Monday, February 5, 2018

Fort Myers area part 2

My eye appointment was at 10am.  I was expecting good news but got NONE.  The doctor had seen no improvement and now added ANOTHER type of compounded antibiotic to my arsenal of drops, and – he took MORE cultures – digging down deeper than the others had.  I felt the pressure and the strange feeling as he took what felt like a steak knife to my fragile eye.  No, it didn’t hurt – till the numbing agent wore off - then it hurt for 3 days!  I was so frustrated.  It’s been a month now since it has all started and this eye problem has taken over everything that we do – or now can’t do.  The truck is getting lots of miles put on his new tires but our bikes and our walking shoes are not! 
  

After the doctors appointment and the stop at the pharmacy, we ended up down by the harbor in downtown Ft Myers.  We’re checking off another item from our “to do” list.  The day was bright, there was a steady breeze and as always a glare on the wide Caloosahatchee River but I kept my head down and the eye closed and covered as we strolled along the waterfront past the collection of moored boats on one side and the manicured park and benches on the other.  We watched as a large Sport Fisherman craft cruised slowly under the bridge to Cape Coral – looking like it just barely missed the underside of the bridge with his tall antennae and outriggers.  As the light blue boat passed us, heading for the harbor, the wake behind it spread out wider and wider as it went.  By the time we reached the docks where it was secured, the gas pumps were already chugging gallons of diesel into its tank.  We got some ice cream and sat watching as TWO pumps kept up a steady clicking as the dollars and gallons rose!  When we finally left, the pumps were registering at well over $700 and $900 each, at $3.49 a gallon.  Inside the marina, the young lady in charge said it was going to take 4000 gallons by the time it was done!   Cha Ching$$$$

On another day trip we found the Flamingo Flea Market in Bonita Springs, which turned out to be a dud.  Bonita Springs Beach Rd led us out onto the southern end of the string of barrier islands and we drove north towards the Ft Myers Beach/ Times Square area where we normally take the trolley ride. A storm had been predicted for the afternoon and the winds and clouds had all ready arrived in front of the thunder and rain so the traffic and the amount of pedestrians was minimal!   Once over the causeway bridge we made a series of left turns to drive back UNDER the bridge to park in the shadow of that same tall bridge that we had just come over.  Did I get you dizzy with all those turns??  The seafood restaurant –
Doc Fords was also in that parking area and we stopped in for our seafood lunch – a huge delicious fish sandwich on a large soft bun. From our table by the window we even had a good view of the channel and all the multi colored commercial fishing boats beyond.  After lunch, we “had to” take a walk out on the fishing pier that extended out into the swift moving water under the causeway bridge.    Another sleek white yacht was secured at the neighboring dock.  “Terabyte” is a 113 ft vessel built in 2014 by Sunseeker in the U K.  Thanks to Google – we found out she also will hold 14,000 gallons of fuel! (at  $3.49 a gallon?)


Another road trip took us up thru Punta Gorda, over the wide Peace River, thru Port Charlotte and headed west to Englewood to see if we could find Emily and Ron’s new little winter home there.  I had been calling her and kept getting a busy.  We finally found their tiny home; their Ohio State colored golf cart and the red Corvette – also covered with Ohio State – but no one was home!  We drove thru the close quartered park model “village” and found a garage sale to stop at.  As H pulled off the left side of the road he stuck his head out the window and YELLED:  “Get out of the road Lady!”   I turned my head just in time to see Emily walking on the edge of the road toward us – going to the same garage sale!  I couldn’t get out of the truck fast enough and gave her a big “one eyed” hug!  We visited as we went thru the sale and I told her I had been calling her – then found out I had been calling her old number!  DUH!  We visited with her and Ron for a few minutes and finally got to meet their sweet fluffy dainty little white puppy – “Missy”


H has fixed our last breakfast at WP Franklin, our “goodbyes” have been said and the “train” is packed to move on.  Our next stay is 9 miles east of Labelle in the Ortona Lock and Dam Campground,
which is also a corp. of engineer facility on the Caloosahatchee River.  I have another eye appointment scheduled and we’ll drive the longer distance back to Ft Myers from that next campground.    Hopefully, we’ll have better news then!