Fort Myers for a couple days, will be back...

A short stay in Fort Meyers was just right for us at this time, as the next adventure ahead is our drive to Bahia Honda State Park.

Lucky us, someone cancelled their reservation and we picked up 5 days at Bahia Honda, which many say is the nicest park in the keys, we will see. I slept good last night, so will be easier drive. Our last drive was a little longer than usual, but we started earlier, so made it better as when we got to our destination, still time and energy to hit the pool and meet some of the locals having a dip.

One of the most lush lots here

Love the roots coming from this tree

Between Walmart and the RV Park,
hunting after the rains

Polly and I take Bosco go for a walk around the block after dinner, and was a nice time to check out our surroundings, Bosco got empty, and cast his trail around, and we got full as we looked around at some interesting places. Yes this is a tourist place we see as the mini golf experience is across the road from our RV Park, and a new Walmart next door, and many other RV pars around, this place is setting up for the tourist for sure.

Beach day yesterday, and taking the trolley wasn't what we started out to do, even though it had been recommended by the locals, I thought just go for a drive. As we headed out we saw the trolley, and yep, lets jump on that as I had scouted out the next to us trolley stop on a walk with Bosco, and there was a park and ride there, so on we get. The driver was friendly, and a passenger asked "First time here?" Yep we say in unison. He explained to us the place to get off, and get back on, also where to look around, and shop. so off we got, not really prepared for the beach, as we started off for a drive. Well the beach was beautiful, and the sun came out full tilt. Hot now as we strolled the beach looking for shells and checking out just so many people, and Music from each bar along the way was great. I can see why people come here in droves! The sand is the softest we have encountered so far, and the water is calm, so no problem for me with pockets full to walk in and not worry about the waves soaking me. Yep this is a beauty beach, and many people here, but not a full load we are told, a couple weeks ago, Spring Break crowds were here, and was nuts. Line ups everywhere, especially on the way over the bridge to get here. For us right now, was the best, like the sky opens up just for us.

Polly and I pose for the pic, Love Polly...

This looked like would be fun to swim to.

Early morning, soon to leave here

Our stash of collected shells

The Pier was a nice spot to spend a few hours

OMG ordered too much

After we had enough sun, we make our way to the DQ for a drink we think, not too inviting, so lets go to the restaurant on the beach that has the music, and sit under an umbrella and cool down. This was a good place to cool down, and have lunch. Pierside Grill and Famous Blowfish Bar had all we needed, shade, music, and a couple cold beers, although in plastic cups when you order draught. The food was fantastic, Polly ordered a Seafood Salad, and I hot wings, well this was more than we could eat, and we tried, but had to take some home. Was a nice place to chill in the heat, music was clam now, as changed bands to a single player, made for a nice experience. Was packed when we came in, and thinning out when we left.

We now head out to get the trolley, as we see the weather looks like may rain again, and we were cooked enough on the beach. We get to the trolley stop, and there is an older couple, (yes older than us) waiting for th trolley so we start talking with them. They are not waiting for the trolley, they are staying just down the road, I guess a shade stop. They fill us in on how busy it can be here, they were here through spring break, and was crazy they say, many people, and just too busy. We starts having a good conversation and along comes the trolley, and Bye we say as we move quickly to get this one as we missed the last one, we didn't move quick enough. And off we go again, with a new driver, a woman who was much friendlier than the guy before, she gave us some interesting facts about what was to happen with the trolleys in the next while, and how long the lineups get to get to the beach when busy, they line up on the road sometimes 1 hour long to get from our RV park to the beach, about a mile or two. Gee now we are thinking don't want to be here then. The driver says we are here at just the right time. I think so too.

We step off the trolley and get in the truck and drive next door for a load up at the Walmart, as we are going to be away from that kind of shopping for awhile in the Key's. Walmart is always an experience for me, I like to look around and see what the area is like by watching the people in the store. This one has many different people, and many different races of people. As we make our way through I remember a conversation we had with a woman not long ago, Polly remembers too. We were in Panama Beach City at our RV park in the pool, and we got on the subject about when things will change re race relations, and she said "I think the interracial marriages is what will make it change, as all people then have to get along with each other as they get to know each other better." I think of this every once in awhile, and I say to Polly I think that lady was right, like the saying "Walk a mile in my shoes" you never know what it is like till you are looking at the world through another persons eyes we say, but there experience and how they saw it is what we can't really know until we are close.
This Walmart has many people of many different backgrounds, when people holiday, they all are together in the pool, and that levels the field too, closer is better, then you really get to know each other.

Next stop home for an unpack, and an excited to see us dog. Bosco yips a few times to let us know he missed us, but I can see he just woke up, and will I think he will be wanting a pee after he calms down. Nice to have such a warm greeting when we get home. Unpack, and sit for awhile, snooze now. Wake and lets go for a swim? OK Polly says, beer and a swim is in order. Bosco looks as we leave once again, he is ok with it, well at least that's what he said to me... LOL

We get to the pool and there are a few others cooling down as the sun is out again, we get right in and the conversation starts right away. We realise after a short while we are talking with Canadians from New Brunswick so conversation is good, I always think we come down and across the USA and here we are with people from our own country, interesting. We learn much in a short while, and get an invite to the 1st Annual Rib Fest in Bathurst New Brunswick, now we have another planned stop on our docket. Love how we make this not a plan, into a plan.

We learn many things about where they live, what they like, and don't, Politics come up later, and we all have another laugh. We learn about Lobster, and a little more about the season, and why they fish them when. We also learn what time of the year is best, and where they come form at what time is best too. Education is interesting, I find a pool is as good as it gets to be educated in, I think some of my best learning is happening at the pool as we go right now. Will pay more attention to this as I go.

We make a plan, to attend, and get an e-mail contact, and off we go home, and they the same. They on holiday, 2 weeks away from the cold, and snow, we just on with our retired life. As we leave we all shake hands a introduce ourselves, funny how names are not important to talk with each other, the experiences is what we educate ourselves in. Getting to know each other, and where we are going and where we are from. I forget some of the names, but won't forget one, I shake a mans hand and say Brent, and he says the same... LOL we joke about it, I say I don't know if I can come back here, is this place big enough for 2 Brent's, he says yes a very nice place to stay, he lives here through the winters, and loves it. I get the info from another I will remember for life, his name id Carl Kenny, won't forget that I say, as two guys I worked with  just before I retired.

Life is good here in Fort Myers, Loving this place too!