December 9,2023
We’ve been home for a week … a peaceful quiet week.
I walked the beach and our neighborhood…
Arriving at Siesta Beach just before 10:00 am last Sunday, I was surprised by two things. First surprise was the Siesta Seafood Festival … I don’t remember it being offered this late in the year. Second surprise…greeted me as soon as I walked through the festival set up… Fog!
Each day this beach presents itself differently. And I love it🩵. A few years ago, a new acquaintance was surprised that I walk the beach every day…she said she’d be bored walking the same route day after day, year after year. I tried to explain to her how each day is unique…the tide is different each day… the light, the wind, the humidity …the time of year …all work their magic on my psyche. The minute I step foot onto the powdery sand…I’m …what ? I guess transported is as good a word as any to describe how walking Siesta beach feels. I have no explanation for my deep affinity for the sea. I do know that few things make me happier.
I was so taken aback by the fog, I guess I hadn’t paid attention to the weather report, so, yes, surprised…but in no way disappointed. I usually enter the beach from the southernmost public beach access…directly opposite the Yellow Life Guard Tower. When I enter at this access point, I’m at almost exactly the halfway point between Point of Rocks on Crescent Beach and Patriots’ Pier. From end to end it’s just under 4 miles.
It would appear that my preferred direction is north towards Patriots Pier…I say that because whenever we return to Sarasota, I invariably head north on my first day back. Maybe it’s because the beach is so much wider on the north end. The first two pics were taken on Sunday as I walked towards Patriots Pier. Pretty foggy.
As I passed the pier, and reached the end of Siesta beach, I took this photo as the fog lifted…the time stamp is 10:34 am. That’s Lido Key in the distance.
I turned around and as I got closer to the public beach, the fog thickened…this photo was taken at 10:56 am. Same day, same beach…20 minutes apart.
There’s something eerily beautiful about walking a near empty beach on a day like this.
Back closer to the Green Life Guard tower we have this man who will periodically show up and create a topical sand sculpture. I left him to his work and the fog.
On Monday, I walked through our neighborhood over to Urfer Park and the only photo I snapped was of these beauties who I often see alongside the park trail
On Tuesday I set off south towards Point of Rocks. Lots more birds on this route.
So as I’m walking along, I spy an old friend…this beautiful blue heron. Snowy egrets are plentiful on Siesta, blue herons…not so much. It was very low tide and I was on the opposite side of the sandbar when I came upon him.
Here he is, looking right at me…made my heart smile.
After a brief acknowledgment, he went on his way 🩵
This is the southernmost part of Crescent beach…Point of Rocks…next time I’ll take a wide view and show you the rocks. Folks snorkel here at low tide. No one here this day.
More shore birds.
Those are pelicans 🩵
I love walking between the sandbars…especially when there are few folks nearby.
Wednesday, just before 11:00 am. I waited to head out because it was a bit chilly (60degrees) when we woke.
Blue on blue…no one in sight at 11:05 am. Definitely chilly and windy💙
I think you can see why I’m so in love with Siesta.
Winter at the beach has a completely different vibe. Less humidity means a crisper, clearer atmosphere…bluer skies💙
This is Patriots Pier…folks gather at sunset for the lowering of our flag.
The wind was definitely brisk.
This beach mat was a godsend to us before Timmy had his ankle surgery. I wish every access point had one.
Pathway to heaven.
Thursday was even colder…56 degrees when we woke…and only about 61 when I took this photo at 11:38 am.
These two are quintessential Floridians…. Please note the footwear…
It was too chilly for this tyke to swim…but perfick for playing in the sand.
At 12:30 pm …only the heartiest were setting up camp😊
As I left, folks were beginning to set up for the annual fun run. It’s almost 50 years old.
No beach on Fridays…Friday’s the day we clean the condo…then reward ourselves with dinner. We dined at Speaks Clam Bar on St Armand’s Circle. Speaks is a favorite and never disappoints.
After dinner we took a spin around the Circle…soaking in the Holiday atmosphere.
Today is significantly warmer on the beach…and a happy surprise…dolphins! Look under the arrow.
Here you go…I enlarged the photo quite a bit…🩵
The air temp is high 70’s, but the water temperature is only 67… this is Sage, one of the sweetest lifeguards you will ever meet.
Just north of Patriots Pier.
The Sandy Claus beach run was over by the time I arrived …I’m sorry I missed it…some runners dress up and it’s usually a fun event.
So here I am, back at our little slice of heaven, writing this, …on the couch… with Timmy, Fluffy and Freddy. We are toggling between football and golf and life feels pretty perfick. 🩵🩵🩵
