Welcome to Marathon

The adventure continues as we head further south, down to the keys.  Home base this week will be Marathon.  On Monday, we have a trip planned to Dry Tortuga National Park.  That is pretty much the only thing that has a time commitment to it.  We're just going to let the week play out and see what each day brings us.

We drove through Fort Myers Beach on our way to an overnight stop in Bonita Springs.  I think due to the higher concentration of houses and businesses on FMB the devastation was extreme.  We stayed in a house on the south end FMB back in 2019.  Below is a picture of that house taken in March of this year.  Bottom floor blown out, and what you don't see in this picture is the whole back of the house is gone.

Beach house FMB March 2023

When we drove by, all that is left is an empty lot.  Property on FMB is selling for the same dollar evaluation post hurricane Ian as it was before hurricane Ian, house or no house.  There's no doubt that the future landscape of Fort Myers Beach will look much different. 


A bite to eat at Fords Garage and a visitor at dinner. Did you ever have a feeling someone was watching you while you were eating?  Confirmed, this little guy, nose pressed up against the glass and equipped with a grin that would get any kid out of trouble.  Most people would be annoyed by this, but the way I see it, he's an observationist.  Probably will grow up to be a future blogger.  He was so intrigued by us that when we got up to leave, he met us at the door and asked us where we lived!  In today's world that can be a bit scary of course, but Mom was not far away and hurried over to coral him.   

I wonder where they live???

I don't know about you, but I'm always amazed at the vast geographic diversity we live in. From the beaches to the plains and up to the Mountains, there is a little something for every one here.  In spite of these crazy times, there's no other place I'd rather be (as Lee Greenwood softly plays in the background) but here in America.

We took the back road route to get down to the keys.  That route took us through Big Cypress National Preserve in the Everglades.  Miles and miles of Saw grass Marsh, Cypress Swamps, Wet Prairies and Mangroves.  Such a vast area with nothing around can make one feel very small.  We drove through an area that had a recent fire, as was evident by some lingering smoke.  Not sure if it was a prescribed burn or a natural act, but it was rather expansive.  I've got to go on one of those airboat adventures sometime.

So when we get to US1, the path down through the keys, I noticed the road is a series of two lanes or four lane roads.  There seems to be three speed limits.  45mph, 55mph, and what everybody else drives.  The speed limits constantly change and to make this even more enjoyable the sheriffs department likes to play a little game of  “Where's Waldo”  they park police cruisers on the side of the road every 10 to 15 miles apart.  You get to guess whether Waldo is sitting in that cruiser or not.  If you find him, he'll let you know you're a winner by turning on his lights and pulling you over to give you a certificate for completing the game.  All week long, I either missed him or he was already awarding certificates to other players.  Oh, well, maybe next time! 

Where's Waldo?

I've also noticed the people down here are “Sooo friendly”.  As we roll into Marathon, the road once again changes from two lanes to four and the speed limit drops to 45mph. So appropriately, I get over in the right lane to let others go by.  This jeep comes up besides me and lays on his horn for a good 20 seconds.  I think he wanted to make sure he got my attention, so I could see he was waving to me before he drove off.  Such a nice fellow!  I wonder if it's a local thing and that's the way folks down here greet everybody? 

Well, me made it to Marathon and adventure awaits.  First stop is to find “that frozen concoction that helps me hang on”  Stay tune more to come.      




Comments

JimBob said…
Did that guy in the Jeep tell you that you’re number 1? 😂
May 29, 2023 at 10:53 AM
RC said…
Why yes I believe he did! Better to be number one than number 2 right?
May 29, 2023 at 3:41 PM
Shelllady said…
We’ve noticed how friendly folks are too! (Everyone just needs to slowdown and relax!) just like you did, right?!
May 31, 2023 at 12:13 PM
RC said…
It's not worth raising the Blood pressure! Just made me Laugh
June 1, 2023 at 1:58 PM
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