Chopper over Hollywood Beach

Helicopters are frequently seen flying over Florida beaches...sometimes they are police helicopters, sometimes news station helicopters, and sometimes the helicopters are owned by a private citizen.

This beauty was flying down Hollywood Beach. It has no visible markings which makes me think it is a private chopper. Why would it fly over the beach? Who knows, but there are often some very nice-looking hard bodies lying on the sand.

Georgia in Spanish Springs

Georgia works at the Spanish Springs Transportation Office of an airport shuttle service. She graciously consented to having her picture taken and we were impressed with her kindness and sense of humor.

The building has been designed to look like a train station and has the accouterments of such, but alas, no trains ride the rails into Spanish Springs.

The photo of the train was taken by Lois Anne.

Cedar Key Foods

As long as I can remember, this building has stood empty in Cedar Key. It appears now that it will be renovated for other purposes. This photo was taken several years ago, yet the building looks very much the same.

Another Lake Sumter Landing sunset

Lake Sumter Landing is often blessed with beautiful sunsets (like so many areas in Florida).

Photo by Lois Anne.

Gainesville's old water plant

Gainesville, Florida is about 40 miles north of Ocala, and the home of the University of Florida, better known as the Florida Gators.

This is the old water plant which is located near the entrance to the Gainesville-Hawthorne trail (an older railroad bed) which runs for 28 miles through a variety of landscapes, some of which are very hilly. We enjoy biking this trail.

One more Cedar Key sunset

Cedar Key has some magnificent sunsets. This shot was taken several years ago out by the airport.

Downtown Spanish Springs

Golf carts lined up just off the square in downtown Spanish Springs.

Note the comic book effect. Photo by Lois Anne.

Playground on the beach

When the water is rough and the rip currents strong, you don't want the kiddos to play in the surf or swim in the ocean. Viola! Let them play safely on the playground. It's only for residents and/or visitors of a certain condo, however.

This particular playground is south of Daytona Beach.

Cedar Key Quality Canvas Products

A very nice woman runs Cedar Key Quality Canvas Products. She sells a variety of canvas items, from handbags to totes, plus other related goods. The shop fronts the main drag heading toward downtown and backs up to the inner bay area.

Photo by Lois Anne.

Restored house near downtown Cedar Key

You will find this cute little house, obviously restored, just a block off Main Street near downtown Cedar Key.

Photo by Lois Anne.

Condo south of Daytona Beach

One of the joys of living in a place like this is you can step out on your balcony and overlook the Atlantic Ocean. One of the terrors of living in a place like this is that you can step out on your balcony and watch a hurricane approach!

It is quite a beautiful condo, however, and is right on the beach just south of Daytona Beach.

St. George Episcopal Church

St. George Episcopal church is located in Spanish Springs. Its building is quite attractive, and yes, it has red doors - well, "reddish" doors. We thought it interesting that when growing up in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, Lois Anne was a member of an Episcopal Church called - St. George!

Faux water tower towers over Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble is a large bookstore chain in the United States. This particular store in Sumter Landing is huge with a good selection of every imaginable kind of book and magazine. Most, if not all of the Barnes & Noble stores also have a coffee shop where you can buy coffee, soft drinks, pastries and sandwiches.

The Lake Sumter Landing water tower is for appearances, but it does lend a certain cachet to the community.

Photo by Lois Anne.

Bikers hitting the road in Micanopy

At all times of the year, Florida's roads are filled with motorcycles. But on a few occasions bikes seem to dominate the highways and byways. Daytona Beach holds a "Bike Week" twice a year which draws about a quarter of a million bikers on each occasion, and other towns in Florida also have "Bike Weeks."

This group stopped in the town of Micanopy for a few hours to visit the antique shops and grab a bite to eat. I caught their tail lights as they hit the road.

I should mention that the overwhelming majority of bikers ride Harleys.

Roped off swimming area

There is a small beach near the dock area in Cedar Key which is used for swimming. Because there are so many boats in the area, they "rope" off an area where swimmers can frolic in safety.

Causeway over Highway 441/27

It is a causeway for golf carts, allowing residents on one side of the highway (441 and 27) to visit people and places on the other side. On occasion it is very busy as golf carts coming flying over the top and down the sides.

Photos by Lois Anne.

Cedar Cove

We stayed at Cedar Cove for a few nights a number of years ago. They offer fine accommodations and the building is located right next to the swimming beach.

Do not drive past this point

The sign warns not to drive beyond that point...as if you could! That's Dave from Wisconsin, strolling down the beach, enjoying a nice sunny day.

Waiting for Grandma

She came to Sumter Landing with her mother and grandma. Hey, shopping can get boring. So she decided to wait outside and take in the sights, which consisted of many funny people and even funnier golf carts.

Her grandma is Lois Anne. She takes after her grandma; she's smart as a whip!

Horses on guard

On Highway 326, west of Ocala, you will find numerous horse farms and ranches, many, if not most, devoted to raising race horses. This is the entrance to one of them.

An unfinished dream

You will find this unfinished house on the road leading into Cedar Key. No trespassing signs abound. It appears someone had a dream but not the wherewithal to complete that dream. So, it sits, unfinished.