February 20, 2026 - Sebastian, Florida
We arrived back from Alaska on a Tueday and on Wednesday we loaded up the mini-van and headed south to Florida!
 
We stayed overnight in Lumberton, North Carolina and the next day drove to Sebastian, Florida to spend 10 days of so with Bruce and Ellen.  The first thing we did, of course, was hit the Tiki Bar on the Indian River!
   
Hanging out by the pool in Bruce and Ellen's backyard.  Last year there was a luxurious, colorful, tropical rainforest growing alongside the fence.  A freek cold-freeze hit the area in January and killed half of the vegetation, as you can see by all the brown leaves.
   
Beautiful day at the Atlantic Ocean beach.
   
Ellen enjoying the beach.
   
Sisters on the beach.
   
Bruce and I headed out to the New Hibiscus gliderport.
   
Bruce's Russian glider and Champ.
   
Well, unfortunately, Bruce has sold the Champ so we didn't get to fly it this time.
   
You may recall last year, the weather wasn't too good for soaring so Bruce and I spent a lot of time fabricating the red and white striped sleeve with wheel for his glider.  Look how well it came out!
   
Soaring conditions were outstanding today so Bruce decided to go up.
   
The tow plane is in position for takeoff.
   
Bruce at the Tiki Bar after flying his glider for two hours.  He could have stayed up longer if he had wanted to.  Pretty good for no engine!   VVV
   
About mid-week, Bruce and Ellen's son Nathan arrived with his wife Moriah and their new little girl Winnie arrived.  This was the first time Lynnette and I had met Winnie.
   
Winnie of course was the star of the show.
   
Ellen and Bruce's first granddaughter.
   
 
   
As she does for all newborns in the family, Lynnette made Winnie a blanket.
   
 
   
Winnie is very close to walking.
   
Winnie at the beach.
   
One day we decided to hike through Turkey Creek Sanctuary Park.  We have been here before but it has been five years.  Link.
   
 
   
Now here's a sign you don't see too often.
   
Sure enough, this tortoise was crossing.
   
The park has a nice boardwalk through most of it.
   
 
   
As the boardwalk took us through Florida jungle, I tried to imagine Florida say 400 years ago, when probably the entire coast was like this.
   
Four bumps on a log.  Actually turtles.  There is a lot of wildlife in Turkey Creek sanctuary but turtles would be the only wildlife we would see today.
   
Lookng for alligators and manatees in Turkey Creek.  Nothing sighted.
   
 
   
 
   
That's jungle all right.
   
I didn't remember seeing this nature center from five years ago, but the volunteer rangers inside said it has been here a long time.
   
Ellen spots a bobcat!
   

Hiking the Turkey Creek boardwalk -- which took maybe an hour -- tired us out so we stopped at Squid Lips outdoor bar for some liquid refreshments.  The new Squid Lips establishment is a happening place!

When I'm in Sebastian, Florida I drink Mango Cart beer.
   
The old Squid Lips place which is still a restaurant.
   
Happy after finishing a delicious dinner at Mulligan's Beach House restaurant.
   
Another day we decided to drive over to the Sebasian Inlet Fishing Pier.
   
Looking back at the bridge over the Sebastian Inlet.   It carries the famous A1A Highway which since 2024 is now known as the Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway.
   
Looking down the north side of the beach.
   
A big Blue Heron surveys the situation.
   

 

 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
On the west side of the bridge where there's a little bay.
   
Afterwards, we had Mango Cart's at the Tiki Bar.  Weather was coming but we decided to risk it.
   
We were lucky and did not get rained on.
   
All too soon, it was time to head back to the frozen tundra of Maryland.   Five weeks later, there is still icy snow left from the great storm.
   
 
   
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