Tessa Makes Friends

We walked from the Veteran's Memorial, along the Harborwalk, to the pier by the hospital.  We met a couple of other dogs and they all greeted one another and sniffed and smelled.  Tessa was great, even with the super big furry guy.  His owner told us what breed he was but I can't remember and it wasn't one I was familiar with.

As much as I miss Titan and as much of a pain in the butt she is on a leash, it's so nice to have a dog that doesn't react to other dogs, other than she always want to say "hi".

Thanks for stopping by...

;o)

Hurricane Charley Sunset

It was a little cooler and dryer today.  We had a nice walk over the bridge, saw the stingrays and the colorful lizard who's name I can't remember ;o(  After dinner we went to the section of the Harborwalk by Hurricane Charley's to watch the sunset.

Thanks for stopping by...
;o)

The Harborwalk Revisited

After walking Titan this morning, we decided to walk the Harborwalk this afternoon, without him.

We started at Fisherman's Village.  The last couple of years there were some areas along a newer section of the walk that were covered in "fake" grass and we wondered about their purpose.  We found new exercise equipment in the one closest to where we parked. 

It's kind of like playground equipment for adults.  It appears you can do a quick full body workout on these machines.  I told Bill to try one of them so I could take a picture.

Go Bill!

He got going and I took the photo, but I didn't tell him I was done so he just kept going and going.  He finally looked over and asked if I "got it".  Hahaha, yeah, I got it, a while ago.

We walked from FV to the hospital and back, a total of 5.75 miles, in just under 2 hours.  Last year a section of the walk was closed due to construction so we were anxious to see what had been done.  They cleared a lot of brush and completed this new area, which is open to the river.

The entire project has something to do with flood mitigation.  I think I read something last year about the company doing the work getting into trouble for removing too many mangroves.  Based on this, they removed A LOT.  I think this is actually kind of cool and it allows people to walk right to the river.  

They also did work on the other side of the walk, although it's not quite as picturesque.

There is a sign advising of alligators so we kept our distance.

As we approached the pier located at the end of the walk near the hospital, we were met by Mamie, whose owner was fishing.

I asked if she was the guard dog and he laughed, saying he just hoped she could complete the walk back to the car, which I think was parked at the end of the ramp to the pier.  Mamie is a 14 year old Corgi/Alaskan Husky or Eskimo Dog mix.  I wouldn't say she actually greeted us but she did eventually get up and waddle over for a quick sniff and a scratch around the ears.

Mamie was one of the 19 or 20 dogs we saw on our walk, which is the reason Titan doesn't walk this with us.

We said farewell to Mamie and wished her owner good luck, then returned to the car, each of us wondering during the remaining hour, whose bright idea it was to walk the Harborwalk this early in our winter, before we really got our walking muscles tuned up.

Thanks for stopping by...
;o)

Wendy Comes to Visit...Day 2

We split up for our walk this morning.  Bill and Titan walked along the street, Wendy and I walked along the Harborwalk, meeting up at the hospital.  Since Titan doesn't feel comfortable around other dogs and there are lots of them along the harbor, this system seems to work the best and allows Wendy to enjoy the walk along the water. 

We walked together back to the car.

After lunch at home, Bill went to the gym while we got ourselves a pedicure and shopped at the Beall's Outlet, kind of like Marshalls.  We stopped for ice cream at the only ice cream shop in Punta Gorda, other than Fisherman's Village...Working Cow ice cream.  

Once home, we sat on the deck and talked to Greg & Ella with FaceTime.  

We ate dinner at the Celtic Ray, the one and only Irish Pub in Punta Gorda.  It has the absolutely best fish and chips, along with a great staff and live entertainment.

 

Wendy and I each had a Magner's Pear Cider, which they now have on draft.

The three of us each ordered a small fish and chips, although we agreed that two could share the large order.

For dessert we shared the Dublin Tart, which was exceptional!

It's kind of like a mousse or chocolate cream pie but lots better.

This pub was severely damaged in Hurricane Charley and it took several years to complete the repairs and renovation.  The last section to open was the upstairs bar and extra seating.

Wendy said this sign made her want to go back to Ireland.

Thanks for stopping by...

;o)

NM Meets ME in FL

The last time we saw my cousin, Donald and his wife, Gracia was in 2007 when we exchanged houses for two weeks.  They came East a little early so we had some time to visit before we headed West.

Visiting Quincy Market

They arrived in FL with their camper/van late Tuesday afternoon and we explored for the next several days.  The next morning we walked the dog, much like we did when Wendy was here.  Bill and Titan took the sidewalk, while Don, Gracia and I took the Harborwalk, meeting at the hospital.

Birds enjoying a snack at low tide on the Peace River

Three Amigos

After lunch and the announcement of Pope Francis, we took a walk over the Peace River bridge to Fisherman's Village.  We got an ice cream at the coffee shop, walked around the shops and watched the pelicans.

Statue of Ponce de Leon in Gilchrist Park

Keeping their eyes on the fish, really big fish

We returned to the car and visited Bocca Lupo for dinner, then to Bayshore Park to watch the sunset, which was beautiful.   There was also a comet visible to the naked eye, the PanStarrs comet.

Seriously, if you look closely with a magnifying glass you can see it ;o)

They dressed to match the sunset colors!

Thanks for stopping by...
;o)

The Tide Was Low

Peace Rive from the boardwalk

Peace River from the pier at the end of Harborwalk

but the wind was high

On the pier at the end of Harborwalk

Thanks for stopping by...

;o)

Harborwalk

We take the dog for a walk every.single.day while we are in FL, assuming the weather is good.  We have enjoyed clear blue skies and warm temperatures, which means we have been out walking.  One of our favorite places to walk is called "Harborwalk" and it follows the Peace River as it flows into Charlotte Harbor. 

There have been a few changes along the walk since last year.

2011

There is a new Tiki Bar this year...

That handsome man & his nice dog are still here

 

 

 

Last year we saw three manatees and several dolphins.  We saw this dolphin last week.

It's hard to take good pictures of dolphins

Last year they started working on this section of the walk.

2011

It's been widened and paved,

2012

lights and landscaping were added,

even benches, doggie bags and decorative trash cans were installed.

There is a lot of wildlife around here.  Last year Bill saw an alligator along this section but he got so excited he couldn't make his camera take a picture.  Since wildlife can't read the "sidewalk closed" signs they didn't realize the concrete was wet.

Obviously some type of bird

Not sure yet, still learning

I feel like I should know these, raccoon maybe?

Bear?

These are so cool ;o)  There's a snake print too, but I didn't get a good photo.

It's a really nice walk, maybe 2-3 miles.  There are two piers where people can get off the walk and overlook the river.  So can their dogs.

Thanks for stopping by...

;o)