The Empty Nesters Magical Mystery Tour *1/28* Link to New Girl's TR p141

[eandesmom]

That is CRAZY! Well, I guess its nice to have a house on the hill until it comes time to run to it!

That's a true bummer, because who is going to drive their car a mile from their house to start a run.

Me, Me! I am

BTW - I love the graphics. You are TOO much!

LOL. They were already in map my run as it's a route I have in there, all I did was screen shot portions of it. It was kind of amusing.

I don't know if there is anything you can do about it. I think biologically your are wired a certain way and its hard to change that. You've got good functioning kidneys, even though they are highly inconvenient.

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't say I can't change it. I MUST.

Ugh.

Really? I remember the first time I tried one. I really hit the wall on a bike ride. I only had about 8 miles to go, but I decided to suck one down because I felt like a wet noodle. It worked. Just like that I had energy. But I do think long distance biking is different from running. On a bike ride you can go from fine to the wall fast. With running I think its more of a gradual process.

Nope, never ever felt a surge, even when I was wiped in a couple of the super hot summer long runs.

I'm not really sure how to. She had another helper who brought up the back, but she did not seemed at all concerned with how everyone was doing. One older couple flipped their kayak right at the beginning of the trip and that was the end of them. I felt soooooo bad for them because the woman was so scared once she saw the waves in the water and her husband was like "come on. let's do it". 30 seconds later they are both underwater. Crazy!

Well that was a Disney run one, versus an outside operator and I'd definitely email them. that's incredibly dangerous and irresponsible and very un-disney like! The outside operator we had in Antigua made us wear floatation devices to snorkel (Disney requirement), which we thought was overkill and disney paranoia but I tell you...that current could have carried us to...Guatemala!

I really wanted a 5 night because I'm not quite ready to jump to a 7 night. There is something crazy about the food on the ship. I don't think I could eat it for 7 nights. But then again, I was at Disney for 5 nights before we even hit the ship. Anyway - there weren't any 5 nights that I wanted to do. Too many sea days. I think after this one I will try a longer.

Amazingly we didn't have that food issue this trip but have in the past, I know what you mean! 1-2 at sea days is enough for us.

 

[Pinkocto]

Have you ever gone across the Bay Bridge at night when they only have one span open? OMG! I did that once when I did a solo trip and my plane got in late at night. I seriously thought I was going to die. But what was even worse was I didn't expect to freak so I was totally unprepared. I just kept driving straight over that bridge until it was all over, but it wasn't one of my finer moments.

I've done at night, and I've done with only one side open, but not the two together. I can't imagine!!!!

Really? You are going to move there? I am so jealous!!!!!! I don't blame you, if you can swing it. There are SOOOOO many places to explore. I would plan something different for every weekend. How cool!

I've wanted to for years and I have a feeling if I don't do it soon it will never happen. I'm still single and no kids so this would be the best time.

 

[MEK]

Me, Me! I am

Well, considering you have that cool path at the end of the mile long hill, I guess it IS worth driving there.

LOL. They were already in map my run as it's a route I have in there, all I did was screen shot portions of it. It was kind of amusing.

Is that an advanced feature? Maybe I need to look at Map my run more closely!

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't say I can't change it. I MUST.

Ugh.

OK. You can change! Maybe!

Nope, never ever felt a surge, even when I was wiped in a couple of the super hot summer long runs.

I am really surprised. I wonder it its the product. I know the gatorade gel really gave me a surge, but the Gu gel don't seem to. Of course, I've only eaten two of them so that's not a great trial.

Well that was a Disney run one, versus an outside operator and I'd definitely email them. that's incredibly dangerous and irresponsible and very un-disney like! The outside operator we had in Antigua made us wear floatation devices to snorkel (Disney requirement), which we thought was overkill and disney paranoia but I tell you...that current could have carried us to...Guatemala!

This was definitely an outside operator. She told us she took a boat to get to CC and lives about 1/2 hour away by water. She was very nice, but her costumer service was just average.

Amazingly we didn't have that food issue this trip but have in the past, I know what you mean! 1-2 at sea days is enough for us.

Ugh. I swear they put something in the food to make you bloat up!

I'm not 100% sure cruising is for me since I don't really want to stay on the ship. I want to get off and explore, even if its just for a couple hours. I think the Southern Caribbean cruise you did looks amazing. The current itinerary looks great.

I've done at night, and I've done with only one side open, but not the two together. I can't imagine!!!!

One Word - Don't!

I've wanted to for years and I have a feeling if I don't do it soon it will never happen. I'm still single and no kids so this would be the best time.

Then you should. I don't blame you at all for making the move. It's got to be scary, but if you can make it happen and find a job you like, then by all means - Do it! I can't imagine how great it would be to live there. My Daytona friends love it. He is from NY and she is from NJ. They lived in VA before they moved to Florida and they absolutely love it. They would never move back to this area.

 

[MEK]

Living on Island Time

In my last update I left off here



We had just entered Anna Maria Island. That’s right. We were about to see a gulf coast beach! The excitement was building.

But first a trip down the main street of town.

Is that Pee Wee Herman’s bike?



The General Store



We drove to the end of the Main Street and parked. The pier was calling our name.





How convenient that there was beer at the end of the pier.



Oh yeah



There was even entertainment at the end of the pier



And he was pretty good, too. I liked the way he did his own versions of several of the songs we listened too. And seeing this guy made me realize I might be able to get a job doing the same thing after I retire. Maybe.





There was some other entertainment on the pier



And the views were breathtaking





And, look, here’s another view of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge






After our beer, we decided to check out the rest of the town.

A look back at the pier



A look to the left



A look to the right



Shells



Bike rack



A local art store





A cafe



Even a plug in for your electric car



Continued In Next Post

 

[MEK]

Somebody’s front porch



Complete with Olaf



and Santa



and a frog



and pretty flowers





Of course there was a darling church, but with my long lens I didn’t get such a great picture






I guess you could call it "Pieces of a Church"



We did decided to go into a close by restaurant, where we ordered another round of beers



I think we probably ordered some food, but I have no pictures to prove it. It seems logical because, as you may recall, our lunch was interrupted by the fire ants.

A view back towards the beach



This was actually a picture in the rest room, but I liked it so much I took its picture. That makes sense, right?



We were sitting outside, but when I went in to use the rest room I could look straight through the dining room and see the Sunshine Skyway again.



Here’s a better picture. That’s right - I took this from INSIDE the restaurant



And another picture of the pier



I took a few pictures of the houses in town.







Yup - I think it IS!



We passed a flea/famer's market on our way out of town










Love this!



Continued In Next Post

 

[MEK]

When we started to leave the island we noticed that the traffic was CRAZY! Really CRAZY! So we decided to drive south instead of inland. Let me just say that you can run, but you can’t hide when it comes to traffic!

See what I mean?





We headed south toward Sarasota and stopped for a bio break.

At the rest stop/park area








We passed Longboat Key heading south



and more of this



There were some gorgeous condos in Longboat Key



Very upscale area. I would love to stay there some day.



Beautiful golf course



Tiki Bar



It didn’t take us long to get to Sarasota



The traffic heading in land to Sarasota was INSANE. It must have taken us at least an hour to get through the town. We sat in the same traffic circle for EVER. At least there was entertainment.

See…








Spaghetti the Clown. Gotta love it!







This was the name of one of the stores in town. Pretty creative IMHO.



Sarasota is a beautiful town. Well, when it’s not a parking lot. I would love to go back when I could actually get out and visit some of the shops and restaurants.









Finally, FINALLY the traffic started moving.



Continued In Next Post

 

[MEK]

How cute is this?





And then the sun started to set









Did you ever notice that when the sun sets, it sets fast in Florida?





Once we hit Sarasota it didn’t take us long to get back to the bridge.







If you thought the bridge was scary during the day, imagine it at night! At least you can’t see how far you might fall. Yikes!
















When we finally got back to Tarpon Springs we decided to stop at a Panera bread and get a couple sandwiches to take back to the carriage house. We may have tried to watch a movie again, but I have a feeling we passed out from exhaustion the second night in a row.

Up Next - Our last full day on the Gulf Coast. Where will we go today?

 

[HockeyMomR]

Mary Ellen - that traffic is crazy. Yes, pretty condos.

And that bridge....think the Bay Bridge is enough for me!

Rebecca

 

[dizneeat]

And another great update. Your photos are awesome. I love all the impressions of the little towns.
Traffic looked crazy! And crossing the bridge at night looks absolutely scary. I really loved it during the day - not sure I'd like it during the night.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I had to look at a map to see where all these places were. That was quite a day trip you took! I bet the traffic was worse on the way back to Tarpon Springs because it was a Sunday night and everyone was heading home. It must have been really frustrating to sit in traffic without an escape route.

Anna Maria Island looks like a very nice place. There is really a lot to see and do in that area.

I'm going to guess that on your next day you decide to go anywhere but south.

 

[amazingact21]

Gorgeous photos, Mary Ellen. Definitely captured the laid back beach mentality along the coastlines of FL. Key West is similar to those places. Lots of open bars, live entertainment, colorful houses.

 

[teekathepony]

Wow, what a gorgeous area! Love the shots of the beach and all the shells. Just gorgeous. I even love the front porch pictures, the whole place looks adorable.
Yikes!! To the traffic! Glad you (finally) got through it!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

HAHAHA that does kind of look like Pee Wee's bike. "MY BIKE!!!!" Great movie.

Beer on the Pier... Oh Yeah!

OK, I was just trying to make sure I was reading the photos and text in the right order. Text THEN photo... otherwise...

And the views were breathtaking

I was going to ask how many beers you had.

The "OPEN" sign at the art store reminds me of Pepsi.

I don't know where my mind is lately, but that frog photo made me Yes, I'm 5.

You're a DISer mary Ellen. Photos in restrooms are totally ok.

OK, so the photos of the juggler are from the car? If so, that's actually pretty cool.

 

[Pinkocto]

I am loving these updates! Sun, palms, beaches, love it!!! Especially since it got so darn cold SO FAST! Bummer about all that traffic.

 

[Disney9.9.10]

What a great tour you went on! I love seeing the small towns, pretty beaches and palm tress! That bridge is scary though - I would have been white knuckling the whole time lol

 

[jedijill]

I"m not a beach person but that area looks lovely. I can see why you would want to live there! Gorgeous!

Jill in CO

 

[cstorm65]

Nice update. It looks like you had an exhausting but great day checking out all the sights. The view while the sun was setting was great!

 

[Poolrat]

Nice exploring. Lived in Clearwater for a little over a year and I think I went over the bridge once. Well twice - we had to get back home.

Do not like that traffic..... ick. Glad you avoided it as much as you could, even though you finally had to bite the bullet to get back.

 

[natebenma]

Thanks for sharing these areas with us!

Anna Maria Island looks so cute and laid back and fun!

"Let's have a pier beer, here, Dear"

The driftwood sculptures are incredible. I am in awe of the creativity of artists.

UGH on all of the traffic. Too bad- Sarasota looks like another beautiful place.

That bridge is gorgeous at night, too, but better you (or Denny) driving over it than me.

Mark and I really need to get over to explore the gulf coast of Florida. I think our only time close to there was a one day visit to Busch Gardens Tampa.

 

[afwdwfan]

Looks like a fantastic island day! Well worth the walk down the pier for a beer or 2.

Looks like a beautiful and fun place to visit, but the traffic definitely sucks! As for having time to get out and look around Sarasota... looks like you had plenty of time. Denny wasn't going anywhere!