Key wildlife

Although Longboat Key is a prime tourist destination wildlife abounds. The turtle nesting season is in full swing and while some turtles show bad judgement in creating nests where high tides will destroy the eggs others go right up to the dunes and give the baby turtles the best chance to hatch.

 Good turtle mothers placed their nests properly:

At the south end of the island a nesting pair of osprey have disdainfully avoided the public housing units specifically erected for osprey and used the first stoplight pole on the island. At least you can tell what street they live on.

De Anne biked to Coquina Beach this morning and had a wildlife encounter that was not appreciated. One of the resident squirrels, in a fit of perversion, chewed a hole in her bike seat while she was strolling the beach.

The best part of the week was a visit from Connie and Jim that had been put off a year due to  hurricane Irma. Alberto tried to interfere with this visit, but could not muster the strength.

Fleet week

Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale held Fleet Week this week. Our son took a few days off to visit us, but first gave us a tour of his ship (USS Kerasarge) before the daily public tour started. Note in the picture below the empty dock.

On the main hanger deck with the aircraft elevator up:

Out on the flight deck two of the ship's helicopters were set up. I was even invited to sit in the pilot's seat, but declined due to the contortions required to enter and the tiny seat. Definitely a space for a young, limber, skinny person.  

Fifty cal. machine gun..... I want one!

Tristan spent a couple hours running his elderly Father and youngish Mother up and down ramps and stairs (more like ladders). It was great to see where our son works: however, also very good to get away from the real world and back to our cloistered island.

Deserted island

Spring break is over and most of the snow birds have flown north again. Our island almost seems empty and we love having it to ourselves.

Beach shot - no one else - just my toes:

De Anne alone in the bay:

At Coquina Beach looking across Longboat Pass (OK there is someone else on the beach and a couple crabbers on the boat, but I don't feel crowded):

This week I have gone up to a mile on my bike without passing anyone on the sidewalk. Longboat Key has extra wide sidewalks and bikes can use the sidewalk provided they are equipped with a bell and don't exceed 10 mph.

Alpha bird

We are settled on Longboat Key and enjoying our marina-front villa. At least "villa" is the term used in the mobile home park to distinguish our fixed condos from the mobile homes.

These mobile homes look just like the ones in Martinsville, Indiana and sell for the same price as the Indiana ones plus $100,000 to $130,000 more because it is Longboat Key.

 We have met our immediate neighbors and they are a fine group, except for Henry. He is a great blue heron and is the alpha bird in the marina. He occasionally clears the pelicans and cormorants off the docks for no other apparent reason than he can.

 Henry got tangled in fishing line last week and had a hook stuck in his wing. The marine biologists from Mote Marine came out and freed him. I took pity on him and (disregarding neighbor advice) fed him a couple shrimp. Even though I fed him down the dock, he figured out where I live and stands outside our door waiting for me. A new chore for me is hosing down the sidewalk.

Henry waiting:

When Henry lets his guard down others will beg from De Anne:

Legacy Trail

The circus no longer winters in Sarasota, so the rail spur for the circus was turned into a biking and walking trail.

 A combination of the return of great weather, biking a lovely nature trail, and avoiding 85 year-old drivers on busy Siesta Key is irresistible to us.

 The trail includes shelters with bike repair stations sporting all necessary tools attached to a post by cables.

There is one hazard to watch for..... common in most of Florida.

Fleeing St. Croix

We are back on the safe island of Siesta Key, having fled from St, Croix.

Two nights ago, at 4:30 in the morning a druggie psycho kicked in our condo door, De Anne and I were able to escape out the back door and several neighbors joined us. He had already tried to break in to a condo several doors down and they had called the police who arrived moments after he invaded our unit.

The long term residents all said that the only crime in the complex in the past 8 years was one car break in. That was small comfort for us and after a sleepless night we decided St. Croix was not fun anymore so we left.

Warm weather, beautiful reef snorkeling, and lovely island beaches only work when you feel safe.

Hello is not OK

We got our first taste of St. Croix public transportation. Modern, small buses that cost one dollar per ride unless you have the discount (free) card. De Anne and I were the only people without the card. 

Everyone got on the bus with a cheery "Good morning!" and received the same in return. Having done our homework we knew this would happen. Answering back "Hi" is rude and "Hello" is not OK. This works the same with retail clerks too.

The perpetual tropical climate creates the need to announce yourself when nearing an open front door - therefore call out "Inside". No answer is always presumed to be proof no one is home; however, should someone answer "outside" that is your invitation to enter.

 In the big city of Christiansted, the tourist area is quite similar to Key West - right down to the wild chickens. A couple cocks fighting over a styrofoam cup:

Still a few lines hanging low in the street:

One unanticipated and undesirable result of our bus trip was the cold I contracted. A few days of rest and sunshine should make it better.