Time Just Flies

3.31.2022

The second half of February Karen came to visit. I am always concerned about keeping her busy so that she has a good time, but I really needn’t worry. Just like last year, we had a great time with her. We had one down day at the pool when she first arrived so that she could just relax and then:

Biking at Myakka River State Park

High up on the Canopy walk

1. We took bikes to Myakka River State Park and road about 15 miles around the park, meeting up with Michael and Bill who drove down from St. Pete. The Myakka River has the highest concentration of alligators anywhere in the world and boy did we see them.

2. She came with us and watched some Pickleball after working out at the fitness club here at Burnt Store.

3. Drove to St. Pete and got to show Karen why we love this city. We rode bikes on the pier, and up through the best parts of town. We enjoyed a taco Tuesday and went to a farmers market at the beach.

Tampa Bay Skyway Bridge

Biking on the St Pete pier

4. Sailed to St. James at the tip of Pine Island, anchored and dinghied in for drinks and appetizer at a restaurant on the channel. The next morning we dinghied over to Ding Darling nature preserve and went into a very shallow area with starfish and crabs that we could see clearly due to the low water level. It was very cool. (In the shallow, sha sha shallow.)

5. Did a little bit of shopping so she would have starfish to bring home to her coworkers.

It was a pleasure being with her, introducing her to our sailing friends and sharing our Florida life with her.

After she left things did not slow down. We are playing lots of Pickleball, taking friends sailing and enjoying happy hours and dinners with friends.

Clark family at Peace River Seafood

Brett and Theresa at Peace River Beer Company

I even had a girl’s day, going shopping at a local outlet mall with other sailing women. We played disc golf with friends we met in Marathon who now are dirt dwellers nearby and we tried our hand at fishing off the dinghy.

Fishing with Tina and Shadd

Disc Golf in the woods with Brett and Theresa

Dinghy drift with Sue and Lawrie and Shadd and Tina and their guests. Bob blows the conch at sundown most days.

I made humantashen for Purim.

We have been very lucky to meet some really nice new friends and deepen our relationships with existing ones. Bob is picking up a bit of consulting work here helping boat owners and doing boat deliveries. I have accepted a part time job with United Way of Cleveland which I can do remotely and am working on another consulting client which I am excited about. I will be back in Cleveland April 25th and Bob will join me on the 27th so that we can attend a friends son’s wedding in Philadelphia. Once we are back in Florida, we hope to make it to the Dry Tortugas (our third attempt) – I hope the weather will cooperate. More to come………….