Spanish Springs on a Friday evening

Some CDP bloggers, including myself, have been having problems accessing CDP and the portal over the past few days...please know that if I don't comment as per usual, it's not for lack of trying. Sometimes CDP and some blogs just will not load.

Swedish horse barn - between Ocala & Gainesville

Per Stromsjo wanted me to photograph a "Swedish" house in Ocala (Blue and yellow). I've searched far and wide but have yet to find a house with those colors. But...this afternoon, we discovered a large horse farm between Ocala and Gainesville and behold, the horse barn was indeed a "Swedish" horse barn!

I'll keep looking for a "Swedish" house, however. There's got to be one somewhere in town.

Photo by Lois Anne.

Condos and marina (& seagulls)

If you read my rant at Ocala Daily Photo, you know some of us are having a problem accessing CDP and the portal and thus the blogs. In quite a few cases, I've not been able to get to a blog to leave a comment. This problem started a few days ago, but it hasn't gotten any better.

If you look closely at the roof of the condo building, you'll see a bunch of seagulls who have gathered for some kind of seagull convention. They took off not long after I snapped this photo.

Cozco Handcrafts

Main Street, Spanish Springs. There is a Cozco handcrafts store. There is no Spanish Springs Gazette; that sign is an attempt to bring some old-timey authenticity to what is essentially a Disneyesque hometown.

I thought it made for a nice photo, though.

Lazy afternoon at Hollywood Beach

At certain times of the year and on certain days, Hollywood Beach, just south of Fort Lauderdale, is not crowded at all. This was one of those days. The blue sky and emerald waters combined to bless those spending a lazy afternoon in the sand and surf.

The old Captain's Table

It has changed hands, and now consists of a bar on the main level and a restaurant on the top level. For years it was a restaurant known as the Captain's Table. We have often sat out on the far end of the dock, celebrating a birthday or an anniversary, sipping margaritas, washed with the colors of the setting sun.

I guess it doesn't really matter what they call it, to us it will always be known as the Captain's Table.

Photo by Lois Anne.

Johnny Rocket's Diner

I had thought Johnny Rocket's was a local operation. It is not. Johnny Rocket's is an international chain with restaurants in many countries, including Dubai, and in one case, on an ocean-going cruise ship.

It is a 1950s style diner, serving milk shakes, hamburgers, fries, etc. This particular restaurant is in Lake Sumter Landing, directly across from the town square. We have yet to eat there, but it seems to be doing a good business.

Returning from a dolphin cruise

Destin, Florida, in the panhandle, is a beautiful resort community located along Florida's Emerald Coast, so-called because the waters often turn a brilliant emerald color. Noted for its white sand and blue skies, it has become a favorite vacation spot.

Several dolphin boats operate out of Destin, and for a fee will take you on an afternoon or sunset cruise to watch dolphins frolic in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. This dolphin boat is returning to the Destin harbor from just such a cruise.

Main Street

We've referred to Cedar Key's Main Street on numerous occasions. It is typical of a small town, only about three or four blocks long and contains the Chamber of Commerce, a bank, post office, restaurants, hotel, and various gift shops.

Friday night at Spanish Springs

On Friday evenings, people gather early to meet with friends, purchase 2 for 1 drinks, listen to music and dance at the town squares in Spanish Springs and Lake Sumter Landing. This shot was taken at Spanish Springs.

More red phone booths

Just beyond the Canadian exhibition at the World Showcase at Epcot lies the United Kingdom exhibition. The UK exhibit includes several buildings which replicate what you might find in Britain. These three icons are right out front, but there are other similar phone booths in other areas of the exhibit. It seems if you want to tag something as British, put up a red phone booth!

Gift shop

There are several gift shops on the dock that swings in a semi-circle around an inner bay in Cedar Key. This is one of the nicest. Notice the T-shirt, which is obviously for one who is having some trouble with his/her diet.

Photo by Lois Anne.

Lake Sumter Landing travel agency

This is the place to go in Lake Sumter Landing if you wish assistance in planning a trip. You can even obtain tickets to Orlando's various Disney attractions here.

Red phone booth - Canadian style

You will find this beautiful red telephone booth at the Canadian exhibition at the World Showcase at Epcot in Disney World. It appears to contain a working telephone, too.

Buy a piece of paradise

It's for sale, this property in one of the back bays...and includes, I believe, a building for storage of lobster traps and other marine related items (on the right). I don't know the price, but it wouldn't be inexpensive.

Flamingo cart at Epcot

Lois Anne and I spent Mother's Day at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center in Orlando. As we were walking along near the British exhibition, these two characters drove by. They saw my camera, stopped to pose, laughing and giggling the whole while. They must be the happiest pair or silliest pair of people I've seen in a long time. Their cart was filled with plastic flamingos and, as you can see, has a water hose hanging on the front. I expect they were planting those flamingos in appropriate garden spots around Epcot.

Great fun! And if they see this - thank you very much!

Gal's barber shop

As you drive into Lake Sumter Landing, you will see Gal's barber shop. It was closed when we took this photo, so I don't know if Gal is the name of the owner, or if it is a barber shop for gals.

I'll try to check that out as I'm finding it hard to sleep at night not knowing the truth of the matter.

Just a couple of Cedar Key seagulls

One thing I have to say about Cedar Key seagulls - they like to pose for the camera!

Boardwalk at Lake Sumter Landing

Photo by Lois Anne

Erosion at John Lloyd Park in Dania, Florida

Erosion of the shore by the sea is a constant problem in Florida. This is John Lloyd Park in Dania (adjacent to Ft. Lauderdale) and shows the kind of erosion which occurs from tropical storms and hurricanes. Communities spend millions of dollars every year to restore the beaches.

Photo by Lois Anne.

Condos for sale?

When I first saw this sign, I thought the building next to it was representative of the condos they were trying to sell. It appears, however, that the sign is located in a rather unhappy location and is unrelated to this rather rundown shack.