Hernando Desoto landed here while looking for the fountain of youth. He didn't have any more luck than I did. This village was recreated to resemble those of the natives of that time period. Also shown are the two monuments to Desoto, a gopher tortoise, an osprey and a butterfly. The unusual tree is a Gumbo Tree.

WHERE I AM..... Tropic Isles, Palmetto Fla. A small bay opening onto Tampa Bay and just south of the Tampa Bay Sunshine Skyway Bridge on the West coast of Fla. Click on this picture for an enlarged shot

The '86 Ford w/ 46,000 miles taken out in front looking towards the shuffleboard courts.
The shuffleboard courts beside the meeting hall and across the street from the house
The pool room just inside from the swimming pool
Guess this is the room where they gossip when it's raining out
The gym in the meeting hall
Entrance to the old clubhouse now the meeting hall
Looking North on the sea wall the house is behind the white van

The pool where the blue hairs hangout and catch up on the gossip. No one swims they just "bob".
The Bay looking west from the pool area and showing the exit from the Bay that goes into Tampa Bay



The pool area taken from the south and facing the house

Here's a school of mullet cleaning off the algae on a boat. They come into the bay in Oct./Nov and are caught by fisherman who cast net for them. Because they're also vegetarians they don't bite on a hook w/ bait. This is the only time of year that they're good to eat, and usually smoked. They can be seen constantly jumping out of the water and really get young kids pumped up to go fishing.

Here are three manatee in the bay. Also known as dugong they are vegetarians and very docile. They love shallow warm water and as a result they suffer from boat motor props.

Here's the "one legged club" out for a follow the leader stroll along the seawall

I was fortunate enough to go out with Jim Burnham on his Cal 27' sailboat "Joyride"


Capt. Jim






Days end at Regatta Pt.

A TEST RUN
Heading in

On the trailer




Paul and Kathryn

Kathryns new boat.....a Corsair 28R (for racing) trimaran
One of the first trial runs. This trimaran is easily trailerable as the outriggers fold up underneath. The mast is carbon fiber, so strong but lightweight, and the sails are furlling and made out of kevlar. Note how the main is wound around the boom.