Two Week Visit

We were lucky enough to be able to share our lifestyle with a visitor for two weeks. My sister left the cold and snowy north to stay with us in our Airstream while it was in Paradise Park in the middle of south Florida.

It was not all sun tanning by the pool and beach walks – although we did that too. 

In a trailer park full of seniors and golf nuts, there are other diversions. Sitting outside in the warm afternoon with wine and a book was a favourite.

So was scrutinizing each piece of a jig saw puzzle left out in the recreation center for anyone that could help put it together.

It was important to us to share the surprises we had previously found in the area, and being explorers, to seek out new ones, as well.

So, on one cool and rainy January day, we drove into Punta Gorda to check out the Fisherman’s Village. This is a pier on Charlotte Harbour just off the Gulf of Mexico that is lined with boutiques and restaurants and just roofed enough to keep out most of the rain.

I also shared my love of honey hunting. In the local Farmer’s Market that day, we found both peach and Brazilian Pepper honey. These have now been added to my collection at home. 

Brazilian Pepper is an invasive bush that was introduced to Florida as a decorative addition to someone’s garden, and has now spread over a large area. 

It also produces a great tasting honey! And Hubby is experimenting with the fruit to add to our pepper spices.

We waited for a warmer and sunny day to take our visitor to Shark Valley, which we had experienced earlier in our trip. A visit to Florida just isn't complete if you can't get up close and personal with an alligator.

And this big fellow decided the walkway was just the spot for a bit of sun bathing.

Together, we discovered the joys of Sanibel Island. Althought the island is a great place for hiking and biking, we decided to leave those things for another day and just drove through the Wildlife Refuge to see the flocks of white pelicans and sandpipers.

We also enjoyed a picnic lunch at the white sand beach that runs all along the Gulf Coast side of the island. The sand is white because it consists of shells - millions of ground shells and fragments of shells.

And many beautiful full shells, that people walk along the surf to find. It is known as one of the best places for shell collecting.

We couldn't resist taking my sister to see the Lippizanner stallions in training. We had been there a couple of years previously, but it is something that never grows old.

We even got to see them preparing the horses in their stall before they went to work.

A new trip for us was the drive to Fort Myers for the Medieval Faire. We saw a chess game with human players, involving Vikings and Englishmen.

And we couldn’t leave without watching the jousting match. Those horses were carrying big men dressed in armour, and yet still willingly ran toward each other down the field.

It was a great time and we loved having someone else learn the joys of living in a trailer with little to no privacy. My sister adapted well.

I just wish she and I could have finished the jig saw puzzle before she left.

W

Out of the Woods

We’re out of the woods, but not out of the woods.

As far as adventure goes.

Although we’ve come out of the Everglades and Big Cypress National Parks and relocated to a nice, quiet, civilized trailer park, our excursions into the wilder side of Florida have not ended.

Don’t forget, we pack our own entertainment.

We are still making use of the canoe on top of the truck, for more than just using it to see our truck in busy parking lots. Although, I can recommend that as a good trick during the Christmas shopping rush.

Our bicycles have also come out of the back seat. Myself, I prefer a flat and paved pathway to cycle on, however I don’t always get to choose. 

We found a mountain biking trail in a regional park nearby. I figured, it’s Florida. How “mountainy” can it be?

We followed a family group into the “Easy” trail. After that, they outpaced me and I never saw them again. I didn’t realize that “easy” meant sharp dips and hillocks along a narrow dirt path that may or may not have a drop off on one side. And where there isn’t a drop off, for sure there is a tree in the way.

I crawled along the path slowly, constantly riding my brakes while trying to keep hubby in my sight. He was patient enough to wait for me several times.

And good enough to point out the better ways around the bumpy parts.

There are very few hills in Florida, but the first part of the trail manages to wind up and down the one in that area. 

And when the creators of the trail ran out of hill, they had the trail run along a lovely flat field – and threw in a few man-made hills and bumps.

I may never be the same. It’s certain my hind parts won’t be.

But don’t be thinking that all our adventures are the sit down kind. We also have other equipment in our magic truck. Hiking boots and poles are standard wherever we go.

We went down one little trail several times over the course of our stay. It boasts unusual wildlife. Above and beyond the normal deer, squirrels, and birds, this park is home to wild hogs.

Wild hogs are skittish creatures, and hard to spot. It is easy to tell when they are in the area, though, because they make a mess of the ground. They dig huge holes into the sand of the trail and around the palm trees trying to find roots and grubs to eat.

My sharp-eyed hubby saw the first pig, under a low tree and camouflaged by his short stature and dark, coarse hair. When the beast noticed us, he took off like a shot from a standstill in a sprint that would make a Maserati jealous. I had no time to aim my camera or even get it out of my pocket.

We even managed to sneak up on another couple of them as they crossed the trail in front of us. This time I was prepared with the camera and grabbed a shot before they disappeared.

We have three more weeks in this area before we move to the urban sprawl of the east coast of Florida.

And hopefully, we’ll be out of the woods by then.

W