Tampa!

Last November an old college friend of mine finally crossed one of the items off her bucket list--at long last she was relocating to the beach.  Since I have so much free time (and the flight was dirt cheap) I decided to go for a visit as I haven't seen the ocean since 2005.  I went to Orlando for a educational conference and one of the days we snuck off to Cocoa Beach.  I spent one day at Padre Island in 2004 and before that it was a family vacation to Orlando in the late '80's.  Not a lot actually happened on this vacation, so this post will mostly be photos and some description. Y'all like photos don't you?

My favorite part of any long distance vacation that involves air travel is the airplane ride itself.  I love to fly. Growing up I wanted to be an astronaut (my eyesight nixed that dream).  I splurged on an window seat for the flight down so that I could spent the entire flight gazing in awe at the wonder below me.

"Fly the friendly skies...."

I love aerial horizon shots.

Swampy looking country somewhere South of TN.

First view of the Gulf Of Mexico

About 5 minutes before we landed in St. Petersburg.

After landing at the St. Pete airport we drove over to the quiet little town of Pass-A-Grille for lunch by the ocean followed by a long walk on the beach.  Naturally I had to wade...It must be part of my DNA that if there is water I must immerse myself in it.

 

Had my first ever conch fritters.  Very tasty!

I also saw 4 rays in the water but couldn't get a clear shot.

View of the Don Caesar Hotel

Sunset at my friends apartment complex on the 1st night.

On my second day there I chilled at her apartment while she had to work.  I took a lovely walk on the complex grounds in the morning, and that evening we went to visit the Pier in St. Petersburg.  It permanently closed on the Friday of that week and is scheduled for demolition.  A new 'fresh' project is in the works, but has been met with a lot of opposition.

I did manage to see a manatee swirl that morning, but no manatee.

The pelicans walking up to the Pier were the best part.

Honestly,  I wasn't impressed.  It smelled BAAAAAD.

My third day (Friday) there was a dud day.  My allergies were in meltdown mode and all I wanted to do was die.  I vegged on her couch all day and then we cooked out for dinner.  On Saturday we started bright and early as she and her boyfriend had a 5K they were running and then he had a 1K(?) swim afterwards.  We trekked down to Clearwater beach...lovely white sand beach by the way.

(I've never been to any race, but this seemed really disorganized to me.)
Everyone on the at the starting line.

While my friends raced, I entertained myself by wading (told you I had to get in the water) and snapping water photos.  I really would like to upgrade cameras and take some actual classes on photography at some point.

I like this view point.

Afterwards we had lunch on the beach and then drove back so my friends could shower.  Then it was off on a short roadtrip inland to Lake Wales, Florida and Bok Sanctuary.  Bok has the highest elevation in the state of Florida, 298 ft above sea level.  I come from hill country y'all...that's not very high at all.  Anyways, Bok Sanctuary has this magnificient carillon (like a pipe organ but instead of having pipes it has church bells attached to the keys and pedals) and is surrounded by about 50 acres of lush manicured gardens.  Serene, beautiful and idlliyc.  My first view of the tower made me think of Saruman's tower in Lord of The Rings.

There were tons of orchids of all shapes and sizes.

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No, this isn't a real gator.

Very cool door.

Soon the afternoon storms chased us out of the garden and instead of letting up shortly as they had all week, the ran continued to pour in sheets the rest of the evening.  We stopped for dinner in Ybor City at the Tampa Bay Brewing Co (featured on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives) and then snorkled home.  Sunday dawned bright and beautiful and after finally getting out the door (someone...not me...was a cranky snail so we didn't get to the beach until 11 am.)  We spent the afternoon on the beach and I enjoyed finally getting to immerse my self in the water.  I saw several schools of minnows and larger fish (looked to be the adult version of the minnows) and even a black and white striped fish.  I've never seen fish in the ocean before, so it was quite a treat.

Yes, I'm getting pink...

After an exhausting afternoon chillaxin' at the beach we headed in for a quiet dinner at home and then an early bedtime, I had to be at the airport by 5:30 the next morning.  After a bumpy flight home I walked out of the Lexington Airport to the blissful 60 degree morning with low humidity. After 90+ with 80+% humidity in Florida I thought I had died and gone to heaven.  Hopefully it won't be another eight years before I go to the beach, but I'm glad I don't live there.