A quick recap of our summer.
We returned to Bradenton in early June after almost 6 great months in the Bahamas.
Thankfully the boat did not have to go the yard this year, so we got a great jump on summer boat work, particularly varnishing teak.
Our month in Bradenton featured some fun with a Dierks Bentley concert in Tampa.
And some hikes around the area - Night Heron at Emerson Point below:
In July we headed north to Syracuse for our yearly medical, dental, and friend/family visits. Blessings of another year of good health!
We enjoyed a trip to Quebec, a great 'French' holiday just hours away. This year we timed our visit to include The New France Festival in Quebec City. The following picture is of a drum corp that was a BLAST to watch. We saw them twice and they sat all around us before one of the performances, we wish our French was better, it would have been nice to talk to them (not a lot of English here).
 |
| There are many people at the festival dressed in period attire. These dancers above are in 'noble' dress. The drum corp (two above) is dressed in common attire |
We then spent a few days in Sherbrooke in the Eastern Townships - a very pleasant place.
 |
| The view from our room at the Grand Times Hotel overlooking the park. |
 |
| A garden in the Sherbrooke park. Public gardens in Canada are very impressive! |
 |
| At the Festival, we discovered Coaticook ice cream and made a 'pilgrimage' to their plant in the Eastern Toiwnships Great ice cream - I swear the strawberry was filled with tons of fresh berries. |
After our return to the boat in Bradenton in August, it was back to boat work but also featured a great trip to Miami.
We went to two Marlin's games - great seats at a modest price. The new stadium is awesome! As a long-time Marlin's fan I often joke 'that someone has to do it' (the Marlin's are not that popular in Miami).
View of first base from our seats (with just my phone):
We went to a great exhibit at History Miami about the children that were sent to the US from Cuba after the revolution there. What a horrible decision to make - send your children away, maybe to never see them again, or let them be indoctrinated by the regime. Very touching memorabilia and testimonial videos of individuals who were children in the exodus.
Of course any visit to Miami involves great food - Pollo Tropical - maybe the best 'fast food' in the world (maybe a bit of an overstatement, but it is really good!).
 |
| New color scheme, but same great food! |
This year we went back to Syracuse in early Fall, for a quick laser eye procedure for Tom - everything went very well. It was interesting to be back north in the Fall for the first time in 4 years.
 |
| We couldn't believe all the changes at Beak & Skiff apple orchards. For thirty years it was one store and you-pick apples - now it is a little village! |
Now back in Bradenton, we will be getting the boat ready for a 'sea-trial' around the middle of October, with a planned early November departure for our fifth season in the Bahamas. We are hopeful that the areas we typically visit were not heavily affected by the hurricane. We will have to evaluate our planned excursion around the south east islands (Crooked, Aklins, Rum) that saw a lot of damage from the hurricane.
Tom
Docked Twin Dolphin Marina
Bradenton, FL
