Keeping “busy”.

On Saturday, we spent some time in the Port Charlotte area which is about 40 miles north of our condo. There is a geocache placed on the Barron Collier Bridge. Cordell had diligently worked on a puzzle, that when solved, gave the coordinates for locating the cache.

 

 

The bridge is 45 feet tall and crosses the Peace River. We walked about .4 mile one way. It was breezy, as I imagine it is most of the time, given that the land is flat, there is open water and there are cars constantly driving by.

 

 

 

Cordell found a little hand crafted cache container that was so well hidden I didn’t even see it when I looked right at it.

 

 

There is a small park at one end of the bridge on Sand Point. It is very nicely landscaped with various plants, trees and shrubs identified. Tables are available for picnicking. A launch site for kayaks is available with dedicated parking for vehicles used by kayakers. We saw a few people fishing. Plans for the future include erecting two piers.

 

 

We visited Chester Roberts Park which consists of .32 acres on the waterfront. It has park benches and a canoe/kayak launch.

 

 

There was an informational sign posted that explained the Hickory Buff Pioneers. After the end of the Civil War, Confederate and Union soldiers decided to stay in the area for the warm climate, as well as for political and financial gain.

 

 

 

We found another cache on a pier where the boards along the side were so crooked that it almost gave me motion sickness as I walked on it. As with so many places we have been, I am sure there are some gorgeous sunsets here.

 

 

Sunday, we were back at Hope Lutheran Church.

 

 

Pastor Browning always uses some humor in his sermons. He was talking about the various reasons people disagree and the confrontations that can result.

 

 

Coffee hour outside in the middle of February is a whole lot different than coffee hour at our church back home in Maryland.

 

 

 

Monday was a day of beautiful Florida sunshine. We spent some time at the swimming pool. The water temp is always warmer than any of the pools at home during the summer.

 

 

Cordell has decided that margaritas on the lanai seem to taste better than anywhere else.

 

 

Yesterday, we spent some time in the Punta Gorda Nature Park which has been described as a hidden jewel that lies within close proximity to residential areas and commercial establishments. This 19 acre park is a unique recreational area located in the center of Punta Gorda Isles, the largest residential community in the City.

 

 

 

Unlike many nature centers and wildlife preserves in Southwest Florida which are only accessible by car or boat, this park is easily reached by foot or bicycle.

 

 

We noticed a mail carrier eating her lunch in the park as were a few other people.

 

 

A portion of the park is beautifully landscaped and again, many trees, shrubs and flowers are identified.

 

 

 

Several outdoor activities including, walking, bird watching, photography, environmental education and wildlife observation are available. We took advantage of one of the hiking trails to look for geocaches hidden among the palmettos.

 

 

We had a nice lunch at a local restaurant in town.

 

 

While driving around Punta Gorda we saw a really cute mailbox