From 2-8 March, I am in Sarasota visiting a fraternity brother from my days at the College of William & Mary and his wife. It’s my first flight in more than a year, and Florida is a great destination. So much to do, and it’s all outdoors – a great respite from the 30 degree days that will linger into April in Chicago. The following text is reposted from Facebook. To see more photos from the trip, visit Facebook.com/shundich.
DAY 1: NEXT TIME, TAKE THE FERRY: I was going to blame pirates. You’d think maybe after the 10th grizzled old fisherman (with a yacht) walks by and says, “You’re goin’ out there in that?” and “You guys are crazy!” … that we would have picked up on the vibe. The wind was howling and our 2.5 hp powered, fully loaded craft was not up for the 1 hour journey across the open sea to Cayo Costa. Just look at all our stuff! We barely made it about 20 percent of the way, to some uninhabited mangrove island, where we stopped to bail out 10 inches of water. And then we decided to turn back. We could have absolutely made it, stopping at a few islands to bail, but our gear was already completely drenched. Everything. Tents. Sleeping bags. Clothes. A book “Killers of the Flower Moon” I really wanted to read! All soaked. So with our wet tails between our legs, we return to Sarasota. But we live to tell the tale. Here are some pictures of birds. Bike riding and hiking in Oscar Scherer State Park today instead.
DAY 2: BACK ON DRY LAND: As humans, we are able to quickly adapt from an epic fail on the water to an outstanding Florida day on twos — wheels and legs. It’s a breezy day on land, mid 70s, clear blue sky. Fraternity brother Joe (he’s not a captain on land), and I bike the Legacy Trail to Oscar Scherer State Park, where we walk among the sawtooth palmettos and scrub oaks. I saw several snowbirds! But then Joe told me they are common in Sarasota this time of year. Disappointed.
DAY 3: CALM SEAS AND A LIGHT BREEZE: After a day to dry out from non-camping, we’re back on the water in Sarasota Bay. Midnight Pass is a local’s beech south of Siesta Key and most easily accessible by boat. That’s Bruce, a neighbor’s amazing stick-fetching water dog. On the way is an absolutely amazing rookery, where all the birds appear to be friends. Who knew pelicans don’t live on docks? And that’s a really special juvenile roseate spoonbill about to take flight. A wonderful Florida day on the bay.
The second half of Friday afternoon, after lunch on the water at Turtle’s, is spent at 30-acre Spanish Point, which includes the 1867 Webb family homestead, the winter gardens of Bertha Palmer (wife of Chicago’s Potter Palmer) and archeological findings that go back 3,000 years. It sits on some high ground, which are actually middens of discarded clam shells. The last photo is a cross section of an ancient midden. The swirly pattern photo is from the side of the decorative wooden staircase in the Webb house. There’s a butterfly garden and a nice trail. IMPORTANT: If you arrive by boat, as we did, just don’t park in the middle of a midden or you will incur the wrath of Amy, the on-site archeologist. Doh!
DAY 4: IT NEVER RAINS IN CALIFORNIA, BUT IT DOES IN FLORIDA: An all day wet affair doesn’t dampen spirits in Sarasota. The Farmer’s Market runs every Saturday from 7 am to 1 pm year round. Then, on Longboat Key, there are any number of places, like James Durante Park, to take a stroll. There are outgrown horseshoe crab shells littered among the mangroves. Wandering peacocks. And plenty of rules on the beach. Clothing not optional.
DAY 5: SEE YA, SARASOTA: Five full days fly by, like (not) my slow moving bike on the Legacy Trail at Dona Bay. Or the little blue heron, anhinga, great blue heron and sandhill crane — although it seems they like to walk. Drying its wings, the anhinga (aka darter, “snake bird” or “devil bird”) doesn’t have any nostrils. It breathes through its epiglottis, and looks like a snake when in the water and on the prowl. Sunday night, my last meal with dear friends Joe and Noreen is at Siegfried’s restaurant and biergarten in downtown Sarasota for some schnitzel, strudel and a liter of Bitburger. Walk it off on the powder white sands of Siesta Key and you’re good to go.
