Let's Just Go Somewhere: Week One in Bradenton

On Wednesday morning, March 2nd, the Hosler-Gregory caravan headed north to Winter Quarters Manatee RV Park in Bradenton, Florida. Because it was such a short drive, we drove "disconnected" with Bonnie in the lead in their car, Ken and Chuck in the RVs, and me bringing up the rear in our car. We got checked in to the campground and went to our respective sites which were, unfortunately, very far apart. The sites were level and 50 amp but the road noise from I-75 is probably some of the worst we have experienced because the campground backs right up to the interstate.

After getting set up, we rode our bikes over to Tom Bennett Park and went for a walk around the relatively new park.

We didn't see any gators but Chuck saw some potentially good fishing holes.

The cypress trees had not begin to bud yet...

...but the cypress knees were sprouting up all along the ground.

These pine trees had these big red things growing on them that we weren't sure if they were maybe future pine cones.

What we did discover is that when you flicked the red buds, a fine dust of pollen would fly out in a light green mist. So that's where all the green dust in all our vehicles is coming from!

When we got back to the campground, we played a round of shuffleboard at the clubhouse.

The clubhouse, pool, and shuffleboard have a beautiful setting right next to the lake that is in the middle of the campground.

We didn't play for long, however, because the see-ums started biting. We call them see-ums because they were not as small as no-see-ums but they still bite!

On Thursday, March 3rd, we loaded up the bikes and drove over to Manatee Beach for a day of beaching and biking. Ernie and Noela drove up from their campground in Port Charlotte to spend the day with us too. Before Ken and Bonnie introduced Ernie and Noela to the world of beach gear, they used to come to the beach with just beach towels.

Now, they come just as loaded down with all the necessities of beach life as we do. :)

One of the things I quickly discovered that I liked very much at Manatee Beach was the nearby cafe that served coffee with unlimited refills.

I think I'm in my happy place! :)

Manatee Beach is not a good shelling beach but it is a good walking beach. Although it was crowded near the public parking, you could walk a short distance and have the beach nearly to yourself.

After a very relaxing few hours at the beach, we packed up our beach gear, got on our bikes, and rode a few miles south to the Swordfish Grill where we enjoyed a relaxing lupper near the water.

The restaurant had a beautiful setting along the water...

...and even came with it's own pet rooster. Or maybe dinner for people who don't like seafood???

After leaving the restaurant, we rode our bikes back to Manatee Beach...

...to enjoy some ice cream, live music and disappearing sun.

Friday was an errand day including going to the Red Barn for some delicious fruit. The strawberries we purchased were from Plant City and the blueberries were the sweetest we have ever had. Next, we headed to Trader Joes and Costco for a few more grocery items. While Ken and Bonnie were at a craft show on Saturday, Chuck and I rode our bikes around the campground and attempted to play shuffleboard but the see-um started biting so we had to quit mid-game. After Ken and Bonnie's craft show, we went to Sonny's for dinner but they were out of pulled pork! That was a first. I got the pulled chicken and it was pretty good but not as good as their pulled pork.

On Sunday morning, we went to church at Bayside Community Church where their guest speaker was Tim Tebow.

Wow! What an influence for Jesus Tim is. Tim talked about how hard it was for him to decide which college to go to when he was in high school. Of course, many football powerhouses wanted him but he had finally narrowed his decision down to between Florida and Alabama. He talked about how he prayed and prayed and talked with his family and his high school coach and friends and how no one would tell him that he should choose one over the other. He kept looking for someone or something to tell him which school to choose. Up until the last few minutes before he announced, he was not even 100% sure. Of course, as we all know, Tim decided on Florida and had a very successful four years of college football with them. Tim's point was that in our walk of faith, just because God doesn't show you doesn't mean He isn't leading you. God has a purpose for our lives. He doesn't waste our pain when we give it to Him.

On Sunday afternoon, we went to a high school about 6 miles away where we had found some pickleball courts. They are actually tennis courts that just have the lines for pickleball courts marked on them but they still work for us. We just have to chase the balls a little further. We had a fun afternoon and topped it off with ice cream from McDonalds and Bonnie had her shamrock shake with a little bit of hot fudge mixed in.

On Monday, we drove back south to Manasota Beach where we met up with Cindy and John and enjoyed a nice relaxing day on the beach. The weather was so nice that we ended up staying to nearly sunset.

On Tuesday, Ernie and Noela drove up from Port Charlotte and picked all of us up including all our bikes so we could all ride together to our next adventure: Fort DeSoto.

After parking the truck near the end of the bike trail, we ate lunch and then began a 15 mile round trip bike ride.

Ospreys in a nest that was unusually close to the ground.

We rode all the way to the end where we could see the Skyway Bridge across Tampa Bay that we had crossed coming to Fort DeSoto.

Ken did his fancy finagling with his camera to set up this nice group selfie.

He also took this picture of Chuck and me when we weren't looking. :)

On the way back, we stopped at a fishing pier.

There was a huge school of minnows under the pier that made the water look like it was raining with all their swimming and flopping about. There was also a dolphin swimming nearby.

After leaving the pier, we stopped at Fort Desoto which is an old fort that had been originally used during the Civil War and was an active military post between 1898 and 1910.

Walking the ramp up to the top of the fort.

Egmont Key Lighthouse off in the distance

Fort DeSoto Beach

Air vents on top of the dirt fort.

I hope this thing isn't loaded!

After leaving the fort, we stopped for ice cream and then headed back to the truck. On the ride back, we heard these unusual sounding birds. It was two parrots!