Stealthy Observer

Great Blue Herons can be quite stealthy, especially considering their size.  When I was at the New Pass Bait & Grill recently taking pictures of egrets, I turned around and was a bit startled to see this large guy standing a few feet behind me near a picnic table.  I guess he was patiently waiting for his close-up.  Here you go, Mr. GBH!

New Pass Bridge

If you head under the New Pass drawbridge to the west, you'll be on your way to the Gulf of Mexico.  New Pass, as it's cleverly called, was a new cut created by Mother Nature during a hurricane in 1848.  That's Longboat Key, where the sun is starting to sink; if you cross the bridge in the other direction, you're in Sarasota.  I snapped this from a fishing pier on City Island earlier this week.  For as many visitors as we have right now, I was surprised to have the place all to my self.  Not another soul around.

I thought some of my blogger friends enduring the cold and snow, who wished they could be in a toasty climate, could use a warm pick me up like this.  That being said, we're expecting a cold front through the weekend, so most of us who live here year round are pretty excited about the possibility of wearing sweaters for a few days. (When I say "cold" front, I mean high temps in the 60s and lows in the 40s.)  It started raining yesterday afternoon and continued through most of the  night.  Oh, boy...bring on the chill!   Hope everyone has a terrific Friday.  I'm linking to Skywatch Friday.

Watery Wednesday: Beasts in Boats #3

I encountered this beast on a boat pulling up to the dock at New Pass.  The boat captain informed me this is Sage, an Australian blue heeler.  He said Sage is a terrific dog and very intelligent.   From the looks of it, I would add that Sage is one happy hound.  To see other Watery Wednesday photos from around the world, click here.

Watery Wednesday: Perfect Day

So, four seagulls, one egret and a pelican were all hanging out on the roof of the fish filleting station at New Pass.   Sounds like the start of a joke, doesn't it?  They were waiting for fresh fish.  I was waiting for this shot.  **snap**  Picture perfect day.  Click here to see other Watery Wednesday photos from around the world. 

Got Life Jackets?

As the weather gets nicer and more boaters hit the waterways, the U.S. Coast Guard is out on patrol. This Coast Guard crew pulled over a recreational boat at New Pass, with a family onboard.   Usually, the U.S.C.G. is checking boat safety, including to see if there are enough life jackets on board for each passenger.  There were so many guys on the U.S.C.G. boat, though, it could have been a training exercise as well.

Watery Wednesday: New Pass Bait Shop

Here it is!  Exactly 180 degrees from where I took yesterday's photo is the New Pass Grill & Bait Shop.  The sign above the umbrellas reads "Grub * Soft Drinks * Ice Cream * Cold Beer * Ice".  Perfect!   This is a slice of 'Old Florida', as we say.  Good food.  Good drinks.  Great view.  As simple as that.  Click here to see other Watery Wednesday photos from around the world.

Theme Day: Favorite Part of Town

It's the first day of the month and in the City Daily Photo world that means it's theme day.  This assignment was a smidge challenging since I have many favorite parts of Sarasota.  That being said, this is one of my favorite views:  sitting on the dock at the New Pass Bait Shop watching the boats cruise across the azure water of Sarasota Bay (usually with a refreshing beverage).  Over the months, I've only shown bits and pieces of the bait shop.  So, tomorrow I'll actually reveal it.  Click here to view photos for all participants in this theme day

Unbelievable

Free WiFi???  At the New Pass Bait Shop?!  Unbelievable.  Who would imagine?!  About a week ago, I posted a photo of the bait shop's welcome sign for boaters and a few folks expressed surprise/shock/concern/trepidation that a "bait shop" served food.  I can attest that not only do they serve food, but good food.  (And cold beer too.) Seriously.  It's an SRQ treasure, unexplored by most tourists who prefer to wander down the road to St. Armands Circle.  Now, about this free WiFi thing...I'll have to check that out next time I'm there.  Sarasota is on the cutting edge -- even at the bait shop.

Welcome!

This is my kind of welcome!  This is New Pass in Sarasota, which leads to the Gulf of Mexico.  The welcoming committee include a heron (real) and an owl (not so real).