I got up to take Tal-y for our last walk together this morning for a few months and she actually wanted to walk today. We wandered around the park for a while and then headed back so she could have a nice breakfast of scrambled eggs before our long journey started. The drive to Miami airport was not too bad, it took us about 5 hours in total with a few stops along the way for potty and food breaks. Nell got us to the airport well ahead of the time we were supposed to be there so we went into the cargo place to find out what we had to do. The Virgin staff there were great, and even though we were way early they had us complete all the paperwork then so we could take Tal-y and not have to put her in her crate so soon. The paperwork took about an hour to do. There were loads of forms to sign, the crate to check and weigh, and of course we had to pay. It turned out we had bought the right size crate but the plastic things that locked the bottom to the top were not acceptable. Mike had already thought about that in advance though and had bought steel bolts to put through the plastic; the shipping guys were then more than happy with the crate. When it came time to pay, the fare was cheaper than we had been quoted by $100. I don’t think that the people in cargo could measure as the dimensions I gave when I booked the ticket were stamped on the crate; but according to them the crate measured less than I had said. I’m not complaining, a hundred bucks is a hundred bucks.
After everything was filled out and signed we still had about 2 hours before Tal-y had to go in the crate so we went and sat in the car in the car park since there was really no place to go from the airport in the time we had. Mike and I took it in turns walking Tal-y so she could take care of business before her long journey, and then spent the rest of the time cwtching her. By the time we had to check her in it had gotten dark and I took her for one last pee along the road. The stupid bloody puppy found something really gross and smelly to roll in as we were walking; something that smelled suspiciously like goose poop. I tried my best to get it off her but there’s only so much I could do with paper towels and cold water. After spending 12 hours in a plastic box with herself she’s going to be very sorry she ever went near the poop. We finally had to say goodbye and put her in the crate. She looked so sad and all forlorn but the Virgin guy promised to stay with her until she was put on the plane. I only cried a little bit at the airport, but there were more tears on the drive home; three months without my girl is going to be a long time.
We headed back to Clermont around 7ish; we had intended to spend the night in a hotel on the way home, but since we didn’t have to stay with Tal-y till the plane departed we headed for our own bed and made it home just before midnight. Now I just have to wait for that text from mam and dad in the morning, although once they smell her they might leave her at Heathrow.

Mike: Instead of the ordeal it might have been, everything went really smooth! Yippie!

I spent most of this morning doing laundry since I haven’t done any in a few days and Mike sat around doing nothing as usual! Then this afternoon we took Tal-y to the vet to get her final check up and shots ready for her big adventure tomorrow. She had to be vaccinated against tapeworm and treated for ticks, and she was very brave for the whole ordeal. It appears that we now have all her paperwork in order and we shouldn’t have any trouble getting her on the plane tomorrow evening. What am I going to do without her?
After the vet visit we had to go pick up the rental car from Hertz and of course the car wasn’t there when we arrived. We had to wait a good while for them to bring a car from a different location but we finally got one; at least the drive to Miami airport tomorrow won’t cost us as much in gas with this car as it would if we took Serena. We loaded the rental up with both Tal-ys crates and all the bits and pieces we need for tomorrow, now I just have to not let Tal-y see me cry or she’ll wonder what the heck is going on! Actually I think she knows something is happening as she got on Mike’s lap this afternoon and wouldn’t get off.

Mike: We're going to miss Tal-y!

We moved camp grounds today. It didn’t take us too long to pack up this morning as most of the outside stuff we did yesterday afternoon. Our neighbours informed me that there were tornadoes coming so I made Mike pick up the mat and chairs and put the awning away. We didn’t see even a high wind, just a drop of rain but at least we were ready to go first thing this morning. The only problem with being that organised was that we only had to drive about 25 miles down the road as we headed back to the Thousand Trails Orlando Park, so the drive was about 35 minutes. We had intended to stop on the way down Hwy 27 for breakfast but it’s quite difficult finding someplace to eat when you have to consider where to park the trailer. We tried to find a bakery but it turned out not to be where it was supposed to be and by that time Mike was getting frustrated so we just headed to the park. It was actually a good thing we did since we got the last good spot in the place. There were actually a few spots left but we got a nice big private one right next door to where we parked last time we were here. We got set up fairly quickly and then took a nice leisurely stroll around the park. It’s rather a lot fuller here this time than a few weeks ago but it’s still a really nice park to walk Tal-y around. I want to stay here until we leave for Ecuador but Mike wants to go to Wachula so we are just staying here for four days.

Mike: Actually after the nosey neighbor told Becc there was a "tornado warning",
and even though I went on to the weather channel and showed her that it was no where
near us she went into panic mode and I put everything away and put up the awning.
When will I ever learn?

Well we have had two whole days of doing nothing and going nowhere. Actually we did go out to eat and we did shop but that’s not news cos we do that all the time. We’ve just been sitting around waiting for the days to pass and taking care of bits and pieces before we leave in two weeks, and walking around the park. There's lots to do but most of it can't be done until we are ready to go, like getting the trailer ready to go into storage for 7 months and packing our cases. Not the most exciting days but we are two days closer to leaving which is excellent; we are also two days closer to Tal-y leaving which is not quite so excellent. This time next week I’m going to be very sad but hopefully she will have already arrived across the pond and will be getting along with Rosie.
Oops I forgot I got my eyes tested yesterday. The appointment was over so quickly I forgot I even went - in and out in 6 minutes flat!

Mike: Tal-y is going on a great adventure and so are you! Just think of rowing down the Amazon with head-hunters on the shore, pythons overhead, and croc's and piranhas waiting for you to fall overboard!!

Had a little déjà vu moment this morning except with rain. We got up and headed back to Gainesville to get Tal-ys paperwork endorsed and we came away with everything stamped and signed, yeah. We had to wait a little while for the vet to sign the paperwork but at least everything was in order. Turns out our vet is not the only hopeless one. There was a woman there who was shipping her dog to Germany, and her vet had filled out the paperwork to send the dog to the UK; at least we got the right form I guess. We got everything taken care of by 10.30 and then headed home. Mike was happy that we got it right this time and that he doesn’t have to come back to Gainesville, but he was more happy that we stopped at a hat store on the way home and he found a hat that he’s been looking for for ages. A quite productive day all around I think.

Mike: I got two hats!

We drove almost two hours to Gainesville this morning. We had to get up early again as our appointment was at 10 o’clock. Turns out it was a total waste of time as the vet didn’t fill out the paperwork properly yesterday when we were there. As soon as the USDA woman looked at it she told us it was incomplete, as the vet hadn’t even signed it. He told us yesterday that he didn’t sign it until it came back from the USDA as where his signature went depended on where they signed it. Turns out that’s not the case, and the USDA vet cannot endorse anything without the vets signature. And, because the paperwork is for the UK, the signature had to be an original and not a fax copy so there was nothing she could do for us. She got our vet on the phone and explained to him and now he has a black mark against his record as they have just started keeping track of incorrect paperwork. Mike was not a happy camper as we left the USDA and headed back to Clermont to the vets office. Thankfully it was a long drive home and he had calmed down by the time we got there, and Tal-y was oblivious to the whole ordeal. The vet was very apologetic and offered to pay for us to mail the paperwork overnight. We are not going to take that chance though, and are going to drive back to Gainsville tomorrow just in case something else is wrong. The vet did tell us that if there are problems tomorrow he will drive up and meet us half way to the USDA so we can get it taken care of - hopefully that won’t be necessary. At least while we were there today we got Tal-ys microchip scanned and it’s in good working order.

Mike: Me not "happy camper", ugh!! Me scalp'em vet!

Up extra early this morning as Tal-y had an appointment to see the vet at 8.30. We were in and out of there fairly quickly, the vet thoroughly checked her out and she is healthy and fit to fly next week. We now have in hand all the paperwork that we need to take to the USDA tomorrow to be endorsed.
I spent this afternoon being a chef and a barber. I finally got to cut Mike’s beard a little, although his hair is still off limits and he is now wearing it in a ponytail. He does look a little less like a cave man now that his beard is all trimmed; it was getting to the point where it was difficult to tell where his hair stopped and his facial hair started.
After doing a little manscaping I baked a beautiful apple pie; well as beautiful as it can get using frozen pastry. It looks ok even if it is a little pale. I’m sure Mike will eat it, at least I hope so anyway since I’m not touching it with all that cinnamon inside it.

Mike: I look almost human now! Umm, good pie!!!!