Mom's Wild Adventure, Florida Sunset

  

On Saturday I got a text from sister Patti, and it shows mom at a beach!   WHAT???  Apparently they (Patti and Mom) headed over to Half Moon Bay, 25 miles south of San Francisco.  BUT, before they got there, they stopped for lunch in the San Jose area where Patti's daughter Ashley lives.  THAT alone would make the trip worthwhile in mom's book...going to the beach is like frosting on a very good cake!  That is mom and Ashley in the above picture.

It is called Half Moon Bay because of its crescent shape. It is also a favorite surfboarding area due to the large waves that come in at certain times of the year (November through March).  Mom said that they did not go down to the water because it was just too windy and cold...but that she really enjoyed her day.  When I talked to her around 9 am Sunday morning she was so worn out that she was still in bed, but awake.  Well, the worn out part must have worn off because Patti texted Sunday night (evening their time) that mom had gone on an outing with others from the facility that day!

Saturday evening I decided to head out in search of a Florida Sunset.  Anclote River Park is 4 driving miles from the condo, only 3 as the crow flies.  The park sits on about 3 acres, and it has a beach that is around 250 feet long.  There is an outdoor bar and restaurant, and the County has plans which include the renting of paddle boats and more food choices.  There is a boat dock to launch/retrieve boats.  There is no parking fee for vehicles, but there is for boat trailers.  The park sits right where the Anclote River and the Gulf of Mexico meet...on the south side of the river is Tarpon Springs, which is in Pinellas County.

From Anclote River Park I followed the coastline north up to Eagle Point Park.  Did not see anywhere that I wanted to get a sunset picture from despite pulling into another three parks.  I continued back to Highway 19 and turned south towards the condo.  That is a 14 mile loop, very little traffic, and each park needs to be checked out more when I have more time.  

Especially this Dog Park which is at Anclote Gulf Park.  However, Indy is currently banned, as of this past weekend, from Dog Parks.  The Pasco Dog Shelter announced Friday that it is suspending dog adoptions, intakes, surgeries and rescue transfers for 14 days due to a highly contagious respiratory virus at the shelter, something called Canine Pneumovirus.  This is like a heavy-duty version of Kennel Cough, and dogs are dying from it.  There is no vaccine yet, and the best advice is to keep your dog away from other dogs.  So we are keeping her away from the doggie park until further notice.  We have been going to the Tarpon Springs Dog Park a couple of times a week, and last time there were 15 dogs at the park.  Thank goodness none of them looked sick...but we just don't want to chance it.

As I got closer to the condo, I decided to take a right on Alt-19 towards Tarpon Springs.  I got this picture as I crossed over the Anclote River.  A few years ago I parked the car and walked the bridge to get a nice sunset...and I also got bitten up by mosquitos, so that was not an option this time.  I turned right into the area they call "The Sponge Docks", but being Saturday they had much of the street shutdown for an outdoor event, and I could not get to where I thought a nice sunset would take place.  But, as they say, "Tomorrow is another day...another sunset."

When I got home Saturday evening, Marcia suggested that I should go back to Crystal Beach the next time I went out.  So, that is exactly what I did on Sunday and got the above picture, and the two below.  I have taken many pictures at Crystal Beach, and have been there for a few sunsets.  By far, it is the best, closest place for good sunsets without having to walk amongst the mosquitos.

It might be hard to see it, but there are three ladies in the pictures above watching the sunset.  Two had lawn chairs, the other is on a rock to the left of them.

Yep, another good Florida sunset...

Note:  On Mondays when Marcia attends Bible Study, Indy and I got to Crystal Beach for a good hour or more waiting for Bible Study to end at noon.  I am going to try and remember to take my camera on Mondays, so you will see more from Crystal Beach...maybe even go back to get another sunset or two.

Slider Floor Replacement, Another Sunset

When we bought our La-Z-Boy recliners late last summer, we found out that the floor under the old couch was a bit spongy.  Since then, when ever we “use” the slider, we pull the chairs out so that they sit more on the main floor of the RV and not on the slide area.  Called Kerry McColloch at McColloch’s RV repair and storage in Sacramento and lined up the “big repair” for when we are there in late April/early May.  He wanted some pictures, so I went over to the storage area Saturday and got measurements and pictures so that he has an idea of it.  When we get to Sacramento, we will take it by his place soon after we get there, let him get all the particulars and line up an actual date to have the repairs, which will take three days or so to be completed.  That “should” have us ready for Alaska.

The view from down under shows a slight separation along he side.

But the spongy area is right in the middle within the white circle and extending to the left.  All around the edges seem to be real solid, which is a good sign.  It will be bad bad bad if there is rot within the walls.

Last Thursday we decided to finally try the New England's Ale House Grille, formerly the “Olde School House” on Alt 19 highway near Alderman in Palm Harbor.  

Other than being a bit loud, there was a large group of ladies sitting where this picture was taken, and we were in the first table along the left side past the bar, we really enjoyed it.  Marcia had hoped that they would have more fish, especially fish not deep fried, but they did have a special that night of seared tuna, which along with a bowl of stew, was enough for her.  I had a large bowl of Clam Chowder to go along with the large Nacho plate we had as an appetizer.

I think next time we will try the outside seating….then Skruffy can sit along side of us too instead of waiting in the car.  (I know, a service dog is allowed inside Restaurants, but we choose not to take her inside unless it is just too hot outside.)

After dinner we went over to Crystal Beach to view another Florida Sunset.  Yes, Marcia took this picture of my “best side” as I was looking for an opportunity to get a picture of some of the birds flying around.

I think she got my backside because she knew the best picture that I could get of a Pelican was of its backside when it took off from the water.

Not that I didn’t try…but the sun was facing me, and that makes it hard on taking pictures of flying objects.

   

There were a few birds, other than the many seagulls, which did pose for me though.

   

As I took a walk out on the pier, Marcia and Skruffy stayed back in the car.

   

Using separate cameras, we both seemed to get the same shot at the same time.  Mine, with new camera, on the left, hers, with old camera, on the right.  I like hers better than mine, that palm branch gives it some character.

And when she framed the picture with the tree and bush on each side, well….can’t beat that one.

Although this one comes close…..

I do have to admit that there are some nice beach-side properties around here.  But I like having a home on wheels where our view can change whenever, wherever we wish to take it. 

A Florida Sunset

This afternoon I suggested to Marcia that we go out and capture a sunset, then get a bite to eat.  She suggested going to Cracker Barrel, so I had to find a place near Cracker Barrel in New Port Richey in which we could see a nice sunset.  Boy, sure found a nice county park that was just perfect for it.  And one of Marcia’s first pictures (above) was a great start to our sunset collection.

Robert K Rees Memorial Park is a small county park in Pasco County.  Like many, if not all, of the Pasco County Parks that are along the water, it cost $2 for parking, there are approximately 20 parking places, so the crowds are not big, and the views….well…….

  

   

….you can be the judge of that.  But sunset is what it was about, so here they are…

This is one of my favorite shots.  Un like Marcia, I was able to walk around and find different type of shots, while she was in her GoGo with Skruffy using the older camera.  I saw this seagull sitting out on the buoy fence, and lined it up with the sun as it went down.

After I ran around getting a few other shots, I came back and found him still sitting there watching the sun disappear over the horizon.  I think he had the best view of them all….

Here is another of mine that I liked….those folks, cuddled close together, just watching the sun go down….perhaps they had the best view of them all….

Here’s Marcia and Skruffy on the GoGo getting their own pictures.

 

 

Marcia got the sun going, going and then gone….amazing how the sky changed in just a matter of seconds, right before our eyes.

And then it was over….and they quickly shut the park down.  She sure got some pretty shots.

If there is a drawback to the park for a sunset it is only that you can’t get a good view of the skies off to the north, south or east…or perhaps it was just that there were no clouds in the sky to light up.  I told Marcia that we are going to be back on a cloudy day, that’s for sure.

As we drove away, we pass this small inlet off to our left, I turn around at the first place I could to the questioning of Marcia wondering what the heck I was doing.  I told her I saw a shot I just had to have….and what a pretty shot it was.  I wonder what that would look like with a sky full of pinkish clouds?  Can’t wait to find out!

Here is a map to Robert K Rees Memorial Park, which is the farthest left point of land on this map.  Click on the map above and it will take you to Google Maps, just in case you are in the area.