Sun N Fun RV Resort, Sarasota, Casey Key & St Armands Circle

January, 9th thru 11th 2009

This travellog covers our four day stay at Sun N Fun RV Resort in Sarasota.

We are staying at Sun N Fun RV-Resort in Sarasota. It is $50 a night for FHU paved interior streets and more activities and amenities than you can shake a stick at. The place has over 2,000 sites. It is a *snow bird* destination. We have a "cheap" cite, at least the cheapest available. They go up rapidly from our $50 a night site. And even with the economy struggling like it is the place appears to be better than 90% occupied. You really can't tell there is a recession by looking at the population in this place.

This great egret was feeding in a drainage canal at Sun N Fun RV Resort. Great egrets are so white that they reflect light like a mirror. It is really hard to get a good picture of them because they *wash out*. I have done some trickery with this picture. See if you can see what I have done.

Do not read further until you have tried to see what is *wrong* with this picture.

Ok, here is the answer. I flipped the picture 180-degrees so that you see the reflection on top and the actual bird on the bottom.

Remember what I said earlier about great egrets being so white that they reflected light like a mirror? The real bird (on the bottom) is so washed out you can not even see its eye. Yet the reflection (the bird on top) has all its features.

This palm tree in the campground at Sun N Fun was blooming and the colors were absolutely stunning. The case holding the blooms is a golden orange.

There must be a better description of that color than "golden orange" but that is the best I can do. These have not yet burst open to expose the blooms.

The golden orange flower cases complete with flowers juxtaposed against the deep green of palm fronds and azure sky is striking to say the least.

This flower case has just opened and exposed the flowers.

Shells on the beach near Venice

Joyce would rather walk on the beach searching for shells than almost anything. Grand children come first, but shelling comes after that. Lately she has begun taking pictures of interesting shells. This is one such picture she took on Casey Key just north of Venice, Florida.

Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea comes in an assortment of brilliant colors. These salmon blooms were adorning a bouganvillea outside Colombia Restaurant on St Armands Circle St Armands Key near Sarasota.

Colombia Restaurantn on St Armands Circle

This is outdoor seating for Colombia Restaurant on St Armands Circle just a few miles across the causway from Sarasota.

Bird of paradise

One of the beautiful bird of paradise blooms. Bird of paradise plants look similar to tiny banana plants.

Orchid tree bloom

This is an orchid tree bloom that has fallen on a sea grape leaf.

While we took a ton of pictures of the blooms on the tree none of them did the tree justice.

This orchid tree bloom fell on wood chips used as mulch beneath the tree.

This great blue heron was practicing one of my favorite steps --- tip toeing lightly. VBG

Bright orange flame vine

Bright orange flame vine engulfs this palm trunk.

Royal Terns on Siesta Key

Royal Terns resting on the snow white beach at Siesta Key.

Shells on Casey Key

Joyce is back to her shelling on Casey Key. As you can see it is hard for her to find one. Make that hard to find just one.

Royal Terns

I think these royal terns are in love. This just proves there is more to a walk on the beach than shelling and bikinis. VBG

Shells on Siesta Key

How do you select one of these shells?

Red-leaf giant crinum lily

The bloom on a red-leaf giant crinum lily is simply beautiful.

Mother of Thousands bloom

This bloom is on an exotic tropical agave called "Mother of Thousands". The leaves in the background are sea grape leaves.

If you can identify the bloom on this succulent please help me. Thanks in advance.

Royal tern

Royal terns are very colorful and always brighten the beaches during winter in south Florida.

Shells of Siesta Key

A cold front is on the way creating those waves. These waves will certainly wash a new batch of fresh shells onto the beach insuring wonderful shelling in the coming week.

Snowy egrets

Snowy egrets are distinguished by their yellow slippers. It does look like he stepped into yellow paint.

Red-leaf giant crinum lily

This is another bloom on a red-leaf giant crinum lily. We see these magnificent plants all over south Florida.

Sea shells on Siesta Key

And as it should be we end this travel log with a picture of shells.

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Ain't life grand?

That is all there is.

Until next time remember how good life is

Mike & Joyce Hendrix