Tuesday - Off and On Cloudy Day and a Bit Cooler!

Ken was up early to do his morning routine and I appeared at 6:45.  I decided not to walk today but go to North Port to play pickleball.  Ken left at 7:15 to meet Ernie for their walk.  He was back by 8:30 just when I was ready to leave for pickleball.  It was rather overcast and in the low 60's.

It is nice to play pickleball at North Port Park where all the players speak English and play at about the same level.  It really is a fun group of people!  Having no sun to shine in your eyes and a very light breeze made it a perfect morning for playing.  I left after 1 1/2 hours and enjoyed about 4 games all with close scores.  Ken had spent the time reading and doing some raking outside.

Noela and I left the CG at 10:45 and went to Hobby Lobby, Goodwill, and Wal-mart getting back around 12:15.  By 12:45 the 4 of us were on our way to Pine Island to have lunch at the Low Key Tiki Hut, but it took us a long time to get there because of backed up traffic once you entered the island until you got into the center - it was crazy.  Never did figured out what caused such congestion!  

We loved our lunch sitting out along the water - skewers with chicken, pineapple and onion and also with bacon wrapped scallops with pineapple and onions.  From there we went to the St. Jude Trail for the 1 1/2 mile walk where Noela and I got some palm branches to use for the tails on our coconut fish.

The Low Key Tiki Hut - a great place to sit and have lunch!

This boat was coming in with all the crab traps!

Getting ready to walk the St. Jude Trail, something we do
every year - tradition!

Looking for the just right palm branches for the tails of
our coconut fish!

Rather colorful!

It is a rather rustic trail that reminds you of Old Florida!

Looks like a 2 headed eagle!!!!

Relaxing by the water at the end of the trail!

We took a short drive around the CG on Pine Island that both of us have stayed at numerous times.  We talked to one of the campers we know in the park and she said traffic has become so bad that she tries not to leave the island.  This year they added pedestrian crossing lights in Matlacha and that is why traffic gets so "backed up"!  It has become a major problem and many of the people who own homes there have decided to sell.  We noticed on our last visit that there is no new construction and many businesses and lots are for sale - it is such a shame, because everywhere else in Florida there seems to be a "boom" of growth!

On the way back to the CG, we stopped at McDonald's for hot fudge or hot caramel sundaes - so good!  It was almost 7 when we arrived back "home" and I decided not to play pickleball - rather windy and now chilly!  Ernie and Noela came to play cards around 7:15 and the 1st 2 rounds of Hand and Foot we were only about 50 points apart.  But, the 3rd round proved to be a disaster for the women - neither of us got into our foot.  Needless to say, we lost the game by a huge margin!  Noela and I decided that Ernie's "lucky shirt" had to be destroyed and soon!!!!!

I really wanted to watch New Amsterdam, but by the time I remembered it was on, I was too tired to watch.  Off to dreamland!!!