March 30 – April 1, 2011 We bend toward home…and Ft Myers

Feral, once again, we are the last to leave the campground and begin the journey home.

Getting a little tired of these guys, this time at Big Cypress Swamp.

A pair of eyes watch us, wondering what we are doing next to a jet engine carcass in the swamp.

We drive north off the keys and bend west at Hwy 41, driving the scenic route through the Big Cypress National Preserve, passing many alligator farms and airboat hustlers, but little new; at Bill and Beth’s suggestion, we pull into a park describing itself as an Alligators and Snakes campground, and also as the regional headquarters for skunk-ape research. I tour their “zoo” and find a collection of snakes of all sizes and alligators; one alligator kept in a box little bigger than his dimensions. The grounds have several ponds with at least one wild alligator visible, peering at me as I stand next to a big jet engine inexplicably at the pond’s edge.

We have dinner with Bill and Beth, combining their leftovers with ours, but the after dinner conversation breaks up when we discover ants on everything. All retire to bed glad we are camped off the ground, and hoping these ants don’t find their way in.

The next day we split, continuing on our own to Naples on the gulf, which seems pleasant but mostly a community of shopping malls and high-rise condo developments. We pull in to Delnor-Wiggns Pass State Park, a heavily vegetated day-use area on the coast at the base of more high-rise condos, so Marcia can look for seashells. I ask a kayaker if he has seen any manatees, but he says not in at least three weeks, they’ve all moved on. We do too, after a short time on the beach, as it is too windy and the surf rough because of a developing storm.

We settle finally at Ft Myers, which is (among other things) the point where the Intracoastal Waterway crosses Florida. Our camp is The Groves RV Resort, a snowbird haven. Occupancy reached 100% a few weeks ago but a few snowbirds have left; those remaining, as always, greet us in a very friendly fashion. One neighbor is from Chicago and will be going home later in a couple weeks; another is leaving for Wisconsin on Tuesday. They all talk of the snow still at home. Those with motor homes drive home; the others often leave their trailer or fifth wheeler on the site rear-round and simply drive or fly home. They will almost all be gone by the end of April. When they return in November to January they will have a ready-made community as they re-greet friends made the prior year. Not a bad life.

The inside of a mangrove.

Roseate spoonbills and friends at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

Late in the afternoon we drive to the JN “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge where we see roseate spoonbills in such abundance our few sightings in the Everglades seem less miraculous. There are also several people fishing legally in this wildlife refuge, something I always have difficulty understanding.

There still being some sunlight we drive to Sanibel Island where Marcia joins many others scooping seashells by the handful (while I read in the car), and afterward we go to dinner at a restaurant called The Stone Crab; I’m a little tired of seafood and have a good burger but Marcia has and likes the stone crabs.

A banyon tree at Edison's home in Ft Myers.

A wise man and his shorter friend.

...and other friend.

Great composition, Marcia!

Henry Ford's home is more modest, but then he only spent two weeks a year here.

Inside the Edison home.

These large covered porches are fantastic.

The Edison home in Ft Myers.

Ms. Edison and Ms. Murray discuss their respective upcoming Art in the Garden tours.

 Edison and Ford had winter homes in Ft. Myers, so for $20 each we tour the sites. Edison was here first and built a beautiful, comfortable looking home on the river; Henry, a friend and onetime employee, moved in next door, another comfortable home. Ford generally spent only two weeks a year here, while Edison spent a bit more time. The landscaping is lush as Edison was experimenting with a variety of plants as sources for rubber, and he and his wife just loved plants. This man had an incredible range of interests. Both homes, and the adjoining guesthouse, are far more livable and pleasant looking than the overblown Henry Flagler manse in Palm Beach.

A man and his sloth are hard to separate.

The FMHS band performs downtown.

We drive to Ft Myers’ historic downtown and stumble upon an art walk and music fest, and a very active restaurant scene. We end up liking Fort Myers.