Tue, Nov 20:  Lake Manatee SP,. Bradenton, FL:  Had breakfast this morning (late) at Cracker Barrel.  Love their breakfasts.  Stuffed ourselves and then went to Publix and did the grocery shopping.  Got that out of the way and checked out a new subdivision on the way back.  There’s been a lot of building here since we were here last—only two years ago.  And the exit off I75 is in the process of a major upgrade—more lanes going off and new ramps, etc.  It’s kind of a mess right now.  After sitting outside reading for a while I went for a walk around our loop.  Took my camera in case I spotted a tortoise.  Saw no tortoises but stopped to chat with a couple of people walking their dogs.  Another nice, warm, but mostly cloudy day.  Upper 70s out there probably.  Left-over grilled chicken and 6-bean salad for dinner.

Lake Manatee

Love all the live oaks which are usually covered in Spanish moss.

Mon, Nov 19:  Lake Manatee SP, Bradenton, FL:  After our morning ablutions we drove over to Anna Maria Island.  Long Boat Key is just south of Anna Maria Island and is very upscale, but Anna Maria has so much more character.  Drove to the north end of the island and stopped at a little park by the water.  You can see the skyway bridge from here.  The island also has this trolly/bus that goes up and down the island making frequent stops.  You don’t even need a car here.  And it’s FREE!  We hung out at the park for a while and then drove back, stopping at the Ugly Grouper for lunch.  A nice day.  Back to our site and relaxed reading for a while until the sprinkles drove us inside.  Grilled chicken and a 6-bean salad I threw together before we left for Anna Maria.  82 over on the island.  Mostly cloudy today though—but warm.

You could really smell the salt water.

An egret looking for a meal.

There are a couple of huge Australian pines in this park.

The Ugly Grouper

Sun, Nov 18:  Lake Manatee SP, Bradenton, FL:  Started out cloudy this morning, then cleared off, then clouded up again.  Sat outside reading for a while.  No snake activity today—at least not yet.  We walked the trail to the lake and sat around watching a heron for a while.  Didn’t see any tortoises either.  Back to our site and had some lunch.  Yesterday we were talking to two couples staying here from Key Largo.  I asked what they were doing here—they live in paradise.  Said they needed a change.  One of the guys was a professional fisherman who had a very sexy accent.  Turns out he’s from Argentina.  Don’t know if he’s a commercial fisherman or a charter boat captain.  They were gone this morning.  Only here for one night.  I’m sure it was in the 80s today.  Left-over steak for dinner tonight. 

Walking the trail to the lake.

Mike's back is bothering him a lot today.

Not sure what this heron is.  Don't think it's a night heron.

Sat, Nov 17:  Lake Manatee SP, Bradenton, FL:   A beautiful day today.  We sat outside reading for a while and then had to run some errands.  Needed to get a propane tank filled and pick up a few things.  Got that out of the way.  Fixed some lunch and sat by the picnic table enjoying lunch and reading my book.  Saw some movement in the palmettos and there was a black snake in the palmetto—hunting I guess.  Then I saw another, smaller snake on the ground.  The bigger snake took off after the smaller snake.  Boy, can they move!  I’m not sure if the bigger snake was looking for something to eat or to mate.  Didn’t think it was mating season yet.  Anyway, back to my book and lunch and more activity in the palmettos behind me.  Creeped me out.  Moved over to my chair under the awning.  When we drove back from our errand run, we saw a tortoise crossing the road.  They’re everywhere in here.  Rattle snakes use their burrows a lot.  Anyway, back inside to watch the Syracuse Orange play Notre Dame.  Go ‘cuse!

Sitting over by the picnic table when I saw the snake in the palmettos.

Retreated over to my chaise under the awning.

Fri, Nov 16:  Lake Pan RV Park, Lake Pan, FL, to Lake Manatee SP in Bradenton, FL:  Left this morning at 11:30.  Only a short drive today, so Mike drove all the way.  Continued south on I75.  Wasn’t long before we hit construction.  But it didn’t last long. It seems there is always construction on I75, but that’s why the road is in such good shape.  Just north of the exit for I4 the traffic came to an abrupt halt.  Figured there was an accident or something.  Nope.  The road crew had some heavy equipment off to one side doing something, and everyone had to slow down to see what was going on.  After that it sped up.  A lot of traffic in both directions.  We got here and were set up by 2:30.  Only 67 here but a beautiful, sunny day.  Supposed to warm back up starting tomorrow.  Here for 7 days. 

Lots of tortoises around here.

Lake Manatee

Thu, Nov 15:  Lake Pan RV Park in Lake Pan, FL:  Well, so much for warm and sultry.  A front came through with lots of rain and today it’s the low 70s out there.  We had to do the laundry today anyway.  A good day for that.  They have brand new washers and dryers in here now.  Wish they would do that in our park.  I’m sure we’ll stay inside the rest of the day.  Tomorrow we leave for Lake Manatee for a week, which is near Sarasota.

El Cap and Half Dome in the smoke.
Yosemite National Park

One of many waterfalls in the park.

Wed, Nov 14:  Lake Pan RV Park in Lake Pan, FL:  Another beautiful, warm, sultry day.  We did the grocery shopping (or Mike did), I got my hair cut, and we went back to The Villages and the Cody Road House for a late lunch.  No wonder people at The Villages have so much fun.  They have a two-for-one happy hour every day, all day.  So I had two glasses of wine instead of one.  Just what I need.  We stuffed ourselves and then back to our site.  Oh, and when we set up yesterday, Mike opened up the control panel on the outside and found the cutest, tiniest little tree frog—with little suction cup feet.  He avoided capture until Mike finally got him and flung him in the grass.  Why did you do that?  Now we’ll probably step on him.  Anyway, a great day today.  84 here.  But a cold front is coming through tomorrow afternoon.  Of course.  The cold seems to be following us. In the meantime, we’ll enjoy the warmth.

The Villages