LEAVING MAD AND RED

We leave tomorrow morning for our March locale. Last Sunday was the stereotypical Florida --- crowds on all the sunny beaches. Even the fishing docks were crowded, with legs and wings.

Then the clouds came, and so did a daytrip to Tarpon Springs. It's a historic sponging port with a Greek heritage from the 1880's til today. Every variation on sponge you can think of, plus whiffs of baklava and mousaka in the air. Opa! In the nearby bays 500 pound manatees are spending the winter with their 100 pound newborns. They're mammals so they need warm waters, and regular surfacing to breathe. But just try to get a picture of these sea-cows; a grunt and a snort and they're submerged again!

From  then til today the weather has been very un-Florida: fog, rain, cold, and wind. Bundled-up beach walks are still popular with the snowbirds. You'll see a great white shark chomping down on a kayak, and then a little hammerhead shark getting chomped on in turn. Shells covered in barnacles and sea goo. All the varieties of sponge learned about in Tarpon Springs. But so damp that the shore birds are on lawns drying out!

The most common activity in this weather was walking ---- e.g. a new high of 21,792 steps one windy day.  But the most common grief was no hot shower in the apartment the last 2 weeks! The "instant" heater was replaced yesterday but is still wonky. Pouring rain  outside, but who wants to rinse off in that? So we're leaving MAD (Madeira Beach) a little angry and RED (Redington Beach)  not sunburnt...

EVENT-FULL

There's a different event or attraction every day. The weather event was record-breaking cold --- below freezing overnight ---so cold that even some trees got crochet-coats! Then pouring rain too. And how about those hurricane surge warnings...

But it was almost always sunny, which helps outdoor events. Motorcycles old and new roared on display, with chrome mirroring and custom paint impressing. Meanwhile down the road a classic car cruise drew me in like an old fender to a magnet. So many beauties, so little room for pictures. My favourite had an interior as orange as a case of the famous Florida fruit.

We try to observe international occasions wherever we are. February always brings Pancake Tuesday, so we had brought some mix from home (but never as good as mom used to make!!). Then the Chinese New Year brought fond memories of Asia. But no Chinatown down here to celebrate in; the best we could do was Chinese take-out.

The two Pats reveled in the Florida Botanical Garden, a visual feast of palms, blossoms, and ever-greenery. Just don't be a feast for the 'gators! Nearby a historic village recreated Florida of long ago, complete with working general store. Maybe I can get some parts for my old Dodge?

So there's never a dull moment unless you want one. Just roll on down the river, like a dolphin on cruise control.

DON'T RAIN ON MY PARADE!

(A big week of occasions and events! Pat M arrived, another converted snowbird. Friday the 13th was lucky for our favourite GMC back home. And yesterday was Valentine's Day and the anniversary of our becoming engaged among the monarchs in Mexico. All wrapped up and covered in beads in a  crazy parade last night....)

Up north it's been brutally cold but even down here we've had the coldest temps of the winter (40's F) and rain. Sponges wash up on the beach daily --- let them soak it up! Local birds are a delight whether on the sand or the wires; parrots squawk and white herons swarm like giant snowflakes. Most moving of all, though, was the appearance outside our balcony of a blue jay. That bird, rare down here, was the favourite of my departed sister. I think she's been the wind beneath our wings.

On top-down days the drives included the quaint historic beach district of Pass-a-Grille.  And in nearby hip St. Petersburg a rare combined exhibit of Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso combines the famous melted clock and cubist faces.Then the art lovers among us took in the glass menagerie of the Chihuly gallery.

The Channel District of Tampa is a rejuvenated realm of walks, history, and green space. But the real action is a trolley ride away in the 19th century cigar-rolling district of Ybor City. What they roll these days is the wild-and-crazy Gaparilla Parade. Jerry Springer Grand Marshalled but it felt a lot like Mardi Gras to me, complete with beads thrown from every direction and music/colours/noise to match.  It's amazing what people will do to snare a necklace!!