Warm Weather, Cool Breeze

• We pulled into a brand new marina; we were the first to ever tie up to the new pier. Many years ago we took a trip to Puerto Rico and there was a donkey with a beautiful spray of flowers on its head. I stopped to take a picture and a man came up to me and said, "That would be $1.00." I, of course, paid. What a way to make a couple of bucks. The big deal about this marina was the birds! I have never seen this many parrots in my whole life - at least 300. They flew from inside the marina over to a private house. The owner told me that every year the birds come back around November. He didn't know where they went once they left him in the spring. He spends a fortune on birdseed and cleaning materials. I told him about my experience in Puerto Rico and suggested he put up a donation box (there were several of us taking pictures at this time) to help fray the cost of the food and cleaners.
• We traveled to Clearwater, Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, Anna Maria Island and Brandenton, where my parents once lived, to Sarasota. As Sarasota appears in the distance, it looks like a big city with lots of office buildings. As you get closer you realize all these buildings are high-rise condominiums. We pulled into a place called Marina Jack, an elegant marina. I'd say a little up-scale with a huge fountain with water spraying out of several dolphins' mouths; very interesting. We docked and one slip away from us a 110 foot boat pulled in. So much for any sun for us. Every morning the newspaper is delivered to your boat. If you want, you can also have a continental breakfast. We took a nice walk through the town and surrounding area and checked out the real estate prices and the restaurants. We can afford the restaurants, I'm not sure about the real estate. We checked out the Ringling legacy. A museum of the Circus with memorabilia from Ancient Roman relics to contemporary carnival props are on display. We saw the coral colored mansion that belonged to John Ringling.
• We were looking for a little night life and found it right in the marina. I was only going to have 1 drink so I ordered a Black Russian (my favorite). The couple we were with called it a night. We wanted to stay; they had an oldies band and we were having a good time dancing. Mike was amazed at how all the old people around us knew all the words to all the songs. He's having trouble realizing that we are in the old people category. As the night went on a young couple sitting next to us bought us a round of drinks. Black Russian #2. We, of course, sent them over a round. The next thing I knew they were sitting at our table and Black Russian #3 was in front of me. Then the shooters started. By this time it didn't make any difference, I was gone. I looked at Mike and suddenly he became a twin, two Mikes. How lucky am I? Somewhere along the evening, someone must have given me some Cape Cod Potato Chips (years ago I got sick on them while drinking Mudslides). Yes, I was intimate with the porcelain god. For years now, at least 40, Mike has been telling me he's a trained professional, drinking is not for amateurs, I think he's right.
• The next morning Mike was on his own. I looked and felt like death warmed over. I slept until 3 in the afternoon. When I woke up we were entering a new marina, Palm Island Marina. We had a very nice sunset dinner and I went back to bed.
• Upon entering Fort Myers, we said goodbye to our buddy boaters. Ruth and Dennis live in Cape Coral and crossed their wake. They started the loop last May and completed what they wanted to see in seven months. We had a lot of laughs with them and their dog Tango. We will miss them.
• We spent almost a week in Fort Myers Beach; with the first 3 days spent at a boat yard having the repair work done to our anchor and fiberglass. The insurance paid for it. Bob and Carmela M. recently moved to Fort Myers. They gave us a call and came to the marina and picked us up.
• We went to their new condo, had a wonderful home cooked dinner, meatballs, sausage and pasta, one of Mike's favorites. Their new home is spacious and open, 3 bedrooms and 2 baths with lots of closet space. Carmela seemed very happy and adjusted; we think Bob is a little homesick for L.I. We know he'll be just fine once he meets new people and he hears about the cold weather in N.Y.
• We moved across Estero Bay to another marina. It was like being in Times Square, N.Y., lots to do. We were right in the heart of Fort Myers Beach. We would go to the beach in the morning and Ruth and Dennis would pick us up in the afternoon to shop and go sightseeing. We went to Sanibel Island and Captiva Island. The only way to explore the islands is by bike. There's only one main thoroughfare, Periwinkle Way. I can't imagine the traffic on the weekends. We went to "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, it takes up much of the 12 mile island. During the nesting season you are asked not to go on these rookery islands. If pelicans are frightened off their nests by human intruders, they leave their eggs exposed to fish crows.
• We ate at a restaurant called the Green Flash. The one thing I will always remember is walking into the Ladies' room and standing facing the wall is a man. You stop and do a double take - what is this man doing? You then realize it's a statue; they got me. I think I blushed. Not to leave the men out...in the Mens' room when you stand in front of the thing, okay, the urinal, you look up and you can see all the people sitting at the bar. You think they can see you, but it's a two-way mirror. Mike said he just waved until he realized that no one could see him.