After leaving Gulf Port, we went back to the mooring field
in Sarasota and stayed several days. We took advantage of Enterprise’s weekend
special and drove to check out 3 possible homes for “Submit”. Saturday was
laundry day. Note to self, make sure the lid is tightly secured on the liquid
laundry detergent before putting it in the bag with the clean clothes.
We enjoyed lunch at a Columbian restaurant. Reggie’s pulled
port was very good. My chicken in mushroom cream sauce was ‘to die for’. A fun place to eat, I believe we were the
only ones there who claim English as our first language.
The next stop was Marietta’s Museum of Whimsy and Arts. We
had to run through, as we only had 30 minutes before they closed. It is perfectly named. All the art belongs to
Marietta and it is certainly whimsical. There were bathrooms for men and women.
I know, not really unusual. We were encouraged to visit both bathrooms, as they
were also filled with fun art. There were chairs and benches made from drift wood
painted with animals, made from horse
shoes in animal shapes and just painted with whimsical colors and designs.
“Please feel free to sit in any of the chairs.” Most of the figurines made us
giggle or at least smile. The second room featured a light show, as well as
paintings, furniture and figurines. Room lights were dimmed and tiny
multicolored lights danced on the ceiling. We were then told to clap and make
noise, which excited the lights and caused them to glow brighter, multiply and
pick up the speed. When those lights disappeared, three life sized wire dancers
filled with LED lights twirled from the ceiling. Quite beautiful. Out the backdoor was a beautiful garden
filled with a wide variety of flowers and of course, more fun sculptures. I’m
sure we missed some, as they were often tucked in some obscure places. Marie,
you would have loved it. I’m sorry we forgot our camera!
Today we are motoring into a strong wind. There are tons of
people boating. The osprey with their chicks don’t seem to mind.
We were traveling along through red mangroves, palm trees
and varieties of southern pines.
Pelicans were flying over in formation or diving for fish or perching on
pilings and docks. Rays were leaping out
of the water. Dolphins raised by the
boat. We passed by osprey nests almost close enough to touch, with parents
feeding their young. Dinner at anchor,
at sunset, in the cockpit, lightning flashing from thunderstorms in-shore.
It occurred to us
that, on this gorgeous, sunny day , were sere seeing and enjoying our
surroundings, but what was once spectacular and unusual has become
commonplace. Folks have asked us to
include pictures, but we think of pictures as having to be of something special
and the familiar does not seem special. We forget the awe we experienced in our
early visits.
Perhaps because the scenery has become familiar, the
highlights of this trip have been the people. Friends from visits past. New acquaintances who feel like old
friends. New memories created and old
ones shared.
As we wind down this trip, we are thinking of tasks necessary for putting “Submit” to bed
for the next 9 months or so. We are
thinking about projects at home, re-launching “Knot Ready” for the summer,
splitting and stacking fire wood, repairs and excursions for the old motor
home, a granddaughter’s graduation, visits to family moving farther away,
friends to visit, grandchildren to squeeze and children to hug.
Reservations have been made for a place to stay in Miami
before catching our flight. A car must
be rented to take us from Port Charlotte to Miami. Some hapless sole must be corralled into
picking us up from the airport near midnight.
We hope to reciprocate someday with an early morning delivery or late
night retrieval but never seem to pay back as much as received.
We are also beginning to think about and make tentative
plans for our next visit to ”Submit”.
Bahamas? Mexico? The Florida Keys? Cuba?
By ourselves? Buddy boating with
friends? Arrive a little earlier and
stay a little longer?
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