On Monday we had dinner with Dan and Andrea at Leverocks where we ate (wait for it…) more seafood! V: Wonderful seafood! This is a must dine place. Atmosphere is fun, servers are friendly.
On Tuesday Vicki and Steve played nine holes of golf at the Greenfield Links (https://greenfieldplantationgolf.com/).
They offered a half price afternoon special, the catch was that we wouldn’t have time to play 18 holes. Which worked for us. V: 9 holes isn’t enough, 18 can be too many. We talked about doing a few more but ran out of time. The links were backed up on every hole. Carts have to be back by 6:20 at the golf courses as the sun was setting by 6:30 pm.
On Wednesday Steven joined a group from Winter Quarters to go go-kart racing. Steven did have fun, even though he was lapped by a few people.
He had to wear a helmet and a neck collar, and getting into the go kart consisted of falling into the seat. Getting out was more challenging, using the seat supports to climb out.
The course had several hairpin turns so Steven was constantly steering, braking and accelerating. Those with better times did not brake as often.
On Wednesday evening we went to the Loft at Billy’s Stone Crab to listen to Pete Merrigan and enjoy their grouper (Steve) and their Stone Crab (Vicki). Sadly there was no key lime pie that evening. V:Food is good, love the music and we can usually catch a sunset there, too. Billy’s is on Tierra Verde, south of St. Pete’s Beach off the Pinellas Byway.
We always enjoy listening to Pete, we consider him one of the friends we need to see when we are in the area. And it appears that Pete enjoys our company as well, or at least Vicki’s company. Pete asked Vicki to sing “Shame and Scandal”, a regular occurrence when we see him.
On Thursday the pool and hot tub at Winter Quarters was finally working, so Vicki was able to partake in the morning aquatic aerobics. V: Hooray, I love the class, enjoy the other ladies from all over mainly North America. Then we sit in the hot tub to relax those sore muscles and socialize. Then I take off for the rest of the day.
Steven has taken Lexie for walks around water features. The walk around the pond at Winter Quarters is slightly longer than a mile. V: it’s a good walk and this year we haven’t been “bugged” while walking around or sitting outside at our campsite. The only thing chasing us indoors is too much sun (yes, there is such a thing) or the days it was a bit too chilly. Last year, we were bombarded by “no-see-ums” who unfortunately had a “we-feel-them” bite. We both had plenty of welts last year and I gladly escaped that this year but Steven still got some early morning bites. Didn’t see any mosquitoes, maybe just too early.
Tom Bennet Park has several ponds that we have walked around.
And the pond at Heritage Harbor Park was about one and a half miles.
Steve is varying the locations to keep Lexie confused, otherwise she will balk if she thinks the walk will be over a mile. Vicki is good with the walks of a mile.
Steven has also gotten a couple more bike rides in. The first, on Monday, just explored the area near Winter Quarters. He had biked along Upper Manatee River Road last year to get some long bike rides in, but this year that road is under construction. Narrow roads with lots of traffic does not mix well with bike riders. V: traffic on 64 is so heavy, I’m good with biking around the resort. We’ll hit a trail soon.
Steven’s second ride was to Lakewood Ranch High School, a there and back trek of fifteen miles. The ride was on busy roads, but those roads also had good sized bike lanes.
We have seen, or paid attention to, more birds this year than last. Beyond the ibises and vultures, we saw a tri-colored heron on Winter Quarter’s pond. And we have heard and seen wild parrots. One site has a bird feeder, and smaller red-winged blackbirds were feeding there. V: we have a resident alligator at this resort who usually sticks to the pond, although he has been reported strolling around. I understand he’s at least a four-footer in length.