Back to Adventure Island

Today is July 30, 2022.  It's been a few years since we've taken the grandkids to Adventure Island. One summer we went almost every week. We weren't able to take Jett as they didn't feel well, but we got the other five (all teenagers) to go.

We started with breakfast at McDonald's. 

The three grandsons.

We had given all six of the grandkids fun passes for the year, which are good for Adventure Island and Busch Gardens for the entire year. We got in line around 10:15 a.m. They actually let us in without checking our bags.

We have a traditional spot down this path. It's in the shade for most of the day.

You see Jacob and April in the picture.

April didn't feel well for awhile (in fact, she threw up when we first got inside) so we sat in the shade until she felt a bit better. I took her to the lagoon so we could cool down (man, was it hot!). After a bit, she began swimming underwater from wall to wall.  Eventually her brother and cousins found us and talked her into going on a couple of rides with them. This was their first tide, the Wahoo Run. 

Right next to it was the Rapids Racer.

Waiting in line.

Vincent and Jacob were in one tube.

Alex and April were in another. 

On the left, the winners -- Jacob and Vincent.

On the right -- Alex and April.

At this point, we all headed back to the chairs, and the boys put sunscreen on! They decided to take the Rambling Bayou for awhile, and I jumped in a little later. I went around twice by myself, then went back to the chairs. Not even a minute later, Alicia showed up with tears in her eyes. Her phone (which was supposed to be in a waterproof pouch) was soaked! It wasn't working. She wanted to go home.  I let her call her mother, who calmed her down.  Her siblings and cousins came by and commiserated with her. 

Since we were all together, we decided to do lunch at Mango Joe's. We got 4 chicken nugget kids meals and 3 barbecue beef sandwiches. Everyone got a drink except Vince, who drank water. The total was -- aargh! -- $116! DO NOT EXPECT TO GET ANYTHING CHEAP TO EAT! Even the locker cost us $20.

Her mom said to put it in the sun and see if the water would evaporate (it didn't) and I told her I'd sit and watch her phone. She went off to play hide and seek with the others.

Boppa sat next to me and eventually fell asleep. I rested for a bit, then decided to cool off in the bayou.  I left a note on the white board for Boppa to wait until I got back. While I was in the bayou, April found me and asked me to go to the wave pool with her. While we were in there, the other four found us and joined us for a bit. We then headed back to the chairs.

Boppa had woken up. The grandkids all decided for a final float in the bayou, so I told them they had two times around, then we needed to go before any storms set in (clouds were gathering).  

Alicia, Jacob, Alex (Boppa)

Vincent and April.

Unlike when they were little, they didn't give me any problems leaving. I'm sure they were tired and I know the two younger boys were sunburned. We gathered up our stuff and walked to the car. We left the lot at 3:55 pm.  

Here I am, hoping to get some sun before our trip next month. 

So apparently everyone had a good time (barring Alicia's tragedy). I love spending time with them, but it's less frequent than it used to be. I also like to see them strengthening their family bonds and I like to see them get outside and away from their phones for awhile.