Siesta Key Beach

Knowing parking is at a premium in Siesta Key Beach, we got up early and were at the beach just before 8:30am. We got a good spot to park (the parking lot was half full) and went for a run on the beach. You wouldn't believe the number of people who were already set up on the beach and either walking or running along the coast. The sand by the water is packed down and so it makes for great running or walking. We finished our run and went back to the van and got our chairs, towels and umbrella for some relaxing time by the water. Got a great spot close to the water and got all set up and then it got cloudy. Farther out over the Gulf you could see the blue sky so soon it was sunny and getting hot. By 10:30 the beach was filling up and there was getting to be less and less space close to the water (lots of space further back, the beach is probably 300 metres wide and white and powdery). Lots of kids were with their parents or grandparents, Janet and I both said we would love to get Annika and Selena down here as they would just love this beach (the sand when you make it wet is perfect for building things), gotta let Selena age a bit to enjoy but Annika would have a great time. There was a "Yoga Class" being held on the beach and there were probably 100 people involved and they worked out for about an hour and a half. The water was fairly warm (70o F), I went in for a swim and Janet got wet but felt it was a little to cool for her liking. The other cool thing going on was "ParaSailing", there were at least four boats pulling the "parachute sails" with one or two people strapped in below them. It was really neat to see and reminded me of the time Ken Myer and I did it down in Barbados'. Janet wasn't to keen when I suggested we might try it. Turned out to be another great day and when Janet BM'd David on her BackBerry and found out it was snowing heavily back in Guelph we were even more pleased. Janet sent David a pic of the beach and what we were doing and to say the least he was not impressed and I won't repeat the comment he made. Got to enjoy it while we are here as the time to leave is quickly approaching.