ANNA MARIA ISLAND, FLA.

MAY 16, 2011
After sleeping like the dead, we were up when the marina opened.  Topped off all the tanks & moved the boat to a temporary dock.  Time to see what Anna Maria Island was all about.

Out came our bicycle's & off we went.  We had a grocery list & parts list to fill.  The island is 7 miles long & we were close to the north end.  Of course where we had to go was at the south end.  Florida  is very bike friendly, great shoulders on the road & sidewalks.  It was a beautiful day for a ride. The beach is white & the beach houses are every color of the rainbow.  A free trolley runs the length of the island along streets lined with small shops of all kinds. 

Full baskets in front & necessities
strapped on back.

PAIR OF OSPREY NESTING ON
CHURCH STEEPLE

After finding all the stores we needed, we were loaded up.  Two more stops on the way back.  First fishing bait & tackle shop.  Time for Rod to start fishing for our dinner.  Don't mind cooking it, as long as he cleans it.  He is now the proud new owner of a Fla. fishing license & new lures guaranteed to do the job.

Our final stop was Dips Ice Cream, located at 2008 Gulf  Dr.  We highly recommend it.  The Coffee, Black Cherry, & Chocolate were divine!  Of course we indulged  ourselves!

 

CORMORANT SITTING ON HER NEST
JUST ACROSS THE WALKWAY
FROM IT'S PERFECT

The boat is sitting right by a small wooded finger of sand that has Blue Herons & Cormorants nesting in the shrubby trees.  I had no idea they made so much noise, especially at feeding time.  Rod is finishing a few small boat projects & I did laundry.  Now it is time to move on to Longboat Key for the night & plan our next jaunt down the coast.