Ft. Myers, FL and surrounding areas

Highlights of our 2nd week of our 2nd annual GREAT WINTER ESCAPE include:

1. We moved from Destin to Ft. Myers by way of Wildwood on I-10 going east and I-75 going south.  Why is the Florida panhandle so long?  Where did all of these semi-trucks come from?

a. In Wildwood we ate dinner at a great little BBQ place (Oakwood Express Smokehouse & Grill) that was packed from the time we got there and still had people waiting when we left.  Of course there were no more than a couple of dozen tables in the restaurant that was hardly bigger than a great room in many of our homes.

b. As I walked out the door, I saw the remnants of the Space X launch from Kennedy Space Center.  My 2nd in 67 years, the first being in the 60’s or 70’s.  Didn’t have my camera or phone for photos of this one.  Nancy missed it as she stopped by the Ladies Room on her way to the car.

2. Arrived at Blueway RV Resort in Ft. Myers.  This ended up being a relative quiet week at the RV park and, that is for me at this time, a good thing.

a. We spent some time at SWFL RV Sales & Rentals, where we bought this RV for some service work and questions about the unit.  Unfortunately, not all questions were answered – and I have a growing list for Olathe Ford RV in Gardner.  

b. The Shrimp Shack, located on Metro just north of 6-mile Cyprus, is a great basic seafood restaurant that had amazing food and catered to the snowbirds, as the place was always packed with an older crowd.

c. Stopped at Sun Citrus on the corner of 6 Mile Cyprus & Daniels.  We picked up four ¼ bushel bags of Florida Honey Bells and found out on a 2nd trip that these were the last they have for the season.  Additional Honey Bells will be shipped in from California.  We also picked up a ½ gallon of strawberry/orange juice and Nancy found some sugar-free orange marmalade.  

d. Visits to several antique malls & quilt shops in Ft. Myers filled some of the day.

e. We spent quality pool time at the RV park at various times over several days with abundant sunshine and temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s.  Spent time catching up on laundry.  I rode my bicycle for the first time since the August shoulder surgery.  And that was a good thing.

f. We made an attempt to see the beaches and shells of Sanibel Island, which did not go well – as the beach parking lots were full by 11:00 a.m.  Additionally  there were long lines of cars on the roads to the beaches.  So, we ate lunch and returned to the RV park for pool time.  (Side note on Blueway RV Resort – they cater to snowbirds and one afternoon the pool party was a western theme with DJ and prize drawings.  Another night – was termed Karaoke night and there was some memorable singing.)

g. On another daytrip we went to Plant City for oranges & strawberries.  We then went to Pinecraft (an Amish suburb of Sarasota) for lunch at Yoder’s Amish Restaurant – which has become a tradition when we are in the area.  Pinecraft is a winter sanctuary for a large number of Amish from northern states.

h. Sunday’s worship was at Estero United Methodist, a very non-traditional (non-traditional) service.  There was no congregational singing, several personal video testimonies on being and receiving blessings, a short sermon and Holy Communion.  In the midst of the sermon – there was a medical emergency of a congregant – which was handled discreetly by members & staff and the EMT’s.  It was another good Sunday morning.

3. On Monday we moved south for a night’s stay at Flamingo RV Park in the Everglades National Park.  The RV park is on the very southern tip of continental Florida where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Atlantic Ocean.  EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK DID NOT DISAPPOINT.  Awesome and amazing all wrapped up in one package is the only way to describe it, EXCEPT FOR THE MOSQUITOS.

a. On our way to Everglades National Park – we stopped at a farm stand called “Robert is Here”.  You must (STOP!) if you are anywhere in the area.  (Where did the name Robert Is Here come from? It's an amazing story about a little boy who opened a fruit stand in 1959 at age 6 to help his father sell produce from the family farm. ... That day, Robert sold out all his produce by noon – and a budding farmer and entrepreneur was born).  The variety and different kinds of fruits and vegetables that are here and only in this part of Florida was something I did not expect.  We picked up star fruit, BBQ sauce, Key Lime juice, Key Lime bath salts and a fruit that when ripe is supposed to taste like egg custard.  And it does with a bit of citrus taste.  There were other fruits that were supposed to taste like pumpkin pie and chocolate.  Didn’t try or buy them.  Thought about buying some fresh squeezed orange juice until I saw the price, $15.00 / ½ gallon.  Didn’t buy it.  There’s an orange shortage this year and prices reflect that.

b. As we entered Everglades National Park, we stopped at the Visitor’s Center to get our National Parks Passport stamped.  We have done this since the late 1980’s or early 90’s.  Because in our moves we misplaced our first book, we now carry two passport books with us.  (Side note - We are beneficiaries of the senior adult National Parks Lifetime Pass.  We purchased these years ago in Idaho Springs, CO for $15 each.  We both have one as you have to carry one in your name.  This pass lets each of us and all who are in our vehicle at the time, free entrance to the National Park.  And this Senior Adult Passport is a LIFETIME PASS!  If you are old enough and don’t have one, get one.  They are a bit more expensive now, but still well worth the dollars that you pay that will give lifetime access to the National Parks System.)  

From the Visitor’s Center, it was then 45 miles to reach our destination, the Flamingo RV Park.

c. We arrived in time to go to Flamingo Marina and add a late afternoon Florida Bay 2-hour boat tour for 4:00 p.m.  (Anyone else thinking about Gilligan’s Island and the Skipper’s 3-hour tour?)  While on the water we saw numerous and varied wildlife and heard the stories of the “keys” habitat – the good, the bad and the ugly including the early history and its struggles and painful growth.  There were also stories of the hurricanes and storms that have come through the Everglades.

i. On our way back to the dock, we saw dolphins.  The captain spent a good deal of time circling to give us several chances to see the unpredictable surfacing of the dolphins. 

ii. As we neared the end of the tour, we saw the sun set over Florida Bay looking into the Gulf of Mexico with the Atlantic Ocean behind us.

d. After dusk – (right as the sunset) mosquitos swarm.  Needless to say, once we got to our car and back to the RV – we spent the rest of the dark hours in the RV.  And they said – this is low season for mosquitos!  The Everglades have 2 seasons wet and dry.  Dry season is December through March and the weather has been amazing in the Everglades, except for the mosquitos.

e. While at Flamingo Park there was NO cell service.  Oh well, I wrote a blog update and downloaded and edited photos of the day.  

f. Tuesday morning brought us back to the water for a 1 ½ hour boat-tour of the back waters of the Everglades.  At Flamingo Marina we saw four manatees though they were a bit elusive. We then made our way up the Buttonwood Canal (manmade) to Coots Bay.  From there we went across the bay to Taripon Creek (natural) which took us to Whitewater Bay, the 2nd largest lake in Florida.  On this boat tour we saw various plants and animals, the best being the crocodiles and a single orchid plant up in a tree.  As to alligators and crocodiles existing together,  Everglades National Park is the only place you can find both animals in the same ecosystem.

4. We are now making our way to Orlando/Kissimmee KOA for the rest of our 3rd week.