Florida
- Day 8
Friday 31st October 2025
Participants: Tam, Kev, India, Georgia and Charlie
We get up and walk just across the road to the inlet to photograph the sunrise. It's lovely with all the birds but still quite windy.
Breakfast of bagels and coffee then we walk up the beach by the Sandbar to the head of the island then back along the road to the villa.
[Kev - you've got to love the grumpy old men birds.]
[Kev - as you can see it's quite a spacious villa.]
We prepare chicken caesar salad for lunch and eat on the deck. The afternoon is spent just lazing around and watching the wildlife off the dock, at one stage there's a heron, egret, osprey and ibis all in clear view together. We can see lots of fish in the water and hope to see something bigger but no luck today. There are 2 kayaks available to use, but we question how we'd get them from the dock into the water as it's a big drop and there's no ladder. [Kev - we manage to get around this problem eventually.]
We get ready to go out relatively early as it's Halloween. We all dress in black and Kev and Charlie have guyliner on, Kev with a bandana for a pirate vibe and Charlie with devils horns (he says he's going for the devilishly handsome look).
[Kev - let's face it, what women could resist? I fancy our chances tonight Charlie me lad.]
George and Ind have great veil type goth headresses and I wear a light up witches hat that I bought in Publix.The free trolley bus has a stop at the end of the road and it soon appears, so we climb on board for the journey up to Bridge Street. Thankfully as we drive along we pass plenty of children and some adults in costumes. Our first stop is the Blue Marlin where we enjoyed some music last time we were in Anna Maria. There's a duo playing and we enjoy a cold beer and listen.
We then head up towards the Bridge Tender Inn, but someone notices that there's a stunning sunset so we walk quickly to the beach to catch the last of it. It really is glorious and it's fun to see people in costume enjoying the sight, not least of it a guy dressed just like Elvis on a cool motorbike.
[Kev - love this photo.]
At The Bridge Tender Inn we decide to sit inside as it's still a bit on the cool side. There's music playing from the stage just over the road and we have some drinks while sharing fried curds with a raspberry and ranch dip, smoked fish spread and crackers, capers and celery and lastly chicken tenders with ranch dip. Everything was really tasty and we enjoyed just taking in the sights and looking at all the people in costumes together with a gorgeous dog in a chicken costume.
We then go to the Sports Lounge, it's pretty busy inside so head outside to get a drink, before we know it Charlie's ordered a round of Tequila shots. He then tells us that they asked which Tequila he wanted and with tip it came to $60!!!!.
Kev gets chatting to an older guy who at one point asks his age and says he looks good, it turns out the guy himself is 71 and looks way younger. As there's not much room to sit we head on to Island Time Bar and Grille. It's really rocking in here with a live band playing covers and everyone really enjoying themselves dancing and singing along. We spend some time here, it's lots of fun.
[Kev - these guys were fun. Obviously they are dressed as tequila shots and were nice enough to actually give us all a free shot.]
[Kev - the last 2 photos sum up the night accurately I feel. They may be slightly out of focus, but so were we by this point.]
Ind then calls an Uber and we head back to
Bortell's for a final beer before home. Unfortunately on the way
home Kev fails to see a huge puddle and before we know it he's
flat on the floor flailing in the water. I must be drunk as
all I do is burst out in hysterical laughter, whilst the others
rush to his aid to help him up. Truth be told he's pretty angry
at my reaction which is totally understandable. Once home I'm
pretty remorseful and totally regret being such a cowbag.
[Kev
- a puddle!! Hardly. I'm not exaggerating to say that it's at
least 8 inches deep. I'm walking along and looking at Georgia as
I talk to her, the next thing I know my face is under water and
I'm soaking wet. At this point you would expect your loving wife
to show some concern that you haven't done yourself serious
damage. Doubling over barely able to breath with laughter is not
the reaction I expected. Don't worry, I'll get my revenge.
Bwahaha ... (twirls moustache and disappears in a puff of smoke
like a pantomime villain).]