Saturday, February 22 .. This would be our last day in Fort Myers and we had many things planned for the day!! One of the things Ken most wanted to do while we were in this area was to go on an air boat ride through the Everglades and we were up bright and early and ate a quick Breakfast at McDonald's along the way to Everglades City. 
There are lots of marshes along the highways in Florida .. the marshes aren't very beautiful but the bright blue sky is!!
Love those Palm Trees!!!
For a while it looked like we might get some rain but those dark clouds blew right on over and we didn't get a drop!!
Here we are .. Speedy's Airboat Tours in Everglades City!
We're all on board and the tour has begun!!!
The guy on the left is Ken .. he and a young couple from Canada are in the front seat. Pat, Rich and I are in the raised back seat.
The airplace flying through the blue blue sky is pulling a banner behind it but I couldn't zoom in enough to read it!!!
Our tour guide pulled in to the side to tell us a story about these pods that he has in his hand and the plant that grew them .. the White Mangrove Tree .. sad to say .. I can't remember the story!!!
A little bit about our tour guide .. he grew up in Missouri .. he was stationed in Florida in the service and when he got out of the service he chose to stay in Florida. Ken told him that when we left Missouri the temp there was 8 degrees and their was snow on the ground .. he said "that's why I decided to stay here"! Of course everybody in the boat got a chuckle out of his response .. LOL!!!
Time for a quick picture before getting on with our tour .. some of us didn't think about brining our sunglasses along!!! Love my hair .. LOL LOL LOL!!!
Can you find the Alligator????? He's just a little to the left of the center of the pic .. just barely away from the land.
Now he is to the right in the picture .. all you can see is his head .. his eye sticking above the water!
The tour guide took my camera and went to the front of the air boat got a good close-up picture!!
This big guy decided he wanted to take a ride with us and flew aboard!!!
He's giving Ken the evil eye!!!!
The tour guide had told us that the Pelicans often get aboard the boats and ride along but he didn't like them on his boar for they usually leave a mess behind. So Ken flopped his arms at our friend and shooed him away .. there he goes!!!
Coming back into port!!
Ready for a ride???? Click on the link above to go to Speedy's Airboat Tours page then click on Video #1 or Video # 2 to take a ride on one of Speedy's Airboats!!!!
When I was a small child my parents ran a grocery store and we lived above the store .. we had a Coke machine just like this one in that store!!! I have watched for a machine like this one when we've been out treasure hunting .. not to buy but just to see .. and have never come across one .. until this one!!! Needless to say seeing this made my day!!!
I didn't take a picture of this fella right away .. I did some walking around and checking him our for I wasn't sure if he was a dummy or if he was actually a real life person .. LOL!!! He was very realistic looking!!!
Notice how the front of the counters slope in from the floor ..
For more information on The Smallwood Store and the Chokoloskee click on the link below ..
Next stop .. Triad Seafood Market & Cafe .. it's time to eat!!!
And yet another interesting stop .. Big Cypress National Preserve ..
AH HA .. at last we see a real live honest to goodness Alligator out in the wilds!!!
Can you find the snake????
How about a closer look .. YIKES!!!
Hmmmm .. could that be an Alligator out there in the water?????
I believe it is!!!
Yes .. it IS an Alligator!! It's amazing what you can do with a zoom lens .. I can get close without getting close LOL!!
And our first sighted Alligator is still stretched out in his favorite sunbathing spot!!! Zoom lens again of course!!!
One last picture of this guy and we're out of here!!!
And we're on the road again ..
And just a little further up the road was a sign that said "School Bus Stop" .. that's a bit scarey!!!
But wait .. this day isn't over yet .. there's more!!!
After our venture through the Big Cypress Preserve we headed back to the condo for quick showers and a change of clothes before heading to the Country Club to meet up with some more old friends of Ken's and Pat and Rich for dinner. The Country Club is a part of the complex the condo is in and we didn't have to drive far before we arrived.
As we approached the front entrance of the Country Club we saw that there were wedding pictures being taken .. of course I had to take a couple also!!
Pat had told me the Women's bathroom in this place was beautiful .. of course I had to check it out ..
Surely you're not surprised that I took pics .. I probably won't see a bathroom this pretty for a long long time .. LOL!!!
On the left .. Rich, Helen and Ron
On the right .. Pat, Liz and Ken
Rich, Helen, Ron and Ken all went to Bishop Dubourge High School together in St. Louis .. Pat went to Bishop Dubourge but she's the youngster of the bunch .. she was 4 years behind them!! Ken and Ron were also in the Marines together!!! Helen said she was thrilled to meet Kenny's new wife "but what were you thinking"!!! She asked me that question several times throughout the evening .. LOL LOL LOL!! I hear that question quite often from people who have known Ken for years .. you think they're trying to tell me something????
Whoops .. the Colonial Country Club sign doesn't come out real great after dark .. LOL!!
Another great day in Fort Myers with Pat and Rich .. and it was good to meet a couple more of Ken's longtime friends .. I must say he certainly has a bunch of very nice .. very crazy friends!!!! Thank You again Pat and Rich for giving us another very memorable day!!!
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