To the Beach! Monday, 2/25/19

A front must have blown through in the night, 'cause when we awoke Monday morning in Tergel, we faced overcast skies and a fairly stiff north wind.  Stepping outside, we could feel the humidity level had dropped.  It felt cooler and it was cooler, not the hot, muggy stew of the day before.

When we called Ibby after 9am, Bernice answered the phone, saying she was up, feeling woozy and weak, but we should c'mon over.  She said that whatever the three of us did today, she wouldn't be joining us -- she'd be in bed all day, and in my opinion, that's where she needed to be.  So be it ... we grabbed our bathroom gear, locked up Tergel, and drove to their house in The Meadows.

After a hello and a hug around the neck, we sent her off to her bed.  She really couldn't have joined us doing anything, and needed her rest to recuperate.  We'd miss her, but it was decided that the three of us would go to the beach on Siesta Key.  A walk in the sand would do wonders for Ibby, Jimmy and me.

A Happy Monday to you, too,

to whomever spelled out the words in seashells.

Depending on whether you looked north or south, you'd see a sky full of mixed clouds or a deep blue sky peppered with the occasional puffy white cloud.  Rain was in the forecast, but not till later in the day.  The fresh breeze felt heavenly as we meandered along the surf.  How far did we want to go, asked Ibby.  Three miles?  Five miles?  How about till we want to turn around?  That was the ticket.  As it turned out, we walked till I had to pee and the only restroom was back where we'd started.  That determined the distance!  (three miles)

Siesta Key has a broad, lovely beach with the whitest sand imaginable.  And it's not hot to the feet.  We started out in shoes and sox, but that didn't last a minute.  I want to dig my toes in the sand, test the water temp by letting waves wash over my feet.  Shoes don't work.  I didn't have my waterproof sandals with me.

A nice-sized crowd turned out for a Monday.

We saw a few brave souls in the water, but it wasn't warm enough to coax me in.  My bathing suit was in Tergel anyway, so I was off the hook!  The signboard at the entrance station reported the water temp at 72.  Nice, but not nice enough for me or Jimmy!  Sure was an interesting sky. 

Ibby and Jimmy poised at the Gulf's shoreline.

Ibby is a people-person.  He'll stop to talk to strangers.  While walking the beach, he "took a random poll," asking a number of passers-by if they were locals.  All but two young women said they were not.  Homes were New York, Ontario, Michigan, and the like -- each one down in sunny Florida for the worst winter months where they live:  Snowbirds they're called.

About that time, I spotted a large flock of birds sleeping on the sand, away from the water.  Royal Terns, foreground, and Black Skimmers in the back, along with a few Laughing Gulls and One big ol' Herring Gull.  I wanted to chase them, but I didn't; I took a few pictures instead.  You see one multi-story condo after another facing the water -- just like Gulf Shores, Alabama, and other places with great beaches.

I could get really close to the Royal Terns (left), but the Black Skimmers (right) were a little more skittish.  Handsome birds.

I did get a little too close and caused a lift-off.

They didn't go far, landing maybe 50 feet away.

We found this guy curious, ambling along the sand with his sneakers on and gear from outer space.  Ibby asked him what all the apparatus was.  He answered that he was the Google Earth camera guy (one of many, I'm sure), and he was 360° photographing the beach.  Well, by golly, that meant us, too.  I waved.

We love being on the beach, at the shore.  Come to think of it, we love being in the mountains, climbing on boulders, and gentle or wild rivers, and in the low desert surrounded by stickery cacti, and, ah ... especially in quiet forests, where all is hushed, and even the vast farms in the Midwest, with acres of sunflowers standing at attention, and being with family ... friends, too.  Cities?  Not so much, although they, too, have much to offer; book stores, museums intriguing coffee shops, for instance.  Also busy traffic.

What a nice walk we had!  Jimmy and I were so grateful to Ibby for taking us to Siesta Key -- we never would've attempted to drive there ourselves.  Traffic in Sarasota is abominable, though you'd think having wide, many-laned streets and highways would keep vehicles moving.  It's the LONG red lights that create lengthy tie-ups, especially at quittin' time.  Don't even think of getting on the freeway (I-75) if it's time for workers to go home.  But, luckily, Ibby knows a few shortcuts.  Since many of the people driving cars are snowbirds, I suppose traffic improves after they return north by the end of March.

When it was time to leave the Key and head for home, Ibby suggested we stop at Old Packinghouse Cafe for their Five Dollar burgers.  Excellent burgers and a good choice.  It took awhile, but we finally made it to The Meadows.  Bernice was out of bed, but still weak.  Her Urgent Care physician advised her to drink only clear liquids for the first 24 hours.  Use the BRAT diet the second day, and slowly return to a normal diet.  She wasn't up to visiting much, but did join the group on the couch to watch a bit of TV.  Hopefully tomorrow, she'll be feeling ever so much better.  Jimmy and I retired early ... tuckered out from all that fresh air and sunshine!

Well, then, Plan B, Sun, 2/24/19

This post's photos are a combination of an early morning 3-mile walk around the Meadows (in Sarasota) where we're staying with Bernice and Ibby, and a wee walk during a Sunday afternoon jazz concert in the park.

Ibby didn't have good news for us when we met him for Sunday morning coffee in the kitchen.  Bernice had been ill in the night and was resting; she wouldn't be joining us for the morning walk.  I quizzed him further.  She'd been throwing up and then some.  Okay, we left her to rest, but when we returned from our walk, she was no better and was still throwing up.  Remember, we'd eaten dinner at Sweet Tomatoes (a buffet-type place) the night before, but none of the rest of us had any symptoms.  There isn't much you can do between umpteen trips to the bathroom, except rest if you can.  I suspected food poisoning.

The three of us left a short time later for the near-by jazz concert.  It didn't last a long time, and when we returned again, Bernice was still sick -- time for Ibby to take her to Urgent Care.  Having endured a bout of norovirus last November (ugh - simply awful), I knew it was time for action.  People get dehydrated and weak, and she was.

Morning's calm reflection.

Florida carries some really colorful flowers ...

... and interesting birds, as in:  Anhinga drying its wings, and two white Ibis poking around in the shallow water.  This area has lots of ponds, lakes, canals, rivers, and RAIN, all of which attracts a variety of birds.  We also saw coots, herons, several Wood Storks, and egrets on our walk.  

Crazy trees adorned with vining philodendrons and ferns and epiphytes! 

We enjoyed (and appreciated) sitting under a tent and listening to the amateur jazz group.  They were lively and had the audience toe-tapping and clapping to the beat of some old favorites.  Most of the audience was made up of folks who could recognize the tunes and know the words (and even sing along!).  The afternoon was warm and muggy, even more so than morning.  I was dragging by the time we got back from our morning three-miler -- I'm not used to the heat/humidity any more (or ever). 

Jimmy and Ibby listening attentively ....

The Meadows does a bang-up job of landscaping.  I can't tell how big a "complex" this is, but it's bigger than many small towns.  And it's only one of a hundred or more "subdivisions" or complexes in Sarasota.  I think Florida is made up of tracts like these.  

A fading bottlebrush bloom had enough allure to coax this bee to stop.

I've never seen a white bottlebrush bush before,

but I think this is one.  Love the airy plumed look.

When Ibby and Bernice left for Urgent Care, Jimmy and I had a back-and-forth discussion about what to do.  We decided to return to our Tergel parked not far away at the Sarasota Elks.  Obviously we couldn't know how long they'd be gone or if Bernice would need even more attention than she could get at Urgent Care, so we thought we should go.  Regardless of when they returned, who wants company around at such a time?  We left a note and grabbed our bathroom bags.  As it turned out, yes, Bernice was diagnosed with food poisoning.  She was treated and they got back to their home after a couple hours.  We'd meanwhile also texted Ibby, telling him our plan.  If all was well the next morning, we'd come back.  Poor Bernice, I felt so bad for her.  She slept all that night, and you know for a fact that she'd be weak as a newborn for a while ....

Catching Up! Sat, Feb 23rd to ...

We did all right driving from Tallahassee to Sarasota (Florida).  The clock struck nine by the time we were on our way, about normal for us.  Fog filtered through the trees and hovered over the pastures, making this gray morning an easy drive without the rising sun in our eyes.  We stayed on Hwy 19/27, a four-lane divided highway that hugs Florida's west coast.  It's fairly scenic, too -- patches of wildflowers interspersed with dark swampy areas crowded with skinny cypress trees, all draped in Spanish moss -- low black-water swamps, dark from decaying organic matter, and potent with malignant promise:  Moccasins, Cottonmouths, quicksand and (shudder) huge spiders (maybe not quicksand, but who's going to check?).  As long as you stay in your vehicle, you're safe!  I find it enjoyable to see everything, right down to the lushness of tropical Florida.  Besides, nobody in their right mind would willingly travel ultra-busy I-75 if they didn't have to.  There's little traffic on 19/27, new pavement, and relatively few stops till you get further south toward the bigger cities.  By the time we hooked up to W/E at the Sarasota Elks, it was close to 5pm.

The next morning we moved Tergel to dry-camping and made our way to Bernice and Ibby's home in the Meadows where we'll spend a few days.  We haven't seen our traveling buddies in over a year and we have some catching up to do.

Most of you know we don't sit still long!  After we talked a bit, Ibby took us for a show-and-tell drive through the Meadows, where they moved last December.  Big change from New Jersey!  Then we made our way to The Ringling Museum, a sprawling 66-acre complex and the  estate of railroad, real-estate and circus baron John Ringling and his wife, Mable.  Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew that the circus folk adjourned to Sarasota each winter, but neither Jimmy nor I was prepared for what we saw.

These two ...!

We passed through the Museum of Art (save that for a hot day when it's too hot to be outside) and onto the striking grounds.  The tree above was the first eye-catcher we saw -- a Kapok or Red Silk Cotton Tree, which spread it's thick limbs across a wide area.

As bright and perky as carmine lipstick,

these dazzling red flowers are incredible.

Several Staghorn ferns, like the one above,

are large enough for a prize-winning category!

And then we saw the Banyan trees, a couple of them,

that simply blew our minds.

We continued on toward the Ringlings' lavish Venetian Gothic home, "Cà d’Zan," perched on the edge of the Gulf, and obviously revealing of the impresario’s extravagant tastes.  

Jimmy, Bernice, and Ibby at the balustrade, facing the Gulf, with the back of the "house" behind them.  We all saw distinctive Moorish influences to the "House of John."

Nope, we didn't go inside, although you can for a price.  We didn't want to take the time today, but we certainly enjoyed looking at the outside.  Maybe another time we'll go to the Circus Museum and the Ringlings' personal collection of artworks in what is now Florida’s state art museum.  

Holy Canoli -- the Banyan trees on this property are just mind-boggling.

Above -- one tree.

Two fellas taking a load off while the ladies look for a missing Fig tree.

(It was not on the Ringling estate)

We made our way to the Museum of Glass, which doesn't hold many pieces, but what it does have is gorgeous.  I could've easily taken any of the pieces home!  The Daffodils on the left, above, fired in 1999, and 2012's Yellow Amulet Basket by Laura Donefer were stunning. 

Ibby and Bernice in front of Masai.

We returned home to change; later, we ate dinner at Green Tomatoes.  We had tickets to a play at tiny Urbanite Theater:  Apples in Winter.  How can I describe this show that ended our day?  A gripping one-woman drama, that yanked at my heartstrings -- indeed, all of us.  Incredible.  I don't think I could watch it again, but it was well worth seeing.

So ended our first day in Sarasota with Bernice and Ibby.  We still have much to catch up on, and an overseas trip to plan for later this summer.  It's warm, warmer than we anticipated, but we're coping, and thank goodness for air conditioning.  It's crazy that a few weeks ago Jimmy and I experienced a 15-degree low temp in Arizona and now in Florida we're cooking when we're outdoors!  Well, no matter ... if we were home in Nevada City, we'd be literally and figuratively stuck in snow!

Here's looking for more fun times to come in Sarasota.

Continuing on ... Mon-Fri, 2/18-2/22

We recharged our personal batteries with our brief, but quiet Meaher State Park, AL stop, and Monday morning we hit the road again ... destination:  our former home -- Tallahassee.  We moved there in 2002, a year after our marriage, bought a house and enjoyed a happy, active life.  We like returning to visit, seeing friends, reminiscing a bit, and discovering what's new in Florida's capital city, how it's grown.  We're fortunate to be able to park Tergel in front of our friends' (Diane and Tom) home rather than an RV park (since they're few and far between in Tallahassee).

Graybeard.

When we know we'll be in town, we do our best to let friends know the dates, and - lucky us, truly - we're in demand for dinners and coffee dates, etc.  This really makes you feel good, and. of course, it works both ways ... we love getting together with those we care about.

Above, from our old neighborhood, are Nancy and Mickey, our RV'ing octogenarian friends with their friends, Lily and Ginger.  Honestly, everybody over 65 should look so healthy!  We passed a fine Tuesday afternoon/evening, walking the dogs, talking RV's, politics and enjoying a delish dinner.  Thanks, you two.  We're pleased to be your friends!

Seems like we're taking this cool, misty weather along in our pockets.  On an overcast Wednesday morning, Jimmy and I, Diane and Tom and their pup, Oliver, drove to Southwood (where Jimmy and I stayed after he retired AND returned to work for a few months).  We walked around Central Park Lake on Southwood's 1.75-mile paved Nature Trail, flanked by some of the most beautiful Live Oak trees in Florida.

These trees!  Branches festooned with feathery gray-green Spanish Moss, these Oaks capture the essence of living in this part of Florida.  They fairly dance in any breeze, assuming an almost mystical aspect.  Magnificent.

Me and Diane.

Jimmy and Tom, with Oliver in the lead.

Four of a long row of  houses that front the lake, and we seriously considered buying one, but ... we were meant to live in NorCal, I guess.  At least that's where we landed.  This area was a strong second choice.

Clusters of little posies popped up in the otherwise green grass.  Bottom right is a fruit tree blossom.  We were happy to see the association had planted new ornamental fruit trees to replace a line of old trees (not oaks) that died from disease/age.

Two roads diverged in a wood ... Diane and Tom took the high "road," Jimmy and I took the other one to get in a longer walk.  Oliver was straining on his leash, as if he wanted to accompany me and Jimmy.

Blah sky reflects in the normally pretty lake.  This nature trail around the lakes is one we've traversed many times, walking, running, and riding bikes, a trail we came to love.  Usually birds can be seen, too, but today was the exception.

Jimmy and I warmed as we walked and had to shed our vests.

Look at this beautiful setting.

Funny-guy Oliver. 

On a quest for tupelo honey on Thursday, we four found our way to Orchard Pond Farm in north Tallahassee.  Tupelo honey never crystallizes, unlike other honey.  Jimmy and I watched as an assistant poured our honey from a large vat into our one-pound jar.  Ryan Goreau (a personable personal chef) also gave us a quick tour of an eight-acre section of the organic farm.  Strawberries, kale, carrots are some of the produce growing on the farm.  The carrots in Diane's hand didn't last long.  Very sweet, very tasty.  The Oak at bottom right is one of several venerable giants -- two or three hundred year old trees on the property.  It'd take eight or ten or us with outstretched arms to span its girth.  

Ryan and Jimmy.

Known for its canopy roads and wondrous and majestic Live Oak specimens that co-exist in its urban sprawl, Tallahassee can be a delight to the eyes.  Before buying our house, we spent six months in an apartment on Old St Augustine Road (OSAR), a canopy road, par excellence.  Tallahassee is a beautiful capital city.  Traffic, on the other hand, is the opposite. 

When we weren't Out and About, Diane and I (girls) and Tom and Jimmy (guys) played the card game "Hand and Foot," and I'm happy to report that the girls won two-to-one (we beat the guys)!  We also played a few rounds of Mexican Train Dominoes.  What we mainly did was enjoy each other's company once again ... and laugh.  What a great time we had.

Friday rolled around and it was time to say ta-ta-for-now.  On the road, we piloted Tergel 300+ miles southeast toward Sarasota.  More later.