A day on the road

On Sunday at 6:30 a.m. we dropped Anne at the Fort Myers Airport for her return trip to New York before heading to Orlando with John. We enjoyed getting to know her and hope she will come to visit again soon.

The sun rise was one of the most beautiful I have seen here in Florida - but there was not a good place to pull off; there were too many signs of civilization (telephone poles, wires, etc.) to get a good picture.

Further down Route 17, I spotted this pond literally covered with Snowy Egrets. How I wished we had been there just a few minutes earlier!

The bright early sun was just to my right and it was difficult to get a good picture.

The pond was surrounded with a high fence and barbed wire and was posted with this sign. I had no intensions of climbing the fence or feeding the alligators!

The rest of the way on Route 17 was very interesting. We went through towns that made us think we had stepped back a century in time; old Florida - with the exception of all the RV Parks and the numerous golf courses.

The area was once inhabited by the Calusa Indians (Shell People) until Europeans arrived with diseases like smallpox, and the Calusa Indian population was reduced from over 20,000 to a few hundred who fled to Cuba.

The Caloosahatchee River ("River of the Calusa") served as the main highway inland to the Calusa Indians. It's now a marine playground with every size and shape of boat imaginable. We cross the Caloosahatchee River every time we go to Cape Coral. The city of Fort Myers sits on its eastern bank.

After dropping John off at his hotel, we headed over to Walt Disney World to check out where we will take grandson Zachary when he arrives in February. Bill found a military resort right on the Disney property - Shades of Green. It was beautiful! We made reservations for two nights so we can have a full day at the Magic Kingdom and really show Zachary and his mother a good time. This is a trip I promised Zachary several years ago and I want to make sure he has a great time.

On the way home we detoured to Punta Gorda and Fisherman's Village - a happening marina with entertain-ment, specialty shops and beautiful views. We stopped and had a light seafood dinner and a couple of delicious margaritas while watching the boats on Charlotte Harbor.

Warren, please note the two kayaks. Bill took a close-up picture of the two bikini-clad occupants rowing towards us.

I hope no one tells this gull what the sign says. He waited patiently for a handout the entire time we were there.

The house is quiet without the "kids" but not for long! Daughter Pamela, husband Orlando and their two young sons, Gabriel and Sebastian arrive next week.