March 29
Bob came early, before 7:30, so I quickly moved the slide-out back in, cleaned and stored the sewer hose, turned off the water and electric, put the levelers at the back into position, and helped Bob hook up. I thought he was joking when he said he had never moved one before, but he wasn’t! He bought his 5th wheel on the site where it is, so hasn’t used his 5th wheel hitch ever. He has seen it done many times, as have I, so everything went well. We left the park at about 8 a.m. and got to Tallahassee about 4 p.m. Looking forward to Panama City Beach tomorrow.
March 28
Same morning routine, lunch at Skip One for one last time. It’s only about a mile from us and has the best fresh sea food - I get grilled scallops and Linda gets fried oysters, and we share. We almost always get the same thing because we like it so much! Late afternoon, we went to the book store at Gulf Coast Mall for one last time for reading, coffee and treat. Stopped and talked to Bob, one of the workers at the RV Park that we have become friends with - he used to live in Kankakee area. He will take our 5th wheel and put it in storage in the morning at about 8 a.m. Linda began packing things in earnest. I took down the shade, took down the awning, did some other things outside.
March 27
After breakfast, I took a long bike ride, got the paper, came back, read, Linda did some more wash. After lunch here, we went to the library for the last time, then to Miromar Mall to Starbucks for coffee and a treat one last time. We enjoy doing this so much - it’s fun to sit and people-watch.
March 26
Same breakfast routine, but this morning we helped Diane load all their stuff in the van to take to the airport. We got there about 10:30, we parked, they checked in, and we said our goodbyes (some weepy) at the security check. We really enjoyed having them here. Back to the 5th wheel for lunch, relaxed, read, Linda did some wash. Late afternoon, we went to the book store at Gulf Coast Mall for reading, coffee, and treat.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
March 25
Same breakfast routine, then to Lakes Park again because the girls wanted to rent a ‘surrey’ type bike, where 6 can ride with four pedaling. I also have wanted to do that for years, and it was as much fun as it looks. We rode for an hour, then they played at the playgrounds again. While there, they spent quite a bit of time ’babysitting’ 15 month old twin girls whose mother was happy to have them help. She was very nice, talked a lot to me and Diane - her husband is back to school to finish requirements for becoming an anesthesiologist. Again, we came back here for lunch, the girls spent the afternoon in our pool while Diane sunbathed. Late afternoon, took them back to their motel to get ready to go to Gulf Coast Mall to eat at Firepit. The girls wanted to go into the book store for awhile, but they are pretty tired, so that was the extent of shopping. This was their last full day here, flying out at noon tomorrow.
March 24
We went to the motel to have breakfast with Diane and girls again. Then to Lakes Park, took long walk there, girls played on the playgrounds. We all rode the miniature train (I have been wanting to do that for years, so finally had some kids along to make it look good!) We came back here for lunch, the girls spent the afternoon in our pool while Diane sunbathed. Late afternoon, took them back to their motel to get ready to go to Coconut Point Mall to eat at Ted’s Montana Grill. After supper, they did a little more shopping. Paige slept here again.
Same breakfast routine, then to Lakes Park again because the girls wanted to rent a ‘surrey’ type bike, where 6 can ride with four pedaling. I also have wanted to do that for years, and it was as much fun as it looks. We rode for an hour, then they played at the playgrounds again. While there, they spent quite a bit of time ’babysitting’ 15 month old twin girls whose mother was happy to have them help. She was very nice, talked a lot to me and Diane - her husband is back to school to finish requirements for becoming an anesthesiologist. Again, we came back here for lunch, the girls spent the afternoon in our pool while Diane sunbathed. Late afternoon, took them back to their motel to get ready to go to Gulf Coast Mall to eat at Firepit. The girls wanted to go into the book store for awhile, but they are pretty tired, so that was the extent of shopping. This was their last full day here, flying out at noon tomorrow.
March 24
We went to the motel to have breakfast with Diane and girls again. Then to Lakes Park, took long walk there, girls played on the playgrounds. We all rode the miniature train (I have been wanting to do that for years, so finally had some kids along to make it look good!) We came back here for lunch, the girls spent the afternoon in our pool while Diane sunbathed. Late afternoon, took them back to their motel to get ready to go to Coconut Point Mall to eat at Ted’s Montana Grill. After supper, they did a little more shopping. Paige slept here again.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
March 23
We went to the motel to have breakfast with Diane and girls. Since we are not staying there, I asked if we could pay to eat with them. The manager said they had no way to do that, but that we could eat with them for free. Very nice! On the way to Barefoot Beach in Bonita Springs, we stopped at Coconut Point Mall. Diane and her girls found some stores they like and bought a few things. Had snack lunch at the beach, the girls collected shells, got wet in the Gulf, dug in the sand, and had fun. Diane sunbathed and walked the beach with Paige. Bob and Linda sat in the shade of the umbrella, watched the action, and read. Came back to our place late afternoon, but stopped for ice cream at Royal Scoop. The girls swam here until supper time, went back to motel to get showers and change, and then we had supper at The Sandy Parrot just a few blocks south of us. The girls are very tired, and I’m sure they will be asleep quickly tonight.
March 22
We picked up Diane and her girls and went to Dunkin’ Donuts for breakfast. Then we went to Six Mile Cypress Slough for the walk - luckily we saw two alligators. Stopped at Sun Harvest Citrus on the way back to have lunch here. The girls swam here for awhile, then to Miromar Mall for the water ski show (a free one, done by amateurs, but good). The women shopped, girls and Bob walked around to look at the fountains and fish, then to playland. We had supper at Waterfront Grill, then back here for awhile. Paige decided to sleep here on the couch, so took Diane and Brooke back to motel.
We went to the motel to have breakfast with Diane and girls. Since we are not staying there, I asked if we could pay to eat with them. The manager said they had no way to do that, but that we could eat with them for free. Very nice! On the way to Barefoot Beach in Bonita Springs, we stopped at Coconut Point Mall. Diane and her girls found some stores they like and bought a few things. Had snack lunch at the beach, the girls collected shells, got wet in the Gulf, dug in the sand, and had fun. Diane sunbathed and walked the beach with Paige. Bob and Linda sat in the shade of the umbrella, watched the action, and read. Came back to our place late afternoon, but stopped for ice cream at Royal Scoop. The girls swam here until supper time, went back to motel to get showers and change, and then we had supper at The Sandy Parrot just a few blocks south of us. The girls are very tired, and I’m sure they will be asleep quickly tonight.
March 22
We picked up Diane and her girls and went to Dunkin’ Donuts for breakfast. Then we went to Six Mile Cypress Slough for the walk - luckily we saw two alligators. Stopped at Sun Harvest Citrus on the way back to have lunch here. The girls swam here for awhile, then to Miromar Mall for the water ski show (a free one, done by amateurs, but good). The women shopped, girls and Bob walked around to look at the fountains and fish, then to playland. We had supper at Waterfront Grill, then back here for awhile. Paige decided to sleep here on the couch, so took Diane and Brooke back to motel.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
March 21
Usual morning, lunch here, then to the movie “Duplicity”. It was fair. Then home for lite supper, wait until time to go to the airport. Diane and her girls, Brooke and Paige, flew in today. We picked them up at the airport at 8 p.m. We are really happy to see them. They had a long day - 2hrs from Chicago to Charlotte, 2 hr. layover, 2 hrs from Charlotte to Ft. Myers. We stopped at our trailer for a snack, then dropped them at their motel, the Springs, just down the road a mile.
FROM THE NEWSPAPER:
For the second time in as many years, a persistent pair of ospreys has built a nest on the edge of a roof of the Baypoint II on Bluebill Avenue [a condo area in Naples]. The nest might be a natural curiosity for the walkers and bicyclers who can glimpse it from the bridge over the Vanderbilt channel, but condominium owners consider the birds a messy nuisance and want the nest removed. The front door is out of droppings-range of the new nest, but it’s seven floors above and a little to the left of a grilling and picnic area. “You can stand out there, and the wind blowing, I mean you’re going to get covered with bird stuff,” Peter Page said. [Page is the Baypoint board president.] The condominium’s manager hired an environmental consultant, who applied more than a month ago for a nest removal permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Ospreys are not considered an endangered species, but the birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The idea is to get the permit before the birds lay eggs in the nest, which would prohibit the condominium from messing with the pile of sticks and branches until the young birds have fledged.
Usual morning, lunch here, then to the movie “Duplicity”. It was fair. Then home for lite supper, wait until time to go to the airport. Diane and her girls, Brooke and Paige, flew in today. We picked them up at the airport at 8 p.m. We are really happy to see them. They had a long day - 2hrs from Chicago to Charlotte, 2 hr. layover, 2 hrs from Charlotte to Ft. Myers. We stopped at our trailer for a snack, then dropped them at their motel, the Springs, just down the road a mile.
FROM THE NEWSPAPER:
For the second time in as many years, a persistent pair of ospreys has built a nest on the edge of a roof of the Baypoint II on Bluebill Avenue [a condo area in Naples]. The nest might be a natural curiosity for the walkers and bicyclers who can glimpse it from the bridge over the Vanderbilt channel, but condominium owners consider the birds a messy nuisance and want the nest removed. The front door is out of droppings-range of the new nest, but it’s seven floors above and a little to the left of a grilling and picnic area. “You can stand out there, and the wind blowing, I mean you’re going to get covered with bird stuff,” Peter Page said. [Page is the Baypoint board president.] The condominium’s manager hired an environmental consultant, who applied more than a month ago for a nest removal permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Ospreys are not considered an endangered species, but the birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The idea is to get the permit before the birds lay eggs in the nest, which would prohibit the condominium from messing with the pile of sticks and branches until the young birds have fledged.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
March 20
Very nice morning, I went for a long bike ride, Linda for a long walk. Late morning, we left for Lovers Key, a very nice state park with one of the better beaches. We took a picnic lunch along, and I forgot one thing - this is spring break time, and to get to Lovers Key you must go through either Bonita Beach or Ft. Myers Beach. Since it’s shorter for us to go through Ft.Myers Beach, we went that way. There is only one road, and it was packed with traffic. It took us 25 minutes to go from where the traffic stopped on Estero Blvd. to the foot of the bridge on Ft. Myers Beach - about a mile! Then it took another 15 minutes to get to Lovers Key - total trip time over an hour! We were really ready for lunch when we got there. The parking lots were almost completely full, with just a few places left. And the beach was as packed as we have ever seen it (with a few real pretty people in bikinis, but lots of overweight people in inappropriate swim suits!) Still very nice to be by the water. Late afternoon, left for home (through Bonita Beach!) and stopped at one of our favorite ice cream places, Royal Scoop. We used to stay near Bonita Beach when we first started coming here, so that area is very familiar to us. Home for a very lite supper.
March 19
The weather changed - finally got some rain, but only about 1/4 inch. Yesterday, it sprinkled a little, got cloudy, and the temperature was only in the 70’s. Last night, it rained more steadily, and was still sprinkling some in the morning. Partly cloudy most of the day, with more sun as the day went on.
Late morning, we went to Coastland Mall in Naples and had lunch at Ted‘s Montana Grill. Bob had a buffalo burger and Linda had planked salmon, both very good. This mall is one of the few indoor malls, so it’s a good place to go when it’s raining. It takes us about a half-hour to get there. Linda shopped, got a gift for Delaney - she’s having her tonsils out over spring break. (That’s David’s 7-year-old daughter.) Bob was happy because there’s a Starbucks there - get coffee, read the paper, read a book, do some people-watching - what fun! Home for a late supper.
Very nice morning, I went for a long bike ride, Linda for a long walk. Late morning, we left for Lovers Key, a very nice state park with one of the better beaches. We took a picnic lunch along, and I forgot one thing - this is spring break time, and to get to Lovers Key you must go through either Bonita Beach or Ft. Myers Beach. Since it’s shorter for us to go through Ft.Myers Beach, we went that way. There is only one road, and it was packed with traffic. It took us 25 minutes to go from where the traffic stopped on Estero Blvd. to the foot of the bridge on Ft. Myers Beach - about a mile! Then it took another 15 minutes to get to Lovers Key - total trip time over an hour! We were really ready for lunch when we got there. The parking lots were almost completely full, with just a few places left. And the beach was as packed as we have ever seen it (with a few real pretty people in bikinis, but lots of overweight people in inappropriate swim suits!) Still very nice to be by the water. Late afternoon, left for home (through Bonita Beach!) and stopped at one of our favorite ice cream places, Royal Scoop. We used to stay near Bonita Beach when we first started coming here, so that area is very familiar to us. Home for a very lite supper.
March 19
The weather changed - finally got some rain, but only about 1/4 inch. Yesterday, it sprinkled a little, got cloudy, and the temperature was only in the 70’s. Last night, it rained more steadily, and was still sprinkling some in the morning. Partly cloudy most of the day, with more sun as the day went on.
Late morning, we went to Coastland Mall in Naples and had lunch at Ted‘s Montana Grill. Bob had a buffalo burger and Linda had planked salmon, both very good. This mall is one of the few indoor malls, so it’s a good place to go when it’s raining. It takes us about a half-hour to get there. Linda shopped, got a gift for Delaney - she’s having her tonsils out over spring break. (That’s David’s 7-year-old daughter.) Bob was happy because there’s a Starbucks there - get coffee, read the paper, read a book, do some people-watching - what fun! Home for a late supper.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
March 18
At about 9 a.m., Ahearns, Sands, and Haltermans came over for coffee and donuts. Then we all went for a walk at Lakes Park. We had a nice time visiting, and they all seemed to like the park. Lunch here, late afternoon we went to Panera Bread, had coffee and read, then had lite supper there.
March 16 & 17
Nothing special - went to the library, went to the mall, got groceries. On St. Pat’s Day, went out for lunch at The Sandy Parrot.
March 15
Usual Sun. morning routine. At church, the pastor’s sister sang and played the piano. She was a good singer, but her piano playing was outstanding! She reminded me of Emil Pandolfi - it seems impossible to play as many notes as they do, all at the same time it seems. Lunch here, read, relaxed. Very warm (mid 80’s) and humid now. After supper, we went back to church for a concert by Lenee Schroeder, the pastor’s sister. She travels around doing this, and has made several CD’s. It was good, but needed more piano, less singing and evangelizing.
At about 9 a.m., Ahearns, Sands, and Haltermans came over for coffee and donuts. Then we all went for a walk at Lakes Park. We had a nice time visiting, and they all seemed to like the park. Lunch here, late afternoon we went to Panera Bread, had coffee and read, then had lite supper there.
March 16 & 17
Nothing special - went to the library, went to the mall, got groceries. On St. Pat’s Day, went out for lunch at The Sandy Parrot.
March 15
Usual Sun. morning routine. At church, the pastor’s sister sang and played the piano. She was a good singer, but her piano playing was outstanding! She reminded me of Emil Pandolfi - it seems impossible to play as many notes as they do, all at the same time it seems. Lunch here, read, relaxed. Very warm (mid 80’s) and humid now. After supper, we went back to church for a concert by Lenee Schroeder, the pastor’s sister. She travels around doing this, and has made several CD’s. It was good, but needed more piano, less singing and evangelizing.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
March 14
Usual morning, lunch here, mid-afternoon went to Gulf Coast Mall, had coffee and treat at Borders. Linda shopped at Belks for some extra towels, Bob stayed at the book store and read. Late afternoon, went to the movie “Taken” with Liam Neeson. Very fast paced, very violent, but pretty good. We really like him, but this was the first time seeing him as an action figure. After movie, we went to Islamarda Fish Company for supper. I had scallops, Linda had shrimp. Excellent.
FROM THE NEWSPAPER:
After months of steady decline, the number of visitors to Lee County increased in Jan. by 17% over Jan. 2008. Despite the overall increase in visitors, the occupancy rate of hotels, motels and resorts dipped by 5%. This was offset by a more than 20% increase in occupancy at RV parks, vacation homes, and condominiums. People still want to travel, but they are more value conscious, more cost conscious. Visitors spent an average of $123 a day in Jan., a decrease of 11% from 2008. More people visited from within Florida and from the South. 32% of visitors drove to Lee County, versus 22% in Jan. 2008.
March 13
Went for long bike ride. Now I go about 8:30 before the sun gets too hot. Very humid today. Lunch here, relaxed, read, and about 6 p.m. we went to a Minnesota Twins spring training game against Cincinnati. The park is only about 5 miles from us, and we go by it when we go to Six Mile Cypress Slough. It was great to see a baseball game, even if only one in spring training. We both really enjoy baseball, for some reason. It was strange to see Joe Crede playing third for the Twins. Very nice night, well played game, nice fireworks after.
Usual morning, lunch here, mid-afternoon went to Gulf Coast Mall, had coffee and treat at Borders. Linda shopped at Belks for some extra towels, Bob stayed at the book store and read. Late afternoon, went to the movie “Taken” with Liam Neeson. Very fast paced, very violent, but pretty good. We really like him, but this was the first time seeing him as an action figure. After movie, we went to Islamarda Fish Company for supper. I had scallops, Linda had shrimp. Excellent.
FROM THE NEWSPAPER:
After months of steady decline, the number of visitors to Lee County increased in Jan. by 17% over Jan. 2008. Despite the overall increase in visitors, the occupancy rate of hotels, motels and resorts dipped by 5%. This was offset by a more than 20% increase in occupancy at RV parks, vacation homes, and condominiums. People still want to travel, but they are more value conscious, more cost conscious. Visitors spent an average of $123 a day in Jan., a decrease of 11% from 2008. More people visited from within Florida and from the South. 32% of visitors drove to Lee County, versus 22% in Jan. 2008.
March 13
Went for long bike ride. Now I go about 8:30 before the sun gets too hot. Very humid today. Lunch here, relaxed, read, and about 6 p.m. we went to a Minnesota Twins spring training game against Cincinnati. The park is only about 5 miles from us, and we go by it when we go to Six Mile Cypress Slough. It was great to see a baseball game, even if only one in spring training. We both really enjoy baseball, for some reason. It was strange to see Joe Crede playing third for the Twins. Very nice night, well played game, nice fireworks after.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)