Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Mar 12 - NSB => Apollo Beach => Bradenton Beach

The title says most of it -- we left the house around 9:30, getting to Apollo Beach at 12:45, precisely when I'd told Christie that we'd be there :). She loved the Inukshuk that we gave her as a going-away / housewarming present, courtesy Kim's Barrie Glass. Well, it wasn't really "courtesy" since we did have to buy it !

After a tour of the house and the gated community we went to a local marina restaurant and had lunch. It's really a nice spot, on the gulf but not as busy as most areas (thinking Cape Coral !). They can see the gulf from their house because the two/three lots in front of them are undeveloped. Someday they'll lose that view but will always have the canal/boat slip at the back. They are only a couple of hundred yards from open water from the slip so it's perfect.

Saying our good-bye's to Christie, we headed to Bradenton Beach to see Nancy and Ron. It's a long way from I75, like Cape Coral, but we came down Tamiami Trail / US41 from Apollo Beach which shortened the westward drive. Bradenton Beach is at the southern end of Anna Maria Island, a quaint spot with no, repeat no, high-rise accommodation. It somewhat reminds me of the Florida Keys.

We chatted for a while, went for a walk, chatted some more and had dinner. Ron used the grill at the pool, doing pork loin. Nancy prepared mashed potatoes and beans + salad. Wine, friendship ... sorry, no song !

As usual, we swapped kid stories, catching each other up with all that has happened since we last got together -- a year ago.

Lisa is looking after Abby at home; no news is good news there, but I did send her an email this a.m. confirming that all's ok.

I'm not sure what N&R have planned for us for today ...

Onward !

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