We managed to escape the first real winter storm that we have had in Canandaigua, NY this winter. Our winter vacation plans really started last winter when we once again booked a couple of weeks at the Tropical Paradise B & B in Port Charlotte, Florida. Our hosts Clift and Joanne McMahon really make you feel special and we couldn’t wait for another visit in 2016.
Tropical Paradise is much more than B &B. It’s the home of Clift and Joanne. During the winter months, they open their home to anyone who needs a change of scenery. After breakfast, Clift spends most of his day working on his 65 foot trawler, the Elizabeth Fisher, cleaning, painting, and dreaming of when he and Joanne will take their next trip to the Caribbean.
The McMahon’s are not land-locked! The dredged out channel behind their home leads to the Peace River which in turn flows out into the Gulf of Mexico. So when the traffic to their bed and breakfast slows down in the summer months, it’s an ideal time for them to take a couple of weeks break and head to Key West or wherever their heart fancies. It’s hard for me to imagine why anyone would want to escape this tropical paradise, but I guess we all need a break from our daily routine.
Sun set here in Port Charlotte is at 6:30 pm, about an hour later than in the Finger Lakes. The birds start looking for their dinner and then settle into their favorite spot to spend the night. Just before the sun dips below the horizon, everything becomes still and quiet. “What are you going to do tomorrow?” asks one of the guests. “Nothing,” I replied, “but you have my word that I am going to work very hard to achieve my objective!”