Sunday, June 15: After a pleasant breakfast in our hotel in Live Oak, Florida, Theresa and I drive farther south on I-75. I'm looking for groves of orange trees but don't see any at all. Perhaps they're there but not ripe? Theresa finds a church fairly close to the interstate in Gainesville. We stop for Mass at a huge, new church. I'll include more details when I find a way to download my photos.
We are too excited to be tired when we reach our destination: Casa Ybel resort on Sanibel Island, Florida! It is large, grand, and right on the ocean! The 'house man' unloads our belongings and we can relax for a whole week!
Monday, June 16: It is as close to Paradise as one can get here on Sanibel Island! From the lanai of our suite at Casa Ybel, we are quite close to the shell-filled beach and the warm waves of the Gulf water. Last night I got up once and peeked outside. It was perfectly quiet. The near-full moon silhouetted the still palm trees against the dark sky and water.
Daughter #4, Theresa and I, walked on the beach for an hour after waking up this morning. We were entertained by the armada of large black-gray pelicans, always active. They don't dive into the ocean, they PLOP! One emerged with a huge fish in its big beak then proceeded to drop it right back into the waves!
We hunted for more pretty shells and found quite a few bi-valves, twin shells connected to each other by a thin strip of muscle. If we found a shell that was occupied by an animal, we tossed it back into the ocean. Later, Theresa found out that the Law said we HAD to toss them back.
We took our stash home to the hotel and Theresa fixed us a hearty breakfast of bacon, scrambled eggs, and toast. Then Theresa donned her bikini and sunscreen while I took a book out on the lanai, claiming the lounge chair.
After several hours, I decided to find the map and try to locate the library. I was ready to borrow their computer and attempt to download my photos to this blog. No problem. I found the library - but forgot the proper connecting cable! Maybe tomorrow!
On the way home, I took photos of this Casa Ybel resort complex. There are all sorts of picturesque lakes, landscaping, and structures. Meanwhile, Theresa and I got together, sat together on the lanai watching The Civil War between the Pelicans and the Crows unfold.
It seems that the Crows had taken possession of a large palm tree directly between us and the beach. Two much larger Pelicans landed in a non-palm tree next to the Crows. You have never heard such a loud bird racket! The Crows were positively livid! The two Pelicans just sat in their tree and nonchalantly ignored the Crows, who were hollering even louder. Two minutes later, Seven Pelicans grandly flew in. The much smaller Crows evaporated, or so it seemed. The Civil War was over, as quickly as it had begun. And, not a shot had been fired. Theresa commented, "If I had been one of the Crows, I'd have left, too!"
With the drama apparently over for the moment, we decided to eat at The Thistle Lodge restaurant here at Casa Ybel. It was grand! And while we were dining, we watched a wedding on the beach.
Next, we wanted to find the local Sanibel Island Lighthouse. At the very point of the island there, the waves were high and quite close the the road. We had read that a beach at the other end of the island was the best place to view sunsets since it had an unobstructed view west.
On the way, we stopped at another highly recommended place, Pinnochio's Ice Cream Shoppe. I selected a scoop of pistachio and a scoop of wedding cake (flavored ice cream). Phenomenal! Theresa chose birthday cake (flavor) and something chocolatey.
We sat on their front porch enjoying the ice cream. By the time we reached the other side of the island, it was too dark to see anything but the road in front of us! So we went home, after several wrong turns and having to consult the phone's GPS. They don't believe in street lights here.
Our day was busy, full, fun, and relaxing. Good-night!
FYI: Theresa researched the weight of adult pelicans: over 21 pounds! Those are BIG birds!
Praise You, Lord, for our fun day today!
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