Mike Jones
<font color=993300>....nothing clever to say... ju
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2003
- Messages
- 1,372
The Cast:
Mike, 39, chief organiser, driver and brew maker
Heather, 40, wife and mum
Bethany, 11 (going on 20!), coaster addict, hates getting wet.
Adam, 9, (going on 8!), hates coasters (except BTMRR), LOVES getting wet!
DAY 13 TUESDAY 30th DECEMBER 2003
Today: Another Lazy Beach day!
Another partly disturbed night yes, I know, its the beer, but its also warmer than at the start of the week, and we dont want to put the A/C on as we arent keen on the side effects. Up at 7:00am, followed soon after by the kids. I made coffee (theres a surprise, you say) and read outside until 7:40. Woke Heather with her usual cup of tea. Normal, morning routine showered and dressed by 8:45, before driving to the Broken Egg for breakfast (pattern starting to develop here, isnt there?) (Link repeated for anyone who missed it last time: http://www.thebrokenegg.com/breakfast.htm ) Its predictably busy, both inside and out, but we get a patio table in about 10 minutes, after browsing the gift shop. Drinks all round- coffee for me, OJ and coffee for Heather, choc milk for the kids. We arent quite so greedy this morning I settle for the BE breakfast and a pecan Danish, Adam repeats his Sampler experiment, while Bethany and Heather both order Banana Nut Bread French Toast. With hindsight, they could have split one between them, as neither finishes!
Well stuffed, and about $40 poorer, we leave and head back to the apartment, stopping on the way to buy a colander from a nearby hardware store! ($2.99). We dont want to go back to Venice today, but the guidebooks reckon that the beaches at the south end of Siesta Key are of slightly coarser sand than the public beach, and shark teeth are found there reasonably frequently. Its already hot outside, and we change for the beach before heading south, past the lower exit bridge, all the way to the tip of the Key. Here we find the quiet car park for Turtle Beach, approximately 4 ½ miles from Siesta Village. The surrounding area is attractive, with a slightly quieter feel than near our accommodation. The properties look expensive, too, although there dont seem to be many restaurants or shops. We walk onto the beach and find a narrow, sloping strip of more golden sand than at the Village. The waves are rougher too. Full of expectation, I sieve eagerly for a time, during which Bethany and Heather lounge under a borrowed umbrella. Adam assists me, and we soon discover that there really is no alternative here to getting right into the water, due to the wave action. The water is quite tolerable, and other people on the beach are paddling or splashing about in slightly deeper water. Well we fail. One small tooth after about an hour! We give up and enjoy the waves instead. Suddenly, we spot something a short distance away a Jaws moment later, (thank goodness my shorts are already wet!) my brain interprets the sight correctly theres a family of dolphins swimming past, a couple of them leaping from the water every few moments! I dash back to the bags and grab the video camera, but fail to get more than blurry images.
Its getting slightly hot for comfort now and against the odds, were all hungry! We leave at 1:30pm, taking copious quantities of sand with us in our shoes, clothes and crevices. Such is the discomfort, we return to the flat and shower, before driving into Siesta Village at 2:30 for sustenance. There is a Subway franchise here, in a parade of shops and cafes, and we enjoy probably our cheapest meal for days: $20 for subs, cookies and sodas. We return to the apartment at 310pm and sit around the pool until 500pm, reading and enjoying the sun. The kids variously played with their Game boys and annoyed each other. Anyone hungry? Ok, so any ideas where to go for a light dinner? What was that Daiquiri Deck? Oh, alright then, youve twisted my arm. We clean up and walk back into the Village, entering the DD at about 540 to be seated immediately. Heather and I are reluctant to hit the cocktails too early, so we split a pitcher of Budweiser. The kids have their usual strawberry smoothie and chocolate milk. They reckon they can get outside a cheeseburger each correctly, as it transpires (and they go on to split an obscenely large wedge of chocolate cake, but see next paragraph for the unedited tale!) Heather settles for the potato wedges off the starter menu and I repeat the ½ lb shrimp experience followed by a seafood sandwich (w/fries) and finish with Key Lime Pie! I think Im starting to get the hang of this 8000-calorie a day diet now! Heather has a cocktail and I polish off the beer. Damage: $72 including tip. There's a lovely atmosphere around the bar again tonight, and we chill, watching the action inside and out, including the Harley Davidsons which come and go from the sidewalk outside the entrance all speech ceases for a few moments when one gets fired up. Im not a big bike freak, following an accident when a teenager, and wouldnt entertain one at home, but I reckon Id get one if I lived here! They rarely go faster than a crawl, preferring to see and be seen than to terrorise. Adam is equally smitten!
Backtracking slightly, when Lisa, our server asked if we wanted dessert, Adam piped up Yes please, but not here!" Hed spotted an ice-cream parlour a ways up the road last night, and was keen to test the merchandise. Lisa, Heather and I feigned appalled outrage and he turned a lovely colour!
We left at about 7:00pm and walked back along the beach as before. The moon was out, in company with a bright planet and a scattering of stars. What a lovely way to end a day!
Back at the apartment we settle down to watch Friends but the kids are starting to squabble and its clear that they are worn-out. We successfully encourage them to go to bed (GO TO BED!) and sit out by the pool for a beer. Its still warm at 830 and very peaceful I think the few other tenants must stay out until quite late, so we generally have the place to ourselves. We are both yawning for Britain by 915, so we give in and are soon in bed.
Tomorrow: New Years Eve: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sugar and Spice Amish Restaurant and Midnight on the Beach.
Thanks for staying with me so far!
Mike
Mike, 39, chief organiser, driver and brew maker
Heather, 40, wife and mum
Bethany, 11 (going on 20!), coaster addict, hates getting wet.
Adam, 9, (going on 8!), hates coasters (except BTMRR), LOVES getting wet!
DAY 13 TUESDAY 30th DECEMBER 2003
Today: Another Lazy Beach day!
Another partly disturbed night yes, I know, its the beer, but its also warmer than at the start of the week, and we dont want to put the A/C on as we arent keen on the side effects. Up at 7:00am, followed soon after by the kids. I made coffee (theres a surprise, you say) and read outside until 7:40. Woke Heather with her usual cup of tea. Normal, morning routine showered and dressed by 8:45, before driving to the Broken Egg for breakfast (pattern starting to develop here, isnt there?) (Link repeated for anyone who missed it last time: http://www.thebrokenegg.com/breakfast.htm ) Its predictably busy, both inside and out, but we get a patio table in about 10 minutes, after browsing the gift shop. Drinks all round- coffee for me, OJ and coffee for Heather, choc milk for the kids. We arent quite so greedy this morning I settle for the BE breakfast and a pecan Danish, Adam repeats his Sampler experiment, while Bethany and Heather both order Banana Nut Bread French Toast. With hindsight, they could have split one between them, as neither finishes!
Well stuffed, and about $40 poorer, we leave and head back to the apartment, stopping on the way to buy a colander from a nearby hardware store! ($2.99). We dont want to go back to Venice today, but the guidebooks reckon that the beaches at the south end of Siesta Key are of slightly coarser sand than the public beach, and shark teeth are found there reasonably frequently. Its already hot outside, and we change for the beach before heading south, past the lower exit bridge, all the way to the tip of the Key. Here we find the quiet car park for Turtle Beach, approximately 4 ½ miles from Siesta Village. The surrounding area is attractive, with a slightly quieter feel than near our accommodation. The properties look expensive, too, although there dont seem to be many restaurants or shops. We walk onto the beach and find a narrow, sloping strip of more golden sand than at the Village. The waves are rougher too. Full of expectation, I sieve eagerly for a time, during which Bethany and Heather lounge under a borrowed umbrella. Adam assists me, and we soon discover that there really is no alternative here to getting right into the water, due to the wave action. The water is quite tolerable, and other people on the beach are paddling or splashing about in slightly deeper water. Well we fail. One small tooth after about an hour! We give up and enjoy the waves instead. Suddenly, we spot something a short distance away a Jaws moment later, (thank goodness my shorts are already wet!) my brain interprets the sight correctly theres a family of dolphins swimming past, a couple of them leaping from the water every few moments! I dash back to the bags and grab the video camera, but fail to get more than blurry images.
Its getting slightly hot for comfort now and against the odds, were all hungry! We leave at 1:30pm, taking copious quantities of sand with us in our shoes, clothes and crevices. Such is the discomfort, we return to the flat and shower, before driving into Siesta Village at 2:30 for sustenance. There is a Subway franchise here, in a parade of shops and cafes, and we enjoy probably our cheapest meal for days: $20 for subs, cookies and sodas. We return to the apartment at 310pm and sit around the pool until 500pm, reading and enjoying the sun. The kids variously played with their Game boys and annoyed each other. Anyone hungry? Ok, so any ideas where to go for a light dinner? What was that Daiquiri Deck? Oh, alright then, youve twisted my arm. We clean up and walk back into the Village, entering the DD at about 540 to be seated immediately. Heather and I are reluctant to hit the cocktails too early, so we split a pitcher of Budweiser. The kids have their usual strawberry smoothie and chocolate milk. They reckon they can get outside a cheeseburger each correctly, as it transpires (and they go on to split an obscenely large wedge of chocolate cake, but see next paragraph for the unedited tale!) Heather settles for the potato wedges off the starter menu and I repeat the ½ lb shrimp experience followed by a seafood sandwich (w/fries) and finish with Key Lime Pie! I think Im starting to get the hang of this 8000-calorie a day diet now! Heather has a cocktail and I polish off the beer. Damage: $72 including tip. There's a lovely atmosphere around the bar again tonight, and we chill, watching the action inside and out, including the Harley Davidsons which come and go from the sidewalk outside the entrance all speech ceases for a few moments when one gets fired up. Im not a big bike freak, following an accident when a teenager, and wouldnt entertain one at home, but I reckon Id get one if I lived here! They rarely go faster than a crawl, preferring to see and be seen than to terrorise. Adam is equally smitten!
Backtracking slightly, when Lisa, our server asked if we wanted dessert, Adam piped up Yes please, but not here!" Hed spotted an ice-cream parlour a ways up the road last night, and was keen to test the merchandise. Lisa, Heather and I feigned appalled outrage and he turned a lovely colour!
We left at about 7:00pm and walked back along the beach as before. The moon was out, in company with a bright planet and a scattering of stars. What a lovely way to end a day!
Back at the apartment we settle down to watch Friends but the kids are starting to squabble and its clear that they are worn-out. We successfully encourage them to go to bed (GO TO BED!) and sit out by the pool for a beer. Its still warm at 830 and very peaceful I think the few other tenants must stay out until quite late, so we generally have the place to ourselves. We are both yawning for Britain by 915, so we give in and are soon in bed.
Tomorrow: New Years Eve: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sugar and Spice Amish Restaurant and Midnight on the Beach.
Thanks for staying with me so far!
Mike
