Sunday, April 23, 2017

Girls Florida Vacation Day 6

Cape Coral Florida
April 10th 2017

Love the Boats name

We enjoyed much of the morning simply relaxing, but had a late lunch date with one of Kelly's former co-workers at Rumrunners at Cape Harbour.

The restaurant was located within this little utopia of sorts. Everything you need (maybe lacking a convenience store, but I may be wrong) you could find in this little yacht based community. Our first stop with the Rumrunner restaurant. We were seated right on the dock, which was really more of a parking lot for boats and the river the roadway.



There were not that many out on the river today, but I am sure that during the peak season this is a bustling community. Some time before the meal was spent daydreaming of a life on the sea. Yes wouldn't it be nice.


I later asked Mark "Can we get a boat?" My husband who almost always at least indulges my fantasies was an IMMEDIATE NO!!!!

Kelly's friends Stacey and Leighanne as well as Stacey's mother joined us for lunch. 
I had a very yummy French onion soup and a salad.
One thing I have learned while visiting Florida is that most FOODS (at least on these coasts) are some sort of FISH. I am not a fish eater. I will eat tuna from a can and I have been known to chow down on a McDonald's filet of Fish...but all those longed for fish meals including clams, oysters, lobster or any other animal that once inhabited the sea does not seem to be on my food pallet. I'll admit I have a strange likes and dislikes of food. For example on my hate list is onions BUT I love French onion soup. I can't eat a tomato but have no problems with ketchup or tomato sauce. I'll eat carrots, but not cooked. Weird yes...of course I have not wasted away...I still manage to find foods I like, but while visiting I found my choices were less and less.....

After our lunch walked the community in search of The French Press. The French Press had a little bit of everything I'll eat.....Chocolate,...and some yummy gelato.

Stacey had mentioned that the chocolate was really good yesterday and we all viewed some of the fancy desserts they offer online. One I had taken an interest in was chocolate was made to look like a glass slipper. I searched for one at the store but no luck. There were some very pretty chocolates however.....

after a few taste tests, (we literally could have tried every kind if we wanted.) I settled on a mint chocolate chip gelato.
We all enjoyed our desserts on the deck overlooking the miles of parked yachts.  I googled Cape harbour as I was not sure how to explain this place. It is described as a Marina (which makes sense) but it is not like any Marina back home.
There are several condo's located within the community as well.


We found a nice spot on the deck to enjoy our desserts.






After finishing up our yummy's we enjoyed the many boutiques. It was all a little to expensive for my blood, but the things were super cute. They had many silk screened printed shirts made by the same artist who paints the Norwegian ships. Guy Harvey. Love this cute little flamingo one.
There was also an art store that had the most adorable hand made pieces. Very pricey but SOOOO CUTE! (no pictures were allowed.)
It was quite an afternoon. We simply enjoyed the weather and the company. I could certainly get used to this lifestyle. Oh the lifestyles of the rich and maybe not famous.
The evening was spent at the house. Kelly's son Matt finally indulged his mother and took a dip in the pool.




Another incredible day in Florida.

Friday, April 21, 2017

Girls vacation Florida Day 5

Cape Coral, Avea, Buckingham and Matlacha,  Florida
April 9th 2017



Our time with Kelly's eldest son Joseph and his girlfriend Sarah had come to an end. We planned a breakfast together with Sarah's father in the area where Kelly used to live in Lee county.

Breakfast was at this popular Alva diner,  We enjoyed diner food which was pretty good and a great price before visiting with some horses.



Kelly wanted to take us to a place she affectionately called "Church" and as it was Sunday why not. Apparently they have or rather had a Sunday morning bloody Mary to die for. Well we arrived and guess what...the place was closed. We did walk the very attractive grounds and I took some pictures.



Having been dashed of the "church" experience we instead went to a little bar down the street called The Buckingham Blues Bar. Let me just say it was an experience. Apparently they play some pretty awesome music, but it was a tiny dark bar with no music when we arrived. I am guessing its a local thing. When we walked in the few people there did a long look....One quick drink and were outta here. I had a diet coke....as I was DD. Lets go....



The afternoon was spent at a local public beach in Cape Coral.  The Cape Coral Yacht club beach. Alexis was off with her new friend CJ, Patti was looking forward to a day sitting by the pool and Matt was still sleeping. Kelly and I were ready for more adventure and we ended us meeting her friends Stacey and LeighAnne.

Cape Coral Yacht Club beach is located in the bay, so there is no real ocean waves. It kind of reminded me of many of the NY lakes both in color as well as the slight waves that came into the shore.



I am told the term is Brackish which is the mix of both river water and ocean water. I spent some time speaking with a women who was enjoying the beach. She resides in Matlacha. She reported she lives in a tiny RV park. Her reports of both Matlacha and RV held my interest and we spoke for some time. She had been sitting directly behind us when I spotted what I thought may be a jellyfish.....



what do you think? Is this a jellyfish? The women I had spoken to suggested that we encourage the kids to get away as jellyfish often do not travel alone and they do sting. Stacey, LeighAnne, Kelly and I discussed cures to Jellyfish stings including urination. We couldn't find this method on google. Only a "Friends" episode reference.


I thought Jellyfish looked more like balloons floating on the ocean. This guy was clearly in the water. He could have easily passed as a plastic bag or a bit of ocean kelp.

It was all pretty fascinating.
We all enjoyed the sun and breeze through the rest of the afternoon. Nice!.








Stacey's boys had a great time playing football between the small waves.
If you look close there is a bird in that Palm tree. I don't know what kind, but he was playful over our little sunny spot. 

We ended the beach afternoon with plans to meet up for dinner at Matlacha. Bert's was recommended by Kelly's ex husband. (Ex or not the place was great.)
It was back at the house that we started to see these little black bugs. They were coming in droves and seemed to be attracted to us. Patti and I did a beat down as they seemed to be coming in just to get us. Kelly initially thought they were "noseeums" and told us they BITE!!! AGGAHHHH! they were everywhere. Get inside! Once we went into the house they seemed to disappear.
Off to dinner then.

We had originally hoped to eat on the deck outside...but those tiny black bugs were back. Kelly finally asked someone what they were. Well....they are not noseeums, but LOVEBUGS!!! Well they sure do love us...
I was then informed that "lovebugs" were developed in a college lab to cut down the mosquito population. "Did it work?" I asked! NOPE still mosquito's and these buggers are even more annoying. They are pretty stupid too. Several would fly into things land upside down or dive in to drinks.
Just for the record I researched and NO Love bugs were not developed in a Florida college lab. Their cute nick name is because they are usually seen attached to one another lovingly. These guys we kept running in to we little and not mating which is possibly why Kelly didn't realize what they were.
 
We found a spot inside where we had a bit of music.


And I finally got to see a GATOR.
He was dead, stuffed and apparently missing a limb, but hey I finally got to see one. This creepy wall "art" reminded me of the small crocodile my Great Grandfather once had in his basement underneath the stairs. My Grandfather had actually done the taxidermy on this little guy (he had other small animals in his basement that he had done as well.) and IT TERRIFIED ME when I was a kid. Funny...one's memory recall.  
Eventually we decided that we would prefer to sit on the deck. Love bugs or not. The VIEWS were just to pretty!
It looks like a barge out on the bay. We inferred that they must be drudging to make it easier for boats to come in. Any other ideas?

Apparently there are dolphin sightings here, but we never saw any. We did see several birds. I tried to get a good picture of these pelicans that seemed to have a synchronized diving dance with one another. 


Our sea gull friend awaited a much easier meal. Hoping for a stray fry or gifted break of bread?

I sure enjoyed simply watching the water,
The evening was so peaceful.
Dinner was SOOOOO DELICIOUS!!! ( I stayed in my burger and fry box). I am very closed to being a burger expert. (Generally because that is what I get when I am out.) and this BURGER was one of the best!!! I think everyone would agree their meal was SUPERB! Of course the view and setting didn't hurt the overall score!!!
As the sun went down.....OH MY AMAZING!!!



After our meal we thought we would have some time to enjoy the shops and art galleries, but most places were closed. We did take a short walk over the bridge. It was another drawbridge. Of course there were no boats looking to pass, but it was still pretty cool.

Another INCREDIBLE day!!! Oh I am loving Florida. Definitely on my RV list!!!!