Florida

It's always hard to leave home, and this trip was no exception...closing up Cordova life, getting our home ready for a house-sitter, and packing camp gear and food for Florida plus winter clothes for England as usual seemed monumental.  But, we made it. 

It was as cheap to have a stop in Florida as it was to go direct to England, so we voted on some sun, and Dustin joined us for this leg of the trip. We went straight to Cayo Costa, a state park on the Gulf Coast.  The island has a fun social side, with other families traveling over to camp on the island for the week. Everyone was on holiday, and everyone was having fun.  It was an unexpected side of the island that the boys loved.

New friends waiting for the ferry

Camp site

The island is beautiful; long clean beaches, great shelling, and beautiful inland trails to explore. 

Vera, Brian, Calvin and Felix came over for a few days!  

It was wonderful to reconnect. 

Calvin's dried starfish

  

friends happily reunited

 I turned 44 while we were on the island, and we celebrated with the Rutzers, and our camping neighbors and new friends. 

Chocolate cake cooked in oranges

We made a few attempts at seeing a manatee. No luck, but peaceful paddling

We kayaked over to a beautiful sandy spit with the Rutzer family. Soft sand, clear water. Really perfect. 

Portrait of a Brit on holiday

And, just in case things were too easy, we had some super stormy weather while we were on the island. A couple of short intense rain storms that had us all huddled under a shelter to enjoy music and drawing together. And, a few days of fairly crazy wind where at least three other tents were destroyed. We spent a couple of very noisy nights wondering whether our tent would hold up. It did. 

Therese entertaining the kids with music

One of the highlights of our camping trip was getting to know Amore and her family.  We were camped next door to each other, and Peter and Amore had so much fun together. Their all-time favorite things to do was jumping waves together. 

Family camping

There is a shuttle across the island, which, of course, the boys loved. 

On one windy day, we took the trails to the north of the island, and then braved the wind-swept beach on the way home. 

These photos remind me of Egg Island.. similar temps, and similar clothing!  And, Egg Island is only a 15 min flight from home!

We said goodbye to Dustin, and the boys and I celebrated surviving the week with supper out and a peaceful night in a cabin on the mainland. 

Brian then came to pick us up, and we spent a few days with the Rutzer family in their beautiful home near Naples. 

With a sick and unhappy Leif, tired Ann, and car-sickness, we were nightmare guests.  Thank goodness we're such good friends, and can already laugh about such a crazy week.  

But, it was wonderful to see the Rutzers in their Florida paradise, and be able to imagine their winter life together.  Thank you for being such gracious hosts and good friends xo