend time together and catch up on each other's lives.
This year, before I even boarded the bus in Whitby, I met a lady who I had not seen for a few years. This was her first year back without her husband who had passed away a couple of years ago, and it was my first year without having my mom with me as she finds travel too difficult at her age now. The bus ride south was great and before you knew it, we had arrived at the Nautilus where we received a warm southern welcome from the staff.
The first week was spent walking on the beach and going on the Mount Dora trip. It was a cloudy day and the high was 57 degrees, but the boat ride was worth it when you got into the canal. The wild birds are an incredible sight and a photographer's dream. I took many photos and we even saw a bald eagle who looked majestic sitting in the tree surveying his kingdom from up on high. It was too cold for the alligators and turtles to be out that day but it didn't matter as the canal has a special beauty no matter what the weather.
On the second monday of my stay, the space shuttle Atlantis was launched. Larry was driving the activity bus that day and said that we would get back to see it if he picked us up 15 minutes earlier. We were all very happy with that arrangement and got back in plenty of time to see the shuttle launch. The skies were a clear blue so there was no problem being able to see it and the vapour trail it left behind.
On the tuesday afternoon, I went to blue springs to see if there were any manatees as I had never seen one before. We did see a baby manatee enjoying some of the vegetation growing at the edge of the water. The water is a beautiful shade of blue-green and very clear as the temperature is kept at a constant 72 degrees. The manatees come here to spend the winter in the warm water each year.
Each year I try to find whole sand dollars washed up on the beach, and my record was 5 until November 2009 when I managed to find 18 in good shape! I actually managed to get him home to ajax in one piece, now i just have to find a shadow box big enough to display him.
I missed having my mom with me to share all the special memories but I didn't feel "alone" because I had many old friends and some new ones to enjoy the time with. I bought a card and had quite a few people who knew my mom along with some of the hotel staff write a message to her. I gave it to her when I got home and she was so pleased to see all of the notes from different people who she had made friends with throughout the previous years at the Nautilus.
This is what it is all about, memories of time well spent with old friends and meeting new friends. Thanks to all of the DeNure staff in Canada and in Daytona for making my memories of 2009 be as wonderful as always.
Submitted by:
Ruth C
Ajax, ontario
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