Bill and Cathy McArthur on the Road 2011: 4

  Monday, January 24, was a breezy, mostly overcast day. Cathy had a pain in her neck (not Bill, the usual one) which kept her inactive. Bill went out at 8:00 AM for a 5+ hour, 20 mile kayak paddle down Naples Bay, out Gordon Pass, and north a couple of miles past the fishing pier. Bill wore his wet suit and was comfortable for the trip. He saw eagles and dolphins along the way. After lunch, Bill went to Starbucks/Publix for some shopping. He stopped for gas on the way back home. Bill walked over to the mail room and ended up doing some computer instruction at the home of Maureen Murphy. Bill had pasta for dinner, while Cathy had a frozen meal. We viewed "Babel" - a cliche-ridden film that dragged on and on. Cathy slept in the living room because of her neck pain.

  Tuesday was a very warm and humid day. Cathy was still suffering from neck pain. Bill did a duathlon training workout: 1 mile walk, 1 mile speed walk, 5K run, 20 miles bike, 5 mile run. He took it easy and enjoyed the work. He ran for a half mile with Bob, a runner from Rock Creek, during the 5 mile run leg. Bill took a shower in our freshly caulked stall in the utility room. No leaks for a change. After lunch, we went to Office Max for some printing and Starbucks/Publix for some shopping. Later, Bill walked to LVCC for his meeting with Primo. They enjoyed lively conversation. Bill felt a couple of drops of rain as he walked back to Rock Creek. He stopped by the bridge for Happy Hour before heading home. We went to dinner at Bonefish Grill and sat at a high table. As soon as we returned home, the heavy rain began and continued throughout much of the night.

  Wednesday was a mostly dreary and windy day. Bill thought about kayaking, but decided not to. We went for a 3.5 mile walk along the airport path during late morning. After lunch, Bill went to Starbucks for a cappuccino. We went to the bridge at around 5:00 PM and then to the clubhouse for the computing workshop using the Workshop 3 handout. Afterward, we had a quinoa/frozen meal dinner. We viewed "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" - pretty good, but not as riveting as the original.

  Thursday was sunny, chilly, and windy. Bill tried twice to get out on his bike, only to be forced back in by the cold north wind. Cathy met with her tutoring student, Elda, for the first time in quite a while. Elda was involved in a bad car accident on I75 and still hasn't returned to driving. After lunch, Bill went over to Ron Hurst's condo in Waterfront, down North Road from Rock Creek, for a posing session for a 30 minute portrait. After he returned home, he walked to LVCC to meet with Primo. Bill and Primo worked on simple questions and answers to emphasize the use of the simple past in conversation. Bill stopped at the Bridge for a few minutes on the way home. We had a pasta dinner and viewed the first part of the chick flick, "Post Grad", before Cathy had to go to play bridge. Bill watched a few episodes of "24" while Cathy was gone.

  Friday appeared to be sunny and warm, but a chilly breeze belied the looks of the day. Bill rode 40 miles before lunch and 20 miles after lunch. Cathy took a walk. After lunch, Cathy went to Ron Hurst's studio for her portrait. Bill spent a while cleaning the Comet before putting the bike away. We had quiche for dinner and viewed the first episode of "Pillars of the Earth."

  Saturday was a nicer day, but still a bit cool in the breeze. Bill ran for 10 miles in two segments and felt good. After lunch, we went to an Art show in Fleishman Park. It was a very pleasant afternoon and the art was varied and interesting. We bought a metal sun sculpture for the Florida Room. Later, we went to Starbucks and Publix. We bought a LED light for behind our new objet d'art. When we returned home, Bill hung the sculpture and mounted the light with Cathy's help. We enjoyed a great meal at Rosa Pomodora on 5th Avenue.

  Sunday was another nice day. Bill went out at 7:45 AM for a four hour paddle out of Gordon Pass and through part of Port Royal. He was hoping to see how the rich people were doing, but didn't see anyone in Port Royal. When he returned home and showered, we ate lunch. Then, we drove to the Botanical Garden with our Sherpa Chairs and watched a delightful hour's abridgement of Macbeth. We had an early dinner of quinoa and a frozen meal and then attended Tom and Jean's couples dancing session in the clubhouse.

  Monday, January 31, through Sunday, February 6 was a busy week of mostly warm, humid weather. Cathy started back to her physical activities after getting her stiches out from dermatology procedures. Bill kayaked, ran, and cycled and thoroughly enjoyed the warmer weather and the opportunity to do some heavy sweating. Our friends, Jack and Sue Beatty, from Boston, arrived in Naples toward the end of the week. We had them over for dinner on Friday night. Saturday morning, Bill got out early for a 10 mile run. Then we went with Tom and Jean Reilly to the Everglades Seafood Festival. We also went to Smallwood's Store, Turner River Road, and the Big Cypress Visitor Center. We saw lots of gators and four manatees. We finished the day with dinner outside at Aldo's in the Publix shopping center. On Sunday morning, Bill did the LA Times puzzle in the paper. We went with Sue and Jack to a great Super Bowl dinner at the Reilly's.

        Bill and Cathy