We had a couple of days to explore Fort Myers before loading up the RV. First thing we did was to drive to Sanibel and Captiva Islands and explore Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge. It is an undeveloped mangrove forest that we were able to drive through and look at all the wildlife on Sanibel. In order to block development, Ding urged President Truman to sign an executive order creating the Sanibel National Wildlife Refuge in 1945. Although there are over 200 different species of birds in the refuge, they have their own version of the “Big 5” list: American White Pelican, Mangrove Cuckoo, Reddish Egret, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, and the Roseate Spoonbill. Ate lunch at RC Otters restaurant on Captiva Island and Sandy had Stone Crab for the first time. Very good.
My sister and her husband built a home on Sanibel about 30 years ago. It was an amazing house. I visited them in the 80’s for a Christmas holiday. I took a photo of her looking for shells on the beach, entered it into a contest, first place, where it was enlarged and hung at Rose Medical Center in Denver, Colorado. It was fun to be on rounds and see it each day.
Enjoying lunch at a dog friendly restaurant on Fort Myers Beach.
So excited to finally see the RV we purchased. Loved the finishes we chose. Jake went right in to check it out and found all the noises very interesting (generator starting, Airhorn). Tilted his head from side to side trying to understand what was happening. We finally took the RV to a transit station where our household belongs were shipped and loaded them into the motorhome. It took us 4 hours and that does not mean it is organized.
Afterwards we checked into Cypress Woods RV Resort in Fort Myers for a week to repack the RV and get to know it better. This is a very nice property primarily with full time residents who were very friendly towards us. There is a large lake and clubhouse with a huge pool and hot tub that we used every night. The resort had poor wifi, but at the clubhouse it was good. The clubhouse is nicely done, large ballroom/dining room for special events.
Not sure how we would have survived without Rhonda’s which was very close by for breakfast and lunch until we unpacked and made a Costco trip. Jake loves to sit and look out the front window watching dogs and people go by. His favorite thing to do is chase the squirrels up the oak trees.
We had a very memorable Christmas at Cypress Woods in Fort Myers…but off to see brother Jeff in West Palm Beach! On the way we stayed at South Bay Campground. We arrived at dusk when all the mosquitos were out. Thank you executioner electronic mosquito swatter for helping to remove all the mosquitos from inside the coach! Next, West Palm Beach Lion Country Safari KOA to listen to the lions roar throughout the day. Non-Cable ie. antenna Television in Florida is geared towards seniors….those of us born during the black and white television era! We are enjoying watching Mash, Andy Griffith, I Love Lucy and Mary Tyler Moore. It’s great to watch shows as an adult that we watched as kids.
Jeff took us on a tour of Hippocrates Health Institute where he works. What an amazing place. The property is huge. He treated us to a wheat grass shot then a cucumber/celery/not sure beverage….very good!
We stayed at Larry and Penny Thompson Park for a couple of days. There were Florida gray squirrels everywhere. Once again, Jake was trying to climb trees. Although it was a very nice campground (pool, laundry, clean showers, lots of trees), there were low hanging branches that should have pruned.
On to the Florida Keys for a couple of weeks and the New Year. Our first diesel fill up at a truck stop….wear gloves!
