Talking of Gail here she is looking very determined with camera always at the ready!!! We had a day out at Gatorland, which is here on one of my blogs..was practicing with camera she had very kindly loaned me:)
Back to Girls Weekend... Cathy, Montel and I go off to Bradenton, if you have been reading these blogs you will already know this is my favourite Gulf of Mexico locatIt was the first time Cathy had been here..so was eager to show her its beauty. We arrived around 3.30pm and settled into our room, although the hotel was not right on the beach, you could see the aquamarine waters from our balcony and the private beach seconds across a narrow stretch of road called Gulf Drive, its busy as is the main drag along the Gulf front, but life is easy here with drivers always stopping to let you cross with an easy smile.ion..
FIRST AFTERNOON/EVE
This gives an idea how close we were, I have stayed a few times over the years twice with my brother Harry and once with Harry and my other brother Frank. In a blog to come I'll show some views from the hotel that Anna my friend from Sweden stayed in for 5 days which was right on the beach..but expensive!!
The light and colours that await....
We were hungry when we arrived so had a delicious feast of peaches, brie, fresh bread and strawberries in our room...Finally we were on the beach and in the water..Cathy and Montel thought it was a bit cold...it felt like 85 or so to me..but then again I was born in Scotland.... stoically they submerged.. Meantime, I snorkeled and played at being a Dolphin... what is that I hear you ask..?? well it consists of diving down deep and twisting around so that you are facing upwards towards the sun emerging from the water tummy and head in parallel...have been up close to wild Dolphins and watched them, they appear to be having a great time, have to admit it is great fun!! :)
after tiring of this the challenge of 150 strokes of the butterfly, my personal best is always an option.. a wave caught me at 75:/ when I came out Cathy and Montel had taken up position on the white white sands..
Cathy un-beknown to us had not reapplied sunscreen and was not in the shade of the umbrella!!!!
I opened the cool box and had a cool refreshing beer with slice of lime and flopped to toast....
what a view..
Montel went off for a walk along the beautiful beach,
Later Cathy and I also walked the beach... Cathy played kites with the beach towel
A wander on my own took some shots of some wild beach flowers, the name of which I do not know, but lovely...
Sunset was fast approaching, so we showered and got ready to head for supper at one of the beach side restaurants..we had a sun-downer on our private beach first by the hotel's hobi cats...
a quick walk along the beach or sidewalk to the place I eaten before with Anna and to be recommended..on that occasion Anna and I arrived on the re-opening of their very chic bar and restaurant.. the owner came up to us with glasses of champagne and a platter of exotic fruits...unfortunately tonight there was a strong chance of a lightening/thunder storm so no tables were available outside on the beach..;( still we had a lovely supper..red quinoa, curly kale and jacket potato for me..whoopee I hear you all cheering!!!
and the sunset...
Cathy and Montel were up bright and early and availed themselves of the hotels breakfast of fresh coffee, fruit, bagels, yoghurt and cereal...I slept...and rose around 9.30pm. They had booked a beach massage at 10,45pm so were eagerly looking forward to that..
My camp was set up for the day...Montel and Cathy said they would join me after their massage..
whilst they were enjoying their massaged I snapped at various beach scenes..
sailing would love to go out on one of these...and this paragliding.. bird watching, people watching... and (house hunting...in my dreams.) snorkeled and swam
delicate and graceful Oystercatcher
Johnathan in beautiful flight
sweet little Sandpipper
adorable Pelicans
more Johnathan's in supreme easy flight..
Yes Heaven is right here and they know it...
breakfast view..
maybe one day.....
Just missed seeing a Manatee..but saw some little silver fishes and just feel blessed to be here again!!!
After all that daydreaming we had a stroll down Gulf Drive and and did a little bit of retail therapy, there is a great little shop there were the owners collect beautiful things...this is where last time I bought my beautiful Egyptian cotton 'Sleeps with Cats' pillow cases
and this time I found this very apt for my blog...!!!
further along the pier was my favourite Florida seabird..
We headed back to get ready for sun downers, supper and sunset on the beach
our pre dinner sunset rendezvous
This evening was promising to be a spectacular sunset...
*****
Cathy and Montel walked along Gulf Drive to this perfect beach-side restaurant, whilst I ambled along the beach and met them there, love the sand between my toes and looking at that sea watching as the sun got lower and lower with all the different colours reflecting on the water..
*****
Cathy and Montel walked along Gulf Drive to this perfect beach-side restaurant, whilst I ambled along the beach and met them there, love the sand between my toes and looking at that sea watching as the sun got lower and lower with all the different colours reflecting on the water..
How could I resist this shot....
our place on the beach to watch the show.. arrgghhh Gail will kill me the strap of the camera is dangling again!!!! :/
We seemed to wait for ages for our waiter to remember we were there!!! he finally came with Cathy's wine and this delicious cocktail I had it a couple of weeks ago was so yummy I forgot to take a pic of it to show you, it called an Expresso Tini, expresso coffee, vodka and baileys....
Slainte to all my wonderful friends!
The clouds were putting on a show with the reflection of the sunset.. and this little fellow called Kingston was having a wonderful time on the beach ..
I can see the Himalayas in the background....but then I have had that cocktail.....
You wanna play??
yes Kingston its the big beautiful sea....
finally.. almost gone and so spectacular..was hard not to give a round of applause for such a show of majestic beauty...
Cathy and Montel walked back to the hotel along the road and I strolled a little on the beach and took a picture of the moon, visited the Drift Bar place I'd been last year, but too smokey too stay, took a blurry picture of the clock on the pier...then walked back with the sounds and flashes of an imminent storm...
gives you an idea of the clock tower on Historic Bridge Pier...can't blame the camera for the fuzzy shot..probably that cocktail...
Sister Moon accompanied me on my walk back to hotel...
LAST MORNING :(
After breakfast Cathy and Montel stayed in the hotel room as Cathy had baked too much in sun and Montel just wanted to relax in the cool of the room, she had brought along some knitting and was making warm hat bands for children in cold countries, they looked lovely and colourful... I went for a last swim and stroll along the beach..walked along the place Anna and I stayed lasted year called Seaside, was quieter up here and brought back happy memories of our time staying at this place eating breakfast and lunches on the balcony right on the beach with the Gulf views was Heaven..
Seaside Resort
Our room was the one in the middle
took one last look at the view, then we were off to explore the tip of the Island and head home in time for Bunker and Cathy's Sunday Sidewalk Happy Hour...
am all packed up...:(
We stopped off at this old Pier with restaurant at the end...a beautiful spot
beautiful brilliant white fluffy clouds in sky and seas of different blues
just one more picture of an adorable Pelican...he was so close I could have touched him.. 
final stop was at millionaires row to browse the sea going gin palaces..
personally I prefer sailboats...
Hope you enjoyed my blog visit to the beach
I can't wait to return...
bye for now xxx :)
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