Siesta Key & Winter Rehab

Ah!!! Sunshine, warm breezes, palm trees, beach sand, ocean front, the sounds of the waves. This snowbird has landed! The migration phase of Operation Snowbird is over and now we’re parked and plugged into our home for the next 7 days. We’re at Turtle Beach Campground on the lower end of Siesta Key outside of Sarasota. We are so fortunate to be able to make this journey.

Campsite at Turtle Beach Campground

Turtle Beach Campground (beach at end of road)

This is a small 40 space campground that is run by the by Sarasota County. The campground is set in a residential area. It’s not fancy but it is right on the beach. The campground has full hook-ups. The bath house has showers and a laundry. There’s no pavement or concrete pads in the park. The sites are packed gravel. They’re also small and close together. Big class A rigs and 5th wheels would have a problem getting into a site, but our class B fits perfect.

J. Dawg undergoing rehab

It feels so good to be wearing a tee shirt, light pants, and a broad rimmed hat enjoying the warm 80 degree sunshine. Its all part of the next phase of Operation Snowbird – the rehab process for detoxing from snow, ice, and frigid temps (i.e., winter).

The rehab process calls for summer clothing – no more overcoats, sweaters or long underwear. I also have an activity list to follow in order to successfully complete my rehab. It calls for walks on the beach, sitting on the beach staring out at the ocean, studying sunsets, eating outside whenever possible, and riding my bike. It also calls for taking in lots of sunshine, applying sunscreen, and working on my tan. Its a lot to do, but I’m committed to getting the winter monkey off my back.

Ladies at Sunset (participating in the sunset study activity)

The rehab phase will take about a week. By then, my blood will start to warm up, my joints will stop aching, and my pale dry skin will start to show some color. I should even start to sweat again. At the end, I’ll have winter totally out of my system. My risk of relapse is low. I’ve just got to stay near a beach and warm weather and I should be fine.