Kestrachern

Saturday started with Shelley and I kayaking through Weedon Nature Preserve.  In all the excitement of going kayaking again I neglected to bring a memory card for the camera and so took no photos during the trip.   It was a really good place to kayak.. a narrow path through the mangroves that changes personality with the tide.  You go from ducking branches to avoiding the sand bars.  We made it all the way through the island and out into Tampa Bay where the tarpon jumped and the Osprey fished. 

Our next stop was Anna’s graduation party at the Undertow.  A beachside bar with parking that evokes memories of San Francisco.  After 30 minutes of no parking, beach permit parking only, vehicle and trailer parking, or sorry out lot is full, Shelley and I were overdue for a drink.  V.I.P. to the rescue!  While the margaritas are good despite being made with Cuervo Gold, they are waaaay overpriced as a pitcher is $35.  Ouch!!  We spoke with Anna and she had a parking pass for us to use for her apartment complex, almost next door to the Undertow.   OMG was it beautiful  and the water was so warm.. (boo hiss for forgetting bathing suits) Saturday night was chill as we tried to recoup the energy sucked out by the day in the sun.  Our forced recourse asleep by 10ish.

Sunday was a good day to sleep in a little.  I cleaned house  and made peanut-butter chocolate ship cookie dough while Shelley tackled her paper…wrangled was more like it.  Midday we decided to ride to Home Depot for a lightbuld and Rollin’ Oats for food supplies.  As soon as we returned to the house Angus decided to knock over a water glass reducing the number of tall drinking glasses to one.

While Shelley turned back to her paper I biked over to Round Lake for some more hooping fun.  After about an hour the suggestion was made to head over to the beach, none opposed.  I still had an errand to run so sped over to Publix the local supermarket before home then catching a ride to the beach.  By this point the paper was wrangling Shelley so she stayed to gain the upper hand. 

It is spawning season for sand dollars and they were everywhere under foot.. large ones 4+ inches across. The bury themselves a centimeter or so deep into the sand so as you scuff your fee to avoid stingrays the sand dollars are easily found.  The water was warm and surf was 2-3 feet.. all was fun and frolicking until we spotted a dolphin in the shallows.  Usually a good sign this was a sad encounter as it was attempting to push a younger looking and evidently deceased dolphin away from the beach into deeper water.  Nudge. Nudge Nudge. Swim away and back Nudge nudge.  It was heartbreaking.  The strong currents had the two repeating this Sisyphian dance down the beach and out of site.  Marine wild life had been called and would ensure the living dolphin would not beach itself.  With the swimming done for the day a quick stop at Crabby Bills where Alexis and Jeni ordered crab legs and we all enjoyed a margarita.

Getting home I found Shelley had beaten the paper into submission for the time being and was ready to relax.   We started watching the movie Babylon A.D. with Vin Diesel.  It was OK.. but felt like the ending came in the middle of the movie.  Bad editing, directing, scriptwriting or something.  After to movie finished we both heard it.. the sound of Monday’s approach.. so we ignored it as long as possible before officially ending the weekend by falling asleep.