Will He or Won't He? Pelican and Mini Me Standoff

Anyone for lunch?

With life-sized me's sis in town, it is time to hit the sights and leave the renovation headaches to another day.
 

Mini Me found dolphin pods and pods

First up was a visit to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary just 5 minutes up the road from where we live.  They rescue all sorts of injured birds.  Mini me, having a slight fear of being swallowed by a pelican for lunch or taken off to a new home by an osprey (5-7 feet wingspan!!), understandably decided to stay at home, scan for dolphins off her balcony and nap.  Yes, this dolphin photo was taken from our balcony and a paddle boarder is just out of shot.

Can you see me? asks Mini Me

Next a trip to Mullet Key and Fort De Soto where we could see historic battlements and then catch a ferry for a short ride to Egmont Key a great site for shelling! 

You see all sorts here in Florida and this t-shirt should give you an idea of what the culture is like ---



Upon arrival we ran into a couple of gopher tortoises; they move

Anyone home?  Yes there is!

quicker than advertised. And spotting a nest was useful and not as obvious as you might think;  soon we will have nesting sea turtles on our beach.

 
 
Sis wanted shells and so we scoured the beach ... and life-sized me even found two whole sand dollars.  Mini me came along and her fears of being snatched by a bird were confirmed when a man's wallet was taken by a black grackle!  Fortunately the man saw the bird, ran in from bathing in the sea and was able to retrieve his wallet - all valuables then went into the cooler bag.  Those sneaky creatures!!  Drama over, mini me went off for a dip in the sea to cool off under the protection of life sized me.

The Florida sun was really beating down and mini me had to take shade to avoid sunburn.

What do you think of our shelling haul?  There are shells on our own beach, whole ones too, but they tend to be smaller and of course there are more people about to snatch the best ones up --- so I may have to learn to be an early bird .... or return to Egmont Key where we got this great stash.


All too soon is was time to board our chariot and return to shore

passing a few ships heading for the port of Tampa along the way.  We made a slight detour to see dolphins and a few manatees.  Husband was not impressed which tells you how much we can and have already seen off our own beach - how lucky is that!?!

The next day we drove northeast inland to Ocala to meet up with friends of sis.  On our way we did a double take -- we saw two camels!! Unfortunately didn't get a picture and they had gone indoors by the time we drove back.  Ocala being a small place equidistant between Tampa and sis' friends in Jacksonville we met at the Horse and Hounds (Ocala being horse country) where the friends were introduced to mushy peas.  Mini me now has friends in Jacksonville, which may prove useful if one needs a safe haven for a hurricane evacuation -- as we are living below sea level evacuations are mandatory and enforced.

Before we knew it, we were taking sis back to the airport.  On our return home our local drawbridge delayed our journey for the first time
-- and we laughed as everyone jumped out of their cars.  Our drawbridge, one of many in the area,  only takes a few minutes and we were then on our way.

 
Now packing up our things getting ready for the renovations to start -- first to deflate sis' airbed (yes we are sleeping on one too) ... and then distracted by another dolphin pod passing by, some bicyclists on their way to work (see guitar on his back)

and a beautiful sunset.  Cannot believe I LIVE HERE!!