An afternoon in Palma Sola

Mike Lake, from Ill., and Danny Rankin, from Mich., faced a new obstacle as they put their kayaks in at the sandy "put in" on the east side of the Manatee Avenue bridge.

There's now a 25- by 20-yard fence that closes off the area in which water-goers can usually drag their kayaks into Anna Maria Sound. This area apparently is a parking lot for the upcoming Anna Maria Bridge project.

"I thought it was parking so cars wouldn't be vandalized," Lake said, "but I guess not."

They still managed to drag their kayak down a small-but-steep hill on the west side of the lot, and with D.O.A. shrimp, landed two flounder and some trout.

In heavy winds, they managed to avoid a decent chance of rain - depending on the television station.

"I watched three TV stations and you had you're pick - 30, 50 or 60 percent," Rankin said.

Just down the road, Eba Taylor sat on an Indian blanket on the Palma Sola Causeway beach, facing the steady, powerful wind. As she soaked up the sun and breeze, she read "No Second Chance" by Harlan Coben.

This is a common thing for Taylor, who brings her husband from Englewood to work everyday.
"It's beautiful, serene," she said. "That's about it."

Then a plane flew by.

"I listen listen to the waves, the wind," she said, "and watch the plane I wish I was on."