60th Annual Swamp Buggy Parade in Naples

The parade begins !
The Swamp Buggy Parade Queen. I almost missed her.  I didn't see
the small sign next to the driver
until they were almost past us. 
A swamp buggy.
Another one.
Another one.
Even the ladies race !
This is a type of buggy that is used by folks to get around
in a swamp.
Another one.
From the looks of this one, I don't think it is driven in a swamp !
A customized airboat.
Another one pretending they are going through the Everglades. The Shriners clown bus.
The Shriners paddy wagon.
A parade would not be complete without a firetruck (Golden Gate is just east of Naples).

We needed something exciting to do, so along comes the parade on October 24th.  US 41, a 6 lane road, which runs north/south through Naples, had about a 3 mile section of it shut down for the parade.   There was a swamp buggy race the next day, but we were not able to go.  If anyone would like to see a swamp buggy race, there is a 2 minute video on Youtube of one that took place in 2001. Copy the following web site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KH_FVSkoNfM.

We had a visitor

Posing at Fakahatchee Strand State Park; Andrea is on the left
Just as we were leaving the walkway at the State Park, Caroline noticed this red shouldered hawk sitting on this branch just a couple of feet
above us. It just sat there and seemed to be as curious about us as we were with it.
Who will blink first ?
As we walk past it, it turned back as if to say "I'm still keeping my eye on you !"
Enjoying an airboat ride through the mangroves
Going into the mangroves.  There are over 700 square miles of mangroves in Florida, the 2nd largest in the world. Only Bangladesh has more.

Where is he taking us ?
Neat, but creepy in this part
This 8' gator swam around the airboat
Lunch at Kirby Stortor Nature Preserve (a cypress swamp along US 41 about 30 miles east of Marco Island)
Happy hour at CJ's (about a mile from our condo)
At a dinner theater in Fort Myers (saw Dirty Rotten Scondrels)
Last beach day before she had  to go back to Delaware where  it was in the 50's and raining.
Lunch in Naples on the way to the airport

My sister, Andrea, flew in from Delaware on October 7th for a week long visit.  Unfortunately, Florida was in a heat wave: mid 90's and high humidity (it was only supposed to in the low 80's this time of year).  That didn't stop us from showing her the sights and enjoying the beach.

Marco Island sunsets and more

Sunset (and the next 6)

Our condo facing west does have it's advantages - great sunsets !!

Moonset

Moonset

One day we heard this loud screeching sound outside our
balcony. When we went out and looked up, there was an
osprey getting ready to eat
his lunch.

Shells of Marco Island. I found them all this week.(for reference, the black sheets of paper are 8 1/2" X 11")

Key West

We decided at the last minute to take a quick trip to Key West for my birthday.   We left on Sept. 28th and came back on Oct. 1st.  Quick may not be the right word: it took about 5 hours to drive the 240 miles.

Key West sunset

Breakfast at our B & B

Southern most point in the U.S.(actually it's not; it's on the Naval Air Station just to the west)

The Little White House.  Originally built for navy officers, it was 'taken over' for use by Presidents Taft, Truman (who used it the most), Ike, JFK, Carter and Clinton.

The roosters of Key West.  They have roaming rights throughout the city

Dinner with Caroline at Caroline's

Getting ready to go snorkeling.

Where's Jerry ??
Joined by others

A 4 foot barracuda. 

Ernest Hemingway's home

Hemingway's cat cemetery. He named all his cats after celebrities

The beginning of US 1
Key West lighthouse