Smallest post office in the U.S.

Located at Ochopee, Florida; it's about 25 miles east of Marco Island on US 41.

It was so small, we almost drove right by it
Roadside marker

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is located between Fort Myers and Naples and is owned by the National Audubon Society.  It is 11,000 acres and contains the largest forest of bald cypress in North America.  There is an elevated board walk 2.25 miles long through an area covering about 600 acres.  They say they have up to 1,000 alligators, but we saw only one (more can be seen in the spring, which is the dry season; now is considered the wet season).  You cannot tell an alligators sex by just looking at it, so I'll just say that the one we saw was about 8' long.  It was an interesting feeling when you actually see one that big that close.  They are fascinating to look at, but can it jump high enough through the wooden railing and have a little 'leg of human ?'  We took the picture and quickly moved on !!  It took about 3 hours to walk the 2+ miles, but it was well worth it.  You would think that there would be a lot of bugs, but that was not the case.

A view from the boardwalk

Some of the bald cypress trees within the swamp

Swamp lily
Red shouldered hawk

The 'gator'

Marco Island, Florida

We arrived here on September 6th and will be here for 2 months. This is the slow season in southern Florida, so we got a good deal.  There is still plenty to do and see; there just aren't that many folks around to slow you down.  Marco Island is on the Gulf side of Florida below Ft. Myers and Naples.  It is the last major population area before you get to the Everglades.  It is still very warm here; the average temperature in September is 90 degrees and 87 in October.  Whose complaining ??  Not us.

Our condo - We're on the 3rd floor in the middle of the building 

A view from our condo

Another view

A Marco Island sunset

Looking up the coast towards the southern end of the island

A view of one of the canals; they are everywhere

Another canal

A view along one of the main streets
One of the residential streets

Quick hike through Raven Rock State Park (NC)

Rosie, Reba and Caroline pose at Raven Rock
A view of the Cape Fear  from an overlook
A view of the Cape Fear from a rock in the river
Rosie and Jerry enjoying the view

Caroline, Rosie and I decided to take a walk the day before we left for Florida (Sept 4th).  Raven Rock State Park is about 45 miles southwest of Raleigh between Lillington and Sanford.  The Cape Fear River runs through the middle of the park,which makes for some very nice scenery.