Sun, Art, Food, and Fun

We left Clearwater Beach Feb. 1 and went one day south, anchoring out at Shell Key for a couple of nights.  The little island is aptly named - you better have your sandals on for walking the beach because you're literally walking on a pile of shells.  It was great weather and we had fun exploring the beach and the surrounding neighborhood in our dinghy.

We moved to St. Petersburg on Feb 3, booking a month at the Vinoy Renaissance Resort Marina - very swank.  We have all the hotel privileges - we're waiting for the weather to warm up just a bit more before we use the pool.

Daughter Rachel and Son-in-Mortgage Kris came down from Chicago for a weekend.  Unfortunately they brought the cold air with them - it was cool (mid-50s), rainy and windy for part of the weekend - and then just cool and windy for the rest.  Oh well, we made our own sunshine when there was none.  We saw a movie (The Revenent), toured the area, went to the Dali Museum and had a short cruise out to one of the barrier islands.  And of course, the day after they left, the weather turned warm - now it's terrific.

We also had a short visit from the Thomas family.  William and his little boy Christopher brought Charles and Jan down for an afternoon.  It was great seeing friends and hearing about their recent adventures.  And of course we got to play with Christopher again.

We'll stay here - soaking in more of the art scene and enjoying the great restaurants until March 4, at which time we'll head south, hopping our way down to Port Charlotte to see the McKays in their new house and then on to Fort Myers.

The Shells

Shell Key - the life

At the Dali Museum - Surreal Man!

Kris and Rachel 

William and little Christopher

Grandpa Charles and Grandma Jan