Florida - Gary's HS Reunion Trip

Gary's High School is having a Snowbird Reunion down in Englewood Florida.  It is a 5 hour drive from here so we stop at his Brother-in-Laws House in Brooksville, Florida about 2.5 hours away.

It is a log cabin under construction so we crash with them in their motorhome.

We go out to dinner at Stumpknockers

The next day everyone heads down to the Reunion and I stay back with Tucson.  We try for a hike in the State Forest after the first two hiking trails I picked did not allow dogs.

 A short detour to a confederate graveyard

 We head South

Which way do we go Mom?

 We must be on the C loop

 We have to cross Forest Road 5

 Spring flowers are starting to pop out

We cut the hike short as it was getting really warm.  I dropped Tucson off at the RV and went into town to run some errands including replacing my cell phone that died this morning.

A quick stop at the Railroad Museum - but it is Sunday and closed

There is a nice park next door so I check it out

and run into a Juvenile White Ibis with a frog in his throat

and an Adult White Ibis

I'm getting hungry so I stop at Florida Cracker to grab a bite.

 The place was packed and closing in 15 minutes so
just grabbed a Gumbo to Go

Everyone arrives back safely and we go to dinner at Papa Joes.

 I had the Sampler plate with Eggplant Parm,  Lasagna, Sausage with Peppers and Onions and Meatballs, Gary split a Pizza.

A great time visiting but time to head home.

We stop at Mt. Dora on the way home because my Sister
is always talking about it.  A quaint little town with great shops.

Florida - Dolphin Tour

Today we are scheduled to go out on a Dolphin Watch Cruise with our friend Jean and a group from her neighborhood.  It is starting out nice.

 Jean put her back out so wasn't able to come with us.  It is an overcast and cool day - a high of only 71.  We arrive at the docks.

 The Pelicans are just hanging out.

 I hope this guy has a legitimate business cause this boat name isn't going to help him if he get's caught embezzling or selling drugs.

 And our boat for the tour is right next door.

Not a full boat so room to wander around

 But this 90 footer probably has more.

  and were are off!

More lazy Pelicans

The Saint Augustine Lighthouse

 and the Freedom Schooner goes by

 A view to the Ocean - Vilano Beach is to the Left and 

Anastasia Island is to the Right.

 A view of Downtown St. Augustine - the Treasury Building on the Left, the smaller building to the right is the Lightener Museum and the two towers are Flagler College

and of course Castillo de San Marcos

 The consequences of driving a boat while impaired

 Still no Dolphins but some Snowy Egrets

 A Kingfisher on the hunt

and an Osprey in the crows nest looking for a meal.

Off he goes

  and rests in a tree on shore

 A couple of Ibises

 and more Pelicans

On  the final stretch back to the dock 2 dolphins are finally spotted - of course I was on the other side of the boat but managed this parting shot.

and back to the beginning

Didn't get to see a bunch of Dolphins but it was a nice boat tour with informative staff.  Not a bad way to spend a gray day.