Cindy and John Leave Us for Home in PA



Cindy and John arrive in Florida!  Happy to see them!



Cindy and John leaving Florida.  Time went so quickly!

 Cindy and John stayed in Willie with us on Monday night, their last night in Florida.  We were all up at 5:30 so everyone had some time in the bathroom.  We were on our way to Sarasota Airport at 6:30 for their 8:15 flight home to Lanc. County PA.  We had so much fun together going to many different beaches and having shuffleboard and game "tournaments" of men vs. women.  We were more victorious at the games, but the men were strong winners in shuffleboard.

After dropping them off at the airport, we did some computer updating at Panera Bread before heading to the diesel garage in Sarasota for some adjustments for our truck.  Nothing major, just some jerking whenever it shifted gears.  What an improvement after they did some adjusting!  Drives so much better!

We decided to take it easy today and played some shuffleboard and relaxed by the pool at the campground.  Both of us were tired from lack of sleep and so much activity over the last 6 days.  Needed some down time.

Grilled our dinner and played some cards.  A relaxing early to bed evening.

Can't believe Cindy and John were really here for 6 days.  There are definitely more hours in a day at home compared to when you are on vacation.  Not sure how that works!!!!!!

Our Last Day in Florida with Cindy and John!

Monday was a perfect beach day in Florida.  We packed lunches for the four of us and picked up Cindy and John around 10:15.  We asked them to choose what they would like to do for their last day in Florida.  They wanted to spend the day at the beach and the weather cooperated beautifully.  We headed to Holmes Beach and spent about 4 1/2 hours enjoying the day.  Around 72 with very low humidity. 

 Ken and I took an hour bike ride around the area, especially Anna Maria area.  We stopped at two fishing piers to enjoy the scenery!

We left the beach around 4:15 and went back to the campground.  Decided it was time to continue the shuffleboard tournament.  Unfortunately, the men were victorious again, but Ken and I did beat Cindy and John for our last game of their trip.  (If we would have been good hosts I guess we would have left them win!  NOT!!!) 

But, we were all winners, getting to experience a beautiful sunset!!

The only thing that could possibly beat this gorgeous sunset was another trip to Sonny's for a pulled pork sandwich!  Imagine this - it wasn't even my idea.  The group decided it was where they wanted to have their LAST SUPPER in Florida!  Thanks Cindy and John!!  Then back to Willie to play a game of Up the River!  They had checked out of the Holiday Inn Express this morning and spent the night sleeping on an air mattress in Willie before their flight back home at 8:15 Tuesday morning!

Fun with Cindy and John Continues!

Sunday was a relaxing and uneventful day for our foursome!  We decided to stay at the campground most of the day since it was overcast a good portion of the day.  We picked up Cindy and John around 10 and headed to one of Sarasota's favorite destinations - the Red Barn.  For you Lanc. County folks it's Florida's version of Green Dragon.  So many interesting stands plus great fruit and produce.  We actually bought Plant City Florida strawberries for $1.00 a quart!  Wow!!!!  The men tired of the place long before the women, so we headed back to our campground to sit by the pool and continue our shuffleboard tournament.  Today we split the wins.  Horray for the women!!!!

The pool at the campground is large and heated to 86 degrees.  Not bad!  But, the breeze was abit cool, so none of us ventured in.  Cindy and John did enjoy the hot tub.

We enjoyed cooking dinner and it was delicious - steaks on the grill, salads, oven roasted potatoes (the oven in Willie was used for the 1st time!) and fresh asparagus.  Fresh strawberries and ice cream for dessert.  We are living LARGE!

Still Loving Florida!

Yesterday the fun continued.  Picked up Cindy and John at 10 and headed to our favorite area - Venice.

Showed them the Royal Coachman RV park where we stayed prior and why it is such an unbelievable campground - Location, Location, Location (Actually it is a very nice park too!)  Then we drove into the square in Venice and a wonderful art and craft show was underway!  We enjoyed walking along the main street seeing all the vendors.  Of course, we had to stop at the Upper Crust for another blueberry scone! 

From there we drove down the only road that leads to Caspersen Beach to show them the Venetian Waterway Trail and to walk along the shoreline at Caspersen Beach looking for sharks teeth.  Only found a few pieces.

Then we headed to our favorite beach - Nokomis and spent 4 1/2 hours soaking in the sun, finding sharks teeth and shells, and reading.  Ate our packed lunch on the beach. 

We stayed until about 6 so we could have Cindy and John experience the drum circle.  Boy, it is amazing how many people show up every Wed. and Saturday evening for the drum circle "Event". 



This gentleman is quite the body builder
and has a special "ritual" he does at
every drum circle.  Looks like a sun or
just thankful for the day form of worship!





Then back to Willie to change and play another shuffleboard competition and it was a great night for the ladies.  We actually won 2 out of 3.  Yes!!!!  Then we headed to one of my favorite places for dinner, Sonny's for their pulled pork sandwich and baked sweet potato with cinnamon butter.  What could be better!!!  Everyone thought their food was delicious.  We called it a night at 9:30 after another very busy day in Paradise!!!!!  These days are flying!!!!!





Let the Good Times Continue!

Yesterday was another exciting day in the Bradonton area.  We picked up Cindy and John at their hotel at 9:30 and started on our drive to the beaches along the Gulf Coast near the Bradenton area.  Our 1st stop was Coquino Beach, which was a favorite of Ken's mother.  We had sat on the beach with Richard and his mother numerous times when we visited them in Florida. 

From there we drove through Lido Beach, St. Armand's Circle, Longboat Key, and Seista Key Beach.  It was a beautiful drive!  We ate lunch at Seista Key Village at an outside cafe, and then spent most of the afternoon on the beach at Seista Key, famous for their white sand that feels like talcum powder!

Back to the Campground for more men vs. women shuffleboard.  If you ask me, the guys are so lucky!!!  They won all 3 games, but we gave them a run for their money!!!  Cindy and I just have to get our act together and come up with a new strategy.

We had a late hamburg dinner in the 5th wheel.  (Ken had grilled outside in the dark!).  Then we played 3 games of Pinochle of which the women won 2 out of 3.  Redemption!!!!!

Today we are taking them to see one of our favorite areas in Florida - Venice!  Anxious to show them the center of town, Caspersen Beach, Nokomis Beach, and then the drive along Casey Key Road.

Looks like another beautiful, warm day in Paradise!

Food is prepared and then placed on the shelf at the window at the
outside cafe in Seista Key Village!

Clubhouse at our Campground!  Shuffleboard and
pool are there too!



Fun Times with Cindy and John

Not as much time to post since my sister, Cindy, and her husband John arrived around noon on Wednesday.  We are having a great time sharing our enthusiasm of Florida with them.  They are staying at the Holiday Inn Express about 1 1/2 miles from our campground.  We pick them up around 9:30 AM and take them back to their hotel around 10 PM.  Life is good!!!

Wednesday we headed towards Bradenton Beach area and stopped to have lunch at the Starfish Company in Cortez.  

  It was a recommendation from Howard and Linda, a couple who fulltime in their 5th wheel and whose blog Ken has been following for years.  What a terrific recommendation!  We ate right on the dock and Ken said it was the freshest and best grouper he has ever had.  We spent about 1 1/2 hours there and it was wonderful.  All the sayings on the tables and walls were a hoot!!!!!  Somebody had a good time doing all the painting!

Spent several hours on Holmes Beach and then returned to Willie to play cards while watching Idol. 

Yesterday we all left around 10:30 to head to Fort DeSota County Park to see the campground, walk on the fishing pier, and spent about 3 1/2 hours on the beautiful beach.  If you are ever in that area, just south of Clearwater, it is a must stop!  In 2005 it was voted the best beach in the US.  It is so hard to imagine that the whole area is a county park.  It is immense and so well maintained.

Back to Willie by 4:30 to play 3 games of shuffleboard of which the men won 2, but we aren't going to elaborate on that!!!!  We had fun cooking dinner together and then playing Hand and Foot while watching Idol. Soooo many talented people on the show this year.

We continue to have a wonderful adventure in Paradise!!!

Uneventful Day! Hallelujah!

Yesterday we moved to our final 2 week location here in Florida.  We are now at Winter Quarters Manatee in the Sarasota/Bradenton area.   It is another Encore Park and rather picturesque.  Only downside is being very close to I 75.  It is an active park with many activities available.



New Campground Site



We were able to get out of our campsite at Royal Coachman without any difficulty.  Ken did a great job!!!  The truck seemed to run well also.  The campsite we have at Bradenton is nice and Ken did a great job backing into it.  Set-up went well and we are happy to be situated for the next 2 weeks.

Yesterday was a rather cloudy day, perfect for being on the move.  Once we were set-up, I finally got one of my wishes for this trip fulfilled - lunch at Sonny's Barbeque.  Just love their pulled pork sandwiches.  We were there at least 2 times last year, and I was so ready to return.  It was as good as I remembered.

We took it rather easy yesterday.  I won our pinochle game but was severly beaten by Ken in 4 games of shuffleboard.  I was determined to keep playing until I won, but after 4 games we were running out of time!  Ken said enough is enough!  Oh well, I will get him later!!!!!

Today my sister and her husband fly into the Sarasota airport at 12:45 and will be here until next Tuesday morning.  They will be staying about 1 1/2 miles from us at a Holiday Inn Express. We look forward to being their chauffers and tour guides for the next week.  I know we will have a great time.



View from the table in Willie!!!



Shows the lake in the Campground

How about American Idol?  There are so many great singers this year and I thought at least 9 of the men were exceptional.  Hopefully the ladies will be just as good tonight!