35th Wedding Anniversary Road Trip 2014: March 15-23, 2014 Enjoying Florida

Saturday, March 15th was the surprise 70th birthday party for Sonny's long time friend, Mike. They met in a bar in Maine during the mid 70s, traveled to Seattle together in 1978 and have kept in touch nearly 40 years. Sonny stayed in Seattle but Mike returned back East within 6 months for his next work assignment. We were invited to the party by Mike's daughter, Kellie. Mike knew we were on the to Florida but he wasn't expecting us for his birthday.

We took a ride to see THE BEACH right away before going to the restaurant. Mike arrived with his daughter and was completely surprised to see his friends and family gathered to honor the beginning of his 7th decade. (His daughter told him he was going to a family celebration for someone else). Kellie, did a great job of organizing the event.

A few days later, my family began to arrive from Maine for a mini reunion to meet our newest member.

THE BEACH at last!!

Can't wait to get my toes in the sand.

In Lantana and Lake Worth, there is a large Finnish population. We
drove by the Suomi Talo, the Finn House. On other Florida visits,
I've been there to attend their festivals.

Mike arrives to see friends and family gathered at La Bamba Restaurant

Mike and daughter, Kellie, pose for the camera

Mike Carpenter and Sonny Wirta Farmington, ME
Circa 1977

Mike and Sonny Florida 2014

Chocolate Peanut butter cake for all

Proud Papa with grandchildren

One project was to install a new
fan in the bedroom.

Mike is planning on selling his
home and moving to Sebastian, FL. He had a few projects that Sonny was happy to help with.

Later in the evening that day
after dinner at the Whale's Rib where Sonny
ate fresh raw oysters, we walked the beach in
Deerfield. There is a charge for going out on the
pier to watch the fishermen, hence the bracelet.
Parking nearest the beach was $.25 for every
6 minutes. Luckily, we found a lot
a little off the beach with cheaper rates.

Mike is also from New England so one night, he cooked traditional baked beans
and brown bread. Sonny and I haven't had warm brown bread with
melted butter in ages. Hmmm.

Sonny helped Mike with sealing the Florida room roof. The bucket
was pretty heavy going up the ladder.

My brother, Merrill, and "Pippy", their mini Australian Shepard, flew in on
Thursday, March 20th from Maine. My brother's winter vacation place
is in Boynton Beach, about 23 miles north of Pompano where we were
staying with Mike. Boynton Beach is named for a Nathaniel Boynton, a
distant relative on our Boynton Family Tree.

My sister, Donna and her husband, Billy, drove from Maine and arrived
on Friday afternoon. Saturday, we took a picnic lunch to the beach.
Merrill took us on a tour of A1A along the Inner Coastal Waterway.
There were glimpses of emerald green water, exotic homes and
mega yachts

The Man 'o War jelly fish were pretty but dangerous to walk on.

Blowing Rocks Preserve is the largest outcropping of Anastasia
limestone on the Atlantic Coast. High tides and storms cause
the rocks to "blow" when the waves are rolling from the
east against the craggy shoreline, sending sea spray into
the air similar to Thunder Hole on Mt Desert Island
in Maine. In the last 3 years, sand has covered much of the
rock so that this piece was the only one of significance.

When tides, seasons and storms are right, this rock formation will
send water 50' up into the air. Sea turtles have been seen
nesting near this area.

Donna and Billy

Pippy likes to ride but sometimes misses out on the adventures
because dogs aren't allowed in all the parks.

My nephew owns a commercial paint franchise called "5 Star Painting" in
Jupiter, FL. We stopped by to see one of his jobs that was being
completed that weekend.

This 3500 square foot home had a pool with fountain/spa, a butler's
kitchen plus traditional kitchen, 5 bedrooms, office, formal
living room, dining room, family room, 2 car garage.

My nephew, Bryce, Merrill, Pippy and Billy getting the low down
on this home's structure.

Wrap around porch in plantation style.

Merrill had a 60th birthday
this year. Here's his new
apron and some reading
material.

Sunday morning, our families met at the Frigate Restaurant for brunch and
and introduction to our grand nephew, Chance Merrill Boynton, who was
born on Christmas Eve, 2012. It was lovely to be warm enough to sit
outside for a meal.

My turn to hold Chance at last!

Chance was pretty happy to rock in his carrier while we ate.

My siblings, spouses and children. Absent was Merrill's other son,
Adam who lives in the Boston area, Kim, Donna's daughter, my niece in Brewer, ME
and my sister in law, Dottie who would arrive in a few days.
Bryce on the left, Merrill, Sonny, Billy, Donna, Lynn, Vicky and
Chance. It was pleasant under the palms. We retired to Bryce and Vicky's for
an afternoon at their pool.

Grandpa Merrill with Chance

Bryce and Vicky have an
English bulldog named
Figo who likes to rest
on the floor in this position.

Three generations at the pool

After dinner on Sunday, we drove to Green Cay Nature Center
for a sunset stroll along the board walk. Many birds, a turtle or two and
a couple of alligators were active in the marsh. One of the turtles was the
size of a hub cap.

Water iris in bloom

Palm tree canopy.

This great blue was sitting on the
board walk railing a few feet from us
before he moved to the water.

Sunset reflection

Alligator in the swamp

Monday, we drove down to the Everglades to Shark Valley to see the
wildlife. We had a picnic lunch and took the tram tour out to the
observation tower above the swamp. I was here 4 years ago and the
green area was covered with large alligators but on this day, there were
only 2. These are probably 12-15' in length.