Cuddling dolphins!

We were up early and taking breakfast in the hotel's small dining room this morning after a fairly good night's sleep! The breakfast is free at the Holiday Inn and although not spectacular, it had everything we needed from cereals and porridge to sausages and cheese omelettes. There was also an ingenious machine that, at a touch of a button, made a perfect pancake for you! I'd love to have something like that at home!

It was a gorgeous day so we decided to head for the Dophin Research Centre a short drive away. We were almost the first to arrive and I had a coupon! It saved us $12 on the entrance fee so that was good!

We all loved the DRC - it's quite a small place but there was lots of shade and seating and the animals all seemed very happy and well cared for. Just after we arrived we watched two young male dolphins, Delta and Flagler being put through their paces by one of the trainers and they were great.

The trainer explained a lot about dolphin behaviours and we were surprised to learn that their skin regenerates every two hours or so and the marks that we could see were the result of playful fighting between the dophins. We'd seen these long scrapes on the animals at Seaworld and had wondered what they were, thinking maybe they were scars from fights, but apparently it's normal.

We had quite a long session watching the dolphins and they loved to come past us and really scrutinise us. We noticed them doing this elsewhere in the centre and it was almost as if they were doing their own research on us!

Although it was very warm by now, we had a great time wandering around, having a chat with the parrots, listening to Kilo the sealion bark constantly and seeing all the other dolphins in the back lagoon.

Gazing out at the azure waters was very peaceful and the centre is certainly in a beautiful spot. When it all got a bit too hot, we ventured into a small room that was air-conditioned and we watched a video about sea-lions. The young girl talking was an intern at the centre and was very passionate about all the animals. She'd driven down from California with her cat, taking five days to do it!

In the afternoon I paid an extra $25 for Sophie to meet a dolphin. A trainer gave a short talk first about mother dolphins and their babies and then Sophie was taken out to a floating pontoon where she got to stroke the mum. She was over the moon and said that their skin didn't feel as she expected it to.

By now it was 1.30pm so we walked across the car park to the Wreck and Galley Grill for a cold beer and some lunch. We ordered two starters of chicken strips and fries and these were delicious. All around us previous customers had pinned up dollar bills with messages on them so we did the same. I wonder how much money was just decorating the bar!

After lunch we dropped the children back off at the hotel and Keith and I drove to the Seven Mile Bridge. I wanted to take some photos and maybe walk a little way on the old bridge despite it being 96f!

No vehicles are allowed on the old original bridge and this is itself in danger of becoming unsafe for pedestrians even. I would loved to have walked a fair way along it, but it was very hot so we took several photographs and then got back into the cool of the car!

We drove back the way we'd come, stopping at a Walgreen's to get some bits and then decided to have a drink back at the Tiki bar in the hotel. The bar was deserted and the lady who served us told us we were just her sixth customers all day. We had a great chat with her and found out her life history! There was a beautiful breeze blowing in from the water and it was a very pleasant half hour sitting there and chatting to someone we'll probably never see again.

After our drink we went back to the room to change and we all decided to use the hotel pool for a swim and again, there was hardly anyone about. We did have a chat with a man from Ohio, though, who was a real character and larger than life. Everyone here is so friendly and they're all curious as to where we're from. This then starts up a great conversation and it's been brilliant how we've got to know so many people.

Mikey went exploring as the man we met said he'd seen a manatee and a sea turtle nearby and he actually dived into the creek! I wouldn't have as it looked really murky! The pool was lovely and warm and we sunbathed for a little while before returning to our room to get ready to meet Sarah, Liam and Hannah in the evening. They had suggested a restaurant right opposite our hotel which was brilliant as I didn't have to drive!

We all met up in the Island Fish Co restaurant at 8pm and it was very strange indeed meeting our friends from home in such an exotic location! It was great to see them all and we had a fabulous evening in a beautiful setting. We all had delicious food including oysters that Liam and I shared, nachos for the children and Sarah had a Caesar salad. For mains Keith, Liam and I had blackened grouper sandwiches, Sarah had clam linguine and the children had an assortment of burgers, chicken platters and enchilladas.

None of us could resist desserts with Key Lime and Berry pies, chocolate cake and deep fried Key Lime pie for Keith...!

Liam and Keith enjoying a beer!

Sarah and I