In my last post (....posted about 30 seconds ago!) I mentioned that my friends Cindi and Glennda came down for a visit. It was so wonderful to see them! They flew into the Fort Myers airport and had reservations at a condo on Sanibel Island, at a really nice place called the Siesta Sanibel. They came in late Thursday night and just stayed at a hotel near the airport that night, and then Friday drove out to Sanibel to take possession of the condo. So I drove over from Apopka Friday morning. My departure was slightly delayed because I rented a car rather than drive the Camry (per a STRONG recommendation from the insurance adjuster) and therefore didn't get on the road until about 9:30. But I made good time and got to Sanibel about 1:30. I stayed with them until Monday and they flew home today (Tuesday). Although it was a fairly short visit, it felt a lot longer because we did so many things in those few days. Thankfully the weather cooperated and the girls got lots of sunshine and warm weather. (PS-don't ask why we call ourselves "Pineapples"-it's too complicated and goes back many MANY years.)
So let's see-what all did we do (besides talk and talk and eat and talk)? Well, on Friday we all got settled in and then went for a nice walk on the beach and dropped in at a cute little tiki bar at the Sundial Resort, which was just a few doors over from us. The bartender there recommended a couple restaurants so we took his advice and went to the Lazy Flamingo, a nice little casual place with a mostly seafood menu. Very nice! Everyone was tired, so it was an early bedtime for us "senor citizens"!
On Saturday, we got up early (which means about 6:00 for Cindi and 8:00 for Glennda and me). Glennda and I actually mustered up the amition to go for a run (she did GREAT!) and Cindi rode her bike alongside us (she had to ride REALLY slow, but she did it). 
After we got back from this little excursion, 
we jumped on our bikes and took off on a nice ride - Sanibel has bike trails EVERYWHERE (with 
about a million people using the trails at the same time!). I had brought my bike along with me, which was really nice, and Cindi and Glennda had rented bikes and had them delivered to the condo on Friday afternoon. We rode up to the J. Ding "Darling" National Wildlife Preserve, primarily so I could pick up my national Senior Pass (the ONLY advantage of being 62!!!). This pass is GREAT and will give me a 50% discount at all National and Army Corp of Engineer campgrounds - a huge benefit! While we were biking we stopped at a fun place for lunch, called George and Wendy's. What an interesting menu. We had a fried-green-tomato "bruschetta" for an appetizer 
(picture attached) and then great lunch selections. After 
our bike ride we went to the pool at the condos and hung out for a couple hours. That night we just had dinner at home and just enjoyed each other's company for the rest of the evening.
After we got back from this little excursion, 
we jumped on our bikes and took off on a nice ride - Sanibel has bike trails EVERYWHERE (with 
about a million people using the trails at the same time!). I had brought my bike along with me, which was really nice, and Cindi and Glennda had rented bikes and had them delivered to the condo on Friday afternoon. We rode up to the J. Ding "Darling" National Wildlife Preserve, primarily so I could pick up my national Senior Pass (the ONLY advantage of being 62!!!). This pass is GREAT and will give me a 50% discount at all National and Army Corp of Engineer campgrounds - a huge benefit! While we were biking we stopped at a fun place for lunch, called George and Wendy's. What an interesting menu. We had a fried-green-tomato "bruschetta" for an appetizer 
(picture attached) and then great lunch selections. After 
our bike ride we went to the pool at the condos and hung out for a couple hours. That night we just had dinner at home and just enjoyed each other's company for the rest of the evening.On Sunday we got up early again (see above!) and headed out for breakfast at a neat place called the "Over Easy Cafe". They are renowned for their breakfasts, and I can see why. Very nice selection of breakfast choices. The weather prediction for Sunday called for storms in the morning, so we decided a little road trip might be in order. We drove off the island and headed over to the causeway to Fort Myers Beach. We drove the length of the island, then over onto Lovers Key, and on to Bonita Beach. We stopped at Coconut Point (a HUGE shopping area) and did a little shopping, but by 1:00 we noticed the weather was getting much better so we decided to cut short our shopping time and get back over to 
Sanibel for a little more pool time! After a couple hours, 
we decided to get the car back out for a while and took a drive up to the end of Sanibel and over onto Captiva Island. Captiva is beautiful, but we decided we were much happier on Sanibel-more to do! We went back home, showered, and then headed out for our "last supper" together. We chose a GREAT resaurant called Timbers for dinner. What a nice place! Glennda and I both had the sea bass, which was wonderful.
Sanibel for a little more pool time! After a couple hours, 
we decided to get the car back out for a while and took a drive up to the end of Sanibel and over onto Captiva Island. Captiva is beautiful, but we decided we were much happier on Sanibel-more to do! We went back home, showered, and then headed out for our "last supper" together. We chose a GREAT resaurant called Timbers for dinner. What a nice place! Glennda and I both had the sea bass, which was wonderful. And then it was Monday already! I went for a run first thing in the morning (I've got that 5K coming up on March 18, you know!) while Cindi and Glennda went for a bke ride out to the lighthouse at the end of the island. Since it was still pretty 
early when we got done, and it was a little chilly still, we decided to just do some shopping on the island. There are some really cute shops so it was fun to browse. Cindi found a great purse and I found some terrific cargo shorts made by Columbia-I was thrilled because I'd been looking for these specific shorts for a couple years - PLUS they were on sale! Glennda and I indulged ourselves by having some gellato (yummy...) and then we headed back to the condo for a last hour at the pool. And then it was time for me to pack up. The girls helped me load up and, after big hugs all around, I hit the road for my 4 hour return trip. I got back home about 7:30, to a very happy Dave and even happier Brandi! (....just kidding-Dave missed me at least as much as Brandi did).
early when we got done, and it was a little chilly still, we decided to just do some shopping on the island. There are some really cute shops so it was fun to browse. Cindi found a great purse and I found some terrific cargo shorts made by Columbia-I was thrilled because I'd been looking for these specific shorts for a couple years - PLUS they were on sale! Glennda and I indulged ourselves by having some gellato (yummy...) and then we headed back to the condo for a last hour at the pool. And then it was time for me to pack up. The girls helped me load up and, after big hugs all around, I hit the road for my 4 hour return trip. I got back home about 7:30, to a very happy Dave and even happier Brandi! (....just kidding-Dave missed me at least as much as Brandi did). I texted the girls this afternoon and they were just boarding their plane, so I assume they're home and in bed by now, ready to go back to work tomorrow. 
I feel bad for them that they have to return to "real life" right away, but I know they had a great "spring break" and it was so wonderful to spend time together. And, as I told my daughter, I had a great vacation from my vacation, and now I'm ready to return to my vacation. 
Life IS so good! (PS-I'm attaching a few pictures of the condo here at the end, just for the heck of it. It was very comfortable and, being on the third floor, we had a little bit of a view of the ocean and a great breeze pretty much all the time. The best thing about the unit was the nice big screened-in porch facing toward the ocean - I think we spent the vast majority of our "at home" time sitting out here... I told Cindi and Glennda that ANYTIME they feel like traveling someplace and renting a condo, I would be more than happy to join them!)
I feel bad for them that they have to return to "real life" right away, but I know they had a great "spring break" and it was so wonderful to spend time together. And, as I told my daughter, I had a great vacation from my vacation, and now I'm ready to return to my vacation. 
Life IS so good! (PS-I'm attaching a few pictures of the condo here at the end, just for the heck of it. It was very comfortable and, being on the third floor, we had a little bit of a view of the ocean and a great breeze pretty much all the time. The best thing about the unit was the nice big screened-in porch facing toward the ocean - I think we spent the vast majority of our "at home" time sitting out here... I told Cindi and Glennda that ANYTIME they feel like traveling someplace and renting a condo, I would be more than happy to join them!)
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