The last time we visited Willowbrook it was a bit of a pasture. This year it's in good shape. Conditions must have been good this fall and winter because the grass is lush on every course we have played so far.
The temperature was 28 C with zero breeze, so my choice of colour for my golf attire wasn't too smart.
The wildlife decided for the most part to lay low for the day. No big alligators - I was hoping to see the 13 foot guy who only has three legs. But we did see this little guy.
Just a couple of turtles.
A Great Blue Heron on its nest.
And we saw several Osprey, but none cooperated with the camera.
Mardi won the game - again.
At the end of the round I figured out why.
I had been given the evil eye by her Jedi master!
Tomorrow we head over to the Circle B Reserve - once a cattle ranch, now a nature preserve. Lots of gators and birds to see there - maybe even a hog or two.
As I noted two days ago, I would not be posting every day - if nothing special happened I would skip the day, which I did yesterday. Pretty thoughtless of me as you can see from the plaintive message from my good friend Gary Parker, a.k.a. Sven/Andy/Arnie/Annie.
Good morning partner,
As part of my daily routine I went to your blog this morning (as I do every morning). There was no new entry, no inspiring prose, photos or philosophical insights. The lack of all that just contributed to the greyness of our February weather. This is truly the part of winter that those of us forced to endure it find the toughest. The bright sunny days we ‘enjoyed’ during the recent days of the arctic vortex have been replaced by an, at first soggy, now dismal-looking and icy landscape.
Just the other day Doc told me that he too will head south later this month and of course my friend Roy will join you in March. A sense of abandonment has descended on us. Then I learned of the passing of Marcel Azzola one of the world’s greatest accordionists. When I read the first paragraph of his obit I was convinced that it had to get better - more positive. But it didn’t. Oh, to be sure Marcel was successful as a businessman, but there was in this story no happy breakthrough in the popularity of the ‘squeeze box’.
As an accomplished accordion player yourself, you’re part of an interesting breed partner. That much maligned group includes Leaf fans, tofu lovers and Trudeau Liberals like yours truly. But what we endure just strengthens our character eh?
Today we will risk a trip to the grocery store in order replenish our store of the citrus fruits which are now our only source of sunshine. Please don’t worry about us.
Writing from Canada, your friends,
Sven & Helga
How uncaring I have been! Sorry Sven, and any others that I may have disappointed yesterday! Fortunately, I do have something really exciting to report today.
I finally got wet!
But, back to the accordion for a minute, I'll share a picture that my brother just sent me. Can you name the tune?
This evening, Roger and Lynn came over to visit us - they are leaving Florida this weekend. A game of Hand and Foot broke out.
And, wouldn't you know it, beginner's luck decided the winners, and Roger modestly accepted the trophy.
It didn't really seem to help that, after he left, Jo-Ann and I trounced Mardi and Barbara. Sort of a hollow victory after Roger's unseemly triumph.
Tomorrow, Mardi and I will play golf at Willowbrook, a combination civic golf course and nature preserve in Winter Haven. No doubt, tomorrow's blog will contain some bad news.
Played Schalamar Creek for the first time in a few years. It's still a unique course, set in a retirement community of double wide manufactured homes.
It only plays 5,191 yards from the white tees, but the fairways are narrow, trees are big, water is everywhere, and the houses crowd the fairways on many holes. These are features that should play into Mardi's hands, but she struggled today and I ended up winning by five holes and eight strokes.
OK, enough about golf. The course is close to nature and we saw many examples of it today.
For starters, a Bald Eagle...
Ospreys on the nest. We saw several Osprey today.
A Limpkin...
Some Black Bellied Whistling Ducks..
Lots of Catfish in the ponds...
And turtles..
No alligators today, but there are usually several on display around the ponds.
The course is certainly unique!
Did I mention that the forward tees are 1,100 yards shorter than the whites?
The course is in good shape, the greens are excellent, but they have had considerable rain over the past few days and several holes were "cart path only" and it was lift, clean and place conditions for sure.
For $39 per player, it's well worth it.
It turned into a very hot day and after we got back to Davenport, we broke out the Yeungling.
After dinner a Hand and Foot game broke out. Jo-Ann and I lost.
We will be settling into a relaxed routine now, so I won't be posting every day. But I will acknowledge my coming defeats on the various golf courses.
It took a day for the pool heater to do its thing, but the ladies were happily splashing around this morning.
First in...
Next....
And, finally.....
I couldn't go swimming today because my camera would have gotten wet 😎.
A lazy day as we recovered from all the walking done yesterday. Three games of Hand and Foot tonight ... Jo-Ann and I came out victorious in the rubber match.
Tomorrow Mardi and I plan to golf at Schalamar Creek, while the girls go shopping.
We visited the Mount Dora (270 feet above sea level) Art Festival today. The whole town was involved. And, hundreds of visitors showed up as well. A big deal in a small town.
We took a shuttle bus instead of the train, due to proximity and time. The train came into town as we were sitting down to lunch.
There were dozens of tents set up throughout most of the downtown.
And the art was exceptional.
Lots of jewellery, pottery, carvings, photography and just about every medium you can think of, including this $250 monarch butterfly shawl.
Lots of absolutely beautiful works.
Add a few buskers, and food booths, and you have a great day! We'll put this event on our annual list of must-dos.
No cards tonight. Super Bowl beckons.
We checked out of Orange Lake by 11 a.m., and then indulged the ladies' passion.
There is a reason I keep this place in my "favourites" list on the GPS.
Work in progess....
.....mission complete.
The next stop was at the Sunshine Flea Market. Spent an hour or so wandering the grounds and picking up some items, including new blinged sunglasses for Mardi.
Lunch at Wendy's and we then parted with Matt and Maureen - they headed for the gulf coast while we went to Davenport.
Our home for the next two months.
Once the pool gets up to temperature we'll be using this area a lot.
As will Barbara and Jo-Ann, who will join us tomorrow for the next four weeks. Tonight they brought over their food and some other stuff and we played a game of Hand and Foot before they headed back to their timeshare for their last night there.
Tomorrow we plan to go to Mount Dora for their annual Art Festival. May get a train ride in the process.
We played the Reserve course at Orange Lake today. My nemesis was up by 5 holes after 7 but I narrowed it down over the back nine and had a one hole lead after 16. Lost the 17th so we entered the last hole in a tie.
Mardi's third shot on the par four ended up just a foot away from the pin, which ended my day in sad fashion. But I now have a very clear understanding of why I can't beat the lady - she has a secret friend! How do you counter a Yoda?
We saw an interesting scene unfold on the course today and naturally I forgot to take my camera. We were standing on one of the tees when a raccoon ambled across the course about 50 yards away. Then, she ambled back to where she had come from. And finally, she headed back across the course again, this time with three young 'coons tagging along behind her. Makes you wonder how they communicate - "stay there while I check things out", then "stay close to mom until we get to the other side". Nature is neat!
Dinner at Millers Ale House - Matt and I enjoyed half a rack of ribs each and they were awesome. The ladies shared fish tacos - also good.
The final event of the day was a game of Hand and Foot. The boys lost naturally. We obviously haven't figured out how to communicate telepathically like Mardi and Maureen do.
Tomorrow is moving day. We've been at Orange Lake for four weeks now. We're moving to a house in Davenport, which is just a few miles away. Barbara and Jo-Ann will be joining Mardi and me, while Matt and Maureen head to the gulf side to their condo rental.
