Bradenton Beach, Florida, plus birds, porpoise or Bottlenose dolphins and things

We arrived at Bradenton Beach Marina on Sunday around 2PM. With very little wind on the ICW, we were hot and sticky. Tied up to our dock, hooking into the electricity and getting the air running was a welcome relief along with showers. Monday's weather report was for scattered thundershowers so we decided to stay, and explore Anna  Maria Island. It is a barrier island on the coast of Manatee County bounded on the west by the Gulf of Mexico and the south by Longboat Pass, the east by Anna Maria Sound and on the north by Tampa Bay. It is a seven mile long island with three separate communities  We are at the northern end of the island. They have a free trolley system and Tom and I went out to explore on Monday. 's

After our walk out on the pier we had a lovely lunch at The Waterfront Restaurant, then walked down one shopping district. 

One shop sign caught Toms attention. It was a shop for Men with Men's toys. We went inside and had a delightful conversation with the owners  AMI OUTFITTERS.

Next stop and also part of "it's a small world" we went to Spice Merchants were I picked up some interesting tea and spice mixtures. The owners started in Saugatuck Michigan. We found were Joe's Ice Cream store is so tonight when it is a little cooler we will do another ice cream walk.

 I also discovered that on this side what I presumed to be Porpoise are bottlenose dolphins but I never get the whole dang beast in a photo to be positive. 

Tuesday we are heading for Tarpon Springs and wait for a weather window to move on.

Still having fun despite the heat.

We  saw several somethings in the ICW 

The marina here rents out this house boat
it is really very cutie but I don't think that it has moved
anywhere in a long time, a weed was growing out
of the battery box

Egrets dancing on the lines from the dock

Gulf side of Anna Maria Island

Tom is smiling even though he has sand in
his shoes.

Shell hunting

We were walking down the pier and realized their were names carved into the planks one was Kurt and Judy VanDyke  Muskegon Michigan,  It is a small world