It’s really fun being able to show all the sights to the new kids in town! Bruce and Barbee didn’t seem to mind either! Bruce drove and headed north to Tampa and Ybor (ee-bor) City, per directions from his co-pilot, H. Ybor City was founded in 1886 and is a restored old Cuban section of North Tampa, which is now full of quaint shops, restaurants and cigar stores where you can watch them hand roll cigars. To us northern tourists, it reminded us of New Orleans with all the wrought iron railings above the covered walkways of the old brick buildings. H saw a yellow trolley go by and we chased after him to climb aboard it and ride the beautifully crafted electric trolley all the way from Ybor to downtown Tampa, past the Tampa Aquarium, the convention center where the Ringling Circus was performing and the Cruise Line docks. While the trolley driver was busy changing the signs on the front of the trolley and switching the wires it was running on, H took a shot at pretending he was the man in charge! Poor B – he had 2 and a half back seat drivers (I tried to stay out of all the “direction giving”!) but we did make it to St Petersburg and “The Pier”. SPFB!!! This is the upside down pyramid building out on the long pier on the shore of downtown. Miss B and I had fun in the hat shop and then up on the 5th level to take pictures of the marina’s, airports, St Petersburg skyline and Tampa Bay. You could see the stacks from the power plant in Apollo Beach from there! Back in the big white tour “truck” we stopped for a view of the Sunshine Skyway Toll Bridge before venturing out over it. The clouds had been gathering and the sun was starting to set in the west but was pushing thru and acting as a spotlight reflecting off the vast waterway as we were coming over the bridge. That piercing ray of sun light cast quite a dancing reflection against the stark black shadow of the fishing pier and the many shades of gray clouds. Our day’s journey ended with a scrumptious “supper” of strawberry shortcake complete with a big scoop of ice cream and dollop of whip cream. Yes – since it was cold by then – we ate quickly and got back in the still warm truck and headed home!
Friday was laundry day and our BC friends had a travel day ahead of them. Hugs and goodbyes were given and we parted ways again. Laundry done, a yummy breakfast enjoyed and errands run, H parked himself in his lawn chair in the sun for “Happy Hour” that afternoon. A passing pickup stopped and asked him if he saw the pig that was behind him! This rather large black boar had wandered right thru the spot where B&B’s 5th wheel had been parked, munching acorns as he sauntered along. He went right behind our trailer and casually went the length of the campground looking for his afternoon snack. We told you there were pigs!
Today was the Red Barn Flea Market day where we bought a small box of big red strawberries intended for our supper. Fresh, warm Bisquick shortcakes and a new squirt can of Rediwhip made it complete!
Sunday is a stay close to “home” day with just a run to McD’s to borrow their wifi. Time to pack up and move south on Monday!
