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| Can't get enough of the lovely trees in the park |
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| One of our favourite, and safe cycling paths. See Bob way up there, leaving me behind? He rarely notices I'm missing. |
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| Look at Bobby pump those weights at Anytime Fitness |
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| Note the bling on Paris, our haughty little neighbour. She pranced into our van one morning, having escaped from her owners |
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| This is a gator that hangs out under the little bridge at the entrance to our campground. He's occasionally seen in the day, however every evening he hangs out right here, at the base of the bridge as though he's waiting for someone to throw themselves at him…. Tic Toc - Tic Toc |
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| Eric is a cyclist who rides his bike through our park daily and often stops to chat. He invited us to come to his community, Falling Waters, a few miles away. We made a date and discovered a very unique swimming pool called Lazy River |
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| This is Cheryl, Eric's wife in front of a strange little volcano. We didn't see it do anything. |
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| You grab a noodle and let the current pull you around the very long river that is located right in the middle of the resort. Very cool! |
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| Watch those sharp corners! After a couple of hours of frolicking, Eric and Cheryl told us they had prepared lunch for us |
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| The lovely view from their lanai |
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| We spent a few hours cycling around a preserve called Eagle Lakes. Very pretty and a lot of wildlife |
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| Where there is water, these can be found |
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| Late lunch at Snook Inn - yummy seafood! |
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| Happy Hour…. |
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| …with lovely views and lots of boat action |
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| Another invitation to Thelma and Art's for a sunset BBQ |
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| A group of 27 people head out from the resort to kayak a river in Bonita Springs |
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| Half of the group headed up the river through old Florida and past fantastic banyan and other old growth trees, while the other half headed downriver toward the Gulf |
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| We saw old abandoned boats |
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| New docks and docks that had been there for years |
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| Fabulous flowers! |
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| Organized chaos! Happy, happy kayakers!! |
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| John - our volunteer guide, found this skeleton on the side of the river but he didn't know what it was. |
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| As I was paddling along the river, this man pulled along beside me. His wife Judy wasn't feeling that great and didn't come, so Steve and I began to chat, each of us taking turns in asking 20 (or more) questions. He said he was from London, Ontario and I told him that Bob was originally from Ingersoll. It went on from there, until we finished the paddle and returned to shore. I introduced him to Bob as "Steve from London" and Steve then said, "Actually, I'm from Komoka". Goosebumps popped up on my arms and I asked if he knows Becky Pruder. He looked stunned and said that she is a neighbour and their bank manager. Becky Pruder is Rachel's husband Peter's aunt…sister of his Mom Nancy. Don't ya just love it???? We spent more time chatting at the pool and they came for a visit a few nights ago before they left for the Keys. We'll be seeing this couple again for sure! |
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| Happy Birthday Bob! We had a blast with Thelma and Art at a favourite restaurant - Riverwalk at Tin City |
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| From our table beside the channel, we watch fisherpeople come in on this charter and one of the staff fillet the fish they caught |
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| Pelicans are there to get their dinner too! |
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| We walked to Naples Beach to watch the sunset |
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| Gorgeous, gorgeous sunsets in Naples. |
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| The morning sun peeking through the trees at our site (such a beautifully tree'd resort!) as we do yoga each morning…and gaze at the view from down there. |
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| Off to Capri Islands. Bob hasn't nodded off, he's checking our progress on the GPS |
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| While I amuse myself by taking a few selfies |
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| Suddenly I heard a huffing sound and looking around, spotted 3 dolphins herding fish into a little mangrove cove |
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| This is the best I could do with the pics, but the memories of the sights and sounds will stay with us for a long, long time. There wasn't another human being in sight. |
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| Anyone who knows Florida has experienced the brief downpours that occur from time to time. We had cycled to Anytime Fitness and when we left, it was pouring. We sat under an overhang for over an hour and the rain wasn't abating. We were thinking about riding the 40 minutes back anyway, when a young couple with their 3 kids offered us a ride in their big SUV. They even had bike racks on the back. They weren't even heading our way but were happy to take us. Amazing what you can learn about people in a 10 minute drive! Lovely, kind and interesting family. The kids were a bit nervous that their parents invited a strange couple into their car but Bob broke the ice by asking them if they'd ever seen a Canadian before. They hadn't but told him they thought I looked fairly normal. |
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| Hibiscus in bloom by the resort pool |
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| We had the pool to ourselves this particular afternoon |
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| The bikes have given us a whole new view of the world. We ride every day and are able to explore so much more territory than by walking. The Lely Resort about a mile from us revealed many pretty surprises when we explored it's vast area. We probably would have never driven through with the van. |
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| In the centre of an area of Spanish influenced townhomes called Sole, we discovered a tiny town centre. It is so cute! |
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| The Pub |
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| A boulevard of pools, fountains and palms |
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| One of the streets in this colourful townhouse complex. |
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| You don't see many round-abouts in Naples |
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| A Bistro |
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| A Gym |
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| An art deco (replica) Theatre |
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| Out for dinner with Lou and Ken at Amigo's |
Bella
Approximately 15 years ago, a young Canadian family returned to Ontario from Miami and moved into the house next door. It was pretty much love at first sight for us, and after a bit of time we became fast friends, shared the backyard and we pretty much adopted them all. They had no choice. Thankfully, they pretty much felt the same. We considered Linda and Warren to be our kids by other parents as they say these days, and Brent and Dana to be our grandchildren. We have included them regularly in our blog over the years. They introduced us to boating and each year we spend at least a week together. As a little girl, Dana was nervous of dogs she didn't know. That was until they were visiting a boating friend a few years ago in Georgian Bay and met another boating couple who had a little Mi-ki dog. Dana fell in love with the quiet and loving little dog, researched the breed and began to save money to buy her own. She soon found out that these dogs are very expensive in most parts of Canada, however discovered that they are far less expensive in Saskatchewan. By phone and photo's between the breeder and Dana, Dana finally chose her little treasure and with a bit of financial help by ever supportive big brother Brent, Bella was shipped in a crate by air to Toronto. Bella has been the most adorable little thing and we all loved her loving and sweet personality. When we would get together rafting on the water, Bella would insist on hopping aboard TULAW to greet us and tuck her little head between chin and shoulder, cuddle for a bit, then return to her family boat. In January of this year, while Bob and I stayed overnight at the Sheraton Downtown to attend the Toronto Boat Show, we visited the Waddell's suite and were startled to see Bella moving in a very peculiar way. Warren told us that a tumour had developed on her spine and that she did not have long to live. It was a sad time for Bob and me and we left her knowing we wouldn't see her again. The family carried Bella, cared for her every need and kept her close by when they slept. In February, Dana said her final goodbye to her wonderful little friend. The entire family was devastated, as was anyone who met this bundle of sweetness. Here are a few of our favourite photo's of Bella. Our love and thoughts are with Dana and the family. Thank you for sharing Bella and giving us beautiful memories.
