First, we're still in central Florida enjoying great weather and seeing the sights. Just the other day we headed south to the Sarasota area to take advantage of our South Haven friends Curt and Nancy's invitation to pay a visit to their home in Osprey.
But before arriving at their home we stopped for lunch with my brother-in-laws brother Bill who lives in Englewood ... a lay-back little town perched on the western coast south of Sarasota. We picked him up at his beautiful waterside home and headed to a nearby restaurant for tasty lunch. Now this is living. Sandy beaches, warn weather, good food and good company. We couldn't stay long but it was sure good to see Bill. One of those special people whose ready smile and engaging intellect will always put him on our "A" list.
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| Our friend Bill |
Somehow knowing that breakfast was my favorite meal as well, we were greeted by a spread of fresh fruits and a very tasty omelet. But sitting around the breakfast table for very long was not in the playbook this morning as Curt was going to take us on a tour of Spanish Point. A little peninsula of jungle-like finger of land poking into Sarasota Bay. With human history going back to around 3000 BC, this well kept enclave is a designated property of the National Register of Historic Places. Prehistoric peoples made Spanish Point there home for thousands of years, living off the land and sea and leaving a rich archaeological history of their lives. Fast forward to the mid 1800's and the Webb family from up-state New York found there way here via the water and established a homestead. From that beginning they began citrus farming, later expanding to sell their crops as far south as Key West.
In the early 1900's the property was sold to the Palmer family (remember the Palmer House in Chicago) who wanted it as their winter estate. Flush with buckets of money, they turned the property into a jungle paradise for the rich and famous while preserving the prehistoric history. Curt ... our host/retired Air Force pilot/retired dentist/ now volunteer tour guide made our tour of the property a real treat. Well versed in the history of Spanish Point, Curt provided that extra touch that made the tour extra special. As you might expect, I took a few pictures along the way ... so if you're get down this way, seek out Spanish Point and discovery its rich past and see even more neat stuff.
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| Tarzan ... where are you? |
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| Webb families final resting place |
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| Reverend Curt at Mary's Chapel |
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| Guptill House (later the Palmers renamed it the Hill Cottage) |
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| Guptill House tour |
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| Unique aqueduct created by by Mrs. Palmer; inspired by the Romans |
Moving on ... we've been sampling possibly the best fresh squeezed orange and grapefruit juice on the planet. Right near the orchard where the fruit was picked, it just can't be beat. Oh and did I mention the strawberries? With all the warm weather they are ripening almost faster than they can pick them this year and they are just fantastic.
My friend Jim and I have been visiting the local gun shops, not looking for anything in particular but are meeting some very interesting people. Some treat you like old friends ... others like characters from the movie 'Deliverance'. Sharon and friend Carol have succumbed to the pleasures of the slot machines at the Hard Rock in Tampa. A semi-harmless vice that has made their right arms stronger and their wallets lighter. We've been to a number of flea markets and re-verified that 'one man's junk is another man's treasure'. We made a trip to the Villages (about 20 miles north of where we are now) and again and now know why there are so many golf carts there. We think that most of the drivers have lost their state drivers licenses and this is the only way they can get around. May be a nice place for retirees to live but no place to drive a car. The little battery powered mites are everywhere and they rule the highways and sidewalks. Kind of scary for outsiders.
We just had a visit from our Chicago/South Haven friends Alex and Barb. After struggling with my directions to find us (go figure) they took the time out of their busy vacation schedule to spend some time with us. We greatly appreciate it and were very happy to see them. And speaking of visitors ... we also had a visit from our Bella Terra friends Roger and Martha. They stopped here for a couple of days and were having some work done on their coach up a Alliance RV Repair in Wildwood. It's always good to see old friends.
We also had an evening visit from my old friend Armand. Not much of a talker but he can really take a joke. Talk about being thick skinned. I fired some insults at him that would crumple most. He usually stops in unexpectedly so he opens himself to abuse. The good thing he doesn't eat much.
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| Armand |
Still livin' the dream.
Phil
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