Caspersen Beach on a hot July Day

Chris, Jan, Joanne, Conrad & Sally enjoyed the beach

We organized a beach day and eight in our boating club, PGIslanders, and one guest had a fantastic time at Caspersen beach on Wednesday, 7/19.  Although it was raining in Punta Gorda, the group headed down Rt 41 North to Venice because the RADAR NOW app showed "all clear" weather. And it was.  As another good omen for the day, a parking space became available just steps away from the rest room and beach path areas.  There is NO charge for parking at this destination, so it doesn't get any better than this!

A turtle strolls along with the locals

The water was warm and calm as we all skinny dipped in (OH, just kidding!)   Some looked for sharks teeth and of course, found a few.  Some of us brought our snorkels and were rewarded with schools of fish feeding from the plankton on the rocks.  After lots of fun and conversation, we headed down to Sharkey's.   Can you believe we got a fantastic table for 9 under the shaded patio and on cue, a coolish breeze filtered through.  The seafood lunch was great and everyone enjoyed the drinks, too!  Summer is a great time to become a tourist here - no swarms of people, lines of cars, etc. - -civility, peacefulness and tropical breezes were the order of the day. 

Sally, Conrad, Trudy, Chuck & Mahala enjoy lunch at Sharkey's

Those attending were:  Leaders - Joanne & Richard Collins, Sally & Conrad Pinches, Jan & Rick Petroski, Trudy & Chuck Millburg with niece, Mahala, visiting from Illinois.

Local newspaper pet photo contest

Our local newspaper is having a pet photo contest.  Today we entered the following 2 pictures (one per person) of our cat, Bleu Kitty, our 6 year old Blue Persian.  Wish us luck!




Bleu Kitty loves to smell the flowers!

Bleu Kitty is dressed for the summer in his straw hat and tie

Visiting Pam & Don in Henderson Harbor, NY

Brockport Viking Apartments - lived there 41 years ago!

Snowbirds, Pam & Don Brandt, treated us like family




At The End of the Road on the Eastern Shore of Lake Ontario




Gorgeous view overlooking Lake Ontario from Pam & Don's back porch.  Note the Inuksuk (rock man) that Don built!

Our Punta Gorda snowbird friends, Pam and Don Brandt, asked us to drop by their summer place the next time we were in New York State.  Since we were only a few hours away, this seemed like the perfect opportunity.  It was fun for me (Joanne) because I lived in Brockport, NY (which was on the way) over 41 years ago.  I had not been to the area since then, so it was a trip down Memory Lane.  I remembered the Genesee River and some of the Rochester area.  I really enjoyed seeing Brockport.  After all these years, I found the apartment building that we lived in so long ago.




Inuksuk Man

We arrived at the CAMP as Pam and Don call it and it was great!  They treated us like family - we enjoyed touring the 1000 Lake Region, hearing Lake Ontario waves right outside the window of the backyard, viewing Pam's fantastic garden, seeing Don's awesome boat that he restored after 13 years and hearing about their family and meeting their friends.  We attended a wonderful 4th of July BBQ on Sunday at the Henderson Harbor Yacht Club and had dinner at a terrific restaurant.  The 3 days went by very fast and before we knew it, it was time to catch our flights.

Garden Yard

What a fabulous vacation we had to Detroit, Canada and upper New York State!  Lots a memories, good times and wonderful friends! 



Bottle Tree - I want one!

Renovated lake home with a cupula that lights up!

 


Nod to Florida

 


On the SnakeFoot Trail
 

 

Lake Ontario Meets Its Eastern Shore

 


Wildflowers against rustic fence



Henderson Yacht club on Protected Henderson Harbor



BBQ at Yacht Club



BBQ at Yacht Club



Fog horn at Tibbett Point



One of the Islands




Lunch on the St Lawrence River, Clayton, NY

Boat Going By



Passing Over the St Lawrence River to Wellesley Island



Victorian Homes on Wellesley Island



On Wellesley Island - Note High Water Covers Gas Pump