Beach and Pool Day.

 

Yesterday, we dove over to Fort Myers Beach and spent time browsing in some shops and visiting geocaches. Traffic is quite congested this time of the year, but it was even worse today as they are in the process of adding a third travel lane to the main road. We probably will not go back there this season and especially not in February which is the most crowded time.

 

 

 

Parking can be a challenge if one does not arrive before 10:00 a.m.

 

 

 

Crossing signs for various animals are common in southwest Florida.

 

 

 

Thunder advisory signs are often seen, too.

 

 

I saw a pretty flower made from seashells along a roadside memorial.

 

 

We visited two beaches.

 

 

 

 

 

When we stopped at Little Hickory Beach, I learned two new words.

(1)     Wrack – composed of algae and seagrasses, it is carried onshore by currents and wind where it provides growth for fungi and other organisms. In this way, it fosters productive dunes.

 (2)     Beach-Hoppers – amphipods also known as sand hoppers, sand fleas, lawn shrimp and land hoppers. They live near or above the high water mark and usually shelter in burrows in the sand or under seaweed during the day, but hop around at night in search of detritus.

 

After we returned from the beaches, we spent a while at the swimming pool again.

Taking it easy.

 

It’s been a calm and lazy day for us.

 

Cordell spent some quality time reviewing lists of geocaches that he wants to visit. I think he looks too busy for a retired man.

 

 

We did go to a nearby bike trail and found 3 geocaches. We didn’t bring our bicycles this year because my lingering health issues have not allowed me to pedal one.

 

 

We were able to park and take a nice walk along part of the bike trail.

 

 

 

 

 

One geocache had what we call “a guardian” nearby. It was a fake bird and the cache was hanging down from it.

 

 

 

We saw some ibises walking around in the parking lot and they looked like they were waiting to use the drive through bank lane.

 

 

We made another quick stop in the grocery store. Seems like we always need to pick up something at the store every time we go out. But, it gives us something else to do.

 

We ate homemade vegetable beef soup and sandwiches on the lanai for lunch.

 

 

After lunch, we made our first trip to the community swimming pool. But, first I had to paint my toenails because all, and I mean all, the ladies at the pool have pedicures. They also have manicures and neat hair dos.

 

 

 

 

 

And again, another pretty sunset to end this day.

 

 

 

 

 

It’s All About Geocaching

We spent most of this beautiful day doing what we enjoy so much—geocaching.

 

 

Over the past year, we have been working on solving geocaching puzzles which is not our strong point. However, there are plenty of them here in Southwest Florida and we completed 40 of them.

 

 

This morning, we drove about one hour from our condo to the Port Charlotte area. There were no historical sites at any of the caches nor did any of them teach us anything at the final placement. The most difficult part was solving the puzzles and we did glean information while doing that.

 

We spent time in some areas that were prepared for development in the past with paved streets, fire hydrants and underground utilities. However, few homes have been constructed. As a result, we drove down deserted roads and wandered around in what looked like jungles.

 

 

 

There was a time today when 5 different fowl were visiting the lake beside our condo. We saw a Wood Stork, a Great Egret, an Anhinga, a Great Blue Heron and a Common Moorhen at the same time.

 

 

 

Each evening, just before sunset a few fowl make a stop at our lake for a period of time before they fly off to where they roost.

 

 

 

 

 

And then, we are treated to another pretty sunset.

 

 

 

One Week Down

Well, last Sunday, we checked into the condo and the past 8 days have been quite enjoyable. Though the weather was unseasonably cold and it was raining on our first day, the temps warmed up and actually reached unusual highs. Folks at home have been on a roller coaster too with their weather. But for us, the weather here has been much more tolerable.

 

Today, we met up again with our good friends, Jim and Ardith and took them to Hope Lutheran Church with us.

 

 

After church, we went to the Olive Garden and enjoyed lunch together. There are a couple of new items on the menu that Jim and I chose to order. This is one of my favorite restaurants and I have never had a meal at any of their restaurants that wasn’t outstanding.

 

 

Then we said goodbye to Jim and Ardith. They will be busy for the next two days before returning to Maryland on Wednesday.

 

Cordell and I made a couple of stops on our way back to the condo. We wanted to have plenty of snacks to eat while watching the football games.

 

While waiting for the games to start, Cordell spent some time working on some of our bills. He enjoyed setting up on the lanai much more than working from inside.

 

 

 

 

Warm, warm and warmer!!

Wednesday was a very quiet and restful day for me as I recuperated from the effects of intestinal issues which kept me awake most of the previous night.

 

We did see our local alligator for the first time this season.

 

 

As always, we enjoy viewing the beautiful sunsets from our lanai.

 

 

After a good night’s sleep, I felt much better on Thursday. So we went geocaching just because we could.

 

 

At one cache, Cordell disturbed a tiny creature while probing a traffic sign. It was apropos that the actual container looked very similar.

 

 

Frequently, I get stuck while searching in the brush. I usually wear wrist bands for protection, but forgot to put them on today.

 

By midafternoon the temperature had reached 85° --our warmest day here so far.

 

 

It is so nice to see flowers blooming during this time of the year.

 

 

 

I saw some interesting seed pods that I thought were pretty.

 

 

 

We visited the site of an eagle's nest that many people have been watching by web cam. Two eggs were laid on November 22 and 25 by Harriet. She and her partner have been patiently awaiting their hatchlings, sharing the task of incubating their eggs while remaining watchful to protect and defend their territory, ever since. One eaglet hatched, but the remaining egg so far shows no sign of hatching.

 

 

There were four other cars parked at the site while we were there and a couple of folks had some serious telephoto lenses on their cameras.

 

 

We stopped by Five Guys for lunch and there certainly were more than just 5 guys and gals working there at that time.

 

 

 

 

Here it is, almost the middle of January, and we were eating lunch outside--just imagine!

 

 

 

On Friday, we met up with our good friends from church, Jim and Ardith Harle. They are spending a week in nearby Bonita Springs. We took them to Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve which is one of our favorite places in Fort Myers.

 

 

This 3,500 acre area was once under threat from logging and the channeling away of its water. In 1976, a group of Lee County students launched a campaign to save it for future generations. Voters responded overwhelmingly by increasing their own taxes to purchase and convert the slough into a preserve.

 

 

It was perfect weather for a leisurely 1.2 mile walk on the boardwalk. 

 

 

 

 

 We enjoyed viewing various birds and ducks, alligators and other creatures that live in this wetland preserve.

 

 

A volunteer, who was leading a guided tour, informed us that the alligator, Big Al, is 32 years old and weighs more than 800 pounds. She also said that gators eat about once a week. It appeared to me that Al must be eating every day!

 

Late afternoon, we returned to our condo and spent some time relaxing on our lanai. However, as he often does, Cordell enlisted Jim’s help in solving a geocache puzzle.