I have to say, living in Florida definitely beats those cold northern temps my friends have been enduring lately. I almost hate to post this photo of me and my friend, Sherry, kayaking on Friday. Almost.
We explored the waterfront of Sarasota Bay and saw two dolphins (mother and child), one osprey diving for food, several pelicans (YAY!), and one wedding (onshore). Sarasota is a new place for me, and this Ringling mansion (winter home of one of the Ringling Brothers of circus fame) was definitely the fanciest building I’ve seen in a while.
Sherry and her husband were hosting me for the holiday weekend, and she was an excellent cook as well. When asked if there was any traditional Thanksgiving food I liked, I said my mother made cloverleaf rolls but they were kind of complicated and I’d be happy with anything they served. Lo and behold, I showed up on Thursday to this:
The weirdest thing about Sarasota was this statue by the waterfront. Go figure…
Other than a bit of Friday shopping at a bookstore (whee, a really nice, independent bookstore, something we don’t have in Gainesville) and chores and errands, it’s been a quiet week. Two paddles in one week definitely made me a happy camper. This week’s cover photo is the view on the water of Lake Warburg in Gainesville.
We do get weather here, as the above photo shows. And as I was watching the livestream of Mars Insight landing on the red planet, the world outside my Alto was thundering and lightening and pouring down rain. It was a nice break from all that sunshine and warmth 🙂
I think there’s a poet who wrote once a tragedy by Shakespeare, a symphony by Beethoven and a thunderstorm are based on the same elements. I think that’s a beautiful line.
Maximilian Schell
Annie, if you get the chance, Ybor City in Tampa is a worthwhile visit. Mostly Cuban influence. When I visited there in the 70’s, it was kinda seedy. But it’s most probably been revitalized.
I’m a native Floridian (the title “Florida Cracker” is held only by those born in the state), but haven’t lived there since 79 when I graduated from U of F -“go Gators!” No independent bookstores! My gosh, they used to be everywhere in G’ville! Steve Martin made regular some visits to a bar there with his stand-up comedy b4 he became a star. Actually, I left in 70 for the Marines, and returned between 75-79 for college. I’ve only visited a few times since.
I’m awaiting my new Battleborn battery and will set out for AZ in mid-December to visit my Marine son in Yuma. As I said b4, I’ll be boon docking in NM, AZ, and probably TX. Will do a couple of days in Quartzite and a few days at the RTR. I expect I’ll see some fellow Altoistes at the latter.
I enjoyed your wrap-up and following you with your posts. Hope you return to posting next year. walt
Hi, Walt, you must be getting ready to go, packing up the Alto, and loading up supplies for your trip. It sounds great, and I’m a bit envious you will be in the Southwest and I won’t be this year, so I hope you post photos on Altoistes as you go. Safe travels!
I have been following your posts since the beginning and really enjoy them. It is strange because so much of what you share resonates with me. I own a campervan and have traveled extensively across Canada and the USA in it. I have 3 folding kayaks and can be found on or in the water whenever possible. I love photography and take photos daily. And after a 30+ year career in health care (I am now semi-retired), I am spending as much of my time as possible in my studio: painting, drawing and doing printmaking.
All the above to simply say that your journey (inner and outer) resonates with random-people-out-in-the-unknown- internet-stratosphere. Thank you!
Oh, my goodness, Donna, we do sound like vagabond twins! We must meet up at some point, especially if we could work in a paddle (I love my new folding kayak, if you can’t already tell). Do you have a website or page of your work and travels?
Hi again,
I post some of my prints/paintings etc on my FaceBook page but I don’t have a web page, per se.
I wrote a blog in 2013 when travelling across the South West USA (mostly). The site is https://chicktripoutwest.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-reflection-on-our-travels.html. Somehow it is in reverse chronological order. We have changed vans and kayaks since then but it shows a bit of our travel character…
Enjoy your semi-rootedness for the months to come. If you post kayaking photos (especially with the Manatees like you did in the past) I will be envious ☺️.
I love your blog, I’m working my way through your adventures now! Always fun to see what other vagabonds have done and seen. Maybe we can run into each other in 2019… who knows what the future holds?
It’s a great feeling when someone makes you a dessert or food that brings back memories of an earlier time. My wife Jane started making me lemon meringue pie for my birthday many moons ago. That flavor brings me back to a happy place in my childhood. Thank you for sharing your travels. I love reading them. Best.
Ah, that is a sweet thing for her to do every year. It amazes me still how much one food or one sound can recall a memory or person so clearly for me.