Just Cruisin

Because of the marvelous reviews I have been getting on my writing and photos I have decided to write one more blog. Sooo here I go. Yesterday we got ready to go to the sand catsle compitition on the Fort Myers Beach.

From here to there 7 miles. The one really bad thing here is the traffic. It took over an hour to get there. Then they want $10 to park and $10 more for the admission. Well for those of you who know me you have to be thinking "There is no way Herbie is going to pay that to see a pile of sand", and you would normally be right but in a weaker moment I pull in to the parking lot. Lucky for me I ask if dogs are allowed on the beach, because most places they are. " I don't think so and no you can't get your money back". Well Mama didn't raise no fool, I leave. We drive up the beach a mile or so, park for free and we all walk on the beach. Because this year has been warmer than normal the sting rays have come early,

by about a month. The rays like to come right up to the shore line and bury themselves in the sand. When they do that you can't see them until you step on them. Of course they don't like that and then you get stung. Can be real bad, as bad as death. These are pretty small so I don't think you die but you hear about people going to the hospital. After walking the beach for about half and hour Karens done so we head back to the camper. The worst part of here is the traffic. Between the familiys on vacation and all the spring breakers it gets bad. 2, 2 1/2 miles to the beach can take an hour or more in the car. We were going on a gaming cruise that evening so I told Karen I think I am going to take my bike back to the beach. She says your crazy it is 85 degrees out. So of course I get on my bike and head out. It was fun because cars litteraly go slower that people walk. The biggest draw back is the bridge at the beach

. Its really steep but when I got to the top I stopped took pictures and watched the traffic just crawl by.

 Then I went to the boat dock and get the low down on it. Walked around the beach for a bit and then headed bach here to the pool. After a short swim and shower it is time to drive back to the boat dock. Needed to allow nearly an hour. After arriving only about 45 minutes later I go to buy the tickets. Now we find out you need a picture ID to get on because you are going out into international water. Karen doesn't have one. Lucky for us they call a cop over with a good sence of humor. Half a dozen questions and she is cleared to leave the country.

 The cruise is $10 for over a 6 hour trip. A real deal, plus for another $14 you get a dinner buffet.  You don't have to take the food.   The food was great, after dinner we go out on the deck to enjoy the trip.

Soon we were being escorted by 4 or 5 dolphins.

 They played in the wake of the boat for 4 or 5 minutes. After about 1 1/2 hours we arrive in international waters and let the gaming begin. Karen not so good, me a free trip plus a little extra. At 10:30 we head back in. Gaming done so they start playing music and another buffet if you want to pay another $10. That number seems to be comming up a lot today.

The trip was really worth the money as long as you can control your losses. Today was very slow. Temp hit 90 & a little humid, so going on another bike ride was out of the question. Went in the pool this afternoon and a walk after dinner. Talking a little rain again tomorrow but won't be much and again after 5.
Enough for now, I guess I will save all those pictures of Karen for later, OH what the heck just one,

Post again soom maybe, going home soon.  Herb

PS sorry about the dolphin viedo, but I am still learning and my teacher is busy.

Fort Myers, the every day

Just a quick update today April 1st, April fools day .  Seems like we have just been relaxing.  The weather has been absolutely perfect.  It rained  last Tuesday.  Typical rain for here this time of the year, 1.5 to 2 inches of rain in less than one hour.  Yesterday  the prediction was for a big storm.  It did storm all day in Tampa across the state to Titusville.  They had some really bad weather but by the time it got here we only got 1/4" of rain, and that was after 9 PM.  Florida is really dry and needs all the rain they can get right now so this will help.  Nice thing about the rain is it has been late in the evening, usually after 8, 9 o'clock   Speaking of Titusville the space shuttle is on the launch pad being prepared for launch April 19.  They have said it has sustained minor hail and some storm damage but nothing serious.  We are staying here until the 17 of April, thanks David, and I am thinking about driving over and watching the launch if it isn't postponed.

We have been spending more and more time in the pool. 

 

 Every day the temperature creeps a little higher.  Usually 83 to 85.  Every activity has a group of regulars and the pool is no different.  We have made new friends, some local, others from the USA, and then the Canadian's. 

 

 I have to say they are the friendliest bunch we have ever met.  Because they can only be out of Canada for no more than 180 days a year a good share of them have had to leave by today.  The park seems real quiet today.  Being the 1st of the month plus the exodus of the Canadians. 

 Speaking of the end of the month the last Wednesday in March the park has what they call a "black top party". 

 

 We knew about it but didn't really know what it was.  Just another reason for everyone to get together one last time.  Food, beer, wine, ice cream, soda, and popcorn.  Also man and woman singers and band.

 

  Mostly songs from the 60s and earlier.  The local NBC affiliate sent reporters to cover the event.   It was a real gas.  People were going around selling 50/50 tickets.  This was one of those people,

 

the one in the yellow shirt, I know Karen had a good time and so did I. Because we needed a wrist band for the block party, which were free,  the day of the party we needed to find someone who could get us one.  Because of that we also found out about "Happy Hour".  Those tickets you had to purchase.  It was the last party for the year, food and beer, & soda.  Rum will be supplied by me. 

Today, this morning at the ungodly  hour 9:30AM was the last bicycle ride.  Karen thought THAT would be a good idea, I had to get up early.  We show up at 9:15 to find 170 other bicyclist. 

 

 They don't leave the park so how far can it be?  That's when one of the organizers tells us 6 miles.  I didn't like that but he also said free coffee and donuts at the end.  You ride two by two, intersections are blocked off.  Impressive.  

 

 It was quite a ride but we made the coffee and donuts, oh coffee and donut and lucky to get that.  Old people sure like there donuts.  Tonight we went to the Happy Hour party.  Food, beer, and wine.  Horse races were held and then music by a DJ until 9 pm.  It was a good time.

Yesterday was the start of the beach sand castle competition on Fort Myers Beach.  We plan on going to that tomorrow and I am sure pictures will follow.

Well short and sweet, that's the way I am.  Our adventure is getting close to its end but we are having a grand time.

One last thing, to our friends Steve & Karen who are on vacation in there motorhome out west, we hope by the time you read this your motorhome is up and running again.  I lost a few injectors while I was driving truck.  Doesn't take long to install but sometimes the wait for delivery takes the longest.  Good Luck to you.  That's it for now.

Herb

FORT MYERS WE HAVE ACTIVITIES

To all our blog followers, this blog maybe a little weird because me, Herb, is writing it.  We have received a few request for updates.  I have been on Karen to do the same.  I like reading others blogs and really look forward to them.  I got the "well you can do it you know", Sooo here I go.

 

I am going to use a different approach.  More of a refresher than just the new stuff.  There is a good reason for this and that is because we haven't done enough to write about.

 

On Jan 16 we left home to begin our adventure.  I call it adventure because vacation would mean one of us had a job to come back to.  This is not the case of course.  It took four days to get to Hudson Fl., 1294 miles. 

 

 Anyone who knows me, knows this is only a day and a half drive, not four days.  What's wrong with me?  Mary if you would have been along you would have been able to look out the front window all the way.

 

After getting the windows repaired,

 

 we drove to Bradenton Fl. for one week.

 

  Days kind of quiet.  Weather cold at night, 30s and maybe 70 during the day.  Not much to do at campground so we might as well drive to Walmart and buy stuff.  Found a couple of orange groves.  First one we searched for, drove 26 mile to get to it, and didn't really buy anything.  Gallon of OJ.  On  our way back we passed an orange grove 1/2 mile from campground.  Mom & Pop business.  Talked with owner, husband, while wife in glass room working her ass off making orange sections that they sold in glass jars.  Reminded me of Karen making candles.  Way to much labor to justified end price.  Back at campground not too much to do but walk around campground, boring.

 

Stayed for one week, frost most mornings, decided it was time to move.  Made reservation in Key Largo, about 270 miles away.  Had three days to get there, but I really busted my A** and made it in a long two.

 

Calusa Campground Key Largo Fl. 

 

 Now there is a campground to go to.  All sites are owned by individuals .  Rules don't apply equally.  If you had a lot of money, and I mean a lot of money, you get to do what ever you want.  This means party till the cows come home.  One thing I didn't understand with all their money the only way they could play music was open the doors on their BMWs and crank the radios.  Good news they really liked the Oldies and country western.  The campgrounds themselves bordered on the Gulf of Mexico. 

 

These sites were really nice, a little pricey but worth it I guess.  Sites for sale here were $350,000 to $600,000 for a 40ft X 50ft lot.  This campground had a beautiful swimming pool, two years ago.  That was when they decided to upgrade it.  All that was there was an empty hole.   I thought we worked slow at the power plant, but they showed me what slow was all about.  Promised it would be done next year, but no guarantee.  Because of this the only activity was walk around the campground or drive the car someplace.  For the month of February that was what we did.  The weather was perfect.  It rained one day for about an hour.  Karen and I look forward to rain down here.  The storms can be awesome.

 

Now comes the 1st of March, time to move.  178 miles to Fort Myers.  Going to do this in one day.  I am hoping to make it before dark.  Made it. 

 

 

 Must be over 1000 sites at this park. 

 

 Three pools, these are two, 

  

 

8 tennis courts,

 

 8 shuffle board courts,

 

 3 bocce ball courts,

 

3 volley ball courts,

 

 8 pool tables,

 

 exercise room, card rooms,

 

 and so much more.  Weather has been so perfect it is really hard to describe. 

 

 Now that we have a thousand things to do it's time to dig out the bicycles and put them together so we have something else to do.

 

  Really we do need them to get around the campground.

 

Now what have we been up to here.  The pool is right in front of the coach. 

 

 We have been spending a good deal of the afternoon in the pool. 

 

We have taken up pickle ball.  It is a game like ping pong but played outside on a court smaller than a tennis court.  Paddles are solid like ping pong, but the ball is like a whiffel ball.  It will move pretty fast if you pop it. 

 

 It is very popular here so it is hard to get on the court.  Because of this Karen and I usually go over to the court around 5:30.  Seems most people are eating so we can practice. 

 

 The beach is two miles away. 

 

We have taken the car a couple of times.  Parking is a problem.  $2.00 a hour.  If that isn't bad enough you need change to plug the meters.  Real pain.  So they have a trolley. $.50 each way. 

 

 Seems a real deal, I get to sit and check the scenery. We decide  to go Saturday.  It is spring break here now, plus

 

 the shrimp festival is going on at the beach.  Get to the bus stop wait an hour, bus comes it is full.  Two block walk to where the bus makes it's first stop, like a park an ride but the parking lot is a shopping center. 

 

 We walk there to get on the bus, wait 30 minutes, the bus comes.  People start getting on, gets to be our turn Karen steps up on the bus and the driver says no more.  The bus isn't full understand, she just won't let anymore people on.  Why we ask, because I need to leave room for the people waiting at the campground stop, which would have been us.  We had to wait for another bus.  Traffic is horrendous.  It took the bus 45 minutes to go two miles.  We left the campground at about 12:00 and it is now 3:15.  I had a shrimp dinner,

 

 Karen had a hot dog and we had to leave to stand in line for the bus back to the campground.  Poor Max

 

 has been home alone and the line is really long for the bus again.  First bus comes, people get on and we move closer to the front.  Next bus comes we are just a couple of people from getting on.  The last person to get on was the husband of an older couple.  By older I mean 70s.  Why he got on and didn't let his wife go first I didn't understand but he was going and that was that.  As the bus left we were talking to some locals and the mans wife.  Come to find out you have to look at the sign on the bus to know if it is going down the beach, or to the park and ride where we needed to go.  The last bus was going to the park and ride, but the old man needed to go down the beach. The wife didn't expect to see her husband again. We had to wait for two more buses before we got on going the right way.  Coming back only took 15 minutes so we were home by six.

 

Now for all our friends and relatives who know us well know we don't cook.  Since leaving on this adventure Karen has been making dinner five nights a week.  I do the dishes.  I know this is hard to believe but it gets more unbelievable.  Karen never, ever eats left overs.  I can't tell you how many great meals we have eaten from leftovers.  All our meals are too good.  I am afraid to get on a scale.  Tonight for example we had a casserole that was to feed 8.  We, mostly me, ate half of it.  

Some eating habits I can't get Karen to change.  Friday fish fry, and Saturday are you ready, PIZZA.  We have not had one bad fish fry.  They just keep getting better the whole time we have been in Florida.  Pizza on the other hand leaves a lot to be desired most times.  We did find one place on Islamorada.  It was our last pizza in the Keys.  We sat out side and the pizza was OK.  Since being here in Fort Myers we have only gone for pizza twice.  Once at CiCi's.  It is a pizza buffet.  Salad bar, pizza, desert and drink $14.00 for the both of us.  It was OK because it was so cheap.  This past Friday we went to an Italian resturant and had a terrific pizza.  Going back there again I am sure, but maybe for lasagna or something else.

 

We know a couple here who are realtors.  We met them while trying to buy a house here a couple years ago.  We went with them to a Mexican restaurant that served pork short ribs.  Everybody had Mexican, I had the ribs.  Had to be the best I ever had. 

 

Karen and I have found a grill & bar on the water by the beach called "UGLIES".  This is the view from the table.

 

 The food was great, good prices, large drinks.  Called Tony and Sue our realtor friends and took them there.

Rib dinner $18.00

 

That plate is about 18 inches by 12.

Girls had pulled pork sandwich about $13.00

 

Our neighbooring table ordered one of the speciallity drinks, hugh

 

 

 

Now, a typical day here.  Get up around 8:30.  Coffee, & muffin and the Today show.  Around 11:00 walk or bike ride or both.  Karen went and bought a basket for her bike.  Max won't go in it no how no way so he has to stay home when we bike.  Afternoons Karen likes to read

 

  Swimming pool till 5 or 6 then dinner.   Tonight I went to play cards but that fell threw so I am doing this instead.  A walk comes after dinner to the ice cream stand at the mall in front of the campground.

 

  TV or rent a movie, Letterman and bed.  Again those of you who know me know I can turn a paragraph into a book.  For that reason this post has been going on for a few days now.  It is time to get it posted.  Our explotes here don't sound like much, which they arn't, but that is why you haven't heard much from us.  Soaking up the sun

 

 and relaxing.  Retirement is great but I still haven't gotten use to it yet.  We have two more weeks here but plan on staying a little extra, ten days or so.  Depends on the weather back home.  Relaxin and Chillin.  Hope you find something interesting in all of this.  Stay safe and remember to spay or neuter your pets.

  

Me