Thursday and Friday.........Just one more day before heading back home...

Thursday morning I woke up early, so headed out to the beach to catch the morning sunrise........It was a bit cloudy, but still a hint of color.   Off in the distance I saw this guy....in the water!  It was about 6:15 AM Thursday morning!

Spent most of the day Thursday and Friday at the pool. Rich got talking with two or three guys interested in equities, stock market/investments etc...... so I'm sure that made him happy!  Actually one of the guys (Larry)  got to telling Rich he was looking for a timeshare, here at Ocean Landings, for a friend..........  We have been trying to get rid of our timeshare for several years..........but they are very hard to sell, very hard to find a buyer...... WELL............the Quick Claim Deed was completed today and filed.  We are no longer owners~    actually that's a little bit sad.  I will miss coming here.

White Russians again on Thursday...........and Pizza Delivery.  Pizza was OK.

Today, Friday...........again a fun day at the pool.........And tonight we used our $50 gift certificate  at Gregory's Restaurant, here at Ocean Landings.  This is one of our favorite places to eat...........not very often, because it is extremely expensive.  But the food is the best!  Tonight we had (Rich - French Onion Soup, Me - Ceaser Salad).  We both ordered the Jumbo Shrimp w/ crabmeat stuffing and Bay Scallops, along with a baked potato.   It was absolutely delicious!!

We're both pretty full..........so don't think we'll do the beach walk tonight!  Can't believe tomorrow will be our last day here........No big plans scheduled.......

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday ---fun, sun and good food!

The weather here in Cocoa Beach has been just beautiful.  Sunny days, always a nice breeze......... Monday morning I was up bright and early, heading to the beach at about 6:15 AM....to catch the sunrise. A bit cloudy.....but a beautiful morning and a decent surise.

Need to share all that this Resort has to offer.  The location is perfect.  There are five buildings that have everything from 1-2 bedroom waterfront, 1-2 bedroom off water rooms, and then just plain hotel rooms.    The grounds are well maintained...........and there is always something to do or enjoy.   Below are pictures of the two waterfront buildings (Caribbean and Dream Buildings), the Terrace Pool, which is a lap pool......the Main Pool and the little building at the pool where you can buy breakfast, lunch, drinks, ice cream.......one of the two tennis courts, the kitchen/cooking area where you can prepare meals, and which is adjacent to the picnic/grilling area.  Perfect for cookouts..... large or small groups.

The pictures below were all taken in "The Center"..... where you can enjoy the gym, sauna, game room, bar, Party Room, Spa and Massage.  The lobby is where you check in.............and there are a couple of large rooms, for meetings or gatherings.  Tennis racquets, bicycles are available, and a small store for drinks, sandwiches, microwavable items and goodies are available.

Gregory's Restaurant is also on site.  The main dining area is downstairs.... the prices are pretty steep.....but the food is absolutely excellent.  Upstairs is the Comedy Club - where you can also eat (bar menu) and drink to your heart's content.  This, however is not a place we will return to..... It just is not the kind of "comedy"  we consider funny or entertaining...so is not something that we enjoy at all. 

Skipped the morning sunrise on Tuesday and Wednesday morning...... but had a fun day at the pool on Tuesday.      Corn Hole tournament at the shuffle board area late morning on Tuesday...  and early afternoon water aerobics at the Terrace Pool.  Most of the afternoon we spent at the pool....drinking way too many white Russians, doing Sudoku puzzles, reading and enjoying conversations with other guests..........Actually.....there were a couple of guys that Rich was talking to in the pool that were very interesting in buying our Timeshare...........

I don't remember what we had for dinner on Tuesday.......after all the booze... but I think we went to Denny's......I know we didn't drive ANYWHERE!

On Wednesday we were invited to a free lunch (Pizza, cookies, coffee, soda etc.) in The Center.....well we needed to listen to "a way to better our timeshare ownership"...  and a new program they have.  We didn't know exactly what it was about.....but by "listening" to the presentation, you got lunch... AND either a free room upgrade, OR your choice of THREE gift cards.  And so we enjoyed lunch and got $75 dollars in Restaurant Gift cards.  One for Brano's which is a great Italian Restaurant and two for Gregory's.....(Even with $50.... we'll still be paying some out of pocket.....)

In the afternoon there was music at the Main pool with DJ Mike.  Lots of people
dancing.....*but we missed the limbo and hula hoop contests!  The music was great - lots of favorites.... and lots of oldies for us older folk!

It was pretty much coffee and water as our beverage of choice today....

We used our first gift certificate Wednesday evening at Brano's.  We'd been here a couple of times in the past - so we knew we'd be more than satisfied.  Salads and bread with seasoned olive oil for dipping.... Rich selected the pasta (fettuccine) with meat sauce, with a (huge) side of sausage.  I had the baked Ravioli, with marinara sauce.   The display of wine bottles is mind boggling.... but we refrained for drinking. 

Did the walk on the beach again Wednesday evening......this time heading North.

And we enjoyed all the sand art along the way! The mermaid, the turtle, the castle and moat....the one man (kid) pool. and of course - what has to be the turtle eggs!

And tonight we graduated from "toes in the sand" to "toes in the ocean"!

A Week at the Beach

So, Friday and Saturday was spent, cleaning, laundry and then packing for the week.

And we took what will probably be our last pictures of the Blue Heron babies.  They have grown so fast, and are flapping their wings and flying from branch to branch.  Chances are pretty good that they will be leaving the nest before we get back home.........We'll see....  And the little yellow breasted flycatcher was back knocking at the widow.

Check in time at the Ocean Landings Resort in Cocoa Beach is not until 5:00 o'clock, so it mid afternoon before we packed the car and started the journey to the east coast.   We have in the past taken the path through Orlando and then the 528 across to A1A........But this time we took Fl 70 across to I-95 N.  It is definitely a much better route,  Going across 70 took us through Okeechobee, hundreds of Love Bugs..........and then a pretty good shower.

Below are a couple of pictures of the trip...
Below is in Okeechobee where we cross the Kissimmee River.......... and the Okeechobee sign.....gives you a pretty good idea of how thick the love bugs were.

And their is an aircraft exhibit that we see, every time we go this way.......Not sure what the exhibit exemplifies.......but it's pretty cool.

Then we made our way to I-95, and then crossing the Indian River and inter coastal area as we made our way to A1A... and from there about 7 miles to the resort.  The bridge on the top right is the Sebastian I-85 Overpass, built in honor of an old railroad.  It is a pedestrian and bicycle overpass with paths that run for 2 miles between Fellsmere and Sebastian.

It was about 3:45 when we arrived in Cocoa Beach, so we decided to stop for dinner before we checked in.  We didn't want a big dinner - having to unload and unpack.....so we stopped at IHOP.  Great choice.  Rich had the Banana and Strawberry pancakes, and I had the French Toast, with Butter Pecan syrup!!

We've upgraded the past couple of years to the Ocean view room. This time we decided to just stay in the Atlantic Building, which is close to both of the pools, and the grilling area.  It's really quite nice, plenty big enough and a sitting area out front.

After getting settled in.......we decided to take a walk on the beach before it got dark.  People still swimming......despite the really really big waves! (Actually it looked like fun).  With the way both of us have been feeling we weren't sure how far we'd make it........but we took our time and had a great walk......TOES IN THE SAND!!!

We're going to some presentation on Wednesday where we will get 3 gift cards for 3 different restaurants.........so tonight we are just going to do Denny's which is right across the street.  Then a trip to the grocery store to pick up a few things for breakfast AND some half and half so we can have our White Russians tomorrow!!

Getting Back to Normal.....and Getting Ready for some FUN!

It's been a couple of weeks, at least, since I last posted here. Good News ..... I am finally starting to feel so much better.  Follow-up with my primary doctor, and my blood work came back excellent. On Monday I had an appointment with Dr. Thakkar at the Surgery and Endoscopy Center in Sebring. I had my Upper Endoscopy..........and the results were good.  And bottom line, the chest pain, and upper abdominal pain were caused by my Sleep Apnea. While I am still struggling with wearing that mask, my pain is gone.  I have three more appointments before we head North........Follow-up with Dr. Thakkar, Mammogram, and CPAP Follow-up with Primary.  OOPS - make that four!  Appointment with Eye Doctor.

I'm sure that Rich is feeling better...........especially at meal time.  I've gotten the energy (and desire) to get back to cooking and baking!  Tuna Noodle Casserole, Dressed Burgers and Potato Salad..... Potato Soup, Chicken Parmesean, Stromboli......and goodies - Peanut Butter Cookies, Cinnamon Buns, and Banana Muffins. Mmmmm - Good!

Both of us got quite a bit of yard work taken care of.......... The new sod is looking good.  Still need to get the wet and forget sprayed, but the bushes all the way around the house, including the Crotons have been trimmed.   Rich trimmed the Topiary, and finished cutting the palm branches.  So the yard is looking pretty good!

Have to share this..... Sitting out on the back lanai, you never know what you'll see. The whistlers,  the iguanas, the gators........But the other day we watched 3 Black Snakes just outside the lanai screen.......   and the Mamma Blue Heron wandering through the back yard. 

And, of course we can't forget Mother's Day............and we went out for dinner.  I preferred to stay here in town......so I couldn't decide between the Mexican Restaurant, Dock 633, or Golden Corral...................I love Golden Corral - but always, always leave feeling sooooooooo  stuffed!!!

But it's all about remembering mothers........ Got a beautiful bouquet of Tulips from Dennis and the family...........and we sent our wishes to Crystal and to both of our Moms... and want to recognize them here...

Will be heading for Cocoa Beach in a few days, and then a week or so later heading to Black Lake, NY.  Can't wait to get out there fishing again!