Plish & John visit Thurs May 22 2014

Thursday was our final day together for this trip.  Understandably, they wanted some time on their own and to get ready for their long trip back home on Saturday.  We decided to go to Naples to the Depot Museum. It was a very nicely organized display of how transportation shaped Naples' evolution.  The caretaker there suggested we lunch at The Dock at Crayton Cove.  After that, we went to Tin City, which is a long standing market place on the Gordon River.  All in all, it was a very good day, the only downside being it was the last we would have with our friends for now.  But, we are looking forward to seeing them in the fall when we go to New Jersey.

Sorry, folks, the ticket window is closed, and has been for at least 40 years..

While I was looking at the displays in this room, a train whistle blew, and all of a sudden, the  four windows filled with a moving picture of  a locomotive pulling a train.

 Plish and a representation of a Seminole Indian in his dugout canoe.

 

Bob and I actually stayed at this motel the first time we came to Naples in 1989.

 

One of the first "swamp buggies".

 

 

 



 

At the Dock restaurant

 

View from the restaurant

 





 

One of the entrances to Tin City

John took Royal Scoop's offer of a free sample and tried some strawberry cheese cake ice cream.

 

A candle maker who obviously enjoys her work!

 





 

 My find of the century at a toy and magic shop in Tin City... a version of a hand held game I had as a child.  This one is made of stainless steel and called Fifteen Puzzles, but is basically the same game where you slide the tiles to make numbers appear in a particular sequenced pattern.  Audrey & T, thank you, but your search is over, as is our lovely time with John & Plish. 

















Plish & John Visit - Mon thru Wed

Monday, we hit the road and first went to Northern Tool for the "Home Improvement" guys to see what was there that they had to have.  Plish & I looked over the odd lot section where you could find gems like Monkey Butt Powder and wooden guns to shoot elastic bands.  From there, we hit a couple of thrift stores.  Having worked up an appetite, we lunched at Doc's Beach House, a two story restaurant on the beach that has been there for at least as long as Bob and I have been in Bonita, which is 25 years.  Unfortunately, no photos because I couldn't find my camera.  Thankfully, I did recover it the next day...hidden under my rain coat in the back of my car.

Tuesday  John & Mary Anne drove 4 hours up to New Port Richey to visit an elder uncle of John's who is in a nursing home there, and whom they haven't seen for many years.  It really made "Uncle Bobby's" day to have them there.

Wednesday, they came over in the afternoon, and Plish and I enjoyed some time in the pool.

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Visit from Plish & John - Day 1 May 18th 2014

John and Plish took the Amtrack auto train from VA to Sanford, FL, and then drove to their condo rental,  The Caribbean Club, in Ft Myers Beach.  They got here late on Saturday, the 17th, so we made plans to get together the next day.  Bob was at one of the pool tournament playoffs, so I met  The Dorers at their rental on the beach and spent a few hours there.  Later, they came over to our house, and after Bob got back from the tournament (unfortunately finishing second), we had dinner and a good time "catching up."

 



 



 

 

Yes, we have no bananas, because Mary Anne bought out the store!

 

Fun Photos May 5 - 7 2014

A raccoon at the next camp site looking for s'mores.

Our camp neighbor guiding her husband into the site using a red flag (folded umbrella)

Bob removing the underside air deflector that somehow come loose.  At least this time, he didn't have to fix a flat (at least not so far).

A "client" waiting her turn at Ramona's Salon  in Stuart

 

Lady rinsing one of her 2 dogs after their romp on the beach

 

The lady on the left meant to hit the faucet for her feet, but accidentally hit the one that came out on her head.  On the other side, a fisherman was using the shower for his equipment. 

 

 

Hobe Sound - Wed May 7th 2014

From Hutchinson, we headed south to Hobe Sound, named after the Native American Jove Indians.  In the land boom of the 1920's, the city was renamed  "Picture City" because it was intended to be a prime location for filming motion pictures.  However, after the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane, the boom went bust, and the town reverted to Hobe Sound.  Here we found another lovely beach area, again with ample free parking, covered picnic area, and one that also allowed pets on leashes outside of the area protected by  life guards.  There is a drawbridge leading to the beach and part of the road is lined with huge trees.  Again, as in the parks and on bridges, there were several benches along the way for pedestrians to relax and enjoy the scenery.

 

 

 





 



Hutchinson Island - House of Refuge Wed May 7 2014

After enjoying the beach breezes, we doubled back and stopped at the House of Refuge.  It is the last of approximately 10 sites on Florida's coast  that were built to aid ship wrecked sailors.  During World War II it was used as a look out for enemy submarines.  In 1904, the inn keeper tended to 7 survivors of the Georges Valentine.  That ship had left Pensacola bound for Buenos Aires.  It had made it almost to Cuba when a storm in the Florida Straits blew it up the coast for 3 days to Hutchinson Island where it wrecked in the shallows.  The Georges Valentine is now the 11th historical site in Florida's Underwater Archaeological Preserve.   This area is also renowned for the "Anastasia Formation", rocks formed from sand and coquina limestone that were deposited in the late Pleistocene epoch.  These formations can be found along Florida's coast from St John's County down to Palm Beach.

 

 







 



Hutchinson Island - Liviing Reef Wed May 7 2014

Wednesday we headed to Hutchinson Island, a barrier island north of Stuart.  On the south end, homes and condos line a very small spit of island with the Atlantic on one side and the inlet on the other.  The beach there was wonderful...free parking, a gazebo with several benches, and dogs allowed if leashed.  The shore line has a series of live reefs formed by a type of sea worm.











Trip to Florida's East Coast May 2014

On Monday, May 5, we headed to Stuart to spend a few days at an Army Corps of Engineers park on the St Lucie Canal in order to re-connect with someone I've known since grade school, but hadn't seen since high school...Jo Marie and her husband Pat.  We took a leisure back route thru Clewiston and Belle Glades cane fields, then into Stuart.  The park is another of the lock sites along the Okeechobee Waterway, and as with most ACE parks, it is beautifully maintained. 

 

Pat & Jo Marie