Running On Clearwater Beach And Indian Rocks Beach

Running and cycling are the best ways to explore a new area or to see your old area in a different way. That's my opinion anyway.

So...

The past couple of months I've been running and exploring my new city. Yesterday I ran in Clearwater Beach, Florida. If you are following me on Instagram you have seen some of the photos I take of the scenery on my runs. I can't imagine a more perfect place to run than here!

Clearwater Beach, Florida

Clearwater Beach, Florida

You can't see from these photos, but the public beach area was getting a little crowded as I was leaving because Clearwater Beach has the Sunset at Pier 60 Festival every day from 4 to 8pm. The beach area near the pier and on the pier was full of street performers, kids, pirates, vendors, entertainment, etc.

Clearwater Beach

A quieter, less touristy beach that I love running on is Indian Rocks Beach. Not many high rise condos here, just a few and lots of old houses and quaint shops and restaurants.

 I love running here too! I usually run along to sidewalk, but occasionally on the actual beach.

My pink Mizunos

Indian Rocks Beach

Indian Rocks Beach

Indian Rocks Beach, Florida

I love those pink polka dot towels. Just bring a good book and relax! After a long run, of course!

Clearwater Jazz Festival

Back home after attending the Clearwater Jazz Festival in beautiful Clearwater, Florida.  The Murph and I had a great time, but the seven hour drive was a little longer than we thought it would be.  The Tampa/St. Pete area is at the top of our list of possible places to relocate.  If we do decide to move there then we probably will sell not only the Alabama houses, but also the condo we are living in now in the Florida Panhandle.  It is just a little too far to drive for a long weekend and we will be near beaches down there so it just makes sense.

We had alot of fun at the jazz festival at Coachman Park in Clearwater, FL.  One of the acts we saw was Christian McBride and his band, Inside Straight.  They were very good and it was a perfect afternoon in the park listening to some jazz.  I love the instrument McBride played (the upright bass). It would be fun to learn to play one or the cello.  My favorite instrument of all time.  The Boy learned to play the violin when he was in third grade and the kids in his class were learning to play everything from the viola and the violin to the cello and the bass and they were all miniature size to fit the kids.  Very cute!

Christian McBride & Inside Straight

The sunsets were gorgeous down there especially the night we went to the park.  I could definitely live there!  We liked the south Tampa area as well as the many areas we looked at in the Clearwater area.  Atlanta is another option, but after living at the coast these past months I think the Murph and I are both leaning toward somewhere on the coast now.

Back Again In Clearwater Beach After 'Only' 42 Years

I haven't posted in a few days because the Murph and I are in Clearwater Beach for the Jazz Festival.  We got here Thursday night and have been super busy.  Friday we met with a realtor who took us around the area to look at houses and neighborhoods we might be interested in moving too.  We also are considering areas in Tampa, FL.

Friday night we drove an hour and 1/2 to Sarasota, FL to see the Murph's friend who lives there.  Sarasota is very nice and another place we are considering moving too.

We got back to Clearwater Beach yesterday and went out last night.  We went to a restaurant/beach bar across the street from the hotel where we are staying and met the owner, who is probably 70 or 80 years old, and her granddaughter.   Clearwater Beach was the first beach I visited with my grandparents in 1969 when I was about 4.  Apparently, the owner of the restaurant was here back then in the same place.  I don't know exactly where I stayed then, but after talking to the owner I probably stayed at the exact same place then as I am now.  They tore the hotel down and built this one, but it was probably the same location.  I think that is pretty cool.

I'm not feeding sea gulls this time though.

Bridge driving though St. Pete, FL

Clearwater Beach

Clearwater Beach from the Hilton balcony