04/06-08/2012

Here we are in Tampa, FL. We're at the Racoon Creek Campground at MacDill, AFB, FL. What a gorgeous base! It's on a peninsula off Tampa Bay, ringed by about 3 miles of white sandy beach. Each time we drive off the base, we see fish jumping completely out of the water just off shore, and there's a running path (one of many on base) that follows the shoreline. I don't really know how anyone gets any work done around here, but they seem to manage

.

Visited Zephyrhills - just wanted to see the place we've heard so much about.  We really liked the town (no, we're not staying), pretty area with pretty much anything you'd need in a retirement community.

Crossed over the bay to Clearwater/Clearwater Beach by the Sunshine Skyway Bridge the other day.  The only way I can really describe the town is to call it an upscale OOB.  Very nice shops, restaurants, people walking around in bikinis, etc.  The beach runs as far as the eye can see, as does the beautiful green/blue water.  Thousands of people, all having a great time.  We took a walk out on the very long pier.  Unlike OOB, there's only one small shop on the pier.  The rest is people fishing and walking around enjoying the sun.   

Drove down to Sarasota and up along the chain of islands off Sarasota Bay.  Lots and lots of money in the area nearest Sarasota, but further up the chain, it's truly ocean beachfront communities with lots of motels/hotels/condos/vacation apartments, etc.  We stopped at Bradenton Beach and enjoyed the sun and sand for a little while.  The water is so warm, it's hard to believe it's ocean water.