Pictures of January in Florida

Today we have a variety of pictures to show you, as soon as Blogger decides to upload them! We spent most of today riding around and becoming acquainted with new areas. We drove through Orlando today, preparing for our visit to Disney on Saturday. We did get a nice picture of the gate! We also took a different route back to the Beach and discovered lots of restaurants and shopping centers. Today was cold - in the 60s, and quite windy. As we see the snowstorm you weathered, we're sure you will feel sorry that it is in the 60s here! There was a real downpour outside of Orlando, but no rain here. However, the beach looks really stormy and gray, as this picture shows. We also found some of the flowers that are in bloom, and a couple of pictures of Gary reading on the patio in front of where we are staying. We refilled the refrigerator and had fresh tilapia for dinner. Anyone for fresh coconuts?

Lazy Day

No adventures today. It was 80 degrees and we went to the beach. There was a breeze, brilliant sunshine, clear blue skies, and crashing waves. The gulls and sandpipers gathered in groups all along the beach. Gary visited with our landlords today and toured their home. Louise knit squares for her knitting group and read Before Green Gables. Two walks on the beach and recording debits in the checkbook rounded out Louise's activities. We went out to a diner for dinner and had seafood. Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy and cold ( 60's!) so we are planning another discovery ride and shopping. How about some feedback from the people reading this? What should we include? 

River Tour

Today we discovered a new perspective on Cocoa Beach. There are lovely homes, most with their own boat docks, built along nearly 50 miles of canals. What a way to live! We took a boat tour on the Banana River through some of the 1,000 islands. On this two hour adventure we saw manatees, a dolphin, and many rare birds - cranes, egrets, cormorants, pelican, blue herons, and many others. There were only four of us taking this river cruise, so it was slow and peaceful with plenty of time to ask questions and take pictures. We completed our day with a lovely dinner at an Italian restaurant.

Perfect Day! The temperature was 76, the sun was bright, the sky was blue, there was a slight breeze. This morning we went to a farmer's market where we bought lots of fresh produce - tomatoes, zucchini, oranges, and lots more. Those huge navel oranges were 3 for $1 and they are sweet. Gary made up a bowl of cut fruit that Louise called "fruit soup." We went to the beach and sat in the sun, then walked the beach letting the surf wash the sand out from under our feet as the waves hit. Finally this afternoon we went for a ride to a park and boat landing on the Banana River. That is the location of the picture of Gary above. What more could anyone ask than a day like this one?

Oranges! We drove out to Merritt Island to see where the Kennedy Space Center was located and found orange groves on the way - grapefruit too. We had another great walk on the beach. There were lots of surfers there today. We visited a surf shop where both of us bought new hats to wear on the beach and in the sun. Perhaps we can model them in a later post. We ate lunch today at Red Lobster - the first meal we have eaten out since we arrived.  Louise knit on her sock on the patio, Gary took a nap this afternoon. It was another perfect day - temperatures in the high 70s.

Sun, sand, surf! Today we visited the beach. To start off on the better health route, we had a half hour walk on the beach, and then went back later for another half hour to knit and listen to music. Gary's toes were tapping as he listened to his iPod. What an incredibly beautiful day! A woman walking on the beach took this picture of us. Jessica and Meghan, there are lots of shells so we will bring some home to you!  We are dining in tonight, having roast chicken and baked potatoes. It has been a quiet day, but as close to paradise as we poor mortals can get!

We had a wonderful day today. This morning we went to St. Augustine and visited the fort and old city walls. We walked so much we were both tired this afternoon. The weather was brisk and very windy, but the old Spanish fort was a great historic trip. This afternoon we moved on to Cocoa Beach. Again the wind did not make it a day for beach weather, but we had a great time moving in to our cozy little beach haven. Gary is looking at the surf in this picture. It was great to move our stuff out of the truck, and Louise found her sandals and has worn them all afternoon. This is a super way to start the new year. Tomorrow we plan to rest up and perhaps enjoy the beach.