Sharing with MOSAIC MONDAY and OUR WORLD.
It was chilly, chilly, chilly on our boat trip up the Caloosahatchie...we were wearing socks and caps pulled down over our ears. (Somewhere around sixty with wind on the water is wintery for Floridians.)
Birds in trees along the shore were about the only thing that enticed me to stand up to take pictures. (The night heron in the bottom right picture was in a canal where we stopped for fuel.)
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It warmed up as we neared Lake Okechobee, which made us all happy. The pictures below show "Little Man", the eccentric (to say the least) dockmaster at Martin Marina, where we were staying.
Anyone who can tie a boat with a perfect marine knot without even bending over has my respect and can be as eccentric as he chooses to be!
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Below: What to do while you're docked at the Marina? Shop, admire the plants (those are spring flowers here in Florida), eat and eat and eat, and ... well....wet your whistle.
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Below: On the way home, at last some watery pictures. (The weather was beautiful.)
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Top pictures: work boats tied up at shore; and a smoke cloud in the distance that is probably from a sugar cane field burn. Bottom: boating past an orange orchard (smells delicious); heading into one of the three locks that we go through; and the Fort Denaud Bridge.
We boat under a lot of bridges, but this one is very low...we have to lower our antenna. Plus I always hold my breath and scrunch down. It works, because we haven't crashed yet!
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Beautiful scenery, good friends, a trouble-free outing on the boat -- what more could anyone ask!
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amzing how dirrent birds are happy perched on one tree.
Posted by: ann nz | April 07, 2013 at 05:48 PM
I enjoyed this, Sallie. Trouble-free is always good, and fun even better!
K
Posted by: Kay L. Davies | March 12, 2013 at 07:38 PM
Love a party where you "do" something next to eating and drinking:) We're still in the 60ties too, on and off...!
Posted by: Emille | March 12, 2013 at 05:06 PM
Looks like a great trip you are having. Some wonderful bird photos.
Posted by: Fun60 | March 12, 2013 at 03:43 PM
Wonderful images. Love the variety of birds.
Posted by: Rajesh | March 12, 2013 at 06:07 AM
Lovely lifestyle, perfect temps and water!
Posted by: Arija | March 12, 2013 at 01:26 AM
I could do with a little Florida right now! Great shots!
Posted by: Karen | March 11, 2013 at 09:23 PM
We were at the beach camping this weekend, and it was windy too, but I was comfy.
Your boat would keep you warm1 Love your r&r lifestyle!
Posted by: Ebie | March 11, 2013 at 07:58 PM
Fabulous pictures and sounds like a fabulous, if chilly, time Sallie.
How I love those herons!
Posted by: Penny | March 11, 2013 at 06:32 PM
I love those birdies in the tree!
Posted by: SandyCarlson | March 11, 2013 at 06:22 PM
Looks perfect, and I'll have to admit that 60 with a sea breeze is rather chilly. It's probably worse than 30 with our hot high-altitude sunshine here!
Posted by: Al | March 11, 2013 at 06:09 PM
looks like you had a wonderful day out. I tried to take some pics of water birds on Sunday, but my camera died when I got there. You can read about it on my post!
Have a wonderful week. I am linking up to you through Our World Tuesday.
Posted by: Life Images by Jill | March 11, 2013 at 04:48 PM
I think you must be living a magical life. All the beautiful places you go and just being on the water...heavenly. Thanks for the visit. Wish our school board was as sad as the community about closing our wonderful little school...200 children. genie
Posted by: genie | March 11, 2013 at 04:46 PM
Thank you for your visit and your kind comment. IWD. Is still necessary, isn't it?
Posted by: Reader Wil | March 11, 2013 at 03:52 PM
looks like a fun adventure. lovely birds and views.
Posted by: LifeRamblings | March 11, 2013 at 03:41 PM
Great trip and glad you had a nice time boating!
Posted by: Kusum | March 11, 2013 at 03:27 PM
What a great trip and it does look as if you had a wonderful time!! Thanks as always, Sallie, for sharing the fun with us!! Hope you have a good week!!
Posted by: sylviakirk | March 11, 2013 at 02:51 PM
I almost thought you would write "hold on to your hat" .:) A ncie and relaxing trip it seems. :)
Posted by: NatureFootstep | March 11, 2013 at 02:45 PM
AHHHHHHHHHHh living the dream life...priceless!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
Posted by: Linda | March 11, 2013 at 02:35 PM
Great post Sallie!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Posted by: Boom & Gary | March 11, 2013 at 02:22 PM
Great photos and it looks like a really nice boat trip. The birds in the trees are great and well worth standing up in the wind to take the photos!
Posted by: Mick | March 11, 2013 at 02:12 PM
No need to enquire if you had a good time then Sallie? All that food and drink, a bit of shopping and even a spot of birding thrown in must be great. Pity about those low temperatures though - my heart bleeds for you, especially since it just snowed here.
Posted by: Phil | March 11, 2013 at 12:49 PM
That looks like so much fun! I can't wait to get back out on a boat!
Posted by: Mama Zen | March 11, 2013 at 12:13 PM
Yes, what more could you ask for, life is good in Florida with friends, the nice weather, stress-free trip, food and all. I am jealous again. :D
Have a nice week Sallie.
Posted by: Prem | March 11, 2013 at 09:54 AM
glad your boat trip went well! yay! love the heron and egrets in the tree in the top collage.
Posted by: TexWisGirl | March 11, 2013 at 08:42 AM
Cold feet in Florida ? What a strange world ! I like a lot the white bid on your first mosaïc !
So elegant !
To-day I see other (real) spring flowers here and the first butterfly : Its name is "citron" because he is as yellow as a lemon, BUT, snow is waited back in two days...
Posted by: Annie | March 11, 2013 at 08:28 AM
I'd agree that 60 degrees and windy on the water is mighty cold! You were able to get some fabulous pics from your outing. Haven't seen a night heron since I left Texas, so that was a treat. You certainly lead an exciting life on the water. Always enjoy your pics and stories. :)
Posted by: Gail | March 11, 2013 at 07:06 AM
Dearest Sallie,
Hello, how wonderful that you are enjoying your life; boat, water and beautiful birds♡♡♡ And I love your mosaic pictures of fun tme♬♬♬ I may try mosaic Monday someday p;)
PS> Thank you SO much for your sweet comments. It sure was a delightful surprise. I hope you will have a wonderful new week.
Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*
Posted by: Yamda Miyako (orchid) | March 11, 2013 at 06:57 AM
Lovely pics of your chilly water adventure Sallie. We Florida gals don't do cold very well.. do we!
Posted by: pam | March 11, 2013 at 06:03 AM
Looks like a fun trip and you got some great shots. I love the birds you photographed.
Posted by: Carver | March 11, 2013 at 05:45 AM
I love the birds in the trees, thanks Sallie.
Posted by: Bob Bushell | March 11, 2013 at 02:00 AM
Sallie, what a fun trip. Would be just a little better if the weather was warmer? A fun place to stop to eat and wet your whistle. What a cute name! Great shots and mosaics. Have a happy week!
Posted by: Eileen | March 11, 2013 at 01:21 AM
Looks like a good trip - the things some people can do with ropes is remarkable.
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
PS thanks for the 400 post congrats!
Posted by: Stewart M | March 11, 2013 at 12:24 AM
Glad you had a good trip-taking wonderful and descriptive photos. UK Midlands has SNOW again and it will be sub zero temperatures all day!
Posted by: HAZEL | March 11, 2013 at 12:21 AM
What a wonderful boat tour (except when it was so cold :))I would love to do that too !
Posted by: Gattina | March 10, 2013 at 11:28 PM
It certainly does look lovely where you are!
Woke up to minus 18C so shivering over here ... still!
Posted by: ladyfi | March 10, 2013 at 09:27 PM
I would have loved the trip for the birds alone!
Those bright summer tops at least remind me of sunshine and warmth.
Looks like you had a wonderful trip Sallie! Glad to know you made it back home safely.
Posted by: Carletta | March 10, 2013 at 08:42 PM
I love the first mosaic with all the birds. 60 degrees is sweater weather for us in the north. :-)
Posted by: Lavender Cottage | March 10, 2013 at 08:12 PM
Well done, a great travel documentary on the Caloosahatchie.
I just love that word! The State of Florida's tourist promotion bureau should employ you - not joking either.
Brilliant photos and equally brilliant information.
Pity about the weather, but we can't do much about that. Certainly not here. I think Australia has turned upside down, sweltering down south and coolish up north and WET!
Cheers
Colin (Brisbane - still Quacksville, Australia).
Posted by: Colin Huggins | March 10, 2013 at 07:52 PM
It looks beautiful there! It's nice to see these pictures of warmth while I'm still waiting for all our snow to melt. They remind me that greener days are ahead. ☺
Have a lovely week.
Posted by: Dana | March 10, 2013 at 07:48 PM
It was warmer here in Colorado today. I almost got all the ice scraped off the driveway. But, you know, sorry you had to wear socks on your boat trip.
Posted by: Geoff | March 10, 2013 at 06:59 PM
Looks like a fun time was had by all. I love all the birds and the green grass. Wetting your whistle would be a blast also.
Posted by: Yogi | March 10, 2013 at 06:51 PM
I love seeing your photos. What a great way to enjoy Florida! We do it by driving around. And it was perfect weather this weekend! Sweet hugs!
Posted by: Lavender Dreams | March 10, 2013 at 06:34 PM
It looks like a wonderful time. The weather looks very inviting right about now when we are ready for spring and warmer weather.
Posted by: dotsie | March 10, 2013 at 05:51 PM