Fort Myers Area

We are heading toward Sunshine Key Monday and have a couple of days to get there.   Plans are to spend those days exploring the Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve.

 Sunshine Key is about 25 miles from Key West.

Our shady/small site in Pioneer Village in North Fort Myers.

Sanibel Island lighthouse.

Waiting in line for a $2.00 per hour parking place--about a 25 minute wait.

Great Blue Heron hanging out near our spot.

On the beach, looking for the perfect shell.

Found a brittle sea star instead.

Heading off island on the causeway, just before the toll bridge.

Made it to Fort Myers Beach in time for the sunset.

Downtown Fort Myers at the location of the fort.  This building is an art center.

Eat your heart out, Tom.  The boys of summer that we talked to promised to stay healthy throughout the season, but made no World Series predictions.

Me and Thomas Edison, beneath a great Banyon tree. 

On Edison's and Henry Ford's grounds.

Back at the beach, this time near Bonita Springs, south of Fort Myers.

Water temperature is warming.   At this shallow area, the air and water temps are

about the same--78 degrees.

A blue crab that has just shed.

At this point they make GREAT soft shell crab sandwiches.

More shell hunting.

Another sea star, but not brittle.

Venice, FL area

One more happy hour before parting.   Friends, Gundi and Gary.

Wildlife in the Orlando Thousand Trails Park.

Wildlife in the Venice area.

It's Feburary.  What a beautiful tree!

Its still Feburary, 80 degrees and what a beautiful . . . . .

Another day in paradise.

I worked a long time on these flip flops--just my size.

Judy was more creative.

                                     My turn at creativity.

Just resting after all of that work.

Hunting sharks teeth on the beach.  We visited several beaches and found teeth on each.

Here's a few.  They are easy to find, but because of the wave action, they are polished smooth.  The fossils found here are not as good as the specimens we find in the Peace River at our Thousand Trails Park.

Not working on the tan!

One of the beautiful sunsets on the western coast of Florida.

Preparing for the next day's adventure!  Chocolate, wine, and the internet to finish the day.

We are heading to North Ft. Myers in the morning (21st).



Peace River and Orlando Thousand Trails

You have to look closely, but I did add Peace River to the map to indicate our whereabouts.

Jan and Rick Gabhart arrive for an afternoon visit.

At the river, preparing to do some fossil hunting.

Only Rick and I braved the cold water and gators.

Keeping an eye out for the fossils.

Found one.

Here are a few of the shark teeth, tapir teeth, and various bone fragments.

Jan relaxing after the river adventure.  We needed a small fire to thaw our feet.

While relaxing, we were watched by a pair of hawks.

There was lots of pickleball and a large tournament.

We did not enter.

There were three groups:  men's, women's, and mixed doubles.

We traveled into the countryside looking for U-pick strawberries and were not disappointed.  We also came home with mustard greens and fresh gulf shrimp.   YUMMY!

A hydroponic stacked strawberry field--unusual.

A side trip to Tampa Bay and the Gasparilla Festival, where the pirates come in and capture the city.

ARRRR, Mattie!

The ship and some of the escorts.

The first beads thrown to the crowds.  The parade was to begin at 2 pm.  We left at 4:30 after the first float passed us.  So much for seeing the parade!  We had arrived at 11 am--we were tired!

Revelers.

The first float and the extensive crowd.   The temps were in the low 70's--just great.

Meanwhile, back at the homestead, it's laundry day!

Or, lazy day!

The TT Peace River pool.

More pickleball.

The RV sites.

Peace River with fishermen.

A nice evening send-off before heading to TT Orlando.

Thousand Trails Orlando.  It must be Feburary.

Shopping for supplies for solar shades for the motorhome.

Friends, Gundi and Gary Bechthold from CA.  This citrus tree and its grove were abandoned.  Unfortunately for us, the fruit was too old to harvest.

A trip to Parksdale Groves and farmers market in Plant City.  We drove for an hour to enjoy their world famous strawberry shortcake.  Gundi and Gary joined us.

The shop.

Enjoying the giant shortcake.

We were lucky that Paulette and Douglas Dohoney joined us from Ocala. 

Doug is Judy's brother.