Fall travels

Unusual for us to leave Maine in the summer or fall but the Illinois wedding invitation got Marlin's traveling shoes rattling in the closet, so we are off.


Our first stop was in Alfred, Maine, where we returned Lola home from a visit with us in Dixmont.  In the five days there, she taught me all the finer points of shopping in addition to being a great help with projects.

A poster for the Historical Society needed some artistic touches to brighten up the theme

 
She volunteered to mow the lawn for the last time this year.  Great job.


Adding a couple of extra travel days gave us a chance to visit with Jed, James, and Shellie.
Jed's cabin is coming along.  He just installed a major carrying timber, which will let him floor in the loft and finish the upper walls.

The 24 foot carrying timber

Major accomplishment.


Cabin fever has spread to Jed's son, Jacob.  He is building himself a tiny cabin at the top of the hill. Guess carpentry is just in the Cook boys genes.

Jacob helping at Jed's cabin





His own place! Didn't get to see Jacob this trip.  He was at Football camp all week.



Wednesday was a time for lots of talking, catching up, and making plans.  Great night at Sebago Brewing in Portland with these three.

Headed out of Maine on Thursday morning, with the first stop west of Albany, New York.  Looking forward to some new experiences.  The wedding is on the 26th in Moline, IL, then, because it is so close to Illinois, on to Colorado for some fishing before we head to New Mexico for Pueblo ruins at Chaco Canyon and Canyon de Chelly.

Moving On

The past seven weeks have been spent in Bradenton and Brooksville, Florida.  Our very close friend Chuck Burwell had serious fall, causing a fractured skull, which kept him in the hospital for seven weeks.  We wanted to stay in the area to assist in any way we could.  We are glad to report he is out of the hospital, and on his way to a miraculous recovery, so we are beginning to travel toward home.

While we were in this part of central Florida, we were camped at a State Forrest adjacent to  Silver Lake on the Withlacoochee River   This is one of our favorite campsites, partly because of the hiking trails, the easy access to the  50+ mile paved (flat) bike trail, and the low camper density.

Breakfast in the sun

Many trips on the long, flat, bike path.

Silver Lake, with access from the campground

Beautiful trails

even when the water is high

We have seen this trail when there is high water.  Not this year.

Marlin got a great shot of this black vulture.  He was not about to move off the trail since it was dusk and almost time to roost for the night.

Did some birding.

Caught this immature red shouldered eating a mouse.

This beautiful adult red shouldered hawk posed on this sign post for at least 10 minutes.

American white pelicans in a pond near our campsite

Sand hill cranes were plentiful throughout the area near the campground. We often saw them beside the bike path.

A local attraction in Brooksville is the Chinsegut Hill estate.  It is the oldest house in Hernando county, built in 1840 by Bird Pearson.  Purchased in 1905 by Raymond Robins and  his sister Elizabeth. The siblings named the property Chinsegut , meaning "a place where lost things are found".  Elizabeth was a well known actress, writer and suffragette.  After the Great Depression, the Robins family donated the estate to Federal Government.  It is currently owned by the University of South Florida and used as a conference and reception center.  A beautiful place to have a wedding or other event.

We spent the afternoon roaming the grounds and having a tour of the house.

A day trip took us to Cedar Key and the Suwannee River Wild Life Refuge.
Cedar Key is a  small, eclectic village that specializes in oysters and clams.

Main Street along the water front.

The welcome center where the docent recommended Tony's Restaurant. Tony's serves "Award Winning" clam chowder.  The designation came from winning the Newport, Rhode Island chowder competition three years in a row.  She was right, the chowder was fantastic.  We even took two cans home.

Local street Art

What to do with a dead tree!

This cement pot was in a large community garden.

The gardens were all on these raised bed platforms.  Great on the back!

Ever present brown pelicans.

Unfortunately we spent so much time on Cedar Key, by the time we got to the Suwannee River WLR the visitors center was closed.  We drove several of the roads overlooking marsh land and inland ponds,  but did not get to experience all the Refuge had to offer.  Next time.

Pleasant boardwalks and viewing platforms

Miles of quiet marsh land

Little Blue heron was seen on our last stop in the Refuge.

Jiggs Landing and Fish Camp

Jiggs Landing, Bradenton, FL.

In 1940 Al "Jiggs" Metcalf and his wife started a fish camp on 7 acres of land along the Braden River.  For 40 years the camp was a local icon and vacation spot, selling bait for fisherman and renting small cabins to families.  Many years after the hay-day of the fish camp, Manatee County purchased the property and turned it into a preserve, along with a fresh set of cabins that are for rent again.

The first thing you see when you enter the grounds is an osprey nest, high up in a tall, long needle pine tree.  The nest is enormous and a white head can usually be seen peeking over the edge.  If you are lucky, one of the pair will pose for a picture on a near by branch.

The boardwalks, grounds and boat launch are all free public facilities.  A small cafe  that serves excellent fresh prepared food is located between the boat launch and the cabins.  This peaceful paradise is located only a few blocks off the traffic nightmare of Rte 70 in Bradenton.  A gem.

The new cabins are a real treat.  Painted in the same colors loved by Agnes Metcalf, the eight structures vary between bunk beds, full size or queen beds.  All are simple dwellings with just one room.

We were lucky enough to spend a night in the queen bed camp.

A beautiful evening spent watching birds, big and small

More boardwalk, looking toward the boat launch

As dusk approached, flock after flock of white ibis, turkey vultures, and herons began to roost in a group of trees on the other side of the river.  It looked like snow on the foliage.

Naples Zoo with Sean and Becky

OOPS, This has been in my draft box, not published by mistake.  Better late than never.


John's Daughter Becky and her son Sean came for a quick four day visit.  Sean is a delightful, talkative, four year old.  Having a little one around gave us an excuse to visit the Naples Zoo. Past reports  had been very positive and all were correct.  Fun day, great small zoo, perfect for a pre-school tot.

Becky and Sean

Marlin and John helping Sean find the anteater

Very graceful, but looking like something out of Star Wars

Zebra's were Sean's favorite

The boat ride circled several monkey islands.

The zoo makes a practice of hiding the food in unusual places to simulate a more natural habitat and realistic environment for the monkeys.

Kids were welcome to feed lettuce to these gentle Graffias.  The animals leaned their long necks over the fence and scooped up the romaine leaves with their tongues.

Tigers and lions and bears, oh my!  Mr. tiger was the only one out roaming around today.

End of a fun Zoo day.  Maybe we will get an ice cream.