My mini vacation to lemon Bay.....

A few weeks ago, I took a mini vacation to one of my favorite places, Manasota Key, which is located near Englewood Florida. I got to do a little kayaking on Lemon Bay and took a few photos. This is a beautiful area, however there has been an outbreak of red tide in the last few months. It has had a major impact with large numbers of fish and waterfowl killed. The area is now slowly recovering and trying to get back to normal. I placed a red circle on this map around the area that I visited.

We stayed at my mother and father-in-law's place, an over 55 retirement community called "Gulf to Bay". It's a pretty cool place. The island is about 800 feet wide at this point and you can walk from the bay to the ocean in about 3-5 minutes. I've visited here for the last 30 years and it doesn't change much.  This photo is looking directly east into Lemon Bay. 

Look how calm the water is while my daughter and her boyfriend paddled a two person kayak in the bay.

My wife and I, paddled over to one of the nearby islands. It was a very enjoyable trip, especially thinking that the temperature back in Nashville, my home was in the thirties. 

I love looking mangroves. The mangrove roots extend directly into the salt water. All kinds of young sea life live in the mangrove swamp. I've seen oysters, sponges, shrimp, and small fish. Sometimes when you quietly paddle next to the mangroves, you can see some amazing sea creatures, but this time I didn't see any. 

The waters here are full of fish. I've caught all kinds of fish over the last thirty years. This year was different, the red tide made catching fish very hard.

Looking out in the bay, I can still smell a slight scent of the red tide, it burns my nose. You must admit, this is a beautiful sunset.  One thing for sure, the red tide hasn't ruined the view.

Do you need a great gift for the lake house, lake lover, or fisherman? If you do, check-out my treasured decor maps ay LeoLakes.com. 

I call my maps treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. These maps make great gifts for the lake house owner, lake lover, or fisherman. I have over two hundred on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes lake, river or bay maps, too. If you would like to see more and read about my treasured maps go to LeoLakes.com.

Beautiful Beach Maps

Here's a beautifully framed map of Gulf Shores in Barnwood. This will warm up the wall in the winter and bring back those warm summer memories at the beach...... 

And there's more....... I often get comments about the tiny mermaid hidden in the waters of all my maps. Folks love to tell me about the search for the mermaid. They say the children really enjoy hunting for her and are thrilled when they spot her in the waters. Oh yeah, some folks tell me that she moves, but I'm not sure that I believe that. LeoLakes.com

Most folks add a star to a special place such as a lake house, river  house or where they caught that big fish. I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for approximately seven years. Over the years, I have experimented with different elements of map art in order to provide the best and most unique map on the market. Folks will be drawn to the map like a crackling fire on a cold winter night.  I try very hard to make my maps special by adding interest to the maps. LeoLakes.com

Also, each framed map or map over 16x32, comes with a certificate of authenticity, lake poem, and interesting facts abut the map. 

I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalized vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com. 

My Happy Place, this beach.....

This is my happy place......This is a photo of beautiful Lemon Bay, which is located between Sarasota and Ft Myers, Florida, about 30 miles south of Sarasota Fl.   I always plan an annual trip to Manasota Key/Lemon Bay. On top of my "to do list" is a little fishing and some other exciting activities. That's my father-in-law on the dock fishing. There's nothing better than walking on Manasota Key beach enjoying the waves and searching for sharks teeth that have washed up.

Speaking of Shark!!! SHARK, in lemon Bay?...............Nope, it's a bottlenose dolphin. Dolphin have been known to swim under a fisherman's boat and grabbed his catch of the day. 

I enjoy this area so much, I did a decor map of the area. Take a look below. Oh yeah, I hide things in the lake waters, such as a tiny mermaid/fish. Folks love to search for them.

Paddle over to website to see my Lake, River, and Bay Maps. I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes vintage style lake maps, too. Bay maps will add beauty to your Beach House Decor. Makes a great gift! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com. 

Click here: LeoLakes.com

Hilton Head Beach Walk

Last weekend, I was in Hilton Head S.C. for a few days. The weather was absolutely perfect for October. This is what I've learned while walking on the beach....

I can wrestled an alligator and not get hurt. Here's how I did it! 
I wrestled an alligator at Hilton Head, sort of....Well, my shadow did.....Boy was I brave!

You find amazing things on the beach. One interesting thing that I was not expecting while at Hilton Head, was discovering a 13,000 lbs. buoy in the middle of Coligny Beach.  I did a little research and found it was the after affects of Hurricane Irma. The buoy, No 8 was washed from the mouth of Port Royal Sound about eight miles away. The Coast Guard is planning on removing the buoy at some point in the future by ship or helicopter, yes a heavy lifting helicopter.

Incredible pictures can be found at the beach, old buoy no. 8 makes a great back drop for a beach picture. Yep, that's me....

Humans and dogs love the waves! I met these "Beach Dogs" while strolling down the beach. There's no doubt that these dogs like the beach as much as I do! 

I've learned .....  "When Oysters Riot, you don't see it on CNN."

I've learned that the plume coming from a shrimp boat is often flying seagulls....

Here's the most important thing that I have learned while walking on the beach, "Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream."

Checkout, my Hilton Head Treasured map:

Paddle over to my website, LEOLAKES.com. I paint beautiful lake, river and bay decor maps. Folks are discovering that these decor maps are wonderfully unique gifts that become family heirlooms. Oh yeah, I hide things in the lake waters, such as a tiny mermaid/fish. Folks love to search for them. I call my maps, treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. My treasured maps make a gift for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. 

As you can see, my maps make a great gift.  Orders pick-up during the holiday's, so order soon. Click here www.LeoLakes.com fo