Beach: Caladesi Island

Is it possible to fall in love with a beach one weekend and then another beach the next? Sure is.  Not long after visiting Ft. DeSoto, we traveled to another breathtaking Florida State Park: Caladesi Island.  Off the coast of Dunedin, FL, this park is accessed only by marine vessel.  Packing up our nephew C. and a picnic cooler bursting with  peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, we waited excitedly for the ferry here:

   

It was only a few minutes ride, listening to our state park guide.  We liked him because he was full of Florida facts, had a cheesy sense of humor, and pointed out the dolphins to our untrained eye.

Once on the island, we snorkeled, swam, and watched in awe as the seagulls swooped in on the schools of fish like this one:

Just before taking the return ferry, we made a new friend: the Gopher tortoise, a protected species that inhabits the island.  This one was a bit camera shy.

Don't make us choose between Ft. DeSoto and Caladesi Island.  If we had to pick a favorite beach...well...it's the one we have yet to explore.

 

Beach: Ft. De Soto

Today, I felt the slightest chill in a tank top - a sign of Autumn in Florida. It's hard to believe that just over a month ago, we were sweating bullets at Ft. DeSoto Beach. If you haven't been there, locals will *gasp* in shock that you haven't discovered this Florida gem. It's true, there is much to do: campsites, biking trails, bird watching, kayaking, paddle-boarding, reef snorkeling, and the ruins of a historic Spanish Fort that will transport you in time to an era when Espanol was the dominant language round these parts. Oh, yea, and there's a pristine beach guarded by mangroves as old as Florida herself.

On our first visit, we took along a few houseguests that hailed from California (thanks for the visit K. & A.). We started off with some waterside dining a-la-picnic-style. But when I discovered this swing, I didn't really want to move from here. Would you?

At the information center, we learned about all the things to enjoy here. Right behind the building, we looped through this short sweet trail.

Finally, we made it to the white sands and clear warm waters that vacations are made of. I can see why this beach keeps getting voted as the #1 Beach in America (according to TripAdvisor and Dr. Beach).

We had fun, but the day ended too quickly. Next time, I hope we get to take the ferry over to Egmont Key for some serious snorkeling.

Having felt the magic of Ft. DeSoto, I just know that we will be back.

Hola, Adirondacks!

"Adirondack" has many meanings: it's a mountain range, it's a park, it's even a canoe race (thanks, Wikipedia). But around here, adirondack means just one thing : the best lil' chair we could hope for. Here's a pair that recently followed us home from Home Depot.

Without much coaxing, they made themselves right at home on the canal. They like it here so much, they may never leave our dock. And we're quite alright with that ;)

Crabs for breakfast

As many mornings as possible, I try to enjoy a mini-moment of life on the bay. Sometimes, it's just a peek out the back window to catch a glimpse of the high tide. But on leisurely mornings, it's a slow stroll - coffee cup in hand - all the way down to the end of our dock. The experience is always the same and always different. This morning, I discovered someone had fresh crab for breakfast. It wasn't me.

Obviously, I'm just not this MESSY of an eater. Good to know that the birds of Tampa Bay aren't boycotting crabmeat out of the Gulf ;)

Oh, and lately, we've been blessed with visits from faraway friends & family, along with a lil' bit of house projecting...yeah! I'll be writing it up soon enough.

Sea Turtle Nesting Season 2010

On a recent trip to Indian Rocks Beach, M. and I intended only to swim, play, and soak up some Vitamin D. Under a bright Florida sun, we walked hand-in-hand appreciating the natural wonder of a less-touristy beach.

There, amidst the usual seashells and shrieking children, we came across a reminder that life finds a way...

From May 1st through October 31st, Sea Turtles make homes out of the sand dunes. These are usually carefully marked out on the beach to protect the nests from the heavy tread of tourists.

Although these cute little creatures are protected by Florida Law, I can't help thinking that nothing can protect our marine life better than being responsible caregivers of this planet. I've tried to keep politics out of this blog, but more than four months have passed since the BP oil spill. News coverage has dwindled and the public has a short memory for unimaginable tragedies. We all have to draw that line in the sand somewhere. I draw mine here.

Weeks 88-111: In Hot Water

We're in hot water. Or warm water. Or cool water. Our new outdoor solar shower gives us the choice of all three. With my encouragement, (okay...whining), M. agreed to finally hook up this bad boy pool-side for quick rinses. So far, it works great before our swims and after beach trips.

The relentless Florida sun heats up water directly from the hose and voila!A temperature control knob keeps things from getting too scorchy. Ouch!

With the beautiful outdoors beckoning, now it is REALLY hard to focus on indoor house projects. There is still painting, patching, woodwork, blah-dee-blah on our list, and yet the beach or pool keeps calling. It's going to be a looooong summer!

Summer Solstice 2010

Welcome back Summer!

We've missed you...

Your long days of sun and fun.

Guess M. couldn't wait to dive-in.

Here he is startling our local fish.