July 22nd, 2019

Yesterday we decided to completely ignore the lengthy gotta-do list we were facing and just go have some fun.  We didn't have much of a plan really.  It started with me asking Tim, in late morning as both of us were just starting to tackle  a few things on the list but feeling very 'Bleh' about it all, "Hey, you wanna get out of here for awhile?"  He said, "Yes!" with great emphasis, jumped up and immediately started putting on his shoes.  I didn't even say "let's do .....something in particular". Just 'let's get out of the house and NOT do anything we are supposed to be doing'  lit the fire.  That was motivation enough.

So we threw ourselves together quickly, (and isn't it funny how we dressed so much alike?  I assure you that was unintentional),  jumped in the car, pulled out of the driveway and then Tim said, "Where should we go?'  I had no actual plan, but for some reason a picture popped into my crazybrain of walking on  the pier on Anna Maria Island.  So I asked if we could go there, "Absolutely" was the answer and we pointed the car north.  

As we approached Sarasota, Tim asked if I wanted to stop in at Selby Gardens first.  Selby gardens is a gorgeous Botanic Garden where we are already members so at this point, a visit is effectively free.  I like free.  I peered at the sky which was darkening with ominous looking clouds and said, "Sure, let's play beat the clock and see if we can tour the garden before the sky opens up".

Now bear in mind that this is summer in Florida with an obvious storm  heading our way.  This means that A) it's hot  B) it's humid and C) most of the garden is outside in the heat and humidity  but that also means that D) it won't be crowded.  And it wasn't.  We like places that aren't crowded.

We slowly walked through the entire garden taking photos and enjoying the peace and beauty of it all.  There was a glass art display there during this visit.  Some of the art was actually in the gardens and some in an air conditioned building on the grounds.  Naturally we had to check out the inside art exhibit at length.  And obviously, we lingered a bit enjoying the cooooooooool air.  

By the time we left, the storm had changed it's mind and moved on to plague someone else so on we drove to Anna Maria Island.

It really was only about a half hour further but for some reason it seemed like a very long drive.  At first the road stretches through an area that feels very refined and reserved with beautiful "Beach Resorts" and high end condominiums and several gated neighborhoods of exclusive waterfront homes.  But eventually it becomes a series of  little beachy towns of smaller, funkier hotels and rentals and shops and restaurants with lots of colour and lots of kitsch and at long last we arrived at our destination, Anna Maria Island Pier.

Except, there was no pier.  The pier was gone!  What the heck?

As it turns out, the pier was sufficiently damaged two years ago in Hurricane Irma, that the town decided to just tear it down completely and rebuild it.  They have a good start on it, but it's not finished yet. Well Dang.  No matter.  We parked the car and got out and walked around for a bit anyway, took a few photos and just enjoyed being in a different place.  And playing hooky.

So we felt a little renewed and refreshed from our small adventure that didn't turn out exactly as expected.  But as is always the case with us, we had a great day!

​Hope your weekend was a really good one too!