SARASOTA, Florida

Sarasota was not on my list of "places to go." But I didn't want to miss Joan's (my Africa trip mate) 70th Birthday Bash so I booked without reservation. Our first day greeted us with cloud-cover so we headed inland to check out Myakka State Park (Florida's largest state park) about 15 minutes East of Sarasota where we hopped aboard the Myakka Maiden for an airboat tour of Upper Myakka Lake.
The draw of the airboat are alligator sightings but when the sun isn't out they loll about underwater. So rather than see hundreds of alligators sunning themselves on the shoreline we saw about five as they bobbed up for air. The bird sightings were a little more aplenty and by far the highlight was the bald eagle that swooped in for a moment to show off her regality.

Closer to the park entrance we ventured into the rainforest-like wilderness on route to the canopy walk, one of only a handful in North America. Though short, there was a moment of swing mid-way. I think the point is to be able to experience the canopy close up and I did enjoy a closer view of the spooky moss-like trailings dripping from the treetops.


While climbing the second 70-foot tower to glimpse a 360-degree view of treetops the skies opened and we hovered under two-by-four slats to shield ourselves from the downpour. It was a typical several minute shower, followed by intermittent drizzle. Thinking the worst was over we hurried back along the half-mile trail to the car only to be caught again for a royal drenching! But then the sun came out and alligators began to appear. I hiked under a bridge to get closer to this one and realize now my proximity to the shoreline may have been a little too close for safety. (Elliott, do as Glamma says, not as she does!)
Safe from the alligators, we headed back to Sarasota in search of Vibe Cuisine which serves only organic and raw foods. My no-bean burrito, wrapped in cabbage leaves rather than a tortilla, tasty gritty and raw and while very good, the strip-mall locale accompanied by a table-side domestic dispute detracted from the feel-good healthy-food vibe. Our next stop was Buddha Belly Donuts where we hoped to supplement our next mornings hotel fare with something a little more tasty. They'd already sold the dozen vegan donuts whipped up for the day but at least this little foray gave us a glimpse of vintage downtown.
Next stop, Siesta Key Beach where the sand was soft and pasty like plaster powder. I buried my feet just to savor the smooth, silky feel while watching a host of gray-day beach fun from sand-castle building to surfboarding.

Saturday was a perfect beach day so we drove to the more secluded Turtle Beach and trekked about a mile south to an uninhabited stretch where the sand was rocky and shelly. Not smart! Invisible flies munched on my ivory skin and seemed to relish my application of anti-bug lotion. Benedicta distracted me with sand-crab sightings so I spent the rest of our beach time stalking a crab as he dodged in and out while excavating his tunnel.


Whew! It was time for lunch so my beach-quota was up. Thankfully we had Joan's sister's house as a bayside retreat complete with pool and kayak. And since Joan was the birthday-girl I honored her request to take an early Sunday morning row. Hope I'm still kayaking at 70!