Waz and I had just finished our lunch and were looking at something on Google Earth when this bird walked along the dock past the boat. Of course, by the time I got the camera out, he had passed us and was ambling along the concrete seawall. No matter...I still managed to get some fairly decent photos of it.
These Great Blue Heron are stunning. They stand 46-48 inches tall and their wingspan is around 6ft.
To watch them take off and land is to witness something very special.
Ok, now the phone call....
Katie and Dean called us to tell us they were just about 1 1/2 miles from the entry to Charlotte Harbor. You may remember that they are special friends from Houston.
That was at noon. When we arrived in the boat, it took us about 1 1/2 hours, travelling at 8 knots, to motor up the harbor, and as they are a sailboat travelling at around 4-5 knots, it may take them twice as long.
The weather is not very welcoming...light rain and around 70F.
Katie said she needs thawing out and to get onto dry land. It appears their passage outside in the Gulf of Mexico has been a bit rough and the cold spell, just as they rejoiced about moving into warmer climes, kind of caught them off balance.
We look forward to seeing them once they have settled themselves into an anchorage at Punta Gorda.
Katie has requested a haircut, as Dean refuses to cut her hair. She usually wears it very short...for cool and practical purposes (while boating)...but it is a few months since I gave her the last one in Houston, just before we departed.
They have other friends in this area, so they will be busy while parked here.
It is always good to catch up with the people we have met and spent time with here, there and everywhere.
We have been keeping in touch with Robyn and Dave (our buddy boat on the Gulf crossing) too, who are presently feeling the cold in upstate New York. They are due back in the area in the next couple of weeks.
Al and Kaye (originally from Baton Rouge, LA, and with whom we went to the Wooden Boat Show in New Orleans ) are currently in Islamorada , on the Southern Florida Peninsula, just above Marathon, where so many Loopers winter-over. They have already been to Key West in their Marine Trader Trawler, and are on their way back up the East Coast.
And last but not least....Pump-out.
I phoned the Pumper guy (Dee) and left a message to the effect that sitting around for days waiting for them to turn up is not ok, and to let us know when they would be arriving!
Well, who should appear, around 9am this morning, but the original guy who came to assess whether they could do the job. BUT...he came without the original 20ft hose! Bah! What happened to the 50ft hose they bought especially to do our job? and...where was Dee with that hose?? No answer was had from him coz I was in the process of taking a shower, and Waz didn't ask the crucial questions. They got the tank pumped out, but Im very unhappy about no communication from this company and that this guys says he will be doing the job from how on! Aieeeeeeeeeeee!
So, what went from being a Wednesday morning pump-out, to a Tuesday am, to a Thursday am, is now going to be a Thursday am, pump-out. We hope! One could say "Be grateful for ANY pump-out"! WE ARE..truly!
So, what have we been doing (or not) for the past week?
Monday night we had dinner with Len and Stef at Wally's, and had their delicious ribs again...not Len and Stefies ribs...Wally's, silly!. Waz and I shared a meal, but we realized afterwards that they forgot to give us a serving of Texas toast and cornbread, which Len got with his (and offered to share). I wasn't too worried about missing out, as I don't eat that stuff, but Waz missed it. He enjoyed the cornbread, I think.
We have done quite a bit of walking, reading (I finished another book...now looking for another that might be engaging), bought a puzzle book to keep Waz occupied when he isn't reading something else. He is a Sudoku and crossword puzzle man! and I like the word puzzles too. We have watched some online TV programs at night, a movie or two that we had on the computer already, been driving there and back to see how far IT is...not far, as it turns out!:)
We also purchased some mini-speakers to plug into the computer so that we can hear the programs we are watching...this is all AFTER watching the programs...for the most part. It sure helps to have them.
We discovered BAM (Books A Million) at East Venice Beach...one of those trips there and back....and enjoyed the coffee shop there...Joe Mugg. We had forgotten how much we love spending a few hours in a book store, though we didn't buy much...not for us, anyway.
We went back to the Model Home on Hwy 41, that we particularly liked, and walked all the model homes for a couple of hours, discussing the various merits of the different ones.
This is the one we like the most. It is a three bed, 3 bath + Den, home of some 2,400 sq. ft. It has a large Lanai with a pool and spa. Here are some interior photos, below.
As you enter the front door, this coat cupboard is on your right and then far right is the entry to the lovely guest suite (ensuite). What really struck us, on entering this home, was the lovely cool cream and pale blue color scheme. It was so restful. We also liked that there was porcelain tile in the public areas. Easy keep.
Front door...lots of light! Den on the right side with the double doors.
Lovely large den with natural light coming from a window behind the comfy chair to the far left.
The Guest Bedroom. Large enough to swing a couple of cats...if you are into that sort of thing:) We love the three windows which allow both light and sunlight from the different angles. I could see my mother in this lovely room.
The Ensuite (guest)
Coming into the Great Room. We had always thought our next home would have wide open living/dining/ kitchen. Again, the colors are so restful and clean looking.
The kitchen has enough power outlets to sink the proverbial, and a walk in pantry...below.
Looking towards the Master bedroom opening/vestibule on the right side, and the 2nd bedroom on the left side, where the yellowish light is.
Looking back from the master bedroom. The doors on the left (out of view here) stack back to leave a large opening onto the Lanai/swimming/spa
The Living space is plenty big enough, and we like that the ceiling is at least 9ft in this home.
The capacious master suite was large enough to hold a party.
Looking in to the master bathroom
from the bedroom...the toilet is at the far end. We like that there is a door on the 'littlest' room.
The master closet ...HUGE!
Looking towards the 2nd bedroom, but first, the door to the left is the back entry from the Garage, and also the Laundry with sink. Some of the models didn't have a sink! for shame!
Counter on the right is long and there are cupboards up above.
The interior design work on this home in particular was excellent, and we loved the fun colors in this 2nd bedroom.
Walk in closet in the 2nd bedroom.
Living room
Looking back towards the entry hallway...lovely and wide!
So, this is the sort of thing we do in our travels, tiki-tours and spare time. As you already know, we love looking at Real Estate. When we walked into this house we immediately took ownership:) We plonked ourselves down and moved in!..I wish!
Being a Show Home, this has many 'upgrades' that are not included in the 'original' home model that they sell off the plans. We were somewhat annoyed that they didn't tell us that, and there was nothing written in the home itself to state that the model was upgraded for show purposes. When we enquired about the price of the model, we were told the BASE PRICE is $308k. When we asked what it would cost to purchase the model home AS IS...we were told..."Oh! THAT would be about $480k!! Aieeeeeeeeeee! Of course, this model has a spa/swimming pool and fully screened Lanai. It also has a wall oven and sep. cooktop etc...tiles are upgraded...and on and on! I have to say we are very disappointed with the Home building company for not being more upfront. It appears there is also a 'Premium' that you pay on the lot. If the lot has a good view...say, one of their 'water' (pond) view lots, then you might pay a premium of up to $60k! seems crazy to us. When you buy the package, the lots should be included, shouldn't it?
Anyway, we wont be buying this home, OR living in this planned community, but we do like the plan and will make our own plan with that as a basis. We like it that much.
Oh, I forgot to add that the Home Owners Association fees PER MONTH is $308. PLUS an annual 'facility upgrade' cost of $600 pa. This is because there is a fancy pool meeting rooms, etc etc. Well, this IS a planned community, but the fees are reminiscent of those that you pay when you enter a Retirement Village in NZ. It is also very much a Deed Restricted community. You don't hang your washing out on the line, for example!...but also they have to build the homes and they have standard features such as tile roofs etc.
On the way to Venice....which we never reached, by the way....we went from being warm...shorts and t-shirts when we left Pt Charlotte, to sweaters and wishing for long trousers, when we left East Venice, 2 hrs later. We literally watched the cold front come in...
We were on Hwy 41 going towards Venice, here.
Arriving at the Model Home area, we watched as the wind suddenly came up and the temperature plummeted. I left the car without a sweater, thinking I would be warm enough, but by the time we left the last home, I was wishing I had heeded that little voice in my head that said...stupid!! you will be cold!
When we exited the final show home, we could see lots of turkey vultures circling overhead and went to see what all the fuss was about...sure enough...a carcass!
We love watching them circling overhead, riding the thermals, and how they use their wings and tails...but they really are one of the ugliest birds around when you see them close-up!
Well, I have now finished my coffee, and there is a break in the weather, so I might go for a walk. We are waiting for a call from Katie and Dean to say they have arrived at Punta Gorda!
Ciao, Ciao.
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