THIS BLOG IS A CROC

Well, hello again from Florida...I know, I know, what a croc eh? It's been over a month since our last entry but hey, when you read on you'll get a sense of why the traffic has been so lite in Michigan, and why it's taken so long for us to catch up and get busy with your favorite reading material.  I know some of you may have started to watch soap operas or started bitting your nails, but grab a coffee or something stronger and relax....we're back.... so read to your heart's content! 

Linda & Bryan

We are dedicating this blog entry as our "Friendship" blog, loaded with pictures of the many faces of all our friends...who while   traveling through - we found you!  (OK...so maybe you found us.) Either way we had a great time seeing everyone who by the way...are all Michiganders with the recent execption of Bryan and Linda, our old neighbors from Redford Twp., who just moved to Stuart, Florida. Everyone was just like us....catching a little fun in the sun.  Some of us a little longer than others.

  

Frank & Gail

After we left the Keys (previous blog) we spent 3 nights in the Everglades area at Collier Seminole State Park.  We then moved to the Fort Myers area and spent 4 nights traveling and biking around Sanibel Island.  Both Collier and Fort Myers were short stops before proceeding to a 14-night stay at Myakka State Park in Sarasota.  While we were in the Sarasota area we spent 3 days on Siesta Key Beach.  Absolutly beautiful!  The beach has the most awsome seagulls!  They can take a cracker and piece of cheese right out of your mouth without you knowing...Only thing left is the person next to you laughing...I was going to write a book "Who Stole My Cheese" but I think someone wrote that already...anyway, I know who did.
 My techie friend Frank and wife, Gail, came and paid us a visit on a "cloudy" day while at Myakka.  Frank, Gail, Nancy and I used to double date back in our high school years when Frank and I were honor students and taught both of them how to swim....Ha! 


Nancy, Yuh Jim, Jerry & Roger, Pat

 We had the pleasure of Frank and Gail's  company twice as they came back to spend the day with us on the beach at Fort DeSoto which is in the St. Petersburg's area.  (Nice!) 
While we spent 14 nights at Fort Desoto we were taxed with "IRS" day, as Nancy's co-workers and friends Roger and Pat, and Jerry and Yuh Jin came to spend the afternoon with us at our campsite.  We had a great afternoon  showing them everything to do; walking out on the beach and pier and having a nice dinner at "Billy's" on the water.  We were glad they took time to come and find us...
We really love Fort Desoto. It is our favorite park to spend time on the beach with lots of biking,
spectacular views and sunsets, and just a perfect campsite backing up to the water.

Dale & Karen

Continuing with our "Friendship" Blog


Loretta & Jim

Our friends and neighbors from Lake Leelanau, Dale and Karen, came in with their 5th wheel to Fort Desoto and spent a week with us.  Our last week went by very fast, but we did get to see the old Fort Reenactment of a Civil War battle. Lots of Union and Reb Soldiers with cannons and muskets going off.  Pretty neat to see over 100 men camped out over a weekend in uniform.


We left Fort Desoto and headed to Hillsborough River State Park for 15 nights.  When we arrived, Nancy's Uncle Jim and Aunt Ruth had already arrived in their motorhome and stayed for 3 nights.  One night cousin, Alan, and his fiance, Danielle, also visited.  We had a great visit as usual. Sorry no pictures. 

Jim and Loretta came and visited us for 2 nights while in Florida for a week.  There is no explanation needed about having a good time because we've known each other since we were pups (or Airmen).  Loretta has always been like an older sister to me so we have lots to smile about. We sure have a lot of friends named Jim...some in physical form...some in liquid! 

We have been at Hillsborough 6 nights so far.  Our friends, Dale and Karen, left Fort Desoto and rejoined us and are currently camping across from us for the remainder of our stay. We then, move on to the Ocala area together with them to meet up with Al, my brother, and Mary, his wife, for a few days.  After that we are off to visit friends, Jim and Sue, TO GO TO DISNEY! before we start our final leg back to the north country.

  Now that you've caught up with our blog, quit blowing your noses and wiping your eyes; and go out to dinner and have a few drinks.  Enjoy the fact you don't need a reservation or have to leave early because of traffic....Everybody's down here with us.... We are Blessed to have so many close, great friends!  We love you all.....