Today marks the one year anniversary of my blog...but it's a much more important day..Today we salute and remember our Veterans. Because of the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform our Flag is a symbol of freedom and flies over the greatest country on the face of the earth.
I visited Veterans Memorial Park in the little town of Oldsmar.
It is a beautiful park on the upper end of Tampa Bay and it remembers the soldiers this small town has lost
Granite stones like this one filled with the names of heroes lost
The park is beautiful...very quiet with places to sit and think
A magnificent osprey keeping watch over the park
I sat here and thought about how many brave soldiers have died so I can sit here
One last reminder that freedom isn't free
An empty stone where more names will surely be added...Thank you to every man and woman who has served or is serving this great country...the United States of America
One of the many benefits of living on the coast here in Florida
A short and scenic drive across Tampa Bay puts you here on the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico
Beautiful white sand as far as you can see...the grand old Don Cesar in the background
MK...pretty as always and never far from a phone
My way of relaxing...Buffett on the Bose..a Randy Wayne White book..and a cooler
As good as it gets
Not as crowded as the Summer...snowbirds haven't arrived yet
Champagne shore...so long from the fabulous Gulf Coast of Florida
In this blog we visit Tampa's Picnic Island Park. The park is located on the southern end of the Tampa side of the bay. It is a little off the beaten path located in an area of town known as Port Tampa City. This is one of the city's oldest neighborhoods. It was formed in 1865 at the end of Henry B. Plant's railroad. A blog entry called The King of Florida tells this story.
Plant established a port at the end of his railway line so you pass sights like this on the way into the park
The park has a boat ramp and a canoe/kayak launch along with a fishing pier
Looking north towards the Gandy bridge....some wade fishermen and a guy throwing a cast net
Spectacular views across Tampa Bay..this one looking across at St. Petersburg...the white dome is Tropicana Field
The views are outstanding and what I enjoyed the most on this weekday was...the quiet...
I sat under the shade of one of the many shelters with a cooler, some music and a book...for me that's a great day
In this pic...if you look real close on the horizon over the red buoy you can see the Skyway Bridge
I'll be back to Picnic Island...one of Tampa's hidden gems...check it out one day and enjoy the quiet
Honeymoon Island State Park is a beautiful island on Florida's west coast. Honeymoon and it's neighbor island Caladesi were once one large barrier island known as Hog Island. In 1921 a category 3 hurricane came ashore around Tarpon Springs and cut the island in two.
The pass between the two islands is now known as Hurricane Pass. It provides boaters an outlet to the Gulf without having to go around the islands
Honeymoon Island sits farther out in the Gulf than most barrier islands. The current around the southern end is swift as it goes through the pass
Clearwater beach is the next beach to the south. Tourists don't find Honeymoon as easily as the other beaches so it is a nice place to go and enjoy the views
When the tide is out it is a great place for collecting shells
On the north end where the current isn't as strong there is beautiful white sand
There is a concession stand with facilities and even a designated area to take the family dog
We like to go over in the evenings and take a swim, eat a sandwich and watch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico
Honeymoon Island....one of my favorite spots here in this great place we live
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