After 3 days in Key West, we started back to the mainland. It's a 2 and a half drive just to get back to solid land. It's a long but beautiful drive as we hop along dozens of tiny islands surrounded by shimmering turquoise waters.
If that was not cool enough, we then crossed the state of Florida from Miami on the east to Naples on the west coast. We traveled through the everglades (still not so "solid" land!) on a road sometimes called "Alligator Alley". We saw somewhere between 50 to 70 'gators along the canal beside the road through the Everglades National Park*! Some were very large! I tried snapping some photos as we drove. There were also hundreds of turtles and beautiful birds everywhere!
Naples: We spent a couple of nights and one full day with Rick's Ford buddy Jim J. and his wife Chris. We pigged out on burgers and fries at a diner one night and then had them back over to our camper for a few games of "Apples to Apples". Tuesday we spent on the beach as we finally have bright sun and temps in the mid 80's. Chris and I decided to walk south to the Naples pier, not knowing it would take us over 2 hours! Good thing I put some sun tan lotion on before we left. It sure is a treat to walk on flat land again!
Meanwhile Chris and Jim are in the process of trying to purchase a winter home in Naples and were getting frustrated by the restrictions of the bank loans these days -- it's no wonder the economy is stuck when people with money and good credit can't even get a regular loan!
Jim BBQ's steaks for us back at their house and we were introduced to a card game they enjoy: Golf! Ever played it? I won twice, but mostly, like the night before, we laughed a lot!
*for more info on the Everglades National Park: click hereIf that was not cool enough, we then crossed the state of Florida from Miami on the east to Naples on the west coast. We traveled through the everglades (still not so "solid" land!) on a road sometimes called "Alligator Alley". We saw somewhere between 50 to 70 'gators along the canal beside the road through the Everglades National Park*! Some were very large! I tried snapping some photos as we drove. There were also hundreds of turtles and beautiful birds everywhere!
Naples: We spent a couple of nights and one full day with Rick's Ford buddy Jim J. and his wife Chris. We pigged out on burgers and fries at a diner one night and then had them back over to our camper for a few games of "Apples to Apples". Tuesday we spent on the beach as we finally have bright sun and temps in the mid 80's. Chris and I decided to walk south to the Naples pier, not knowing it would take us over 2 hours! Good thing I put some sun tan lotion on before we left. It sure is a treat to walk on flat land again!
Meanwhile Chris and Jim are in the process of trying to purchase a winter home in Naples and were getting frustrated by the restrictions of the bank loans these days -- it's no wonder the economy is stuck when people with money and good credit can't even get a regular loan!
Jim BBQ's steaks for us back at their house and we were introduced to a card game they enjoy: Golf! Ever played it? I won twice, but mostly, like the night before, we laughed a lot!
"Everglades National Park, largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, boasts rare and endangered species."
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