February 1 - 7, 2017:
I lucked out with a nice clear travel day and a smooth flight to Ft. Myers, actually arriving a half hour ahead of schedule. My last trip here had me arriving late at night, near mid-night, and I had a tough time finding my way to my daughter’s house in Estero.
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| I could just hang out here comfortably for the duration |
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And play with the the perfect pet, a Rabbit
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After everyone is home, we head to Outback Steak House for dinner. I’m thinking that I have been eating out a lot, feeling kind of bloated, but this sort of a vacation time and the gorging will therefore continue. I was actually thinking of getting a salad, but how can you say “No” to that wonderful “Alice Springs Chicken” entree on the menu.
The issue of dieting is further reinforced the following day when shopping at Bass Outfitters and those shorts that should be fitting me are too tight. I also have to spring for new “fit-over” sunglasses since I seem to have lost my prescription ones. Great, now I feel fat and look like a geezer too !
My granddaughters, Mallory and Morgan are big into Soccer, there is a game or practice about every other day. We go to watch a National Soccer team practice at the Florida Golf Coast University field with Morgan and Mallory’s team, I being sort of over whelmed by the sports fever here. Morgan has two games on Saturday in the Miami area, an hour away and a game on Sunday morning. The girls on the team all seem to be best friends, they go to school together, the parents hang out together, it’s a whole lifestyle thing.
I visit Korsham State Park for a short hike on a trail along the Estero River. It's a beautiful short trail through jungle like trees, plants and bamboo, but wonder why people have to carve dumb stuff into the Bamboo along the trail ? This is a canoe or kayak river that leads out into the gulf, something I may do some day. I have been at this historical utopian village several times and it is a fascinating place. There is also a nice campground here which is something to consider when in this area.
https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Koreshan
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| Beautiful place to kayak, but watch out for the alligators |
Another of my favorite places is Lovers Key State Park where I take a walk along the fishing beach area on
the Gulf of Mexico. There are some huge Osprey nest sites along the shoreline and several old dead trees on the beach. Obviously this shore line takes a pounding during storms.
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| Nice Gulf view with Ft Myers beach is the distance |
On Saturday while my son-in law Jerome takes Morgan to the soccer games in Miami, Daughter Jessica and grand daughter Mallory go to downtown Ft Myers for the Art Fest. It’s a beautiful day, the event is great and a big crowd in on hand. It’s a predominately senior crowd, this area is full of seniors during the winter, with plenty of money to spend. We also go into the old post office, now the Sidney & Bernie Davis Art Center with an exhibit on art done by local seniors. Ft Myers downtown has been revitalized and is now a destination again, nice to see.
The Sunday soccer game has Morgan’s team winning and afterwards we go to the “Barefoot Beach” in north Naples. It seem my kids don’t get to the beach much these days as they are are pale as me. Big fun is had holding up food for the sea gulls to dive in and take out of the hands.
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| Morgan on the beach |
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| The view on Barefoot Beach is pretty nice |
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| Jerome taking a nap |
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| While I'm wide awake |
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| Morgan feeding the gulls |
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| Time for a walk on the beach |
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Jerome explaining how he used to vault over people
on the beach in his youth
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| Mallory tries |
It’s Super Bowl Sunday with the soccer team crowd and other friends congregating at a nearby house for a Super Bowl Party. There was only about one person in the group routing for the Patriots, but I am with a bunch of southerners. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is easy to hate, he’s way too perfect and successful. The first half was a rout in favor of Atlanta with everyone gloating, don’t know what transpired during halftime, but the Patriots took charge in the second half, tied the game and won in overtime. It was definitely one of the most amazing comebacks in Super Bowl history. The really good news was that my son-in-law Jerome won some money.
I ride out to Sanibel Island with all the other tourists in stop and go traffic. I drive to Captiva hoping to find a parking space there with no luck, but it's a beautiful ride. As an alternate, I stop at “Bowman’s Beach” on Sanibel where there is a large lot and spend a couple of hours walking the beach, scooping up shells and taking photos.
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Taking the six dollar toll bridge to Sanibel Island
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| But, the view from the bridge mid point might be worth it |
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The view on Bowman's Beach is always great
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| As are the gulls |
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| And the amazing Pelicans |
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| Pelican cruising overhead |
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When spotting a fish below, they collapse and dive
straight down into the water for the fish
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I’m now at the airport at Ft Myers where I breeze through check-in and security. It seems at my age or for whatever reason, I’m not considered dangerous any longer and and get an expedited quickie security check, no line, no shoes to remove, laptop can stay in the bag. This doesn’t make any sense to me, but I’m not going to argue.
I have aisle seats on both flights to Tucson with a stop in Dalles-Ft. Worth and arrive a half hour early. It feels good to be back !
Slick
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