Up up in the air

My first cousin Janet from Bristol U.K. and her good partner Steve are again in this neck of the woods.

They visit their time shares at Treasure Island, FL and Longboat Key FL each year.  So we always get together a couple of times when they are here.  This means that I have enjoyed Janet and Steve's company for at least fourteen  times since I retired to S.W. FL  -  more  times than I had been with them in "so many" years prior to 2006.

That's good.

We hooked up today at the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport for a joy ride in a four seater Cessna which is owned by a young Norwegian named Patrick who runs a business called http://www.flightexcursions.com/

(My brother Martyn, his son Sam, and Sam's pal Toby took a flight with Patrick when they were here in September.)

Our joy ride today took us north west from the airport to Clearwater.  Then we flew south over the Gulf of Mexico,  with Indian Rocks Beach, the Redington beaches, Madeira Beach, and Treasure Island to our east.

Crossing Tampa Bay we flew to the west of Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach and Longboat Key..

We made a U turn down by St. Armand's Circle in Sarasota, and then flow northish, with  Longboat Key Holmes Beach,  Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria Island to our east.

Crossing Anna Maria Island led us due north across the wonderful Sunshine Skyway Bridge and downtown St. Petersburg and then back to the airport.

Janet, Steve and I had a fabulous trip.  We agreed that Patrick is a fine pilot, and that he is very professional. (He is aged 25). And we were glad for his recommendation of  the Bascom's Chop House on Ulmerton Ave in Pinnelas Park FL where we had a lovely lunch.

Steve, Janet and jmp

Patrick our Pilot and jmp

Patrick, our pilot hails from Norway. I printed a Norwegian flag and  taped it to my cap. He was dutifully amused.
Patrick, jmp, and Patrick's  Cessna

Over St. Petersburg FL

St. Petersburg, FL looking at the Albert Whittle airstrip.  It's next to the Salvador Dali Museum. My Cambridge friend Mary C and her mother Sally C (who lives in Redington Beach) visited  the Dali, and then enjoyed lunch at a restaurant at the Whittle airstrip.

Heading north t'wards St. Petersburg

Sunshine Skyway Bridge across Tampa Bay.  (We locals  are "crazy" about this Bridge)

Undeveloped (thank goodness)  land between Anna Maria Island and the mainland.

Manatee Ave bridge, linking  Anna Maria Island to the mainland.

Patrick (the pilot) with my cousin Janet and her partner Steve

Patrick recommenced Bascom's  Chop House on Ulmerton Ave. in Pinellas Park)  for our our post flight lunch. His advice  was  wise.  There I enjoyed a fabulous grouper sandwich and salad.




Location: Airport Pkwy, Clearwater, FL 33762, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shoe insults

Last year I consulted with a local podiatrist: Dr. Robert F Herbold Jr. D.P.M. 4717 Swift Rd., Sarasota , FL – 34231  because I was being bothered with a couple of bunions  (yes I am at that age). I was very impressed with this Doctor.  He agreed that I had bunions, but he ventured that it was much too soon for surgery. (Now there’s a first). Instead he recommended some “arch supports” to relieve the tension for my feet, a tension which was exacerbating the bunions. What’s more -  he told me that he sells these arch supports at the miserly sum of $2.50 each (about 1/5 of the price in the local pharmacies). He is an honest man, and I recommend him to anyone with foot problems. So, a couple of weeks ago, having purchased some new walking shoes, I knew that I needed to buy a couple of new arch supports I took myself to his office. Once there, my mind went blank. I wanted to ask his front desk Clerk if I could buy some “shoe inserts” , as I could not remember the words “ar
Read more

The background, the couple, my friends, the wedding ceremony, the Shaykh, the Priest,

Image
The background   I have known the Keller/Bonsey family since 2000 when I became the Rector at St. James's, Cambridge, MA. They (Elisabeth Keller and the Revd. Steven Bonsey with their four children Noah, Sam, Josiah and Annie) had come back to Cambridge from Hawaii where Steve had been the Rector of an Episcopal parish. Steve had just been appointed as a Chaplain at Tufts University (no Sunday morning duties) so the entire family was able to enrich our common life at St. James's - which they did with great love and joy. I count them as friends and have stayed in touch with them since my retirement.  Noah, the oldest son is eloquent in Arabic (he spent a year in Damascus when Syria was a safe place).  He has developed a super career as an analyst of social media in the near East.    Noah worked in Tampa for a while a few years ago, so he and I were able to get together a few
Read more

It began in Bristol U.K. "A man dies" and "Jesus Christ Superstar"

Image
I well remember the swirling controversy in Bristol, U.K. when a (Presbyterian) Minister the Revd, Earnest Marviin created a ":Rock Opera", called "A Man Dies"  in and for his congregation in the Lockleaze area of Bristol, U.K. Earnest Mrvin I was a sixteen years old member of the Plymouth Brethren Church back in those days, so I most likely disapproved of "A Man Dies" .  We, (the Plymouth Brethren),  disapproved of everything! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I had forgotten all about "A Man Dies" until earlier today when saw these pictures on the "Bristol, Then and Now"  Facebook page.   St. James Presbyterian Church, Lockleaze, Bristol  The Bristol Then and Now page includes the following commentary: Lockleaze, Bristol  -  'Jesus Christ Superstar' began at St.James (Presbyterian) Chur
Read more