Day 5: September 30,
On our first full day in Fort, Myers, we spent running errands.
First, we went to the post office to mail my daughter's former renter his keys and to change her mailing address.
Next, we went to Verizon to return the internet box, that my daughter used while living in Providence
We stopped at Famous Dave's at 1:13pm in the Villas for lunch, this is one of my favorite places to eat.
We both ordered a bowl of Collard greens with ham hock, two muffins of cornbread, three mouthwatering ribs, Coleslaw, and water with lemon.
At 2:30PM we were at my daughter's new job, where she filled out paperwork, while I sat patiently in the lobby playing dominos on my iPhone.
Our next stop was Tin City, which is a rustic, maritime area that once was the center of the Naples fishing industry.
It is now a boardwalk with tin top buildings that overlook the water.
With a sign pointing to Tin City Restaurants, Waterfront Dining, Riverwalk Restaurant, and M&M Cafe.
M & M Cafe, serves lunch, coffee, and Ice cream. They had a great selection of ice creams, I had a hard time making up my mind what flavor to select.
I decided on two dips of Chocolate Heath Bar in a waffle cone.
It was delicious! I could not eat it fast enough, It was dripping to high heaven.
🚒
We heard the sirens from fire trucks, they had come to put out a fire in the building next door.
We rode back to the Verizon whereby the daughter bought a new iPhone and IPad.
We watched TV until bedtime.
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| Tin City |
Day 6: Thursday, October 1
Our first stop today was CV Pharmacy, my daughter bought several personal hygiene items.
We rode to Cracker Barrel where we split a big breakfast.
I ate sausage, egg, and toast with ice tea. 🍴
My daughter ate eggs, sausage, bisques, gravy, & grits with ice tea, to drink.
We spent the remainder of the day at
Paul Mitchell's Hair of Design, getting our hair done.
Wendy gave me ninety degrees or Gyspy Shag haircut.
We talked while she styled my hair, and she told me that she would graduate in December.
Wendy’s supervisor was Ana.
Wendy had to fill out a sheet about my hair,
She marked my hair as a medium, and I liked fullness and volume.
She used extra body for the shampoo and conditioner.
She blew my hair dry and added body sculpturing.
My daughter has extensions in her hair, which take longer to color and style.
It was late when they finished and I was getting hungry.
We went to Red Robin Restaurant for dinner.
I had received a free birthday meal coupon so, I used the coupon to order a Red's Tavern Double Hamburger with, two classic-sized patties melted cheese, tomatoes, and Red's Secret Tavern Sauce, with onion rings, and water to drink. 🍔
My daughter ordered a Merry Moscato Punch. 🍺📞
Next, we stopped at Verizon to download the information from my daughter's old iPhone.
They had sent the old phone to the parent company.
We rode by Sally’s but she had already closed for the day.
We rode back to the apartment, and my daughter started unloading her car. I fell asleep on the sofa.
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| Breakfast at Cracker Barrel Sausage, eggs, gravy, grits, biscuits |
Day 7: Friday, October 2
Our first stop was the Drivers License Bureau, so my daughter could get her Florida driver's license.
We went to Farmers Market Restaurant in Fort Myers for lunch.
We both ordered Collard greens, Black-eyed peas with ham hock, onion, cornbread ice tea.
We rode to the Farmers Market Mall where, we
bought an iPhone cover, bananas, and tomatoes. ☎️
Next, we rode to the Post Office along the waterfront in Fort Myers.
While my daughter was taking care of business at the post office I walked across the street to the waterfront
I took a picture of Mayor Art Hamel Pier, & Red Mango Rhizophara Mangle Mangrove.
I took pictures of coconut trees, statues, and a sign, Boaters guide Captain P. Wheel Boat, clean water for a Healthy Ecosystem.
I walked back to the car only to find my daughter looking for a lost check.
She said when she got out of her car she could not find the check she was going to mail.
She wrote another check and mailed it but wanted to find the one she lost because she did not want someone to cash it.
As we were leaving the parking lot, my daughter spotted a piece of paper, it was the check.
We rode to Sanibel Island, stopping to pay a six-dollar toll.
We stopped to take pictures of the Sanibel Lighthouse.
We spotted a group of bicycle riders, riding along the waterfront.
We stopped near a fence overlooking the water where I took several pictures and one of the riders said, do you want me to take your picture?
We stopped to take a picture of a sign that read, gopher tortoise crossing.
We stopped at Sanibel Historical Village, it was closed for the season.
We stopped at Bailey Matthews Shell Museum, it was closed for the season.
We stopped at the SCCF Marine Laboratory where we walked a couple of trails.
We rode back across the COs-way, stopping to watch the sunset, on the Sanibel coastline.
I took several pictures with my cell phone, I forgot to bring my big camera.
At 7:30PM we went to Laugh-in Comedy Cafe, where we enjoyed listening to several different comedians. I ordered a Coke, and my daughter ordered a mixed drink and some sort of chili chips dip. 🍺
It had been a full day for me so when the show ended we came home. My daughter went back to the comedy club where she joined the comedians for a drink.
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| Sunset on Sanibel Island |
Day 8: Saturday, October 3
Our breakfast consisted of oatmeal.
We rode to Everglade City, the gateway to the Ten Thousand Islands located near Florida’s southern tip, southeast of Naples.
We stopped in front of the Historic Community Church, the bells ring every hour, they were ringing when we stopped.
The church was built about 1926, it had a white wooden triangle roof, with a red front door, a ludic arch walkway, and a bell tower.
We stopped in front of the historic courthouse, a two-story white concrete building with a four-column front porch, a black iron balcony with seven steps leading up to the front porch with black iron hand railings, and a triangular roof over the porch.
We stopped in front of the Captain Table Hotel, it was orange, yellow, and blue, with air conditioners hanging from every window.
We stopped in front of the green and white felt top roof B&B with the red door covered by red awing with air conditioners hanging from every room.
We stopped at the Museum of The Everglades Collier County Museum located in a pink & white building, with a glass front door, with four long, square windows in front of a three tear triangular gray roof. The museum houses permanent and rotating exhibits. We saw Stone Crab, lobsters, a large board describing, Building the Town, Barron Gift Collier, Everglades Laundry, a poster from a couple of movies made here, Gone Fishing, and Just Cause. We saw a scale of 11 inches-400 of the Everglades in 1931.
In 1927, this building was used for commercial laundry.
Last but not least I took pictures of the tall red hurricane tower. 📷
We stopped at Triad Seafood Market and Cafe a small family-owned restaurant, where we ordered grilled Grouper, with Coleslaw, fries hush puppies, and water with lemon to drink.
Triad Seafood Market and Cafe are located at 401 School Drive Everglade City, Florida.
Tours depart from parks docks on Chokoloskee Causeway on Rt 29 one-half mile south of the traffic circle at the ranger station Everglade City, Florida.
We arrived at Ranger Station Everglades National park, where we bought tickets for the Seahorse boat cruise.
On the cruise, our guide pointed out ospreys, roseate spoonbills, dolphins, bald eagles, but no manatees. ⛵️
It was an enjoyable ride, everyone was moving from side to side of the boat trying to take pictures of the dolphins.
On the boat, we met a woman from New Jersey she said that she loved to travel.
When the ride ended we thanked our guides.
We rode to the Everglades Observatory Tower
A wooden structure, 80 feet high, with 100 steps.
When we reached the top, we could see for miles in every direction.
We saw the mangroves, the water of the Everglades, and the ten thousand islands.
Slowly we climbed down to the ground.
We rode to H.P. Williams Roadside Park a part of the Big Cypress National Preserve.
We saw a couple of Alligators, Cypress Trees, Egrets, Bromeliads, Wood Storks, Cypress Knees, and Orchids.
We saw a sign that read Wildlife & You how you behave can save.
The thrill of watching an animal in its native surroundings can be spectacular and awe-inspiring. While visiting remember this is their home and you are a guest. Respect wildlife by observing from a distance and by not feeding or harassing them.
We saw another sign:
Big Cypress National Preserve
Rain-the Swamp’s Lifeblood
National Preserve Map
Detail Map
Wildlife Viewing
Big Cypress Alligators
Imagine alligator relatives dating back to the days of dinosaurs, over 150 million years ago.
Fighting an Invasion
Ebb and Flow
Birds of Big Cypress.
We stopped at the 7x8 foot Ochopee Post Office, the smallest post office in the world.
It was once used as an irrigation pipe shed for a tomato farm.
Considered to be the smallest post office in the United States, this building was formerly an irrigation pipe shed belonging to the J. T. Gaunt Company tomato farm.
It was hurriedly pressed into service by postmaster Sidney Brown after a disastrous night fire in 1953 burned Ochopee’s general store and post office.
The present structure has been in continuous use ever since—as both a post office and ticket station for Trailways bus lines—and still services residents in a three-county area, including deliveries to Seminole and Miccosukee Indians living in the region. Daily business often includes requests from tourists and stamp collectors the world over the famed Ochopee postmark.
The property was acquired by the Wooten Family in 1992.
It was getting late and we were both very hungry.
I had a coupon for a free birthday dinner at
Ruby Tuesday, so we looked online to find the closest Ruby Tuesday.
We stopped to get a Togo order.
I ordered a hamburger with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, with fries, which I split with my daughter.
We had a great time but still had to ride home.
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| Happy Alligator at the Everglades |
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| Happy Alligator at the Everglades |
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| Triad Seafood Market and Cafe Grouper, Coleslaw, fries & hush puppies |
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| Triad Seafood Market and Cafe |
Day 9: Sunday, October 4
My daughter slept late so, I spent most of the day watching TV.
My daughter's roommate and her boyfriend went to the beach.
We rode to Olive Garden for supper.
I ordered the Garden Classic Shrimp Scampi & slice of Pumpkin cheesecake. I had a birthday coupon for a free dessert. My daughter said mom, you have celebrated your birthday many times this year.
For supper, my daughter ordered a bowl of soup and a salad. 🍲
We got a Togo box for our leftovers.
We went to Walmart to buy a few groceries. I bought a box of granola bars and a six-pack of diet cokes.
My daughter had two keys made for her apartment.
One of the keys, that they made, did not work. My daughter's roommate went back to Walmart to return the key.
My daughter finished with her laundry.
She and her roommate went to a club in Fort Myers.
Day 10; Monday, October 5
My daughter worked from 8:00AM-5:00PM.
I slept later than usual.
For breakfast I ate avocado dip, with two crackers, I ate a Granola Bar, and drank a Coke.
After breakfast, I wrote in my journal.
I called my cousin Lynn, and we talked about the Family reunion the family was having in Michigan. I said I could not attend because I would be in Fort Myers until the twenty of October.
My daughter's roommate’s boyfriend took her to Everglades City National Park.
My daughter stopped at Long Johns Silver and bought
fish, shrimp, slaw & hush puppies for supper.
That night we watched the movie Gammie
Shelter, the movie was based on a true story.
Day 11: Tuesday, October 6
My daughter worked 8:00AM-5:00PM
I washed clothes.
I went with Jackie to the post office, Verizon and Walmart.
Jackie and I spent the day getting to know each other.
For supper, Jackie grilled chicken, I fried potatoes, my daughter made avocado
Dip.
For a snack, I ate a cup of chocolate-covered shortbread cookies
That night we all watched the movie Bosses 2 📺
Day 12: Wednesday, October 7
My daughter worked 8:00AM-7:30PM.
Another lonesome day. I made a few phone calls, one to my hubby and another to my sister.
Jackie’s boyfriend, Zac, came over for a few hours, after he left Jackie and I rode to Fed-x, dollar store, Sally's, Goodwill, & Verizon.
When my daughter got off work she and Jackie went out clubbing.
I spent the evening watching old TV shows.
Carol Burnett, Perry Mason, Hogan Hero’s, Lavern & Shirley, Andy Griffen, and Mash.
Day 13: Thursday, October 8
My daughter and I both got a pedicure and a manicure at Asian Nails 6900 Daniel Pky 89
Fort Myers 239-561-0262.
My pedicure was ruby red and the pedicure was natural.
It was very relaxing as the chair massaged our back, legs, and arms.
When we finished we stopped at Rib City 6830 Shoppers and Plantation Drive Ft Myers 239-225-7427.
We both ordered a turkey sandwich on Texas toast and Coleslaw. I ordered green beans and my daughter ordered baked beans
We both ordered water with lemon.
We stopped at Walmart where I bought bagels with cream cheese, granola bars, pumpkin pie, cereals, limes dove, power, baby lotion, wipes, and cottage cheese.
We returned home then my daughter and Jackie left, when they returned they had a beautiful bouquet of lavender lilies and a birthday card that read
"Mom
You taught me how to help, why not to judge, and when to let things be
All I had to do was to watch you"
Celebrating you today for the woman you are
an example you've always been
Happy Birthday Love you mom
Your Daughter
Love you always Jackie
Happy Birthday
That night we watched the last movie made by Robin Williams
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| Flowers and Birthday Card |
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| Turkey sandwich on Texas toast |
Day 14: Friday, October 9
For breakfast, I ate cereals, a bagel with cream cheese, and a banana.
My daughter slept late and when she got up she went to tan. When she returned she did her eyelashes, and she did Jackie’s eyes lashes.
We rode to Famous Dave's for dinner around 2:30PM🍴
I ordered ribs, brisket on toast, collard greens, onion, and cornbread with water.
My daughter ordered catfish filets, brisket on toast, collard greens, onion, cornbread, and water with lemon.
I told the manager that today was my birthday, and she said that we should fill out their card so, that we could receive their coupons every month.
We rode to Fort Myers Beach, people were getting ready for the Pirate Festival, and the traffic was terrible.
We rode across the bridge (Big Carlos Pass) to the Mound House on Estero Island, where we saw an Iguana on the side of the road.
🐉
We had just seen a sign that read do not feed the wild animals. I said, what wild animals? My daughter spotted an Iguana.
We stopped to take his pictures until he scurried into the brush.
We saw a sign that read the park gate closed at 4:30PM.
We saw a woman walking her dog in the park so we asked her if she thought it would be okay to park. The gate closes at 4:40PM and it would be okay for us to park.
At the Mound House Park, we saw a butterfly garden, as we walked to the pier.
The Mound House had an underground tunnel.
As we walked along the paths of the Mound House we saw mango trees, lime trees, & coconut trees. We saw a couple coconuts lying on the ground. We picked up the coconuts so we could take pictures, while we were holding them. We returned them to the ground where we found them when we finished taking pictures.
We saw a sign that read
A Case of Fruit From the Case Grove
By the 1900s settlers were raising tropical fruit with some success. The coastal hammock, or hardwood trees west of the mounds was converted into orchards and fields.
This was where William and Milia Case raised figs, bananas, grapefruit, mango, papayas, tomatoes, and limes.
They sold their fruit at local markets.
Fort Myers Cash Crops
Farming was the predominant industry on the island as well as on the mainland.
Many farmers experimented with growing a wide variety of products such as grapes, avocados, grapefruit, oranges, sapodillas, peaches, pineapples, coconut, and peaches.
Eventually, the pineapple became Florida's Cash Crop.
Next, we rode to Benita Springs State Park.
My daughter parked the car and we walked across a wooden bridge to the water's edge.
I pulled off my sandals and put my feet into the water, which was a big mistake because I could not get the sand off my feet.
I thought I would wipe my feet off in the grass, another mistake because it was full of tiny prickly weeds called Nikerbeans that stuck tightly to my feet.
Quickly I began to remove the prickly from my feet and put my shoes on. This was a beach where you had to wear shoes.
We took several pictures📷
I saw my daughter venture into the Nikerbeans, she did not stay long there.
When we returned to the car I found the bottom of my shoes were covered in Nikerbeans and I tried to beat them off.
We rode back to Fort Myers Beach Front to the Pirates Festival.
My daughter parked the car and she went to put money in the meter. I walked toward the booths of the Pirates.
I was talking to one of the pirates when I heard my name called, it was my granddaughter.
She was driving along with her boyfriend, Logan, her mom, and step-dad. They said that they were going to SOB's Restaurant to eat. I said that we would meet them there for drinks that we had already eaten.
My daughter and I started walking up the street. We were not sure where SOBS was located. I saw a man walking down the sidewalk and I asked him if he knew where SOBS was located. He said, I don’t know, I am not from around here.
I bet he thought I was crazy for asking such a silly question.
I saw a sign in the distance that read sobs. I just realized what I had just said, I started to laugh. When we arrived at SOB’s, I was greeted with a hug from my granddaughter and her boyfriend. They had saved us a spot at their table.
My granddaughter's step-dad ordered everyone drinks and a large plate of raw oysters.
My granddaughter and her boyfriend ordered a hamburger with fries, she said they had not eaten all day.
Her boyfriend said that this was his first time flying, that he had enjoyed the flight very much.
Our table was next to the sidewalk, at first, the sun was so bright that it was blinding.
It was hard to take pictures facing the sun.😙☀️
I tried to take pictures with my big camera but it had telephoto lenses on it.
I was setting too close to any pictures with my big camera. I did take a few with my cell phone.
My daughter got some great shots with her new iPhone six.
The Pirates were going from bar to bar getting refills of beer and chatting with the customers.
Tomorrow was the big day, at 1PM there was going to be a battle using black powder.
The woman that was telling me this was a pirate. Her captain was a woman and everyone aboard their ship was a woman.
After we finished eating and drinking we walked up the street toward the pier.
By this time it was very dark, we could see people swimming in the ocean. 🌌
I stopped to take pictures, and my granddaughter and her group disappeared.
My daughter and I stopped to watch a little girl dance, then my daughter went to the restroom.
I took a picture of a group of pirates with this disabled boy and his mother with her cell phone.
My daughter said if we are going to stay we need to put more money in the parking meter, but by the time we arrived at the car we were both hot and sweaty so we decided to leave.
We stopped at Walmart to return the two movies but we had only watched one. We watched the last Robin Williams film. It was a very dark film, I did not care for the movie.
We stopped at Chick-fil-a for ice cream.
My daughter ordered a kid's grilled chicken meal, and it came with ice cream.
It had been a long day I watched TV until I fell asleep. 📺
It was late when my daughter went to bed.
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| Iguana |
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| Attending the Pirate Festival |
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| Pirates festival |
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| Famous Dave's |
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| Mound House Estero Island & Fort Myers Beach, Fl |
Visit Fort Myers and Everglade City!
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