As we start our slow migration back north we revisit the Florida West Coast meeting up with friends and relatives along the way.
We stopped at Collier-Seminole State Park for a three night stay
so we could be close to Marco Island and its incredible beach. As we
were setting up camp people were telling us how bad the mosquitoes
were...but being just west of the Everglades we expected some...
It was the worst we have experienced in a long time!
But Marco Island didn't disappoint with a visit to a couple hotels
and of course a couple restaurants.
We also got to visit with Sandy's cousin Judy in Naples and Tony played
golf with her and husband Bill...but the highlight was to hang out with
there granddaughter Caroline which always reminds Tony not to cry
when he doesn't win...sobering coming from a 4 year old...
As like in the previous two years a tire decided to give us problems...
and when the problem comes to a head (BOOM) they make a very large
noise when they let go.
Fortunately for us we were on the way to the only tire store open
on Sunday.... the TIRES PLUS store on Tamiami Trail E in Naples
were Service Manager Joseph Ojibway gave us great service and
some very good advice. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!!
We then tried out a new spot close (1 mile) to Fort Myers Beach called
San-Carlos RV and Marina. A nice spot right on the intercostal!
Tony found some golfers and played a round at this course with
a very interesting hole!
We also met up with more cousins from Ohio enjoying the Florida
weather like Skylar which also likes Super Man Ice Cream.
Meeting up with Kay Wragg ...daughter Christina and her daughters
Ashley and of course Skylar for some time at the beach and lunch
which was all just by chance as they happened to be staying
right on Fort Myers Beach at the same time.
As we were on Fort Myers Beach we thought that a large storm was
coming our way from the south but found out it was smoke from
one of the many large fires that were popping up because of the
dry conditions.
indoor and outdoor seating with some right next to docked boats.
The variety just around Fort Myers Beach was a little overwelming
even for us...who love to try new places but eating out gets to be
very expensive so we don't go out every day.
Doc Ford's Rum Bar and Grille was only a short bike ride from the RV
park and Tony just had to try there signature dish Yucatan Shrimp
a little spicy...very good!
We then moved over to Cape Coral to stay with friends Richard and
Kathy De Iorio which live on the Caloosahatchee River.
Up early to catch the sunrise across river...
This is a big shrimping area with many boats rigged to
work long hours at sea.
While we were here Tony wanted to see if he could find a kid that
once worked for him some 45 years ago.
We asked around at a couple fish markets where the boats bring
in their catch and learned that the guy we were looking for worked
out of Pine Island...and because the only way to get there is through
Cape Coral this was a good time to go looking for this kid, turned
shrimper from Toledo.
As you can see Caption Mike Bigler is no kid anymore and it was just
by chance we {caught} him at the first dock we came to and lucky he
wasn't out to sea catching shrimp.
We just couldn't pass up the chance of staying at a place we fell in love
with two years ago and worked as Camp Hosts for five months at the
beginning of this trip.
Sandy with her Sunset Yoga class on Turtle Beach
That place of course is Turtle Beach Campground on beautiful Siesta
Key in Sarasota. It was nice to see most of the staff on our quick 1 week
return but already have plans to return in fall 2018.
Continuing to travel north, stopping in the St. Pete area overnight
to met up with a couple of friends that Tony went to high school
with and now live in Florida...at least during the winter months.
Sharing a few...and a few stories with John Hoffmann and Denny Dittman.
As we have stated before that traveling in an RV allows us to
take in all of what this great country has to offer. Things that you
would never have herd of or though about...we just come across.
Unfortunately we couldn't stay around long enough to see
...or hear what this was all about.
As we travel into the Florida Panhandle along the coast there are a
lots of bridges and narrow "man made" land crossways connecting
communities along the way.
But taking all those bridges and crossways are how you get to places
like this...as we did two years ago and put a mark on our map.
It's in an old gas station along the highway that you wouldn't think
twice about stopping at...but that would be a mistake.
All beer (bottle or draft) is self serve and kept track of on a peace of
printed paper with menu along with your order...
We like to sit at the counter so we can watch a lot of the food being
prepared in large stemmers and ovens...quite an operation!
We love the atmosphere and of course the food and consider this
a must stop when entering the panhandle from the east.
We then went to Pine Log State Forest 14 miles north of Panama City
to... well you can see from these pictures, its nice being in the woods
for a couple of days away from hustle and bustle.
Well here we are back in the hustle and bustle of beach life at one of
our favorite camping spots in Destin at Henderson Beach State Park along
the Emerald Coast Parkway.
Drink in hand with toes in sand...
It's not hard to see why they call this the Emerald Coast
From the beach to the back porch of the Back Porch Seafood and
Oyster House... just a nice sandy walk from the park.
....And the sights in-between...
This sequence of picks is what happens when you have a fat guy on
a fat tire bike, going to fast on a down hill narrow sidewalk...
...that's banked the wrong way!
OUCH...that's going to leave a mark...actually just a few small ones,
allowing us to come back and stage this for the record the next day.
If the Indian Pass Trading Post is the best way to enter the panhandle
then the Flora-Bama Lounge and Oyster Bar is the best way to leave!
{or the other way around}
Right on the Florida...Alabama boarder on a small strip of land
separating the Intercostal from the Gulf of Mexico.
This place opened in 1964 a little behind schedule from a fire that
destroyed it before opened. Hurricane Ivan took out part of the building
in 2004 and through the years the owners have added on...more than once.
Booked as America's "Last Great Roadhouse" featuring live music 365
days a year from top regional and national acts as well as home of the
world famous "Interstate Mullet Toss and Gulf Coast's Greatest Beach Party"
Another event we misted but we didn't miss the food,
the largest Rock Oysters we have ever seen.
LIVE
LAUGH
LOVE
SANTONY
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