Thursday, April 3, 2014

Last Two Days in Naples

I cannot believe we have been living in Florida for three months.  Now it is time to leave.  I am both sad and happy.  Sad because it is so warm and beautiful here (especially at the beach); happy because I soon will get to see my Massachusetts' friends.  PLUS, I can't wait to start decluttering our condo and preparing to move to Florida this summer!

To prepare for our trip home, Russ vacuumed all the sand out of our car.  There was a LOT of sand!


proof that our roof is STILL not tiled completely


view of our condo from the back (notice the tile IS done up top)
I will miss this view from the couch!
 The next to the last day in Naples had to include another morning at Delnor-Wiggin Pass State Park beach:

caught the pelicans in flight!
pelicans finding food
I will miss the birds.



 We were thrilled to get to see our friends Harry and Dorothea sitting on one of the benches.  They are so nice!  They both have a sense of humor that perfectly complements Russ's!



It took us three months to get to do this, but we finally walked to the observation tower located off parking lot #5.  The boardwalk that leads to the tower is filled with signs explaining things seen along the way:



young wild coffee beans (sorry that this is a blurry shot!)

part of the path
the tower (and Russ!) 
too bad the tower isn't higher (can you spot the gulf?)
looking south towards Vanderbilt
looking northwest towards the gulf
a very handsome Russ
Russ waving 
a bad "selfie" of me (had to prove I went swimming in the gulf!)
more of the boardwalk nature path
leaving the path and entering parking lot #5
explains the how "Delnor" got in the name of the state park (DELnora NORris who gave the land)
one more look at the beach
traffic jam entering the "full" park
The "Vi" sign between the car and the truck was the only way we knew where Emerald Bay's entrance was (opposite the sign)...don't drive by Vi!


Sunday, March 30, 2014

Back in Naples!

The last few days have been very relaxing.  We got to go to Rib City on Wednesday (fifty cents beer night).  Once again, my baby back ribs were melt-in-your-mouth yummy!

Yikes...I already had two of my ribs before taking this photo!
our favorite waitress, Melissa!!!
We are spending a LOT of time at the beach this last week here in Naples.  The weather has been much cooler (high 60s, low 70s).  We even had rain one afternoon and evening.

more spring breakers having fun
another sand castle - - my least favorite of our trip 

a bit windy; my jacket came off soon after this photo since I was hot wearing it

backing out of our beach parking space...LOVE our car's back-up camera!
state park road

heading back to the condo from the beach...bridge ahead of us
view from the bridge
Roof tiling continues to progress slowly back at Emerald Bay.  The rate this is going, our roof will not be completed by the time we leave to head up North.

roof tiling.....where to park?
back view of some of the units here at Emerald Bay...no new roof yet for this building
our Naples condo.....best rental ever!
getting sick of tiling!!!
some progress is being made...slow progress
Another day, another chance to go to the beach!

We have been watching this downed palm tree get buried more and more with each tide.


pelican flying over pass
yup, another pelican photo
one of the paths that leads from a parking lot to the beach
sandwiches at the beach for supper


Russ at a distance...
Russ up close!

We watched the fishermen for a while.  There was even a man fishing with a net.  No one was catching any fish.


one of parking lot #5's paths
 The next morning, we were back at the beach!





spot the coquinas burying themselves
spot the sand mermaid; terribly constructed hands and head
although the body and fins were impressive

The past few days we also checked out Lowe's and Home Depot.  We began looking at closet organizers, garage storage systems, pendant lighting, patio furniture, etc. for our new house.  It was quite fun!

traffic at the long light on Immokalee at the Tamiami intersection...in January and February all lanes were filled with cars; now many snow birders have returned North
tiling continues...even on Saturdays

Today Russ and I spotted our German beach friends, Harry and Dorothea.  (We had been looking for them the past few days.)  We spent over two hours with them this morning!


Russ, Harry, and I took a walk to the pass.

pelicans flying in the distance



my friends, the birds