Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

Henry David Thoreau

8 days a week

Sunday May 20, 2012 through Wednesday May 23, 2012
Oscar Scherer State Park Site 89

 

I’m excited to be heading out for an 8 day “vacation” week at Oscar Scherer State Park and Nokomis beach. 

 

 

Site 89 005

 

Sunday:

We decide to drive separately to Oscar Scherer which is only 70 miles away.  The plan is that I will stop at the Sarasota Whole Foods on the way in Ruby and stock up for our week.   David will go to Oscar Scherer and get a “non reserveable” site so we can stay through the Memorial Day week-end.  

 

Luck is with us. 

Site 89 001

 

All goes as planned and we end up in our favorite “non reserveable” site 89.  That’s 8 days of no doctors and near the beach.  Whoo Hoo!! 

 

 

 

 

 

Site 89 006A

But we are mighty tired by the time evening comes.  David has gotten the coach into the site after repositioning 4 times without scouting help since I’m still at the grocery.  He leveled it, put out the slides, hooked up the power and the water.  All before I got back.  So he deserves a nap.  While he naps, I start getting things set up.  Patio mat, chairs, tables, flag, boats off the car.   David wakes up and takes the bikes off the car.   We put up the awning.  

 

We’re all set. 

 

Site 89 Oscar Scherer

 

 

This may well be one of the nicest sites in the park and it’s a walk in.  Amazing!

 

 

 

 

We pull nose in rather than back in.  I prefer this view to the campground road.  Seems most campsites are designed for back ins as if all the architects have 5th wheels with nice picture windows in the back.  :-)

Here’s our view of South Creek.

 

 Site 89 Oscar Scherer (4)

 

 

The Ducky Brothers like their view too.

Site 89 Oscar Scherer (5)

 

 

Site 89 Oscar Scherer (10)

 

You can see I’m on a roll with river front spots.  This would be perfect for launching kayaks although I doubt we’ll do that because of  A) the heat  B) David’s energy level C) the proximity of cooling gulf breezes and waters.

 

 

Site 89 Oscar Scherer (12)

 

 

Back up a few feet from the river front  and here’s the place for napping or just relaxing.

 

 

 

Ok I know, enough.  It’s a nice spot for 8 days this week!!

 

 

Monday:

GREAT! The beach isn’t too crowded.

 

Nokomis Beach & Otter 001A

 

David has overdone.  His dex didn’t make it quite this far and fatigue has set in.  So on Monday we take his lounger and he dozes and relaxes in it at Nokomis Beach for a few hours.

 

 

Nokomis Beach & Otter 004A

 

 

It’s a windy afternoon.  I have to pay close attention to the TIBU.

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday

Back to the Beach

Today I go out running.  We have breakfast, pack a lunch and return to the beach in the afternoon.

 

Nokomis Beach & Otter 014

 

 

 

David is able to take a walk.

 

 

 

 

 

Nokomis Beach & Otter 016

 

 

He also goes for a short swim.  Resting yesterday has done him some good.

 

 

 

 

It’s a beautiful day,  less Windy.  The water is very warm and wonderful for floating and relaxing.

 

Nokomis Beach & Otter 010 

 

Wednesday

 

Today I go off early by myself.

 

 At Nokomis Beach (20)

 

At Nokomis Beach (17) 

I get up and out and to the beach by 7:15 in the morning.  David sleeps in.   I am the first car in the parking lot and get the only shady all day spot in the corner.   My shadow is huge as the sun rises behind me in the east.

 

 

 At Nokomis Beach (23)

 

It is WONDERFUL being at the beach first thing in the morning. 

 

 

 

 

 

No one is around except some fisherman at the far end.

 

At Nokomis Beach (53)A

At Nokomis Beach (10)

 

I decide to swim out to the buoy marking the no boating area.  It’s about 40 yards or 50 yards off shore.   Nice swim out and back.   When I get to the buoy a cormorant is drying his wings and preening.  I tread water for some time and he stays right there. I passed my Advanced swimming badge so I have a certificate proving I can tread for at least 30 minutes.  ;-)  I tread for a long time, treading is easy.  I like treading.  I love watching him.  He holds on to the buoy with his feet as it bobs around in the water.  I get a really good look at him. It is amazing to see him up so close.  .

 

At Nokomis Beach (51)

At Nokomis Beach (49)A

 

The patterns on his feathers are beautiful.  He has a screaming traffic cone yellow chin which you can’t possibly see in the picture I took zoomed way up from back on shore.   But here’s one from
the internet.  This still doesn’t do justice to his wing and chest feathers.  Up close and personal, they look velvety with gorgeous designs.

 

Cormorant

 

 

Eventually I fear I may scare him off so I swim back to shore, take my camera to see if I can possibly get a picture of him out there.  When I turn around I notice the walkers have begun and one of them is walking up to my chair.

 

At Nokomis Beach (44)

 

At Nokomis Beach (46)

 

 

 

Is he going to go back and sit down??

 

 

 

 

 

 

The human walkers aren’t quite as good looking.  Dressed in all sorts of attire, they parade by.

 

At Nokomis Beach (69)

 

As people show up, they are all doing what they enjoy.  I take a picture of  a guy doing yoga on the beach.  I’d love to do that.  Later when I see the picture I find really interesting contrasts. Motor boat zipping along, paddle boarder moving more slowly through the water and a yogi moving most slowly into inner peace.  :-)    Something for everyone at the beach.

 

At Nokomis Beach (38) 

 

At Nokomis Beach (39)

 

 

This man did what I call some serious pretzel poses.  Here’s a pose you won’t be seeing a picture of me doing.

 

 

 

I stay until the sun begins to get too high in the sky and the incomers too many.

 

 

We return for the drumming at 7:00.

If you’ve been reading this blog then you know this is one of our favorite things to do on Wednesday and Saturday evenings when staying at Oscar Scherer.  So here’s a summary of this evening’s gathering.  Wednesday night is the smaller of the two.  :-))

 

There is the circle.

 

Wed drumming (14)

 

The drummers and dancers

Wed drumming (19)

 

 

Wed drumming (26)

 

 

 

And more dancers of all shapes and sizes

Wed drumming (33)

Wed drumming (2)

 

Wed drumming (38)

Wed drumming (41)

 

She sells jingle skirts and a lot of them.  Two for $15.

Wed drumming (6)

 

 

The audience

Wed drumming (7) 

 

Wed drumming (55)A

 

 

 

The sunset – reason for it all.

Wed drumming (53)A

 

Wed drumming (71)

 

Wed drumming (82)

 

Wed drumming (84)

 

After the sun goes down, the drumming and dancing continue.  And the lights come out.   This evening the clouds roll in……

 

Wed drumming (101)

 

They put on a light show of their own.  We stay a long while and
watch lightning displays in the clouds.  No rain just lightning in two sets of large fluffy clouds.  Really gorgeous.  Sunset behind us, lightning in the east….

Wed drumming (124)

 

and the new moon rising.

Wed drumming (112)

 

What a night at Nokomis Beach!!

 Wed drumming (85)

34 comments:

  1. Beach therapy is a wonderful thing for both of us. I am glad Sherry got some extra morning sessions in as this is the only respite in sight for the next few weeks. Special thanks to my travel planner - she is the best!!

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  2. People watching at the beach can be very interesting...
    Hope David has a nice vacation and hope you do too!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Gail. The beach is a great place for being, so many things to see.

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  3. The beach always soothes the soul! Glad you are back and able to enjoy it. I never tire of your pictures showing the drumming of sundown!

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    1. So glad to hear you enjoy the drumming down the sun pictures. I feel like I'm repeating myself but it's so interesting and so much fun.

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  4. So glad you got your favorite site at one of your favorite parks!! We really need to visit that park one of these days.

    Hope David continues to get some much needed rest. Just so nice to know you guys are enjoying your VACATION:o))

    Some really lovely photos!!!

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    1. Sign up to meet us here next December. Two weeks here is my plan if I can pull it off. So glad you enjoy the photos!!

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  5. Another great looking campsite. It's good to see David enjoying the beach some too.
    Syl

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    1. Poor David doesn't have much choice when his travel consultant is too wilted by the hot weather to book him into anywhere but the beach for his "vacations". But he's managing to suffer through. :-)

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  6. Replies
    1. Thanks for the compliment Heyduke. You're a man of few words.

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  7. A "bright spot" for me to know you DID get a good site for the week! Thanks for all the neat pictures. Can't believe that "swimsuit". You KNOW which one I mean!

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    1. It was a good site and would be even better if it wasn't so hot here since I could have launched the kayak right off the site, one of the few here where you can do that. I do KNOW which one you mean and took that picture because I was just amazed. Wish I could have posted the other AMAZING ones but they would be too much. :-)

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  8. I love walking on the beach in the morning. Thanks for taking us along :)

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    1. Thanks for coming along! There is almost nothing I like more than starting my morning on the beach.

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  9. I am sure maneuvering Winona into a spot is not an easy task... but if I know David... patience, patience, patience... until the task is completed. It was certainly worth some fancy maneuvering to get such a lovely spot. Photos of the sunset are gorgeous... and yes! sunsets are the best ever at the beach. We are going right after the 4th... and I can't wait. Been thinking of you two this morning especially as I listen to the weather and the storm hanging over Florida. Love seeing pics of David smiling... and enjoying the beach. He certainly does have the best travel consultant. Lots of planning must go into securing these spots and making it all work out. Roger is off to racquetball this morning... trying to coax him into going into DC for the parade and to see President Obama speak at the Vietnam Memorial... temps are going to be hot, though.

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    Replies
    1. David is definitely a master at getting Winnona into any place he wants her to be. Glad you liked the photos. If I were near you wouldn't have to coax me into going to see Obama speak. I think he inherited an incredible mess and given the circumstances he has done about the best that could be done.

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  10. I love the beach! Obviously you do too. I believe that God gave us oceans and beaches to heal us. Enjoy.

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    1. They are definitely healing places Nan. And there seem to be a whole lot of people drawn to them even if they don't realize why.

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  11. You are first in my thoughts every time I've seen a beach down here, Sherry. I'm trying to decide whether to push on south, tomorrow. Well, the TV just moved me to think we better head home. We'll see.

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    1. I love that you connect me with the beach and think of me when you are there. We haven't seen anything but light rain here on the more western coast of Florida. It's hard to know what is really happening since the news media exaggerates everything so much. But you'll know what is best for you to do.

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  12. Wow -- that is quite the swimsuit, isn't it?? You get to see a little bit of everything at the beach. . .

    More gorgeous photos of the sunset and like the one with the lightning coming out of the cloud too.

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    1. Definitely see everything at the beach. That's what makes it so much fun.
      Of course there are lots of swim suits much worse than that one. Especially on the women.

      I'm glad you like the sunset pictures. It's of course more beautiful than that in person. The cloud lighning was amazing. Some of it just like jagged bolts in the air but I could never push the trigger fast enough to catch them.

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  13. Sherry,

    I think you need to keep a sharp eye on the Ducky brothers. I swear I see them drooling over the water their looking at out of the windshield!

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    Replies
    1. Paul either you know the Ducky brothers really well or you are a seer. Put on your Turban.

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  14. Great pic's of the birds. As for the man, I have seen too many guys dressed like that myself, glad you kept your breakfast down. I hope you have a peaceful week.

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    1. I'm glad you enjoy the pictures. There really are some "outfits" at the beach and the drumming. ;-))

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  15. Glad you got your favorite site. It looks very nice.

    Is David's back doing better now? You mentioned him napping and resting, so hopefully it is better.

    Remember when taking those lightning shots that Florida is the lightning capitol of the world and there are quite a few fatalities here every year. They say if you can hear thunder or see lightning you are at risk.

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    Replies
    1. David's back is somewhat better. He's not without pain but it's not so intense or constant. Thanks Karen for the caution on the lightning. There wasn't any thunder and the lightning wasn't coming toward the ground, just zipping within the clouds. I'd never seen that before. At the farm in Virginia it was always zipping straight down to the ground in jagged bolts.

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  16. I think the mature guy in the Speedo looks kinda great. He was probably beautiful as a youth, likes that style of suit and is totally unconcerned with appearances at this stage of his life. Good for him! (Admire his longish silver hair too ;)
    That extended-leg-squat-guy…wow. No way I could do that, even 40 years ago!
    David needs to be VERY cautious. Those shots can give you a false sense of security by dulling pain, allowing too much activity. When the shot wears off the rebound can be a booger.
    Take it slow David!

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  17. I think you are probably exactly right about Mr Speedo. There are lotd of women in bikinis who must feel the same. Thanks for your advice to David. His fatigue keeps him closely in check. I hope the back pain, which isn't completely gone, won't return to ruin his sleep too soon.

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  18. Great pictures of birds, people and the sunset ceremony - it really is a great 'vacation' spot! Pretzel man - I'm impressed!

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