The Bean Depot and a boat ride

Saturday we drove to Punta Gorda to check on the trailer. The area had been flooded and seen high winds due to the hurricanes, but the storage facility was largely unscathed, just some damage to the fence.

On the way back we stopped at "The Bean Depot Cafe" for some lunch.

 

It's a historic building, part museum

and

part

restaurant.

We sat outside even though the breeze was a bit cool and

perused the menu.

Not much in the way of vegetarian options but I had a grilled cheese on a brioche bun and coleslaw, with Sangria. The stage in the back ground had a lone guitarist/vocalist and we were entertained while eating.

They had live entertainment at lunch and dinner.

Later I painted it before the usual reading by the pool, swimming and walking Izzy that rounds out our days. I bought a very small, travel, paint pallet and needed to try it out. I found it was missing one colour that I use frequently for shadows and to darken colours, Paynes Grey, so will need to add that in.

Sunday we were taken for a boat ride by, Neil, a friend of Cyndy and Jim's who lives, on a canal, in Punta Gorda. As I was helped on to the boat I dropped my phone into the canal so all the photos to follow are taken on Cyndy's phone. It was a brand new boat and this was the first time Neil had taken it out into the Bay. Very high tech controls and design.

Cyndy and I sat out at the bow as we

spent about 20 minutes

making our way through the miles of canals

past luxury houses with pools and hot tubs, lush landscaping, docks and

boats of all shapes and sizes.

Tricoloured Egret.

After the residential area we went through an area of Mangroves that provide some protection from storms and surges.

Then

out a narrow channel into the Charlotte Harbour Bay. There are no pictures of our ride out on the bay as we were hanging on. Neil was trying out the boat, up to 50 miles and hour, crossing wakes etc. Great fun but not conducive to picture taking.

We re-entered the canals through a different

passage through the mangroves.

Great Blue Heron

and more Pelicans.

Coming back through the canals I went inside and Neil talked about his sailing and boating history and showed off the tech on this, his newest boat. It was a lovely smooth ride, powerful but quiet (although Neil did show how loud it could be if you push the "sport mode" button, which does nothing to performance, just makes it loud) and Cyndy and I were very thankful for the opportunity to get out on the water.

As we returned to the dock, I spotted my camera on the bottom. Fished it out with a boat hook and it now sits in a bowl of rice on Cyndy's kitchen counter. I am not hopeful that this will reverse more than an hour in salt water. I suspect I will be buying a new camera before my trip to Thailand.

Guest photographer: Christine

Who has been sending me pictures of

Rasta, who is, again, adapting to life with the twins, Donny and Marie.

Port Charlotte, Florida.

Cindy, Izzy (pictured, snoring in my left ear) and I left on Monday to drive to Florida. Cyndy got the worst of the first days drive with snow squalls on the 401, south of London. There was no lineup at the Windsor border crossing and the customs stop was smooth sailing.

 The first night we spent near Cincinnati and the second near Macon.

Photo by Cyndy

 We took turns driving, 2 hours on, 2 hours off. Aside for some slow traffic in the cities, the drive went well. We just stopped for gas and to give Izzy  brief walks. 

Photo by Cyndy

The hotels provided breakfast and fruit and bagels for lunch. We arrived in Port Charlotte by about 4pm on Wednesday.

The first evening was spent unpacking the car, cleaning (Cyndy was last here in August), turning the heater on for the pool, small grocery shop and supper (along with a celebratory bottle of Prosecco).

Thursday morning we went to the outdoor market in Englewood.

Fresh quacamole being made. We bought a selection of fruit and vegetables, scallops, olives and dips. I found both the grocery store and the market to be more expensive than home (prices higher than at home and then the conversion from US dollars makes it even more)

We walked down to the water and found that some, newer homes, were unscathed but there was extensive hurricane damage. Photo by Cyndy

On the way home, a bigger grocery shop to get things not available at the market. The afternoon was spent doing aquafit (about an hour)  and reading by the pool. That is our plan, if we want to do something we will do it in the morning, home for lunch and afternoon by the pool. Cyndy walks Izzie in the morning and I walk her in the afternoon.

Friday morning we went to the Warm Mineral Springs.

The Warm Mineral Springs is a water-filled sinkhole located in North Port, Florida, a mile north of U.S. 41. The primary water supply is a spring vent deep beneath the pool's water surface. Warm Mineral Springs is the only warm water mineral spring in the State of Florida. It is an important geological and archaeological site containing Native American remnants. The site was operated as a spa from 1946 until 2000. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on November 28, 1977. The springs re-opened for swimming only in 2014.

 Warm Mineral Springs is a sinkhole formed in carbonate rock by the collapse of the roof of a cavern 30,000 years ago.In 1996-1997, a group of diver explorers conducted an underwater survey of the site resulting in the mapping of two warm water vents ~97 degrees F and two cool water vents ~76 degrees F. (from Wikipedia)

The area had been damaged by one of the hurricanes and the main buildings were closed and there was a temporary entrance ($20us each) and washroom/changeroom. We had come already wearing our bathing suits and walked in, across the stream that empties out of the pool, and grabbed a couple of lounge chairs.

It smelled strongly of Sulphur when we first arrived but we quickly got used to it.

 It was not crowded, we easily swam around (on pool noodles we had bought with us) without interfering with anyone. There were small groups and couples, mostly middle European from the sound of the languages being spoken. Supposedly the healing properties of the water require a 45 minute soak so we swam, tread water and made our way around the edge and then in the middle, for about an hour. It wasn't very warm, not like hot springs I have gone to but then it is only called a Warm spring. At one point Cyndy saw a large fish breaking the surface near her and received some ribbing about the "Kraken" or "Nessie", until I saw it too. We later learned that there were some Tarpon in the water.

We read for a while while drying off and then changed and left.

 Picked up bird food on the way home and then another afternoon of reading by the pool.

Cigi and Cinderella

 The last few years my Christmas gift to Chris and Jason has been a night in a local hotel and taking care of Cigi. They have been to Eco Adventures (glamping) and The Arlington (Paris) and this year, The Dover George. So Cigi came to stay this weekend.

Friday evening she and Christine helped me to decorate the Christmas tree.

 

Saturday morning we made Chocolate Croissants (Pillsbury crescent rolls with chocolate chips inside). She had to taste test a chip from each spoonful, as any good chef would.

 

Saturday morning was spent playing with the wooden animals. They have been around for ever and still provide hours of fun. A newer toy, bought in a garage sale last year, is a train set. We also set that up, replaced the batteries in one of the engines and raced them on the track. I think this is also a toy that will have longevity.

Saturday afternoon Daniele had got us tickets for Cinderella, the pantomime, at the Lighthouse Theatre.

She was enthusiastic about the idea but a little apprehensive. The theatre provided booster seats to the many children in the audience. Cigi thought she might rather be on my lap but once things got rolling she was fine in her own seat, occasionally grabbing my shoulder for moral support.

There was lots of opportunity for audience participation and she enthusiastically joined in with booing the villain and ooing the prince, shouting that the ghost was behind them and singing along with the songs. Every time that Cinderella was offstage she would ask loudly "Where's Cinderella" much to the amusement of the people sat behind us.

She loved having the program and wanted to review which actors played which parts.

It was Jason's birthday on Friday so Cigi wanted to bake him a cake. We grocery shopped on Saturday morning (according to Cigi his favourite cake flavour is "sprinkles", with chocolate icing). She couldn't remember how old he had told her he was so she picked a candle with a 0 on it, seemed safe. She found the mixer too loud but was a great help cleaning up the mixing bowl and the beaters. Sunday morning we iced it. Again a great help with licking the container out.

When Chris and Jason arrived we were making Christmas Tree decorations

This was the trial run, they got better.

It was a busy, fun, tiring weekend and I hope the pantomime can become a Christmas tradition for us.

Guest Photographer: Christine Miller (Wales).

Last time I visited Chris and Chris, they had finished the main floor of the mill and I stayed in the unfinished second floor. They are hosting the whole family for Christmas, so getting the second floor finished now. I sent an email saying I hope they were safe from the flooding in Wales. Chris replied that they were fine and sent a couple of photos from this summer.

Front of the mill taken from the farm track, opposite.

Back of the mill, taken from the second terrace.