Ken Called It the Day of the Eagle!

Ken and I were up at 7:15 and got ready to play pickleball.  Ken's heel has been so much better than earlier this trip, so we decided to give it a try again. Melissa and Chuck came by at 8 and we headed to the court here in the CG. We decided to only play 1 hour every other day so us older folks would have less chance for injury!  We played 4 games, switching partners after each game.  None of us have played very much since last fall, but it went well and we had so much fun!  We did stop by 9:20, sticking to our 1 hour time limit!

All of us had some "chores" to do so we decided to meet again at 11:30 to go for a bike ride and a few short hikes.  Ken made the 1st reservations for our trip out west and I talked to Lanie and Noela.  Noela and Ernie will join us for a trip to Sanibel Island tomorrow.  We biked to Galt Preserve and on the way saw our 1st eagle's nest with the rather large "little ones" in the nest.  On to Galt Preserve where we took a short walk and the photographers (Ken and Melissa) were very busy.  When we were leaving the preserve Ken spotted another eagle's nest.  Back on our bikes to go to a third nest we had seen before near St Jude Preserve Trail and sure enough, the mommy eagle was there.  Occasionally we could see the eaglet's head "pop up". We walked the 1/2 mile trail back to the little observation/fishing pier at St. Jude's.  We sat on benches there and enjoyed eating our lunches.  On the way back, Ken saw 2 eagles sitting on an antenna across from the CG.  It definitely was an eagle day!  We got back to the CG around 2 and decided to meet at the pool.  It was hot!

This nest was very far away from our path, but Ken's new camera
did a great job zeroing in.  These are the eaglets!

Walking on one of the bridges at the new Galt Preserve on
Pine Island!

Chuck and I are patiently waiting for the "photographers"!

Probably a juvenile ibis!

A beautiful hawk!

Ken spotted this eagle when leaving Galt Preserve!

This eagle was on its nest near St. Jude Preserve!

We saw this pilleated woodpecker the last time we were here!

Walking the trail at St. Jude Preserve!

Time for Lunch!!!  Not a bad setting, huh????

This is at the end of the walk at St. Jude!  How relaxing!

2 more eagles sitting on the antenna tower outside the CG!

We spent about 1 1/2 hours at the pool where the water was warm, but refreshing.  We ended that time by sitting in the hot tub.  What a life!  Back to Waldo to shower and grill dinner. Nancy and Neil stopped by to say hello and left us know that they will not be going with us to Sanibel tomorrow.

Chuck and Melissa joined us around 7:30 to play a game of Skip-Bo and Pinchole!  Another fun evening.  We called it a day at 9:30 and plan to meet at 8:10 to meet Ernie and Noela and go to Sanibel tomorrow morning.  Looking forward to a great day!