Lake Manatee State Park, Bradenton, FL:  Another beautiful, warm day.  I got up and waited for Mike to get up.  He didn’t get up until 10:30!  After lunch we drove over to Anna Maria Island which is a cute little island residential area.  No high rises.  Stopped at a beach and walked around.  Saw a big bridge across the bay.  Turns out it was the Skyway Bridge outside Tampa.  On the way back we stopped at another beach to check out the sand sculptures.  Temps ranged from 81 to 88.  Got some sprinkles in the evening. Oh, and Happy Birthday Mom!

We love this park.  Our site is really private--tucked into the lush vegetation.  Mostly live oaks, a few pines, palmettos, and everything covered in Spanish moss.  Gives it a primeval feel. 

One of the sand sculptures

Pasco Winter Quarters, Land O’Lakes, FL, to Lake Manatee State Park, Bradenton, FL:  This morning was beautiful—warm and sunny under a deep blue cloudless sky.  Started getting things together and then we looked at our reservation and the check-in time was 3:00.  So we sat outside reading and relaxing until 11:00 and then finished putting things away.  Left around 11:40.  I usually drive first, but Mike did this time.  A short drive—only about 70 miles.  Headed east on Rt. 54 and then south in I-75.  I-75 was a little rough but then smoothed out after a few miles.  Pulled into Lake Manatee SP and were set up by 1:30.  We were sitting outside relaxing and a pretty big tortoise walked through our site.  He hung out in the palmettos around our site for a while.  But he was gone after dinner.  After dinner we walked the trail down to the lake.  Saw a beautiful rainbow.  Not sure where it was raining, but at least it wasn’t here.  Walked back and a little boy was by the bath house sobbing.  Mike and I and another guy went over.  Turns out he was lost.  Guess he walked over to the bath house and then didn’t know how to get back.  We took him over to the host and were going to take him around to find his family, but I heard someone calling his name.  Anyway, it all ended well.  He was only about 6 or 7.  These trails can be confusing.  86 today.

Truck pulling a trailer with a little calf in it.  Isn't he cute?  Look at those ears!

A tortoise came for a visit.  They have no natural enemies, although raccoons will sometimes eat them.  Their young are vulnerable to predation until their shells harden-- which takes 7-8 years.

On the trail to the lake

Saw this big spider on the trail

Beautiful rainbow

Lake Manatee

Pasco Winter Quarters, Land O’Lakes, FL:  Back over to Sandy and Dan’s today around noon.  Sandy put together an apple/blueberry pie which she put in the oven after we got there.  Some really good smells coming out of that kitchen.  After the pie was done we walked over to the clubhouse for lunch.  Came back and had some pie.  Really, really good.  Played spades.  Ate some more pie.  Can’t wait to get on the scale tomorrow.  We didn’t leave there until 9:30.  Stopped to fuel up and some girl tried to sell us some things.  Said she’d just come from the flea market and needed money for gas.  Said no thanks and continued on our way.  We leave tomorrow for Lake Manatee State Park in Sarasota, FL.

Pasco Winter Quarters, Land O’Lakes, FL:  Really chilly this morning.  But sunny and bright. Had the furnace on again (sigh).  Put a couple of loads of laundry in and then had some breakfast.  Made some pasta to take over to Sandy and Dan’s.  We got over there about 12:30.  Played cards.  And Mike went and got the truck washed.  Hung around there until 7:30 and headed home.  80 today.

Thu, 11/17/11


Pasco Winter Quarters, Land O’Lakes, FL:  Poured like crazy this morning.  Thunder and lightning along with it. Cleared off though and we were back over to Sandy and Dan’s around noon.  We sat around, discussed the world’s problems and gave great insight as to how to solve them.  After giving up on that issue, we played spades for a while and then met Dan’s son, Danny, and his wife, Lorell, for dinner.  Chilled off quite a bit.

Pasco Winter Quarters, Land O’Lakes, FL:  Drove over to my sister and brother-in-law’s around noon and we went over to their clubhouse for lunch.  After that we played spades for a while, sat around on their lanai, and played more spades.  Sandy has a pot roast going in the crock pot which was delicious.  Sat outside on the lanai after dinner and it was still really warm.  We are definitely enjoying this warm weather.  86 today.

Sandy & Dan
Marathon, FL

Hanging out on the lanai

Manatee Springs State Park, Chiefland, FL:  Foggy, warm, and humid this morning.  After some breakfast we started putting things away.  Hooked up, stopped by our hosts, Deborah and Wayne to say goodbye and we’re on the road again by 10:30.  After a short stop in Ingles for breakfast we were in our park and set up by 2:00.  Fortunately, we remembered to affix our Sunpass thingy to the windshield last night, because from now on we’ll be using the Florida Turnpike a lot.  And it is a great convenience.  Speaking of which, while we were on the southbound lane of the turnpike we encountered a tortoise crossing the road.  We managed to go over him without hitting him.  Hopefully the car behind us did the same. Talked to my sister briefly who we’ll be visiting while we’re here.  She sounds horrible.  Has a sinus infection.  We will definitely keep our visits short. Going to a restaurant tonight that Mike saw featured on the show “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.”  It’s called Skippers and it’s in Tampa somewhere.  We entered the address into our GPS system and it took us right there.  Only about 10 minutes away.  And this place had a lot of character.  Reminded us of Ricky’s Blue Heaven Café in Key West.  Mike got barbecued gator ribs (gasp) and I had black beans and rice.  I tried the gator ribs.  They were excellent!

Our host, Deborah, and her dog, Buddy.  This feral dog was rescued from an avocado orchard near Miami at 14 weeks, along with some other feral dogs.  Deborah and her husband, Wayne, adopted him.  He's now 11 months old and is the best dog.  He's a little wary and loud noises scare him, but he is a charmer.  Deborah and Wayne have worked with him a lot, and he understands sit, down, stay, leave it, etc.  Amazing!