Frozen Fountain in Orlando
Florida’s deep freeze welcomed us back, but the almost-always sun continues to offer a promise of warmth to come! One of the few times we haven’t had sun came just before Carolyn’s school started in January and our friends on Sojourner NY stopped at Cocoa Village Marina on their way south toward Trawlerfest and then a crossing to the Bahamas. We had hoped for a couple gentle days in the Florida sun together, but instead we had freezing temperatures, sleet and rain! They resumed the trek south and we headed back to Orlando as soon as possible!
School is now in full swing and we have settled into a pleasing routine: Mondays – Thursday bring apartment living and Carolyn’s classes, as well as exploration and enjoyment of what the Orlando environs have to offer, especially the company of friends Shirley and Wayne. Then for the weekends, we make the short trip to Cocoa Village for time on Sojourner.
Bev & Karen at Lake Eola
Additionally, the “B-S” B&B is now open. In fact, our first set of visitors has already come and gone. Bev and Karen from Lexington braved threat of storms and flew in for a few days. We visited the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum with its incredible collection of Louis B. Tiffany art and the manatee haven at Blue Springs State Park on the St. John’s River. Blue Spring’s constant 72 degree temperature attracts manatees from hundreds of miles, and the day we visited, rangers reported seeing 142 manatees in residence. From there, we went on to the coast for an overnight stay on the boat before “taking a spin” on the ICW and a walk along the Atlantic at Cocoa Beach. Their all-too-short visit ended with a quick tour of Orlando, including a stop at the famous Lake Eola right downtown!
We look forward to warming days, fun on the water, and more visitors as we move toward the time we will begin our 2010 adventure taking Sojourner northward once again. We hope to make it into Canada this time and we are already beginning to plan that trip.
