Enjoyed Our Day at Nokomis Beach!

What a busy, fun-filled day!  Ken and I spent some time cleaning up both inside and out.  Re-organizing was necessary as well as some cleaning.  Ken also got snacks ready for when we attended the drum circle on Nokomis Beach.

Sam and Kathy arrived at 10:45 and we drove in Willie to Nokomis Beach, one of our favorites.  It was a beautiful sunny day in the mid 70's.  Ken, Kathy, and I spent about 2 hours walking the beach looking for shell pieces for jewelry and sharks teeth.  It is the perfect beach for finding larger pieces of shells for wire wrapping.  Ken and Kathy found several sharks teeth and Ken found 2 pieces of sea glass, the one being the largest he has ever found.

A view of Nokomis Beach!

We left the beach and rode our bikes along Casey Key Road to see the gorgeous shrubbery, flowers and palm trees and the incredible "mansions" that are along that road.  Many of the homes own land on both sides of the road giving them water access at both.  We pedaled 4 miles to the Casey Key Fish House for a delicious meal outside along the waters edge. 

What a gorgeous view while bike riding!

The houses look like mansions and the grounds are
beautifully maintained!

Waiting for our lunch at the Casey Key Fish House!!

This is the Casey Key Fish House.  We sat on the pier!

This home is owned by a young family.  He is a Dr. of Physics
who has numerous patents.  They have a gorgeous Japanese
Garden area across the road with a large conservatory.  We
learned all of this from the arborist who was working there!

This is a "cabana" or small changing/bathroom area across the
road from one of the large homes.  They have waterfront property
where the house is located and across the road.

Then we pedaled back to the beach in time for the beginning of the Drum Circle to celebrate the sunset.  We have been there about 4 times and this was probably the largest crowd and with the most people participating.  We enjoyed watching and listening while sipping wine.  What fun!!!

This gentleman (Ken calls him featherman) is at every
drum circle we have attended.  He is interesting to watch!

Even the seagulls participate!!!

Just some of the "crowd" at the drum circle!

Now featherman plays the drums!

Ken bought a bracelet made of seeds from this gentleman!

Numerous women are in the center of the drum circle belly dancing!

A huge crowd attended the "event".  People come with their
drums and just join in the fun!

Back to Willie around 7:45 to play Sequence Dice and Toss Up.  We ended the evening around 9:30 after a fun-filled day.  So glad we can share these adventures with our special friends, Sam and Kathy.

A Day at Fort DeSoto!

We packed lunches, had a good cooked breakfast and picked up, Sam and Kathy at 10 and headed to Fort DeSoto for the day!  The 4 of us drove in Diesel and enjoyed the beautiful ride over the Sunshine Skybridge towards St. Petersburg.  We took a ride through the Fort DeSoto County CG which is breathtaking.  The sites are so private, each one divided by rows of vegetation and palm trees.  Many of the sites backup to water where you can launch a kayak. 

The Sunshine Skybridge.  What a view!

Taking from the top of Fort DeSoto!

On we went to North Beach where we got on our bicycles and rode about 8 miles, stopping to see the Fort and to walk on the fishing pier. Really enjoyed watching the pelicans (one had a fish caught in his gullet for a long time and really had to "work" to be able to swallow it.)  Then back to North Beach to enjoy our packed lunches and a nice walk on the beach.  We enjoyed seeing a bird that was new to all of us - the Black Skimmer.    The bottom half of his beak is longer than the top part so he is able so skim the water for catching fish.  They are so pretty and colorful. 

I think he swallowed "more than he can chew"!!!

Aren't these Black Skimmers unusual!!!

A great biking trail!

 

A tough day on the beach, but someone has to do it!!!

 

Back to the CG by 6:00 to play shuffleboard and watch the sunset.  We decided to order pizza for dinner.  Another great day in Paradise!

We viewed this gorgeous sunset from the shuffleboard
court in the campground!

A fun filled, busy day with Sam and Kathy!

Sam and Kathy were here around 9:45 and after the men loaded all our bikes on their jeep, we headed to Bealls to pick up the clothes I had put on hold yesterday (they give a 15% discount to seniors on Monday, so the clerk recommended they hold them until today).  What a nice salesclerk.  Then we headed to Venice to have them try the award winning scones at the Upper Crust.  All 4 of us decided they are the best scones we have ever eaten.  I am sure there will be more of these scones in our near future.  Then we visited the Venice Chamber of Commerce to find out what special events were happening in the area and for info on the bike trails. 

You can't resist these delicious scones!

Sam found a friend while eating scones!

This is the window of the Upper Crust Bakery!

 On to Caspersen Beach to ride the Legacy Trail along the Intracoastal Waterway.  It is an unbelievably beautiful trail.  We got up close and personal with a majestic eagle guarding its nest.  After the 10 mile bike ride we spent about 2 hours walking the shoreline of Caspersen Beach looking for sharks teeth and pieces of shells.  Kathy found her 1st shark teeth!!!  Again, it was a very breezy day which started at 37 degrees and ended around 72.  It was a beautiful day to walk along the beach.  Then we drove to the pier just north of Venice to watch the sunset - gorgeous. 

Riding the Legacy Trail along the Intracoastal Waterway!

Saw this eagle up close and personal while
riding along the trail!

Not a bad place to eat a picnic lunch!

We love Caspersan Beach!

Hard at work looking for shell pieces and sharks teeth!

Enjoying the beautiful sunset!

Only got back to Willie around 7:30.  Had picked up a rotisserie chicken and then made salads and quinoa.  This morning I had baked a key lime pie from the juice of key limes I had bought at the Red Barn.  It was a Paula Dean recipe I found on the internet and we had some for dessert - so good!!!  By 9 we decided to call it a day.  We were all exhausted.  Looking forward to going to Fort DeSoto tomorrow.

Ken, Bonnie and Fellow Hometown Campers!

Yesterday, Sunday, was a day for spending time checking out the area!  After a good cooked breakfast, we headed to a shopping area about 7 miles from the CG.  I had my 1st opportunity to shop at a Bealls Outlet, my favorite clothes shopping store when in Florida.  There was also a newer Joann Fabrics store in the same shopping store - BONUS!!!!!  Ken spent his time at the Total Wine Store which is immense and offers any liquor and beer imaginable!  After about 1 1/2 hours we went to the Venice area to check out a RV Dealer Open House to look at Class A Winnebagos.  Didn't take us long to decide that we are very happy with Willie and all the room and storage we have.  Sometimes looking helps you really appreciate what you already have!

From there we went to check out Nokomis Beach.  It was cold and windy, but we still enjoyed walking the beach - I found many pieces of shells for more jewelry making.  Sam and Kathy, one of our summer camping couples from back home, arrived at the Days Inn which is only about 2 miles from our CG around 6:15.  We met them at their hotel and walked to Sonny's for dinner.  So happy to see them and be able to show them our favorite areas around Bradenton.  We had delicious pulled pork sandwiches at Sonny's (Sam said it was the best he ever had) and then they came back to Willie to unload their bicycles and leave them with us.  They didn't want to keep them in their hotel room.  We chatted and talked about some of the things we would like to do with them this week.  They left by 10:15. 

1st time we have worn long pants since we arrived
in Florida.  It was cold on Nokomis Beach.

Bridge opening on the intracoastal waterway!

Such a scenic area!

  

Cool, Breezy Day in the Bradenton Area!

Ken and I were up early to get ready for our 3rd Saturday in a row Craft Show!  Not complaining, we are enjoying and Diesel is so happy for his food money!  This time we were in the clubhouse and didn't have to fight the wind, and it was a very breezy day!  We set-up in record time for the 9 to 1 Show.  It went well and we were happy for what we were able to sell.  Again, more than we really expected!  Cindy and John came to support us and then came back to help us pack up everything.  Then the 4 of us went to the Starfish Seafood Company for lunch.  John wanted one more Grouper Sandwich before flying out this afternoon to return to PA. 

Many beautiful birds on the dock at the Starfish Company

What a setting!

Looks like the place to be!

Another view from our lunch table.  This was home for one
fisherman for many years!  Imagine!

Interesting sayings painted on the tabletops!

Lots of truth to this one!

We are happy!  Our bellies are full!!!!

After a delicious lunch (the men love their grouper) we said our good-byes and they headed to the Sarasota Airport for their 6:30 flight.  We are so happy they were able to join us this last week.  We had such a good time together!  It is a blessing to have such a special sister!

Ken and I decided to check out Holmes Beach before heading back to Willie, but we only walked on the beach about 10 minutes.  So cool and windy - 20 to 30 mph winds!!!  It was crazy!  Returned to Willie around 4:45 for a relaxing evening.

By the looks of the crowd, it was a very cool and breezy day!

This is Holmes Beach right outside of Bradenton!