RC Life is a Highway

The Bonsai represents the three virtues or Shin-Zen-Bi, which translate into truth, goodness and beauty. Saturday was our last day on the island.  We ventured out on another field trip.  This time to North Fort Myers area to check out Wigert's Bonsai Nursery. Not sure if I should call it a Hobby, Obsession, or Passion but I am a koi keeper.  My current pond has been up for around 4years now.  I have kept Koi for around 17 years. Our Koi Pond The gang I  have also always been fascinated with Bonsai.  I feel like the link between the Japanese art of Bonsai and keeping koi are so closely related that many Koi keepers also have a natural tendency to be drawn to the art. Since we were down in the Fort Myers area for the week I decided to check out Wigert's Bonsai nursery and maybe scratch this itch I have for Bonsai. This place didn't disappoint This was a very eye opening experience and to be fully appreciated taking a camera along is a must.  As many of us Koi Keepers have lea

Normally  we would be on the road today heading back to reality.  But today is a bonus day.  Tonight we stay at "Casa Ybel" on Sanibel. June 12, 1976,  Forty-five years ago.  It would cost you 13 cents to mail a first class letter.  Gas was 61 cents a gallon.  The average annual income was $12,688.  A new home would run you around $49 grand. Platform shoes, flares, afros, and mullets were all in style.  On the TV there was M.A.S.H., The Carol Burnette Show, and Hawaii Five-O.  The top song was "Silly Love Songs" by Wings. Our non-married friends would come over to our apartment on Saturday nights and pass out on the couch watching "The Three Stooges". We were young.  We were unsure.  We had no idea where Life's Highway would take us back then.  But through love, dreams, and hard work we plotted a path and worked on this journey together and look at where it has taken us. Life lessons along the way were all landmarks in the journey that made us who we a

We took a road trip today to the land of 10,000 islands.  Just south of Marco Island the farthest point south on the western side of Florida in Collier County.  This area of islands is where the Everglades wetlands meet the gulf of Mexico.  The area consist of mangroves, oyster beds and sandbars. 10,000 Islands We booked an eco tour with "Marco Island Eco Tours."  The cool thing about this was the mode of transportation for the tour.  It's a little 2 seater boat called a Craig Cat.  These things are like go-karts on water. Our transportation today CraigCat The tour lasted 2 1/2 hours.  We followed our guide Brandon through a maze of mangroves.  We had hoped to travel out to Cape Romano to see the Cape Romano Dome house but the surf was too choppy today to safely navigate out to the gulf.  If you get a chance google "Dome House of Cape Romano"  its a really interesting story and shows you the power of Mother Nature and how she has the ultimate say in what stays a

We have been working hard getting more practical experience for the resume in case any future Beach Bum job openings become available.  Another beautiful day on Captiva with clear skies and clear water.  I could see my feet in chest deep water today and while not totally smooth the past couple of days have been very mild in the gulf. We have made a few friends while here this week. We met "Charlie" from Kansas City We met "Martin" from Geico We have logged many hours on the beach just Soakin, Snoozin, and watching the Sunsets.  Last couple of nights have been some of the best sunsets so far this week. We also stopped at The Matthews Bailey Shell Museum on Sanibel.  It was interesting but not sure it was worth the $48 it cost us to get in.  I would have like to have seen more shells on display instead they had one section that was just pictures of shells.  There were some craft items displayed that were made with shells which was pretty cool.  They also had a live di