A Positively Perfect Beach Day!

Ken and I started our day with a long walk (about 3 miles all around the CG) to get a jump start on our 10,000 steps.  It really seems like a "job"!  Here are some photos that highlight our walk -

We are really enjoying this CG.  Our site has palm trees
and is very deep and wide!  (Could be a song!)

Don't know the name of this tree but the flowers are
beautiful!  It is swarming with bees!

The Myakka River borders part of the CG.  Not a good
place for our inflatable kayak - lots of alligators!

A pone in the middle of the CG!

Tri-colored Heron in the park!

This anhinga is drying his wings.  They do not have the oils
that other birds have so they leave them open to dry!

We spent the afternoon on Nokomis Beach just north of Venice.  It is one of our favorite beaches and today was an exceptional beach day.  It was in the mid 70's with total sun and a slight breeze.  We felt like we won the jackpot!!!  We found about 125 sharks teeth, 100's of shells for jewelry making, and 8 pieces of sea glass!  Incredible!!!  We had such a good time.  It maybe our last beach day on this Florida trip since we are moving on Thursday to the central part of the state, just southwest of Daytona Beach!

Nokomis Beach

A great beach for shell pieces!

 

Looks like I will be busy for quite awhile making jewelry!

This is the most sharks teeth and the largest we have
found for a long time.  We love finding sea glass too!!!

Busy Day in the Venice Area!

Ken encouraged me to go to the 8:00 Aerobics class here at the CG.  I woke at 7 and felt I better get moving and commit to the exercise class.  So, off I went.  It is amazing to me how active this older folks are at this CG.  There were at least 25 women and 2 men in the class that was led by a fellow camper.  After lots of stretching, we did a workout to a DVD from the Biggest Loser where you keep moving and using weights walk to miles while you are doing the workout.   They have different DVD's they use, today just happened to be the Biggest Loser one!  Many of these women were in the 70's and  80's and they kept stepping and using their weights during the entire time.  Amazing and impressive!  It was a 1 hour class.

Ken decided to take the 11:30 Yoga Class and there were about 30 people at that class, again many of them in the 70's and 80's.  The instructor is a fellow camper who is a certified yoga teacher!  He really enjoyed the class and looks forward to going back on Wednesday!

When he got back at 12:45 we headed to South Venice Beach for the afternoon.  It was only in the 60's and breezy, but we found a spot that was a little protected and were able to enjoy our time in the sun.  We did go to the park along the beach that was only put in about 2 or 3 years ago.  Also has a dog park and doggie beach.  It is a beautiful park area with a large pond with alligators and a great 2/3 mile cement walking path around it.  What a wonderful place to get in our 10000+ steps for the day.

This large alligator was taking nap BEHIND the fence!

A view of the dock at Sharky's from the park along the beach!

What a place to walk and get our 10,000 steps.  Great view
compared to the cold dreary weather in PA!

I think he/she is ready for dinner!

Snowy Egret (can tell by the yellow feet)

Relaxing on the beach but a sweatshirt was necessary!

We left there at 5 and stopped at The Rookery (again!), that is alittle further south.  Ken really loves photographing the birds.  Then to Wal-Mart for needed groceries and back to Willie by 7:00.  A full day!

Large White Egret with her baby!

Great Blue Heron feeding her baby!
Great photo Ken!!!

The Rookery south of Venice!

Sandhill Crane!  Boy are they noisy!

Isn't the Great White Heron so delicate and beautiful??

A bird fight while in flight!

Red winged blackbird!

Tri-colored Heron

The island at The Rookery can get very crowded especially
after sunset!

We decided to just relax for the evening.  Tomorrow should be warmer - in the 70's, but still breezy.  Still much better than PA weather!!

A Cool Day in Florida!

Ken and I had a very lazy Sunday morning!  Got up late, read, and ate breakfast!  Not in a hurry to go outside!  It was 39 degrees this morning and mostly a cloudy day with 15 to 25 mph winds.  It was chilly!!!!  Only got to 57 so we had to get out the long pants, sweatshirts and even used the hoods!

We left Willie at 12:45 and decided to go to the 1:00 fun Bocce.  We thought it would be good to learn the rules for playing the game.  We have played with our camping friends at home, but only in the grass and never totally knowing the rules.  We had a good time.  There were 16 people there and they take their bocce very seriously, but are happy for "newbies".  Ken and I were on different courts but both of us enjoyed the game and the fellow campers.  Most of them are here from October to April and have park models or trailers. There are 6 Bocce Courts and 10 shuffleboard courts, so this is one active park. 

After the games, which lasted until 3:15 we began our walking to get our 10,000 steps.  I was tired a chilled till we were done.  Plan to have a quiet, relaxing evening in Willie!  Should get alittle warmer tomorrow with more sunshine.  That would be nice!

No pictures today!  We didn't leave the park.  Imagine that!!!!

Spent the Day in Venice!

 Not a great weather day, but we spent most of it outside anyway!  After all, 62 degrees is better than what we would experience in PA!!  It was only partly sunny and very windy - 15 to 20 mph!

We weren't in a hurry to leave Willie, but excited to go to Venice to the Art and Craft Fest and buy another delicious scone!  Today it was an apricot one - such a treat!!  The number of vendors and the people who come to the Fest is incredible!  The artists are very accomplished and do photography, painting, jewelry, sculpture, metal work, etc. and most of them are excellent at their craft. 

When we had checked out all the stands, we took a long walk around town.  (Needed our 10000 steps).  Then Ken was so patient and read a took a short nap in Diesel while I spent time shopping at the Bealls Outlet!

Fortunately we saw a poster that mentioned that the Budweiser Clydesdales were going to go thru Venice somewhere between 4 and 7.  So we went back the street around 4:00 to where they would be hitching them to the Budweiser Wagon!  What an interesting event to watch.  There are 3 huge tractor trailer trucks for housing the horses and the wagon and one of the drivers said they are on the road 320 days a year.  Can't imagine, but most of them were young!  The horses really are something to see - magnificent and their collars and special bridles etc. are gorgeous.  The amount of time they spend polishing the brass on the wagon and the "gear" for the horses is endless.  They keep doing until the wagon moves!  The wagon wasn't ready to go until the dalmatian dog found his place on the wagon seat!  It took over an hour from the time the horses were unloaded until they were hitched and ready for the ride.  They only went about a mile around the town and there were people everywhere for the event.  It took longer to get the horses and wagon ready than for the trip around town!  Can't imagine how many people and how much money, time, and planning goes into each of these Budweiser Clydesdales promotional events!

We only got back to Willie around 6:00 and it was getting rather cool.  Plan to spent the evening indoors!

A Nature Day Near Venice!

It was only 57 degrees when we got up this morning - rather cool for Florida, but not for PA.  We decided to go to Caspersen Beach and walk the Intracoastal Waterway Trail.  It was rather dreary and windy, but still a nice walk.  Saw the Florida Scrub Jay, which is only found in FL, but we didn't have any peanuts to feed them.  They will take them right out of your hand!

A view of the Intracoastal Waterway!

 

Woodpecker!

Some pretty flowers along the trail!

A deep Gopher Tortoise Hole!  A place to call home!!

A native Florida Scrub Jay!

 

Then we decided to take a walk on the beach to get more "steps" and to collect a few more shell pieces.  We get more gray toned oyster shells and scallop shells than any of the other beaches.  Also, we were able to find about 5 very small sharks teeth.  A successful time!

Caspersen Beach on a dreary, cool and windy day!
Still have a problem with the Red Tide!

We think this is a Sheepshead Fish!  Look at those teeth!
Numerous dead fish on the beach due to the Red Tide!

I love this photo Ken took of Caspersen!

Another "working day" for the jewelry maker!
 

After the beach, we went to the Rookery just south of Venice to look for special birds.  We enjoyed seeing all the birds nesting in the trees and their babies!

Great Blue Heron with her babies!

An Anhinga with her babies!

There were lots of birds on this island and we were told
it is covered with birds fighting for a place to rest at sunset!

Ken took this great photo of the Great Blue Heron and her
babies!

A Great White Heron or an Egret.  It is known by both names!

Stopped for lunch on the way back to the CG.  Then the shuffleboard challenge began and I was the winner!  Yeah!  I'm going to have to "let" Ken win soon or he will quit playing with me!!!!!

We both spent time on our computers - Ken did some financial "stuff" and I was downloading photos and sending e-mails. 

We plan on having a relaxing evening in Willie making jewelry, watching TV, and reading!  Another tough day in Paradise!

Celebrating Life Daily