Wildlife sightings in Homosassa, FL
Yesterday evening we arrived at Turtle Creek RV Resort, in Homosassa, FL. It's a nice, quiet park, but the campers are really old. Most are dirty, too. (Today we found out residents are only permitted to wash rigs 2 x per year, and since most residents have not yet arrived for the winter season, their rigs still have all summer's dirt & grime still on 'em.) However....there are LOTS of white ibis, white herons, great blue herons, and even a pileated woodpecker to entertain us.
While we were shopping at the Hospice Thrift Store (we're looking for a crate for Sunny, in the event we are unable to walk her often enough at our new job), we were tapped on the shoulder by Allie, of Ed & Allie, a couple we met up at Twin Oaks. SHE remembered us, thank Goodness, and they were kind enough to invite us out on their pontoon boat on Tuesday. We checked out the doggie-day-care and decided Sunny'd be happy there, and it looked clean. They promised to take good care of her & walk her several times plus give her a MUCH-needed bath, so off we went! While out on the water, we got to see LOTS of neat things - blue herons, turtles, sting rays, dolphins (3 one time and 2 another!!!), and even an elusive manatee or two!! Ed was a great tour-guide and was able to give us an interesting narrative of local history all along the way. As we were refreshing ourselves with a beverage of choice in a local riverside pub, we were ringside to a blue heron fight for territory. Ugh. NOT pretty. Lot of squawking and wing-flapping, and eventually a big stab to the chest, and they both flew off. Hopefully, both to live another day. Ed & Allie had a 3 pm appt, and we had to retrieve puppy by 4, so we headed back after quite a fun- & adventure-filled day!
We picked up puppy about 3:30, and boy, was she glad to see us! She was on the stand, getting blown dry & brushed after her bath. Apparently, though I had mentioned she'd need to potty after her bath, the groomer didn't get the message. She was trembling something FIERCE (Sunny, not the groomer). Of course, when she spotted me, it got worse, and with the groomer's back to me, she never saw why. Then came the pawing...enough to break my heart. Eventually, I couldn't stand it any longer and asked to go in the room (GREAT BIG STOP sign had prevented me, earlier...ever the good girl!). Permission was granted, just as the groomer was beginning the ears. Of course, Sunny didn't want any part of that, so I rescued her, and as Dick paid the bill (God love him!!), I was able to walk her outside...and she pottied immediately! Goodness knows how long she'd been waiting, but she was sure glad to go!!
After we got her, we made our way to the closest gas station to fuel up for the next leg. Jeez, stuff ain't cheap, but we're too fat to fly, so I guess there's no other alternative. Our next stop was the camper, for a quick shower, then on to the final destination of the day. Riverside Cafe, and their MARVELOUS bacon-wrapped, stuffed shrimp. While on the river, we'd tooled around Monkey Island (and learned that we did NOT know how to operate my new camera's movie feature), but it was still fun and interesting to watch them thru the windows of the air-conditioned dining room. Oh, and the SHRIMP were simply delicious!!! And, fresher than fresh! Every bit as good as Charlotte's, in Rockport-Fulton, TX, and that is saying a LOT. We waddled outta there, poor, but FULL. Our new economizing trick, I guess....eat enough at one meal to last a few days!!
Wednesday, we leave our beloved Homosassa and its manatees & birds, and head south for Venice and our new winter quarters. Travel safe, dance like nobody's watching!
While we were shopping at the Hospice Thrift Store (we're looking for a crate for Sunny, in the event we are unable to walk her often enough at our new job), we were tapped on the shoulder by Allie, of Ed & Allie, a couple we met up at Twin Oaks. SHE remembered us, thank Goodness, and they were kind enough to invite us out on their pontoon boat on Tuesday. We checked out the doggie-day-care and decided Sunny'd be happy there, and it looked clean. They promised to take good care of her & walk her several times plus give her a MUCH-needed bath, so off we went! While out on the water, we got to see LOTS of neat things - blue herons, turtles, sting rays, dolphins (3 one time and 2 another!!!), and even an elusive manatee or two!! Ed was a great tour-guide and was able to give us an interesting narrative of local history all along the way. As we were refreshing ourselves with a beverage of choice in a local riverside pub, we were ringside to a blue heron fight for territory. Ugh. NOT pretty. Lot of squawking and wing-flapping, and eventually a big stab to the chest, and they both flew off. Hopefully, both to live another day. Ed & Allie had a 3 pm appt, and we had to retrieve puppy by 4, so we headed back after quite a fun- & adventure-filled day!
We picked up puppy about 3:30, and boy, was she glad to see us! She was on the stand, getting blown dry & brushed after her bath. Apparently, though I had mentioned she'd need to potty after her bath, the groomer didn't get the message. She was trembling something FIERCE (Sunny, not the groomer). Of course, when she spotted me, it got worse, and with the groomer's back to me, she never saw why. Then came the pawing...enough to break my heart. Eventually, I couldn't stand it any longer and asked to go in the room (GREAT BIG STOP sign had prevented me, earlier...ever the good girl!). Permission was granted, just as the groomer was beginning the ears. Of course, Sunny didn't want any part of that, so I rescued her, and as Dick paid the bill (God love him!!), I was able to walk her outside...and she pottied immediately! Goodness knows how long she'd been waiting, but she was sure glad to go!!
After we got her, we made our way to the closest gas station to fuel up for the next leg. Jeez, stuff ain't cheap, but we're too fat to fly, so I guess there's no other alternative. Our next stop was the camper, for a quick shower, then on to the final destination of the day. Riverside Cafe, and their MARVELOUS bacon-wrapped, stuffed shrimp. While on the river, we'd tooled around Monkey Island (and learned that we did NOT know how to operate my new camera's movie feature), but it was still fun and interesting to watch them thru the windows of the air-conditioned dining room. Oh, and the SHRIMP were simply delicious!!! And, fresher than fresh! Every bit as good as Charlotte's, in Rockport-Fulton, TX, and that is saying a LOT. We waddled outta there, poor, but FULL. Our new economizing trick, I guess....eat enough at one meal to last a few days!!
Wednesday, we leave our beloved Homosassa and its manatees & birds, and head south for Venice and our new winter quarters. Travel safe, dance like nobody's watching!
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