Happy New Year

So we end this year not where we expected to be at the beginning of the year but enjoying it all the same. We have met wonderful people on the trip and have had some interesting adventures.
It appears we chose wisely this year as home has had a foot of snow yet we sit here in 70 to 80 degree weather with plenty of sunshine.

We hope that your new year is filled with love, laughter, family, friends, and adventures.
We will continue our new year on the next blog. pnc2009.blogspot.com

Pickleball for all ages

Just a few of the folks we have met on the court.
Mike's leap into the air - he made the point.

The other Mike wondering where the ball went?

McKenzie scooping it up.

Pickleball basics

We have talked about Pickleball so we thought we should tell you about this sport we have joined. Think of playing table tennis on a badminton size court, with over sized paddles, over a tennis net, using a whiffle ball.

Most games are played as a doubles team.

Don't forget your Pickleball paddle guard dog.

Is this the Life?

Here we are celebrating someone's birthday in late December... setting on the porch in shorts and t-shirts.

Christmas in Wauchula, Florida

This was moving day for us but Cath and Sally (neighbor and fellow pickleball player) still managed to get in some karaoke.

Picture from Faye and Ken's blog Highway Runner.

Christmas Parade

All we need for a parade is some golf carts (or similar wheeled vehicles) and a bunch of lights (ok maybe a spare battery or two.)

This was the snow scene on the back of a cart.

Manatee Holiday

At the center we found this manatee mailbox ready for the holidays.

Manatee Museum

Along with providing a refuge the power company has helped establish a viewing area for the Manatees, a walk through the tidal areas, and an educational center to help people understand how they can help preserve the manatees.

Leopard Ray

Along with the manatees, the rays, like this Leopard Ray, and other sea life take advantage of the warm protected waters.

Manatee Viewing Center, Apollo Beach, Florida

You can see many of the manatees who have found refuge at this power plant water output area. The water temperatures are monitored to make sure not to endanger the wintering manatees.

Gamble Mansion, Ellenton, Florida

With breeze ways, wrap around porches, and roof water collection cisterns this mansion built in the 1850's was designed for Florida weather.

Nature Walk at Sarasota Bay

The Sarasota Conservation Foundation sponsored a nature walk at the newly acquired estate in Osprey, Florida. We learned about cabbage palms and mangroves along with this interesting invader - a potato vine.

Siesta Key Gulls

Took a stroll along the beach and found this flock.

Camping in Bradenton, Florida

We camped near the lake here in Bradenton, about 40 miles south of Tampa. Nice view and it let us explore the area.

Turtle Run

This Gopher Tortoise is a local resident at the Thousand Trails ccampground in Clermont, Florida.

Happy Thanksgiving

Philip made us a great Thanksgiving dinner. A little harder in the limitted space of the trailer

Early Mist on Blue Spring Run

Spent some time in the early morning with the Manatees in the Run.
Several of the Blue Spring Manatees can be 'adopted' from the Save The Manatee Club.

More Manatees

Could not get enough of these gentle giants. Here they rest along the bank in the warm Run water before going back to the St John River to feed.

Blowing bubbles.

A cow and her calf resting in the sun

Another Gator

Found this alligator among the manatees in the Blue Springs Run

Blue Springs State Park, Florida

You can tell that 'winter' is nearly here as the manatees have started to gather at the warm springs along the St John River.

Here manatees enjoy the 'Hot Tub' known as Blue Springs Run,that stays a constant 72 deg.



Cow & calf.