Christmas and New Years on the Loop

An unusual Christmas and New Years it was...

HUMBUG at end of a Burnt Store Marina dock

HUMBUG split the holidays between Burnt Store Marina  (a nice, grated, boating/golfing community that is part of Punta Gorda, Florida just north of Ft. Meyers), and the back yard of our friends, Teddi and Dale Turner, who live on a canal in Punta Gorda Isles.

Our daily begging visitor at Burnt Store Marina

We split our time between Burnt Store Marina, Mt. Dora, Florida, (an hour north of Orlando where my parents live), the Turners house in Punta Gorda Isles, Marathon and Key West.

The Turners live on one of the main canals in Punta Gorda Isles, where all the houses are brightly lit for Christmas. The lights draw a constant stream of pleasure and tour boats in the evenings during the holidays.

HUMBUG in Turners back yard (Charlotte Harbor at the stern)

Pete and Dale in Turners back yard

We spent several pleasant evenings on the their lanai, watching boats of all sizes and shapes - some as gaily lit as the houses on shore - some unadorned, parade by.

Lighted houses along Turner's canal

A VERY lighted boat passing HUMBUG's bow

While at Burnt Store Marina and at the Turner's, we spent several days with realtors looking at houses. We didn't find anything we HAD to have (which, frankly, was a relief), but we did go to some interesting neighborhoods. One was St. James City on Pine Island, a kind of Key Westy place with no high rises, a lot of "old Florida" houses, many art galleries and tons of Tiki bars.

St. James City  on Pine Island "the Drunkenmost Point in the US"

Christmas Eve and Christmas day found us at Waterman Village in Mt. Dora, where my mother and dad live. Mom played in the bell choir during the Christmas Eve service and we all enjoyed a great Christmas Day dinner at "The Lodge,"  Waterman Village's main dining room.

Dad on Christmas Day (93 on March 10)

Mom on Christmas Day (92 on March 8)

Between Christmas and New Years, we drove down to Marathon (half way down the Keys),  followed by Pete's sister Betsey, and her husband Roger. We did that, to get our car down there, so it would be waiting for us when we arrived for a month beginning January 15.

While in Marathon, we spent two nights in some VERY funky cottages at "Tropical Cottages," and since Betsey and Roger had never been there, played tourist all day on New Years Eve day, in Key West. That night, we celebrated New Years Eve, by having dinner with Loretta and Bob, from "Carol Anne."

Tropical Cottages Marathon, FL

The outside shower of our Tropical Cottage - only one gecko kept me company while taking a shower

Being tourists, we took a Conch Train tour while in Key West

Betsey & Pete among the throngs of people in Key West on New Years Day

Key West really is weird but... Roger and Pete didn't seem to mind

 

New Years Eve Dinner with Betsey and Roger and Loretta and Bob at The Hideaway on Grassy Key

Our slip for our month in Marathon is one away from "Carol Anne." They arrived there before Christmas and all their kids joined them for the holiday. We left the car in Loretta's and Bob's care, and on New Years Day, Betsey and Roger deposited us back on HIUMBUG at Burnt Store Marina.

Shaina, the Katrina rescue dog from "Carol Anne," posed for their Christmas card.

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and we wish you all the best in the new year.

Carolyn and Pete



















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