Florida in February Part 2

Marie and I left Brooksville early the next morning before Lyn and Don were up, heading south on highway 98 towards the coast. We wanted to visit what the locals there call the "Big O", Lake Okeechobee, Florida's largest fresh water lake, and do some sight seeing along the way. More scenic than the Interstate, and just as fast, highway 98 would go through Lakeland, Fort Meade and just bypass one of my favourite place names, Frostproof, then past Sebring, Lake Placid, and Clewiston. Mile after mile we passed fields of dark mineral-rich soil in which sugarcane, citrus fruits and corn were growing. Always in the distance we could see the sugarcane factories belching black smoke, a scene that seemed to stay with you forever in that flat horizon stretching-for-ever countryside. Before heading east and the Palm Beach shores we stopped for an hour in Pahokee, on the eastern edge of the lake, a small and poor town that has seen better days. We were the only white people in evidence and except for Florida license plates it was difficult to believe you were in the USA. Most of the businesses in this town have closed, aside from a few grocery stores, and the economic plight of Pahokee is painfully obvious. Except perhaps for the new marina which might rejuvenate business. We walked around there on the stone breakwater where locals were fishing for the bass that are famous here. Seabirds flocked here and gazing out over the lake we were unable to see the distant shore. It was a beautiful day, already hot and I could only imagine what it would be like here in the summer.

 

 

 

Pahokee, Florida

 

We arrived in Lake Worth around 6pm that evening and found Richard and Rose in good spirits. No doubt from being in Florida for almost three months now and from the look of things neither had no intention of returning north until the snow had gone. They had planned to take us out to Havana, the Cuban restaurant we all liked so much, but being a Saturday night there was a one hour wait. We ended up at Brogues Downunder, an Australian sports bar and pub, on Lake Ave, where we enjoyed a surprisingly good feast of baked brie, rare seared tuna, corned beef and cabbage, fish tacos, pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, all washed down with Harp draft beer. We even had our waiter find a hockey game on one of the TV monitors, while in the other room a very good house band played the latest hits.

 

Rich and Rose, Brogues Downunder, Lake Worth

 

We had an Indian breakfast the next day at the Pelican Restaurant on the way to the water, a first for us and one of Richard's favourite spots in the town. The day turned out rather nice, the sun breaking through some haze so I could at least get a bit red as we spent the next few hours strolling the beach, collecting shells and drinking Bloody Mary's at Bennie's on the Beach. We hadn't brought our bathing suits with us as Richard had claimed the water would be too cold (!) but, as I was wearing shorts and the water temperature a pleasant 73 degrees, I decided to go swimming anyway. It was wonderful thank you Richard. The quiet and clean beach in Lake Worth was always one of Marie and I's regular spots to visit whenever we were there and we will miss it.

 

 

 

Pelican Restaurant, Lake Worth

 

 

Marie, Lake Worth beach and pier

Sunday afternoon we had tickets to the Florida Panthers vs the Nashville Predators hockey game in Sunrise, just north of Miami. We drove down with an Alaskan couple Rich had met at the condo and had a fabulous time. It was our first NHL game in Florida and we had excellent seats, 11 rows up from the ice surface. It was an afternoon game so we got out just as the sun was setting, the evening warm and pleasant. We didn't want to pay the $20 parking fee so we had walked to the game from the big shopping mall not far away where parking was free. I was going to mention the hour we spent wandering lost in the parking lot looking for the cars but I won't...It was a great experience none the less and for us a complete different atmosphere for a hockey game.

Marie, BB&T Centre, Sunrise, Florida

Marie & Rose outside BB&T Centre, Sunrise, sunset

Our last night with Rich and Rose was spent relaxing. Marie and Rose went shopping at the local thrift stores while Rich and I went for a swim at the condo pool, talking about the years that have slipped by and planning a BBQ by the pool for supper. Unfortunately the weather closed in and rain and lightning was forecast so we opted for a last dinner out at Havana, on the Dixie highway in West Palm. "The Best Cuban Food in Town" is their motto and we can once again attest to that!




                                                                The next morning we packed up and bid farewell to Rich and Rose, wishing them luck with the condo sale and heading back west past Okeechobee lake and on to Brooksville. We had intentions of checking out some RV dealers on the way as we are still in the market for a slide-in camper for our truck but found very few available in that part of the state. Near the shores of a small lake, Istokpoga, we stopped for lunch in the village of Lorida before making our way to LazyDays, an RV superstore on Interstate 4, just north of Tampa to see if they had a better selection. This is the dealership Dad had brought a trailer many years ago from. Don had also purchased his big class A motorhome from them over 10 years ago as well. They claim to be the biggest RV dealer in the world and I can understand why : over 100 acres of every type of camper imaginable and miles of roads interlacing all the lots, busy golf carts scurrying around at every intersection taking prospective buyers to their new home on wheels. The place is so big I thought we would have to show our passports to get in! But again, even though they were eager to help, we didn't see anything that suited us. After an hour or so there we thanked the sales consultant that had driven us around the grounds, left him our email address just in case something came in and were back in Brooksville in time for supper. Before we returned north we wanted to visit again with Dad and make sure he was ready to move into his new digs...  gws

Farewell to Lake Clarke Estates

enjoying fried chicken in the tiny town of Lorida, Florida



LazyDays, Tampa, Florida

 

Florida in February Part 1

 

Lake Dora 

 

As often as we fly down to Florida or elsewhere - at least once a year - you might think I would by now be used to the routine of very early rushed trips to the airport, the hassle and apprehension at the security lines and the cramped quarters of the metal coffins we squeeze into to enjoy perhaps a cup of weak coffee and an embarrassingly small bag of pretzels as we wing south. But no. I heartily dislike it and my dislike grows each and every time we fly. This month we chose to fly out of Canada for ten days in Florida rather than drive into New York and leave from Plattsburgh. Our Air Canada Rouge was a smallish Airbus that took only 3 hours to get to Tampa where we rented a Nissan Versa and headed north to spend a few days with Lyn and Don and time with Dad. It could be the last time we see him or he remembers us. He is in the early stages of Alzheimers and, although physically he is doing well for 91, his short term memory is going fast and he is more of a danger to himself than ever before. Consequently Lyn and Don decided to help him look for and buy a trailer to live in on their property near the house where they could keep an eye on him to ensure he remembers doctors appointments, takes his medicine and refrains from driving. Marie and I went out to the dealership the next day after arriving and checked out the trailer for leaks, making sure the awning, fridge, air conditioner, heater, stove and slide-outs all worked before Don arrived with a friend to pull it home. I helped Don and Shawn the following day to construct a small deck and ramp that leads up to the trailer door so Dad need not climb stairs anymore.

 

Marie checking out the trailer at dealership

 

 

Shawn and Don

The next day Lyn and I drove up to Springhill to the ranch where she takes her riding lessons. It was a cold and windy day and I was glad I had brought down my leather coat, sweater and long pants. Central Florida can be chilly in February as I have learned over the years. Lyn enjoys her time with horses, as she has now for the past forty years, and is like a little kid around them. It is good to see her still so enthusiastic and able to forget her aches and pains and the hectic life she lives in Brooksville.

 

one of Lyn's orphaned pets

 

 

 

The next day the four of us, and Brenna, Shawn's four year old, drove over to Mount Dora, a charming, one-hundred year old historic village in the heart of central Florida on the shores of Lake Dora. We stopped off at a German pastry shop in the town of Yahala on the way to enjoy some strudels and coffee. Mount Dora is best known for it's many antique stores and art galleries which we poked about in for a few hours. Before heading home we walked down to the lake, stopping to watch the town's old wood burning steam powered tourist locomotive chug by, the sky now gray and the wind picking up, reminding us again this was still winter. 

 

 

Brenna 

 

 

 

Mount Dora, Florida

  

Brenna and I spent some time together the following day before Shawn came over to pick her up. She is beautiful little girl, articulate and loving, and we always get along well. Shawn brought with him an amazing drone that he demonstrated for us out in the front yard. What a fabulous machine! I had seen pictures and videos of these things but never one up close before. These expensive toys are highly evolved from those remote controlled helicopters and model planes that I always wanted as a kid. Because of the rise of smartphones a lot of important components like gyros, batteries cameras and GPS modules suddenly got a lot smaller and cheaper. And voila - the drone. The fact that you can use it as a HD aerial camera really excites me and what great fun to have one out at our place in the mountains! Imagine the videos and pictures I could capture....

 

 

 

 

 

Marie, Shawn and Brenna with the Drone

It was time to say farewell to Lyn and Don for a few days as we had promised Richard and Rosie that we would visit with them in Lake Worth, a good 5 hour drive away. They were in the process of selling their condo at Lake Clarke Estates and it would likely be the last chance we would have to see it again. We have been there more than half a dozen times over the years when Leo and Elenor, Debbie's parents, first moved in back in the 80's. Besides we needed to follow the sun south to the warmer tropics and have at least one swim in the Atlantic before returning to the Great White North!  gws

January on the mountain in photos

My feathered friends are gathered near,
Those who chose to stay,
To cheer me on through dull drab days
And chase winter's blues away.

 

(Rea Williams)

 

 

 

 

Our Retirement Home Part Thirty-Six (Stair Railing)

Grosbeaks on the deck

This past week we had our stair and mezzanine railing installed. After looking at various styles and types of wood we settled on maple newel posts and handrails and black iron balustrades. We again hired Felix who had installed the stairways to do this job as we felt it was important to have it done right and done once. Or so we thought. I had put in a small stair railing years ago when we lived in Whites Lake, Nova Scotia but that was a simple afternoon job. Here we were looking at a much bigger job and over $4000 of wood and hardware and I wanted it to look professional. Marie and I first set up the scaffolding in the living room (again!) and brought up my chop saw from the basement. Felix and Jacques work fairly well together and with my supervision and help we managed to finish the job in three days. We were not overly happy though with the way it all turned out and for someone who has done this for 40 years I thought the finished job looked rather unprofessional. We have to live with it but we probably won't have them back. Now I have to stain the wood, put back some baseboard and refinish the stairs that have been scratched, dented and gouged the past year. We hung one of my paintings over the bed and that officially completes the mezzanine! We  are off to Florida for ten days at the end of the month for a mid winter break. We haven't had the snow we had last winter and following some bitterly cold days we are back above freezing and expecting rain the next two days. Go figure..   gws

before picture

putting up half newel post in the corner of the bedroom

drilling newel post for other corner



corner newel up

lining up centre newel post



laying out and measuring iron balutrades

attaching iron ballustrdes



first railing up

second section



preparing stair posts



installing balustrades on stairs

finished, ready for staining

Je Suis Charlie