Best Life

 Absolutely stunning day to visit a new zoo.  Brevard Zoo in Melbourne is beautifully done with great space for their animals.  Initially I thought that with 6-8 school buses chock full of young kids unloading in front of the gate, we would feel crowded and rushed.  Nope.  The exhibits are spaced out with wide walkways and multiple viewing spots for each animal.  Only a few children ran into us. And bloodhounds!  I have been to many zoos but this is the first time I have met bloodhounds.   These sisters are new to the zoo and slowly being integrated into the petting area.  Too cute!                                                                           Cindy Pawford              ...

  Another sunny and calm day with a high of 70.  Perfect for our not quite 5 mile walk down Riverside Drive.  The water on the ICW was super calm and inviting.  Ugh.  But there were many interesting things to see along the way.  The dozens of gnomes were the most unusual.                                 Cute little camper that actually seems to be a permanent part of the yard decor.                                           Pepe Le Pew and Penelope stood out in front of this colonial. And the multiple damaged docks from Helene and other winter storms. Paul spent the morning prepping the remaining windows for painting.  I meanwhile, have become very adept at using the vintage oven.  Today - cornbread for tomorrow's dinner.  (We...

 In our wanderings today we came across an unincorporated town down on the Ponce Inlet peninsula.  Cute area with a lot to see - Wibur By The Sea.                                             Yup, we stopped to watch a seagull take a bath! The Community first established by Mr Wilbur in 1913 has a long and somewhat troubled history.  But the community has proven strong enough to remain and flourish.  Check it out!  Most of the original visitors and community came from Massachusetts and New England. https://wilburboathouse.com/historyofwilburbythesea.html

 So glad we enjoyed yesterday's warmth and sun.  Today our morning walk was chilly, cloudy and with a hint of drizzle.  We wound up visiting the Daytona Outreach Center, a thrift store that directly benefits the residents of Daytona.  The store is neat, clean and full of lots of stuff. I found an almost new backgammon set.  And since I do not have a set on the boat - I bought it for the low sum of $10.  Of course Paul kicked my butt.  Nice to have something new to pass the time. Mid afternoon found it sunny and a bit warmer.  Paul changed the oil on the car while I read in a beach chair in the sun.  And a second walk to the Hardware store before dinner.  (Paul did not purchase enough oil.) The rest of the afternoon was spent reading and watching movies.  My newest book I can't put down - Waterway Guide to the Bahamas.  Full of information to ensure we have the best adventure with minimal hiccups.  Hints on grocery shopping...

 After a late start we meandered to the post office by foot.  It was hot!  Not quite hot but warm enough for shorts and a tee shirt.  Finally! So after lunch we headed out for a real walk.  We wound up down on the Riverfront Esplanade.  Although we have visited here in the past, we took full advantage and wandered through the entire park.  Total of 4 miles.  Nice bathrooms and water fountains with cool water placed strategically, it was the perfect way to spend a sunny, warm day. The sunshine makes everything look so beautiful.  We just kept walking and listening to the music piped into the park.  We sat on benches and swings.  We watched the birds and water.  And we stopped for coffee. Then we stopped in to visit friends on their boat.  It felt good to be on a boat on the water even though it was on a dock and wasn't Quiet Time.  Talking about boats and boat troubles actually instills hope. A quick walk back (3 miles...

 After a night of interrupted sleep we wound up at a late morning mass.  The priest had the answer to my unpleasant night though - The 24 hours of Daytona.  Apparently once a year there is a race that continues for 24 hours.  61 teams of 3 to 4 drivers race for 24 hours!  I thought maybe cars were racing on the highway or the many straightaways here in Daytona.  Amazing how the sound carries for almost 4 miles. We stopped at Staples and now have PDF copies of our passports and licenses.  Harbor Freight for a new oil filter wrench.  And Hot Bins.  An Amazon return bin store.  Interesting but not for me.  Digging through boxes and pawing over returns felt wrong.  There was hair extensions, unidentified clothing and too many "what is that?". Then a new walking path.  Riverbend Nature park is dual use - walking and mountain biking.  Made for interesting walking sharing the paths.  Pretty on the river though (still no...