I Still Love Minnesota

Semi in the ditch near Menomonie

We left a little later this morning, closer to 8:30. We crossed into Wisconsin not long after leaving Rockford. Definitely winter weather, and were so glad we'd put on our jeans this morning.

Traffic was much lighter than it's been since we arrived in the south a month ago. It was, however, sobering, to see two trucks with trailers and a semi in the ditch, all within a couple of miles of each other. The winds were very strong and snow had been falling on already slick roads.

We made good time and were at the post office about 1:30 to pick up a huge bucket of mail. We were surprised not to find five feet of snow in the yard. Spring may not quite be here but winter has certainly lost its hold.

Our little cat, Minou, hasn't left us since we walked in the door. Chris came over after work and, well, it almost seems as though we were never gone.

Glad to be home!

Back in the Midwest

Downtown Nashville at rush hour

We're a long way from Florida!

This morning Bob was in the shower very early and ready for breakfast when the buffet opened at 6:00 a.m. I felt a little nervous heading out into the cold Tennessee morning, because of freezing temperatures overnight. However, Bob headed into the hills with confidence and the beauty of the mist lifting off the ground was breathtaking. Felt like a balmy Halloween.

We slipped into the Central time zone shortly after our departure and hit Nashville at the height of rush hour. While navigation through downtown is complicated, the GPS and freeway signs are perfect, and Bob is a cool, level-headed driver. We drove behind a cop in the HOV lane for part of the way.

After Nashville, traffic diminished and, suddenly, the flowering trees were gone. Kentucky looked like "pre-spring" but the morning chill was warmed by the sociable staff at the Kentucky Welcome Center. The daffodils made me wonder whether last fall's plantings will yield happy results ... before June, I hope.

Love the green outbuilding

Gradually, the winds rose and we began to freeze in our shorts and summer tees. We saw snow beside the freeway and ice on some little lakes. After 679 miles on the road, I was totally beat but Bob seemed amazingly fresh, even after doing all the driving. We got a room at the Fairfield Marriott in Rockford, and had dinner at Ruby Tuesday's next door.

We're back in the Midwest, close to home.

Chattanooga

Cherry trees in spring

A road trip makes re-entry to real life more manageable. It's always exciting to plan out the day and, as the novelty of seeing unfamiliar places wears off, I start looking forward to getting home.

Bob was already in the shower when I woke up at 5:00 a.m. after a fitful night's sleep, if you can call it that. I made sandwiches (ham, turkey; both on sourdough with provolone) for the road and quickly made a final trip to the trash chute. I felt just a little guilty pitching a load down the chute before six but it couldn't be helped.

We left St. Pete in the dark and crossed Tampa Bay in a chiaroscuro waterscape. When sunrise finally lighted up the freeway, we were already an hour into our journey north. Our first rest stop shortly before ten was full of older people, travelling either north or south. We were among the very few in shorts and tees, and I was ... damn cold.

Our big concern was getting through Atlanta. Going around the city -- at rush hour on a Friday a month ago -- was just awful, so we decided to take the advice of someone Bob met at a rest stop, and use the HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lane on I75, going through, instead of around, downtown Atlanta.

We breezed through the first few miles and then ... gridlock. An accident near downtown closed several lanes of traffic and we crawled for 5 or 6 miles. Finally, wide open highway and we were back in business on the HOV. However, we couldn't really tell whether using the HOV would be a reasonable strategy on another trip.

Heavy traffic most of the way to Chattanooga, but oh so lovely! Cherry and flowering crab trees were in full bloom, and the scent of spring filled the air. Traffic got heavy again at the Georgia-Tennessee border, and we dragged our tired selves to the Comfort Suites. I had read one negative review so felt a little reluctant, but was too weary to search elsewhere.

Turns out we're very happy with our king room, and it looks like one of our sandwiches will make a good dinner.

Last Day in Florida

Good thing I decided to swim this morning, instead of hoping for better weather later in the day. The rain fell hard and long, and I worried about the kids swimming in a thunderstorm early this afternoon. Their mothers were nearby: in the hot tub! I was so tempted to herd them all out of the swimming area, but that "crazy old lady" label isn't one that I'm willing to embrace right now and they all seem to have escaped unscathed.

It took longer to pack that I anticipated but most of our things are now in the car. We are both (a little too) frugal, and we ate the food we had on hand for breakfast and lunch. Turns out that imitation crab wasn't what the package said it would be, and my stomach gurgled ominously during 4:00 p.m. Mass. Now, a few hours later, my tummy feels borderline unsettled. I'm relying on Old Crow bourbon to cure anything that might ail me.

It took me awhile to unwind here -- and, of course, being "unwound" is a very foreign feeling anyway, but I think I've figured out how to approach the next year or so. I organized my projects and created a timeline. I haven't done any Lenten reading, except as presented by Jesuit priest Fr. James Martin on Facebook, but  I feel "at peace".

I've always loved Florida, but I'm alarmed at the violence, number and severity of traffic and water accidents, drug and mental health issues, traffic congestion, and general desecration of the environment. Too many people, too close together. Lots of  money juxtaposed with severe poverty. A great cultural divide, with old white people still wielding much political and financial power.

It's time for this Minnesotan to go home!

Cooldown

End of the day near Pass-a-Grille

We've been in Florida for nearly four weeks and tomorrow we'll put most of our stuff in the vehicle, so that we'll have an easy out on Sunday. Our goal is Chattanooga on Sunday evening, still in the Eastern time zone. We'll gain our CDT hour on Tuesday.

It was almost sunny for my morning swim. I had an unexpected pleasure when a fellow tenant I was chatting with mentioned a computer problem. Of course I was eager to dive in, but was unable to solve the first (described as a failure to connect to the Sunrise network) but really a problem with Internet Explorer settings, I think.

It was hard for me to see outside near the pool, and I ran out of battery, so gave up after awhile. The old ThinkPad didn't have up-to-date virus protection, and there were some Windows (XP) issues as well, so I wasn't too keen on continuing the troubleshooting. I did fix an email issue and was happy to have the opportunity to do a little iPad coaching, so that made my day.

We took a walk on the Gulfport Pier this afternoon and had an early dinner at Leverock's. Relaxing on the deck now, watching a guy fishing on the pier. He is being stalked by a pelican, a great blue heron and an egret, who seem to have a lot of patience waiting for the odd bite. I think it would be easier for them to do their own fishing.

2015 Prep

We stopped into the office today to reserve our spot for next year. Turns out a condo a level up, on the sixth floor, is available in March 2015, so we reserved it. I decided to be honest and let the management company staff know that the main reason for wanting a change is the Tupperware collection, and the fact that every available surface is covered with some knick-knack. I feel I was not the first to say so.

Spring colors

The fish pond at TradeWinds Resort

The lady in the office asked me if I am the early morning swimmer she sees from her window. Uh, yes. I do love the empty pool each day.

Next year's condo at The Sunrise Resort is #608. It's a little farther south and a floor higher. II  hope it's less cluttered: I will not be entertaining a group of 20 for dinner or any other meal, nor do I need storage for large quantities of food.

I walked across the street on this somewhat rainy afternoon, in pursuit of interesting photos. Not much luck. No one -- except a crazy 12-year-old boy -- was swimming in the Gulf. There wasn't even much drinking around the bar. I had $10 in my pocket, in case I wanted a beer or something, but it was just too cold and rainy to even think about a refreshment.

I reheated last night's dinner for supper this evening. It was quite good: chicken mixed in with the fettucine. I wish there were a sunset to view tonight, but there isn't much happening on this cloudy evening.

What to do ... what to do

Fishing

Damn, it was cold this morning. Around 50F but I wasn't going to be cheated out of a morning swim. The pool deck and the pool hadn't been cleaned yet, so I felt I should wait a little before barging into the water right away at 8:00 a.m. I walked out to the dock to discreetly watch the mating manatees and the fishing shore birds, but I was getting really cold so I had to get in the pool.

Very warm swim.Too warm, except that my head was freezing cold, except when under water. I couldn't wait to get into the hot tub, where I sat and pitched dried leaves onto the spa deck.

A little policing of the condo, including fresh sheets for our last four days. We visited  Millennium Park, a perfect temperature on this cold spring day. I had my new camera, but was afraid to change to the long zoom lens on the fly, so I missed out on a few great shots. No matter. It was fun to be out in the jungly foliage, where the birdsong competed successfully with traffic in the distance.

We stopped to sun ourselves in our own beach chairs at Caddy's on the Beach, where I got us a couple of draft beers at the bar. Had dinner at Verducci's. a real Italian restaurant on St. Pete Beach. Unfortunately, I think we chose the wrong meals (chicken parmigiana for me,  fettucine alfredo for Bob), and the portions were so large that we both have very large boxes of leftovers.

A very chilly evening. No swim tonight.

Cold March Weather

Choppy surf on a windy March afternoon

With a thick snowpack still on the ground in Minnesota, and temperatures well below freezing, I'm certainly not going to complain about the weather, even though someone told us this morning it was the coldest March he could remember.

With no sunrise to watch and more rain in the forecast, we went out for breakfast at The Frog Pond. The rain was pelting down when we came out of the restaurant, so there was no competition for the pool when I finally got there shortly after 9:00 a.m. I had to set my towel and cover-up under a table so that they would stay reasonably dry.

 

The sun came out a little but for most of my swim, the rain was quite heavy -- strong enough for me to wonder if someone might question my sanity -- not that I have any intention of changing my behavior. I thought happily of childhood swimming in the rain, when even the Ottawa River sometimes felt warm. After 30 minutes or so, the air dried up a little and I felt that I could sit in the hot tub and look like any other person warming up after a dip. I felt a little lonely and cold, and with a little regret, I thought to myself that it was a long time till cocktail hour. 

Yellow daisy in the dunes

The wind had picked up so much by early afternoon that we simply took a little ride along the shore and had a happy hour supper at Sea Critters, our default location for a good, quick meal. The waves were strong and noisy on the Gulf side of the beach, and we wandered down toward Land's End where the shell collectors were out in full force.

We sat on a bench beside a patch of daisies and the soothing pounding of the surf encouraged me to drift off a little. I closed my eyes and dozed for a few minutes as we basked in the late afternoon sun.

Sarasota in the Rain

A rainy day in Sarasota

We've wanted to visit beautiful Sarasota for several years, and the opportunity finally came today, as the intermittent rain made beach activities somewhat undesirable. I've always thought the city would be the Florida version of Deauville -- upscale, with lots of disposable income.

I can see how it Sarasota might be a destination for the "beau monde". It's full of high end shops and restaurants and seems to be full of people with money to spend. We entered the city limits, stopped at the very helpful Visitors' Center, and decided to have lunch at the Crab & Fin, a seafood restaurant on St. Armand's Circle. That roundabout is certainly French enough but this part of town is very American and a little reminiscent of South Beach. The rain didn't seem to deter tourists and natives out for lunch and a little retail therapy.

We ate inside, a good idea on this very damp day. I had the gulf shrimp roll and Bob chose the tuna melt. My glass of Pinot Noir was excellent and Bob said the bar scotch was much better than he had expected. The best side was the house apple slaw, a tasty salad served on lettuce.

Sarasota north beach on a rainy day

Our visit was limited to a quick walk on the beautiful long beach, and a drive on  John Ringling Boulevard, named after the founder of the circus.

We drove home in unrelenting rain, which let up a little after our arrival. We had a drink on the deck ... but it's pouring rain again, and it looks as thought there won't be much sun during our last week in Florida.

St. Pete seemed a little shabby compared to Sarasota this evening, but our deck view is still spectacularly lovely, even in the rain.

Stuck in Double Recliner

Double love seat recliners in the living room

The furniture "works" but it's uncomfortable and unpredictable. Our king bed is protected with a rubberized mattress cover that squeaks when you roll over in bed. I find myself wondering if sleeping on it counts as a Lenten penance. The glass table facing the west balcony is used for old newspapers ready for recycling, but not much else.

Ah, but the double reclining love seats! The "recline" button is hard to press, and yesterday evening, I finally gave up on it and edited my photos with my laptop sitting on my knees. When I tried to get up an hour or so later, the recliner jerked up behind my knees, shooting me back into the seat.

Now to get the leg section back into position so I can stand. I smack my calves against the lower part of my side of the recliner and lean forward. No luck. I try to push the section with my hands and think I have it, but back I go once again. Finally, the seat snaps into place, with the assistance of a mocking audience.

Beach living at its finest.

Tara's Story

After a long day in the sun, we were happy to sit at a beach restaurant picnic table for an early dinner yesterday afternoon.

The economy in St. Pete Beach is service driven, and the wait staff in restaurants often display their country or state of origin on their identification badges. Tara (not her real name) didn't need to do so, as her accent and reference to a Missouri grandmother betrayed her as a non-native Floridian.

Tara has the look and personality of someone who has faced challenge and hardship with courage, hope and resilience. We were curious about her, so asked her how she ended up in Florida. Tara has three daughters, two of whom were grown when she decided it would be a good time to relocate from Oklahoma, since her daughter was entering high school. St. Pete Beach won the toss over Cocoa Beach, and mother and daughter moved to this area about a decade ago with the man who was then Tara's fiancé.

They rented a unit in an apartment hotel for two weeks. Tara and the fiancé found jobs. The daughter started high school. Time passed and Tara decided to make another move, back home with a new fiancé to work for her brother. Four months later, the work situation had taken its toll on family relationships and the fiancé's young children needed him back in Florida.

They packed up and moved south. Tara said she loves the area and the people here in Florida. Her job isn't easy but she performs it efficiently, with great personal confidence. She's cheerful in a situation that would have me in tears, frustrated and depressed.

Lots of lessons to learn.

I.C. Sharks Seafood Market and Tiki Bar

View from the Tiki bar

After our hot trek through the Preserve, I was ready for a beer and lunch. Bob had read about a restaurant in the general location of the Gandy Bridge, but didn't remember the name. That turned out to be only a minor issue, as we drove past what looked like a busy restaurant so figured that must be it.

Bob was equal to the challenge of turning around on Gandy Boulevard and we were soon at what turned out to be the Getaway Bar, which we thought was I.C. Sharks Seafood Market and Tiki Bar.  A unique characteristic of the restaurant is the absence of an onsite restaurant, so food is supplied by food trucks. Not very fast. However, our server did check in frequently, with profuse apologies.

The slow service was OK with us, as the location is beautiful and the drinks were good. We shared a basket of chips and dip, which arrived almost as late as the food. I had forgotten that today is Friday and mistakenly ordered a pulled pork sandwich to share with Bob.

By the time we got home, we were tired and ready for a cool dip in the pool.



Weedon Island Preserve

View from lookout at Weedon Island Preserve

Jim and Sonia (Snowbirds #3) arrived yesterday afternoon after spending the day at the Dali Museum and viewing the Chihuly Collection at the Morean Arts Center. This morning we headed toward the Gandy Bridge to visit Weedon Island Preserve. The day was warmer than we've experienced so far and even the short loop to the observation tower was a little hot. But so worth the trip! The view was lovely and serene, rather than spectacular.

Nesting mourning doves

I heard a noisy woodpecker in a far away tree and loved watching the near shore birds in a shallow lake. It was lovely to see two quiet little mourning doves nesting in the low branches, barely discernible because of effective camouflage. The most exciting sighting was in a distant tree, as a large osprey devoured a big fish. Jim captured a great shot of the bloody repast, which I'm hoping he'll share.

Leverock's

We would never have gone to Leverock's on our own. In fact, we had never even heard of the restaurant until the owner of our condo gave us a Leverock's gift card to welcome us to Florida.

We had no idea of the gift card amount and figured it must be about $25.00. Today seemed to be a good afternoon to visit the restaurant, especially because we had just seen a large print ad that made the food look very appealing.

The drinks were weak but inexpensive. The small loaf of bread is served with a seasoned olive oil dipping sauce, not great but good. The clam chowder was definitely the best I've ever had in Florida, and maybe the best anywhere.

Bob ordered the fish trio, a kind of casserole topped with spinach. It must have been good because he ate every bite. I had the fish tacos, topped with fresh salsa and served with a side of rice and black beans. Delicious.

Our bill was a little over $42.00 and we discovered that the gift card was for $50.00. We left the difference and another $2.00

Indian Rocks Beach Nature Preserve

Indian Rock Beach Nature Preserve

I seek out new nature preserves wherever we go, and have been to many in Florida. They're all different, some good, some less so. My favorite after all these years is still Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, where I saw my first roseate spoonbill. I was able to identify it using a bird identifier I bought at the gift shop, and was so thrilled with the sighting that I secretly and tentatively headed down the birder path.

Indian Rocks Beach Nature Preserve intrigued me because of its boardwalk extending all the way from Gulf Boulevard to Boca Ciega Bay. I was promised a wide variety of wildlife, including green herons and manatees, so I was imagining many new photo ops.



This little northern cardinal sang a familiar spring song

We would have missed the turn-off if Bob hadn't spotted it with his keen eye. While the spectacular sightings I had hoped for didn't materialize, we loved the serene setting and the beautifully constructed boardwalk. The old wood structure seems to be undergoing replacement with a man-made product, which is easy and "springy" to walk on.

We stopped to look at a blue crab that seemed to be scarfing down little minnows and saw a northern cardinal, but that was about it. We sat quietly for awhile by Boca Ciega Bay and lazily made our way back to our vehicle. We are both quite urban, so leaves brushing against our legs made us jump a little, as did walking under the canopy of hanging branches. I couldn't help imagining tree snakes.

We met only a few others on the boardwalk, including a man and his elderly mother. The park is a restorative oasis in the very busy Pinellas county.

Leaky Pipe

Under the kitchen sink. Now I know where the tub cleaner is!

Oh oh. It was too good to last. I was cleaning up the kitchen and the mat in front of the sink slipped like a body board on mud when I stepped on it. When I picked up the mat, I saw about 1/8" of water on the floor and notified the husband -- his department, not mine. This kind of incident always leads to some kind of interrogation and blaming, but I really didn't do anything wrong so felt that I was off the hook.
We picked through the stuffed broom closet for a bucket and mop and removed everything from under the sink. Fortunately, that area is relatively uncluttered so the job was not too difficult. Bob located the source of the leak and put a pot underneath. The pipe dripped for awhile, then stopped until Bob tried the kitchen faucet and the drips began again.

The guy on the right fixed the pipe

The temporary solution seems to be to avoid using the kitchen sink -- glad I don't have to get up during the night to change the drip collector. Bob, who usually does his own repairs, is lamenting the absence of a wrench and other tools. He left a message with the office, closed until tomorrow.

Wednesday, March 19: one of the maintenance guys knocked loudly on the door shortly after 9:00 a.m. and promptly diagnosed a separated "P-trap pipe", blaming old plumbing which has not been replaced when cosmetic "upgrades" were made. He also removed a piece of plastic (looked like a small corner of a shelf support) from the garbage disposal, thereby eliminating the racket that scared me into avoiding its use.

Gulfport Afternoon

View of the beach from Gulfport Pier

We haven't been back to Gulfport since our first year in St. Pete Beach, when we must have visited a rather depressed part of town, and didn't stay long. Today Bob wanted to go back after his conversation with yesterday's bar companions at Woody's, who highly recommended the area.

We drove toward the water on one of the major through streets (Beach Avenue?), past stalls of new age type products, as well as fruits, vegetables, seafood, arts and crafts. We were lucky and found a parking spot right in front of O'Maddy's, one of the many eating establishments looking on the bay.

O'Maddy's for lunch

We walked out on the pier to wash the fishing and were almost surprised to see Don Cesar's across the water, and by straining a little, we saw our own condo complex.  It was already after 1:00 p.m., and O'Maddy's seemed inviting, so we stopped for lunch. Bob had the corned beef and cabbage that went unsold because of yesterday's weather, and I ordered the lobster risotto.

Both were good but much too salty. I've been spoiled by Jim Kohler's perfect risotto at Luci Ancora in St. Paul, so I was a little critical of what seemed like lumpy rice, served with chunks of asparagus, bacon and large slivers of parmesan. Worth ordering, though.

The two-dollar beers were cold and good. I'm acquiring a taste for Yuengling, though I think I'd prefer the Black & Tan to the lighter tap beer I've been drinking. I got a little too much soon today and am relaxing in the cool apartment as the day begins to fade.

St. Patrick's Day at Woody's Waterfront

Carl Fuerstman at Woody's Waterfront on St. Pat's Day

We've spent many St. Patrick's Days in Florida, and most of them have been very hot. I remember seeking shade on March 17th, occasionally thinking wistfully of a cold Minnesota St. Pat's Day.

We woke to wind and spitting rain, and soon heard thunder in the distance, so I had no morning swim. I did get to watch manatees, though, and shared a spot on the wall with a great blue heron. By mid-morning,  there was no visibility across Boca Ciega Bay or to the Gulf across the street. Sheets of rain kept us from venturing out until mid-afternoon.

The St. Patrick's Day festivities in most Gulf communities were a literal washout. We stopped for lunch and a beer at Woody's Waterfront, where the beer and appetizers were cheap and good. Bob made friends with Michigan snowbirds John and Carol, and I enjoyed listening to Carl Fuerstman, whose repertoire was mostly non-Irish but good.

The storm seems to have dissipated and I'm hoping for an evening swim.

Manatees: 2014 Update

A Florida manatee

Last year's Red Tide killed so many of Florida's state marine mammal, the manatee.

I was almost surprised to see manatees in the inlet outside our condo complex, and delighted to note that mating season seems to be in full swing. I was the first watcher this morning shortly before 8:00, but soon a crowd gathered to watch what was described by those around me as "playing". Maybe so.

Whatever the enthusiastic activity, the 4 or 5 manatees seemed to be in noisy good health as they frolicked in the water.

Feels like Minnesota Tornado Weather

Sunday evening, Tampa Bay was white capping on either side of the Howard Frankland Bridge as we drove to TPA. The bridge was closed for awhile when Hurricane Isaac delayed the start of the Republican National Convention in August 2012. I seem to remember pictures of surf on the bridge, but that may just be my imagination.

Stocking up on fish before a storm

I was thinking about Tampa Bay tourist literature promises un "360 days a year", and perhaps that's true, but I'm more inclined to believe a different metric: 2920 annual hours, or  two-thirds of a possible total. Today feels like the Twin Cities during the height of Tornado season. It was almost oppressively warm during the night, when winds began to gust.

This morning, I held on to a lamp post when I was taking pictures beside the bay. I would not be optimistic about my chances of getting fished out of Boca Ciega Bay. I would have to swim a yucky 25 yards or so to the ladder on the dock, enough of a deterrent to keep me both vigilant and sober.

Tornado warnings seem to be for elsewhere in this part of Florida, but the air is oppressive and the wind is howling.

48 Hours

How can the weekend have gone by so quickly? Chris was with us for a little less than 48 hours -- I think the first vacation with the three of us alone in about 10 years, since our trip to New York City in 2004.

Land's End on a Windy Day

As always, the pool and hot tub were major activities. The weather was very warm yesterday, so we swam early, but today was windy and we didn't hit the water until about noon.

A couple of new restaurants with Chris: lunch at The Toasted Monkey, which John had wanted to visit, and dinner at The Oyster Shucker, not far from The Sloppy Pelican where we've had a couple of meals in the last few weeks.

The chips and salsa at TTM were fantastic, but we were disappointed not to be seated at the beach bar. You had to park on the opposite site of Gulf Boulevard to get a spot on the beach, and I wasn't prepared to brave my way across traffic on this busy Saturday.

We really enjoyed the Oyster Shucker, where Chris' crab legs were great. Bob and I shared sesame seed encrusted tuna, which I confess I heartily disliked. Bob ordered it "medium", and I had the feeling I was eating raw fish, so found it difficult to enjoy. The drinks were cheap and good. Service was fast and efficient.

Chris and Bob on the beach

Yesterday we couldn't find a parking space on the beach so we went back to Pass-a-Grille today and had lunch -- once again -- at Sea Critters. Had clam chowder, the best I've had on the beach so far, but I think I'm tiring of the famous margaritas made with fresh squeezed lime juice. After lunch, we did some people watching as the surf crashed on the beach.

We dropped Chris off at TPA and it's hard to believe it's back to just two of us, for another couple of days.

Snowbird #2

Friday was a transition day, as temperatures slowly began to rise from the sixties. We spent the afternoon in the pool with fellow northerners from Wisconsin, Toronto and Ottawa, several of whom we know from previous years.

In the early evening, we went to TPA (Tampa International Airport) to pick Chris up. His Spirit Airlines flight was a few minutes early and we drove home at sunset. The beach was surprisingly quiet for a Friday evening.

The three of us talked in the kitchen until after eleven. This morning, we were in the pool and hot tub by 9:00 a.m. Lunch out in a few minutes.

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

I know this part of Florida better than my own back yard in Saint Paul, Minnesota. I can look at the GPS once or twice and remember the route to a new destination. Unremarkable for most people, but for me a near miracle.

Because of lost satellite communication, we did initially miss our turn to Boyd Hill Nature Preserve as we drove past the jungly neighborhood near St. Petersburg Country Club, which sounds upper crust but looks more like a public course. However, we could see the park beside the golf course and found the entrance easily. As we entered the nature preserve facility, I had the sinking feeling that I was once again among my new peeps, the spry elderly as well as earnest women of indeterminate age in outfits colored with natural dyes. One woman was decked in full naturalist regalia, including bug-proof stockings, sensible long skirt, hiking boots and safari hat with mosquito net.

In the coolness of the canopy

My heart sank when I saw the high efficiency toilets low to the floor. Should I have tried the stall for people with disabilities? I decided to attempt the descent to the seat, hoping that the poorly fastened lock on the door wouldn't pop open, leaving me to scramble desperately to make myself decent. No worries. All the exercises I've done in church since my knee replacements, practicing standing up from a sitting position without using my hands, have paid off. The low loos were a cinch.

Boyd Hill has a small aviary of injured birds of prey. The Boyd's Hill euphemism is that the bald eagle, hawks, owls and kestrel are "in training". While their enclosures are large and appropriate (I suppose) for birds that can't be released into the wild, seems to me these private creatures don't like being "on display" and I can't think of any educational purpose that couldn't be performed in some other way.

Coots should be in Minnesota soon

We signed up for the "tram tour", really a convoy of two 8-person golf carts. Our cart included Canadians from Toronto and Corner Brook, Newfoundland. The naturalist, Andrea from Arizona, waxed eloquent but maybe a little long on the five ecosystems in the park, but the tour was well worth our time.

I was thrilled to see a gopher tortoise, an alligator, and coots in the lake, preparing, I thought, for the long migration to Minnesota -- always a first sign of spring to me at Fort Snelling State Park. I was relieved that Bob enjoyed himself too, as these venues are "iffy", at best.

"Cold" Florida Day

I love a cold day in a warm climate.This is the kind of weather I really appreciated in my lifeguard days, now so far in the past that I wonder why I still feel like a teenager around any swimming area. Only diehard water lovers show up to swim -- easy watching for lifeguard staff.

At the Temiscaming waterfront,  "insiders" gathered in the lifeguard shack and played cards. The 6-8 evening shift, busy on a hot day, was often totally free, giving us the opportunity to swim ourselves.

The pool and hot tub were empty this morning after the 8:00 a.m. lap swimmers, an older couple who hit the pool early every day, had left the deck. Steam was rising from the water -- perhaps 88F or so -- and I felt enveloped by warmth as I stepped in from the 50F chill.

Another perfect day.

Pope Francis' First Year

Today is the first anniversary of Pope Francis'  pontificate. The Catholic News Service is all business in this story, but I rather like the secular press' memorable moments, including this item in the Huffington Post.

My own first reaction to the first Jesuit pope was that we would have yet another intellectual rattling off principles of canon law and Church doctrine. So happy I was wrong! I love the way Francis surprises us with his spontaneity and ability to reduce complex issues to language all of us can understand.

The pope's challenges to prosperous westerners make me feel a little guilty and uncomfortable, but I do appreciate his pope's energy, honesty and connection with people. And I love his anniversary tweet,"please pray for me".

Off to the Magic Kingdom

John and Trudy with Mitchell and Adam

Who knew our condo could be so quiet? Trudy, John and the boys were up before 7:00 and out of the house soon afterward. Not surprised that the bedroom and bath were left perfectly tidy ... but it's so empty!

The day is cloudy, with a little rain left over after last night's storm, noisy in the distance. I hope their weather at Disney World is like this. I have the idea that the Magic Kingdom is less populated on rainy days. Trudy wrote out an agenda, so that they can hit the highlights of the park in the one day they have.

Happy the Woodbury Hennesseys chose to spend so much of their Florida vacation with us, but sorry they had to leave so soon.

Good Cheer at Crabby Bill's

Here we are with Adam and Mitchell

Crabby Bill's is an mandatory stop for first-time visitors to St Pete Beach. We've been there several times and were impressed only by the restaurant's prime location on the beach. Large windows on the main floor provide beautiful views from any of the large picnic tables set up to accommodate family dining.

We opted to sit inside after being told of a 40-minute wait for the patio upstairs. Our drinks -- root beer for Adam and Mitchell, beer for John, scotch for Bob, margaritas for Trudy and me -- were delivered promptly. Maybe a little too promptly, as we missed reduced happy hour prices for some beverages on the first round.

John and Trudy

I'd never had soft shell crab before and felt a little squeamish staring at a sandy looking crab sitting on a roll with lettuce and tomato. However, the sandwich was delicious, as was most of the food. Bob looked woefully at his garlic mashed potatoes and overcooked baby carrots (which he says he didn't order as a side), so I gave him most of my fries and cole slaw in trade. The boys' pizza was enjoyed without complaint.

The video games keep kids occupied while adults finish their meals. Each of the boys selected a Crabby Bill's shirt as a souvenir as we left the restaurant. It was a fun, and last meal together but I felt a little sad, knowing our guests were leaving in the morning.

The Big Slide

The slide at TradeWinds

John told the boys they would each have to go down the TradeWinds Resort slide 20 times to reduce the unit cost per ride to $1.00. Sound familiar, Team Hennessey? They were on the slide early in the morning, before the sun got really hot, well ahead of the 40-minute lines that form in the afternoon.

John, Mitchell and Adam
 

We also enjoyed several of the pools while Trudy and Adam took a paddleboat ride on the "moat" that surrounds one of the buildings. John's sunglasses finally bit the dust when the cracked frame collapsed into so many pieces they were beyond repair. Bob insisted on getting him new shades on the spot.

After a couple of beers from the bar, everyone was tired and hungry, so walked back across the street to our own condo.

Lunch in St. Petersburg

Deserted St. Petersburg Pier

John, Trudy and the boys left early this morning for an airboat tour of the Florida Everglades. I did a small load of laundry and caught up on some chores until nearly noon. Bob and I drove into St. Petersburg by a different route (Pasadena to Gulfport-22nd Street, into DT St. Petersburg), because of the east bound lane closure on the Pinellas Byway between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Lunch at the Parkshore Grill was inside rather than out, because of a 20-minute wait. No matter. Loved my pecan encrusted blue tilapia and spinach, but Bob's salmon with lemon caper sauce and thickish angel hair pasta didn't seem very appealing. I detest capers almost as much as olives, and the dish was full of them. Bob liked it well enough.

I was disappointed to see that the St. Petersburg Pier is deserted due to structural deterioration and the interior is vacant. Plans to re-open seem vague and lacking in support. We stopped at our favorite Vinoy Park to watch the fishing. No dolphins or manatees, but plenty of entertainment watching the pelicans try to steal fish. The afternoon felt a little chilly (68F or so) by the water so we headed home toward the end of the afternoon.

Family Values

Too bad the far right has hijacked the term "family values". I've thought about our family a lot over the last couple of days. As always, I remember the frequent claim of my high school chemistry teacher, Sylvio Guindon: "when you get married, you marry the whole family".

Yesterday evening, John and I were reminiscing about the early years after his dad and I were married in 1983. He and Mary were still teenagers at the time, and it was challenging for all of us to get used to the new dynamics of our "blended" family. There was adaptation for all parties: new wife for Bob, new adult in the house for John and Mary, new everything for me (unemployed with a new husband, instant family, foreign country, unfamiliar culture).

We've all done well nurturing our relationships and are proud of the family we all had a hand in creating -- Bob, his first wife, their children and spouses or partners, our son Chris, the grandchildren and great grandchildren. Our family may not be strictly "traditional" but our family values are intact, healthy and love affirming.

So happy we have family visitors during our Florida vacation!

Skyway Bridge Revisited

View of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge from the fishing pier

I never tire of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and fishing pier. I blogged about it on our first visit to St Pete and we've been back at least once on every subsequent trip. The old bridge is a Florida state park where sportsmen -- and let's not forget women -- fish 24 hours a day. By mid-afternoon on Sunday, some of the people we talked to had been fishing since Saturday evening.

More fun than a visit by ourselves was introducing John, Trudy and the boys to the fishing pier. The day was spectacularly beautiful, sunny but not too hot. The pier was lined with people fishing, often with several lines in the water. I got out of the van a little early so that I could walk the last quarter-mile or so to the end of the pier.

Trudy Hennessey caught John with a big fish

As I walked along, I heard swearing in many English, Spanish, Russian and several Asian languages when a fish was lost or lines became tangled. The "serious" fishermen were at the very end of the pier, sometimes assisted in the landing process by a guy with a menacing grappling hook at the end of a long rope. The pelicans and other seabirds watched  carefully, ready for any tidbit of bait or rejected fish. Dolphins did their own fishing, near the pier and in the distance.

We stayed for an hour. One of the highlights: John posed for a picture with a large bonito (we heard "bonita") caught by a fisherman who struggled with it for fifteen or twenty minutes.

More photos on FB.

Marco Polo Where Are You?

The boys don't play "Marco Polo" any more.

We see Adam (12) and Mitchell (10) fairly often so their transformation from "little" to "big" boys isn't a total surprise. When they arrived yesterday, both were eager to try out the facilities so we all headed to the pool. It was fun to see the boy's improved strokes. In particular, Adam's front crawl was competent and fast.

We were in the pool again this afternoon and the boys played rough "boy" games with each other. They still wanted to perform "feats of skill" in the pool but the little kid games are in my memory bank of their childhood.

"Marco Polo" failed to make even a token appearance.

Minnesota Visitors Today

This morning at 4:15 Chris drove Trudy, John, Adam and Mitchell to the airport for their spring break junket with us in Florida. Their van will be at our house for a week. Turns out the early out wasn't necessary, because the flight to Orlando via Chicago left several hours late. They'll be arriving in Orlando soon, and still have a two-hour drive ahead of them in Friday afternoon rush hour.

Changed bed linen and cleaned the kitchen and both bathrooms. The tile floor could use a wash, and I think wistfully of Swiffer at home. We hit Publix for groceries and the liquor store for beer and wine.

The weather is a little cool and the pool deck is empty. I'm tempted to go swimming right now but I think I'll wait until our Minnesota visitors arrive.

A Rainy Day

Rainy Day on Boca Ciega Bay

Rain is falling steadily and thunder occasionally crashes like Sensurround around the bay. I'm not so happy with a day of rain on a one-week vacation, but it's enjoyable when we're here for a month. I missed my morning swim because of the threat of lightning, and didn't have to second guess myself after reading that a tornado is "possible". This doesn't feel like "tornado weather", so I'm not alarmed, though I do wonder about tornado safe spaces in this region, where basements seem non-existent.

One of our fellow condo residents decided to do a little fishing on the dock an hour or so ago. No rainwear, just a shirt and shorts. He made a few half-hearted casts and then packed up his rod and pick. He must have been soaking wet already, but he ran for cover anyway.

A few little projects today, including a trip to Wells Fargo to request new debit cards. I received an email from Wells Faro, indicating that new cards had been mailed to us. Apparently our numbers were among those compromised in the Target hack before Christmas. I had been a little uneasy anyway, knowing that I had used my card during the time the hack was executed, but since I monitor our WF checking account every day, I had decided to watch and see, for now at least. That option is off the table now. We're using a credit card for daily expenses, but sooner or later we'll need cash so the WF card is fairly important.

Frog Pond Breakfast

The locals are always lined up for breakfast at this popular spot on Gulf Boulevard, so I was happy to finally try The Frog Pond, south of the church on the beach side of the boulevard. Sure enough, it was full and some diners had clearly come in from Ash Wednesday services.

The host was taking names but two men ahead of us invited us to sit at their large round table. Sam, exactly my age, is retired from a furniture building business, in which he still has some kind of financial stake. In fact, his son is at trade show this week at Treasure Island Casino near Red Wing. John is a retired bartender who worked for 25 years at high end casinos in Las Vegas. He mentioned the "London Club", which has many online links but I'm not sure which is the right one. They were both entertaining table mates.

The portions at The Frog Pond are generous enough to keep me going all day. My Neptune Benedict was made with fake crab meat, and it was delicious. There was a "real" Crab Benedict on the menu, but I once had a bad experience with that dish, so I was ready to try the "wannabe" crab. Bob said his omelet was great and he especially liked what seemed to be homemade jelly.

Good breakfast, terrific coffee, attentive service, excellent company.

Ash Wednesday at the Beach

We arrived at St. John Vianney 15 minutes early for 8:30 Mass -- none too soon, as it turned out.

The large senior population was joined by teachers and students of the parish school, who took up about three-quarters of the pews. They filed in, row after orderly row. The youngest kids were matched up with older ones in the front of the church, a very well behaved crew dressed in khaki and plaid, with three colors  (green, gold, navy)  of regulation polo shirt. The colors didn't seem to be "coded", as distribution among the classes looked random.

Everything moved along quite quickly, and the homilist targeted his homily to the school crowd. I love the Ash Wednesday readings and the music was penitential in theme, but musically energetic. The deacon who pressed the ashes on my forehead did so with a little restraint, and they were covered by my bangs. Bob did not fare so well. The entire center of his forehead was covered with a greasy blob of black.  We were encouraged to leave the ashes on all day, but we're now sitting on the deck, ashless and perhaps somewhat subdued. It's early yet.

Mardi Gras on Pass-a-Grille

This morning we went to visit a golf course community on Isla del Sol just across the bridge from St. Pete Beach. The original idea was to look at a possible new vacation rental next year, but of course Bob ended up finding properties for sale. I really don't foresee a property purchase in our future, but it was kind of fun to look.



Land's End

We spent half an hour or so at my favorite spot in this area, Land's End at the tip of Pass-a-Grille, where Boca Ciega Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico. Shell searchers were out looking for treasures while fishermen (and birds) tried out their luck in the surf. I took a few pictures and simply sat on the bench looking out over the Gulf.

We had lunch at The Wharf and sat outside, after a short wait for a table. An older dad with his young, very blond son sat nearby. I thought the dad was a little strict with the child, but they seemed very connected and happy together.

Bob ordered the pulled pork sandwich and I had the fish special, Not great, but reasonably good. The afternoon was warm and sunny, but the sky was overcast after about  5:00 p.m. so we didn't cross the street to watch the sunset.

It's very dark now, shortly after 7:00 p.m.

John's Pass Watercraft Rentals

Personal watercraft have no brakes

The vehicle seems to find its way to Bob's favorite people watching boardwalk at John's Pass, Madeira Beach.

Walking along the boardwalk, I scanned the water for dolphins but other entertainment was nearby.  We watched renters return personal watercraft to a location on the dock. A guy on the dock shouted instructions at approaching renters, while another stood in water up to his shoulders, ready to catch the machines after they stopped.

The first rider followed instructions well, turning off the gas as instructed and pointing the little boat toward the shore. The second panicked a little as he approached the dock and either jumped or fell off, leaving the watercraft unattended for the JetSki guy to catch. The attendant on the dock yelled that he had never seen anyone fall off like that. Even I was too embarrassed to take a picture.

Making matters worse, the female rider followed her partner a few minutes later and made a perfect landing.

Dockside Fish Processing

Red snapper packed for shipping

We stopped on the boardwalk near to watch red snapper and grouper advancing on a conveyor belt from a fishing boat to a small packing operation on the shore. First, the fish were sorted and tagged, then moved to large cardboard boxes, similar in size to ones that would hold a major appliance, packed with ice.



Fish are packed between layers of ice

The fish were carefully placed in a tidy layer, followed by a layer of crushed ice, 
such that many layers of fish could be packed neatly in each box. Some containers were heavy plastic and packed the same way.

Several refrigerated trucks were loaded as various officials watched and signed paperwork. Fish manifests? I couldn't help thinking of scenes from various mafia movies, the kind with grappling hooks and body parts packed in ice.



Fresh frozen fish

New Construction

A lot of construction in the Tampa-St Pete area, one of many signs of an improved Florida economy. A decade or so ago, in the few years after 9/11, I saw a gradual decline in new construction each year in Florida, and the local impact seemed perilous, as old businesses closed and weren't replaced by new ones.

Most interesting to me  is the new  Pinellas Byway Pinellas Byway Bridge just north of historic Pass-a-Grille Beach. It's almost completed now, but yesterday eastbound traffic was rerouted most of the day.

I'm looking forward to taking my own pictures this week.

Facebook Album Photos

I can't seem to post the link as a "gadget".

These photos are public so anyone should be able to see them.

Healing Waters

Sunday afternoon on the gulf.

Water: simple, essential to sustain life. Symbolically rich in many religious traditions.

Yesterday, we sat in the sand beside the Gulf of Mexico, enjoying the chaotic crowd around us. Families were enjoying the sun and water, playing and eating together. I felt caught up in a multitude of lives as the sun began to sink into the water.



Solitude

Later, we had a light supper at home and I swam in the pool, alone to enjoy the light lap of small waves in Boca Ciega Bay beyond the resort property. The pool water has very little chlorine in it, and I wondered if the maintenance company uses modern sponge filters. I miss the distinctive odor of  chlorine on my skin -- it always smells like fun to me.

This morning I was back in the pool long before anyone else comes to enjoy it. After only a few days in Florida, I already feel refreshed and renewed.

Canon EOS Rebel T3 EOS 1100D

I bought a new camera a few days before we left on our trip. My goal is to learn how to use it fairly well before the end of our month here. I had been looking at the Canon Rebel for quite some time, and decided that Canon EOS Rebel T3 EOS 1100D would suite my purposes for the next couple of years. I bought the bundle with the 75-300 mm zoom lens.

Of course, I had no time to do anything but unpack and take a couple of test shots, just to make sure it works. This morning, I took out the book and practiced a few simple shots with the lens that comes with the camera. I've had a Canon in the past so I had no trouble with the basic package, using automatic, not manual settings.

The zoom lens was another matter! Bob had to explain how it works and I had trouble inserting the lens properly. Finally, I got the hang of it -- works better when you snap it in right. Not ready to post any pics yet but I'm fairly sure I'll be ready in a few days.