Bonita Beach, florida

We finally left the Atlantic coast of Florida and headed west. Bonita Beach is located between Naples to the south, and Fort Myers to the north. It really is a lovely spot. Naples is a bit too congested, and Fort Myers is a little too industrial. Bonita seems just right.

Our campground is small, with lots of "regulars" who keep their rigs in the park all year, and either live here full time or spend the winter months here each year. Our neighbors, Art and Mary, have been coming here from Massachusetts for 7 years, and our other new friends, Betty and Lou from Michigan, came here for years before finally settling here. The facilities are clean, and well-maintained. It is quiet, and we are near a beautiful lake at the back of the park.

Our lake

But we are not sure what to make of this...

What the...?

So far the biggest menace has been several large Muscovy ducks who would love a handout. Mary, next door, chases them off with her leaf  blower. Art says they had "a couple of gators here 2 or 3 years ago. I don't know what happened to them."

We started Thanksgiving day with a bike ride to the beach, about 14 miles round trip.  Then we attended a pot luck sponsored by the park's management. It was DELICIOUS. Then we went to a movie.  Ah, retirement!

Yesterday we headed north to Sanibel Island, located on the Gulf of Mexico off of Fort Myers. Aside from some prime sun-soaking-up, we took a meandering drive through the nature preserve and guess who we found?

The true snow birds...American white pelicans

Yep! American white pelicans! If you have been following along with our travels, you will recall that we were impressed with the white pelicans found in Sioux Falls in August. Evidently, these great birds summer up there, and winter down here. They are NOT dumb! But, boy, are they ever big!

The preserve also has gators, and manatees (didn't see either one), butterflies (see above) and over 200 species of birds. We saw lots of those! And, strange to see, there were fish jumping out of the water throughout the park.  We were told they were mullet, and no one had any idea why they were flying around.

We ate lunch at a restaurant called Doc Ford's Rum Bar on the patio, under the palms, with Bird of Paradise and Plumeria, and listening to "White Christmas" and "Sleighride".

Mostly we have just relaxed here. We have spent 5 months bopping around, and it has been nice to spend an entire week in one place.

Hope everyone had a blessed and peaceful Thanksgiving!!