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Published: February 13th 2011
Accessible Pier
I am after "Universal Building!" Accessible to all - NOT separate entrances for people with strollers, wheelchairs, walkers, etc. This is a perfect example! Let's get with it tourism industry! Remember, there were once separate entrances for women and blacks! They call us snowbirds. It's a fine term. We, like the robins, head south until spring brings us "home again jiggity jig." Our first stop is Pine Island, Florida via the Fort Myers Airport. We are in synch with a car service that picks us up and delivers to the KOA where our RV and Jeep have spend the holidays in storage. It doesn't take long to hook up, get the ice maker going, and set the clocks on island time.
Day one: We catch some sun, get wet in the pool & hot tub, and get into the books we started on the plane. A band from the RV park "The Last Resort" is at Woody's, a fav restaurant, tiki bar and watering hole on the main canal. Grouper (for me), Rib Eye (for Wes), Margaritas (for us) and the band's great repertoire (from blues and bluegrass to jazz and country), cool vocals and an especially great sax player made the evening swell. A little client work on day two and the arrival of my Christmas present, a gorgeous new bike with some accommodations for my lack of height! I have been an anxious bike rider
Rare Bird From Above
It's unusual to be able to shoot DOWN on a bird. This heron (I think it is a heron) was fishing below the fishing pier at the Matlacha Community Park. So, I got a bird's eye view. recently... a little practice on my new two wheeler and I'm like a kid again!
We head to Matlacha for the Friday opening of "Creative Arts Weekend," a monthly art fest shared by Pine Island and Matlacha. No disappointments here. Very interesting artists demonstrating and explaining their various processes. Heather Fortner doing "Gyotaku," Japanese fish rubbings, is amazing. Learned about steam punk jewelry - it's the art form that takes old keys, watch parts, small found objects and turns them into cool art!
Something different for dinner. Steak & lobster at the Moose Lodge! Yes, Wes and I, just like Ralph and Alice Cramden at the "lodge!" Very affordable. The entertainment not totally to our liking, but once we got used to the smoke (in Florida smoking (and gaming machines) are allowed in clubs), we had a great time. Love communal tables - met a great couple from Michigan's Upper Peninsula - she is a world renowned artist! Suggest you Google Kathleen Conover.
Next day, we stop at the Pine Island Art Association's Fine Arts Show. Photos not allowed, but the chair of the art show took a picture of
Note the Ankle Bells & Shells
This performing artist at Wild Child Gallery in Matlacha also played a wooden flute with a build in bongo type drum, her sound is haunting. a cool fund raising concept for me to share with Art Night people back home in Schenectady.
After another tour of Matlacha for ice cream and a walk along a road we're never gone down, we head toward Bokeelia to Jug Creek and the Coast Connection. We shared a great shrimp basket and listened to the music. We ended the day with a pizza at the Ragged Ass Saloon, where we met the owner, Dorothy, a retired lawyer! The people we meet in Pine Island are fascinating. Have to pull out on Tuesday and already thinking we need to stay longer next year!
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Paula and Doc
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Awesome snowbird life
Really enjoyed the pics and the writeup.. met the owner of Goldstocks at Stratton who says "HI" when are the Devoes going to get new skis??" Doc had a great time with the Coughlins while Becky and I enjoyed NYC.. Will you be there when we get to Fla. early April? love Paula