Cady Trail

Yesterday we found a new bike trail in Winter Park (north part of Orlando).  We had not been on this trail before.  Really nice trail!

Nice wide trails with a walking lane beside in some areas.

 Nice trail bridge built above major highway.  Gave us an uphill!

 Had a nice head wind on return ride!

View of bridge on return ride.

Today it was cooler (high of 65) and windy.  We hadn't had a day of "rest" in a while so we went to a winery (Lakeridge Winery in Clermont) in the afternoon.  Found a white semi-dry wine that I liked very much but most were made with a muscadine grape that I think leaves a strange aftertaste.  Had fun tasting though.  Good thing Bruce didn't taste much so he could drive us back.

Nice weather continues

Nice weather is continuing and so is our fun!  Most of our outdoor activities are taking place in the morning before it gets too hot!  Our resort (Grand Beach) is on a small lake so Sunday we decided to paddle around the lake.  Only took 45 min. to get around so we reversed directions and did it again.

 Our resort from the water.

 This is the only wildlife we saw - some cows!

Later in the afternoon we met up with Jud & Barbara - they were checking into another resort (Westgate Vacation Villas).  We helped them unpack and get settled and then had supper with them.

On Monday we drove to Winter Garden and rode the Orange Bike Trail to Apopka and back (total mileage was 28 miles).  

In the afternoon we played some Junk Food Bingo (of course Bruce won a game when candy is involved!). 

 Later in the evening we met up with Tom & Linda and played cards again.

Today we took another nice paddle - went to Lake Conway.  Enjoyed watching the planes coming into Orlando airport.

 Bruce thought a shortcut through the lilly pads would be fun - he found that it was work.

In the afternoon, Jud & Barbara came over to our resort and we had a nice visit before we went to the Outback Steakhouse for dinner.

Fun in the sun

The weather has been absolutely beautiful here.  Cool in the morning but warming up quickly so that we need to do any physical activities in the morning before it reaches mid 70's by afternoon.

Yesterday we did another paddle over by Westermere.  It is a chain of lakes.  This time we went around some different lakes.  (Lake Blanche & part of Lake Tibets.)  Still lots of lake to see yet - another day!

More beautiful homes.

 Water was like glass.

Later in the evening we played some cards with a couple we met here at the resort.  They taught us how to play Hand & Foot.  Fun game!  We'll probably play some more since they are also here for 3 weeks.  

Today we did a bicycle ride starting in Kissimmee and riding to St Cloud.  Nice ride.

 These crazy birds were hogging one side of the road stopping and slowing down traffic.

They sure weren't in any hurry to get out of the way!

At Lake Toho, this big boat ( and 2 others) went around pulling weeds.  Then they would come over send the weeds up the ramp by conveyor and into the dump truck (several more dump trucks were waiting in line.)

Bike ride in Celebration

Today we took a bike ride in Celebration

Rode by beautiful homes.

 Thought of friends up north who were fighting bitter cold temps as we sat outside and had a picnic lunch.  What a life!

One of the homes we saw as we ate lunch.

Pool & hot tub called me when we returned.

Bruce made brown bread and chicken fried rice for supper.  YUMMY!

Lake Ivanhoe

Wed we paddled Lake Ivanhoe.  Small set of lakes that we paddled twice to get our time in.  Real pretty area though.  Nice, sunny day!

 Saw some "white birds".

 Blimp

 More "white birds" - different kind.

 A pretty house in a pretty location.

 More "white birds" - different kind.

More "white birds"!

Saw several blue heron also.

In the evening we met up with another couple that travel like we do and had a nice visit.

Cool today

Today was cool & breezy so we ran errands in the morning and did our bike ride in the afternoon.

 The lightweight long-sleeved shirts we got for Christmas were perfect for today's riding.

Isn't this palm beautiful?

Kayak on Lake Louise & Lake Butler

Monday we went for a kayak on the Lakes up by Windermere.

Great place to see lots of different kinds of birds.

 Ospreys were plentiful.

 Lots of "white birds"

Mansions galore!

This mansion was like a castle.

One of the smaller homes that would "fit" into a picture!

Our "package"

We bought a tarp in Myrtle Beach to put over the trailer if it happened to be raining when we traveled or if the trailer was sitting out in the rain.  Tried it out traveling to Hilton Head but had to take it off part way because it started flapping.  Bruce ordered some cam buckle straps and we wrapped it up like a package for traveling to Orlando.  It was a nice day so it wasn't bad to stop and make adjustments if needed.  Worked pretty well!  Trailer is out in open here so we cover it when we are not using it.

This what we looked like when we got ready to leave.

Packed Up

We are packed up and ready to head to Orlando tomorrow morning.  Had a fun stay here.  It was sunny but cool & windy today so we decided not to do a last kayak and packed up instead and enjoyed the sunshine.  Yesterday we did another bike ride and found that you can bicycle over the toll bridge.  That is the big bridge in some of our other pictures.  Makes a nice circuit ride.

More fun

We have done a couple more kayaking trips in the Broad Creek.  Started one at the bridge and paddled out toward open water.

 Little windier going around island.

 It was high tide so we ventured into the marsh grass to cut off some distance. 

 Nice homes along the shore line.

 I bet we have as much fun in our kayaks as they have in their boat.  Saw lots of boats docked at homes and at marinas.

 Yea..the bridge.  We're almost finished.

Ferry boat passed us 3 times.

The next time out we paddled Broad Creek again but we put in at the other launch site and paddled to the bridge - it was where we were going the time my kayak filled with water and we never made it then.

 I sure do like these white birds!

Yea..we're almost back.  Launch site is on the other side of this restaurant.  2 3/4 hours paddling.

Today we went on another bike ride.  Traveled into some areas we had not been before.

Shelter Cove and Palmetto Dunes.  Nice ride

 Veteran's Park in Shelter Cove.

We could see Broad Creek from the other side.

Red roofed Restaurant where boat launch is.

Before we rode today we went to a coffee hour at the resort.  Needed to ride after donuts!  Thought it was supposed to rain but we got a nice ride in before the rain came late in the afternoon.

The other day when I rode I stepped into a red ant hill and got some bites on my foot....careful when I am in the grass now!

Bicycling on Hilton Head

Bicycling here on Hilton Head is awesome.  By every major road is a bike path.  The nice thing is we can access them right at our resort.

 Bluffton has some great paths too and we went there to peddle around today.  We got off the path for awhile and traveled on some back roads with little traffic.

 Nice views.  Had to get a picture of this bird.

 Shy!  When I went to get a close-up it turned it's head!

 Lots of big live oak trees and lots of Spanish moss.

Fun biking!

On another note, we went to the social again on Monday and I won another raffle.  Guess what?  Another Zip Line run.  Thought I might do it this week but then changed my mind and gave the certificate to someone who was really interested in it.  Didn't seem like it would be much fun to do by myself.  I needed some of my friends here to do it with!!