Silver Lakes Resort - Kissimmee

We drove to Kissimmee and checked into our digs at Sliver Lake Resorts. We've stayed here before and kind of knew what to expect. But this year, we were scheduled to a "Six person" unit. I figured it would be bigger than a four (duh!) but we weren't quite prepared for it!

When we walked in the front door, this was the sight we saw - a long combo dining room sitting area. The couch (way down by the sliding door) pulls out for two of the accommodations

When we turned left and rounded the corner, we found our new fully equipped kitchen

We entered the master bedroom (in the first picture, just past the niche with the plant on the left) and discovered - WOW! a huge room w/ King bed

Through the Master Bedroom, we discovered  a huge bath with walk-in shower

And a two person hot tub! Hmmmm!

No more waiting our turns at the vanity!

And the TV niche (in the first picture, this one is taken at the end of the couch). The couch forms the other two sleeping spots. The mirrored doors at the left hold a complete laundry. Just past the mirrored doors is the entry to the second bathroom.

Of course, there was a large flat-screen TV - we checked in on Super Bowl Sunday!  In addition, a small flat screen was in the bedroom, and a table top TV in the kitchen! I'm gonna hate leaving here!

Tampa - St Pete

We drove from Patrick AFB across the state to Tampa for a too-short visit with Bill & Peggy Bierce. Bill was also a shipmate on USS FDR in the early 60's.

We left Patrick AFB and drove down the coast to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in nearby Indian Beach 

A lovely parish with a "welcoming" walkway!

The tabernacle is "embedded" in this stained glass window that separates the Blessed Sacrament Chapel from the nave. The tabernacle is accessible from either side.

This modern church has large flat-screen TV's on the walls. The lyrics for the hymns were projected as was a short video to end Fr's homily.

Tampa bay is one of the largest in the country but is quite shallow in most places.

We drove to St Petersburg for dinner and passed what Bill jokingly referred to as "the spaceship crash" Peggy corrected him but I can't for the life of me remember the proper name! (Actually, it is the Sun Dome ;-)

We drove along the shore next to the Vinoy House Inn

Straub Park is next to the Vinoy

The Steel Pier - St Pete

The  pelicans can get pushy. These kids had dropped a cell phone and the pelicans "adopted" it. They were flummoxed in attempting to retrieve it until the young woman in the plaid came along and just pushed the birds aside.

The Vinoy House Inn (at left) and some hi rises along Vinoy Park

Even though he grew up in Tampa, Bill still used the GPS built into his new Sienna

The small bay between 2nd Ave & 5th Ave

I don't think this bird was fooled by the decoy!

We ate at a seafood restaurant on Treasure Island right on the  inlet to Boca Siega Bay

Upscale shops line both sides of the inlet

The camera brings out the "ham" in some folks!

The Friendly Fisherman Restaurant

The friendly wives!

The friendly husbands!

The sunset was fabulous!

This crane went from a stretched neck to curved neck - I was afraid he was going to take flight before I got the photo!

Lovers on the boardwalk

The gals in a shop along the boardwalk

Peggy & Bill Bierce

The four of us after dinner

The boardwalk is filled with "separation places" such as this pirate ship (Separation place - a place designed to separate you from your money! ;-)

Bill and Peggy took us to the Colonade in Tampa another night

The Colonade

Tampa across Hillsborough Bay from the Colonade Restaurant

Across the Bay, we watched this cruise ship put out to sea

 Our short stay with the Bierce's was over way too soon. But we had reservations in Kissimmee.

Jax and Cooca Beach

We drove to Jacksonville, Just across the Georgia-Florida border to the Naval Air Station.

NAS Jax is on the West shore of the St John River that winds through this sprawling city.

We walked confidently into the housing office and gave our last name. The desk clerk said "We do not have a reservation for you sir!" I confidently pulled out my Doid and read her my confirmation number. She explained that was not their number since it started with the wrong three numbers! I asked if they had a room, to which she said no. She checked the Navy Lodge down the street - "no joy"!

Just when we thought we were looking at sleeping in the car (seriously, getting a hotel room), she stroked the keys for a while and said "I could put you in one of our cottages if you don't mind moving on Wednesday!" Of course, we jumped at it not really knowing much about it. As you can see from the photos below, the cottages are roomy and very nice!

The cottages are two bedroom units with a screened in sitting area. Modern and roomy, it was a wonderful solution to a sticky problem!

And, they sit adjacent to the base golf course!

The other bedroom has two twin beds. The master bedroom has a queen bed.

By the way, I called the toll free reservation number. Our reservation was at NAS Pensacola! I was able to cancel with no penalty!

We were just down the street from the base Catholic Chapel and attended daily mass. The Chaplain is a retired Philippino who we met last year. He actually remembered the two of us!  

The highlight of the week was a lunch with Harold "Butch" and Ginger Jonas downtown. This fountain is in Museum Circle where the restaurant is located.

We met Butch and Ginger at the River City Brewing Co. 

What a location! What a view!

RCBC is an upscale micro-brewery with a very unique menu

Butch and Bob served on the USS FDR in the early 60's and became reacquainted just last year.

About the most elegant key-lime pie ever! The lattice is Carmel candy and was very edible! And the pie was delicious!

This is the view we had out the window as we ate!

The restaurant is decorated in a nautical motif, complete with this carved figurehead 

When we left Jax, we headed south to Patrick Air Force Base just south of Cocoa Beach.

We decided to drive Highway A1A along the coast.

Highway A1A runs right along the coast much of the way between Jax and Cocoa Beach

Much of the way is dotted with some pretty big houses (or small mansions?)

And many, many hotels, condos, and the like!

Near Daytona, more commercial establishments are seen.

At Patrick AFB, we walked along a nice path paralleling the Banana River.

Patrick AFB started it's life as Banana  River Naval Air Station. The seaplane ramps are still in place. The river provided a protected place to land the large seaplanes.

After a brief two days at Patrick (just enough time for a round of golf!), we headed on to Tampa!