Homosassa Springs

Great day at Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park! We didn't even plan this visit. Just out for a drive checking out the area. Saw the visitor center, stopped to investigate. Discovered they have a boat there that takes you into the park, so off we went. Very nice afternoon, the park is about a 1 1/2 loop walk. Everything from a hippo, to of course gators. They also take care of manatees that have been injured until they are ready to be released again. Giving educational talks also.

Getting together with old friends is such a great part of this life style. We met Bob and Syliva(in the middle) on a Mexican Connection trip in 2005. They now live in Fl. and we were thrilled to get to see them again. They had their good friends from Vancouver BC visiting for a week. Another great eatout with fun friends!

Florida

Picture perfect. I think I'm in love with this state.

Fort DeSoto FL

Another great day on our bikes. Nothing could be better than Fort Desoto. This park is georgeous, the beaches are spectacular!

Florida Friends

Great get together with The Gruelles and Bob and Nancy at the Elks in Punta Gorda. They have a fantastic Monday night Chicken Dinner, they serve hundreds of people!

Brunch at Bob and Nancy. Delicious!!! Thank you Nancy!

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Diane and Nancy at the beach in Punta Gorda

Gulf Coast of Florida

We went to the Edison, Ford Homes , Lab. in Fort Meyers. We have to admit for us the Museum and Lab were a big disappointment. We have seen much better free exhibits than this. Now we chose not to do the house and garden tour as we felt we have seen several of these. Although it may have upped our opinion. Rating: too pricey for too little

On my 62Nd Birthday we had a wonderful day on Sanibel Isl. riding our bikes. We hunted for seashells on the beach, had a picnic and watched the sunset. We stopped at a very good fish restaurant on the way home where Dianne and Frank met us. Skip One Seafood in Boneita Springs. Very Good! Oh I must mention while biking on the island Jim bought me my Golden Age Pass at the Wildlife Refuge, is that my guy or what!!!! All that was topped off by balloons , candles and Mango pie at Dianne and Franks. Thank you Thank you

At the Koreshan State Historic Site in Estero, Florida we toured the remains of the Koreshan Unity Society. There are several buildings along with Docents filling in the history. It was established in 1894 by Dr Cyrus Teed, the settlement was to be a New Jerusalem. A Utopia, a life without crime, tobacco or drugs. Where everyone working for the good of all. They believed the earth, sun and moon were encased in an outer shell, and went to great lengths to prove their theory. On 1908 Dr Cyrus Teed died his followers thought he would be resurracted on Christmas Day. Well that didn't happen and not too long after that the society dwindled to about three dozen which actually lasted about 30 yrs.

The Everglades

We so enjoyed the Everglades. We stayed in three different campgrounds. Flamingo is the most southern, which has hugh pull through sites. This one is down at Florida Bay, has a vistor center, small store, and a marina. It used to have a large restaurant and motel rooms but they were damaged by hurricane Katrina but then destroyed by Wilma. They do have plans to rebuild. The Long Pine Key campground has large sites, but oddly have of them are backwards. Meaning if you back in the picnic table is on the other side of rig. Oh well it's still very nice. And Midway is off HWY 41 with back in sites around a small lake with electric. We highly recommend the Everglades! But of course you will have to give up your phone and computers as there is no reception.

We went to nine Ranger led programs. One a four hour Canoe Ranger lead tour in the mangroves. Another a two hour bike hike, others were a history walk, a two hour bird walk and several evening slide shows. We learned all about the water flow of the Everglades, including mangroves, how and why they are formed. The habits and habitat of gators, snakes, birds, etc.
At Shark Valley there is a 15mile loop that goes out to an observation tower. You can only take a tram, walk or ride a bike. No cars.
We rode our bikes(we did this 6 yrs ago also) the first 7 miles goes along a canal full of alligators. They still give me the creeps being so close but they are way more interested in sunning themselves.

Note: for you RV'ers notice the elevation sign , you can double click to enlarge.

The Keys

Sunset in the Keys

Happy Hour in the Keys

Key Lime Pie in the Keys

Jim feeding Tarpon. What else is there to say.

Boating MiniRang in the Keys

We have to thank Diana and George for such a great day on their boat! Honest it just doesn't get any better than this.

Boat fun in the Keys

Our floating Boomer friends Diana and George who now live onboard a boat in the Keys showed us along with Lee and Edie a great day on the water! Again I say what a great group the Boomers are to belong to. It is so nice to have minirangs all around the country.

New Years Eve the Key West Style

At midnight there will be a drag queen sitting in the red high heel at it descends to bring in the New Year! Unfortuanately we no longer have the desire to stay up that late, but did see it in the paper the next day!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR