Mid Week

Tuesday:  Thunderstorms again forecast for today so time for more shopping.  The last big shopping centre on our list was the Coastlands Centre at Naples.  The malls in America usually contain the same sort of shops you'd expect in England (mostly clothes and shoes), but every now and again you find something different like the pet shop that was selling the cute little fella opposite.

Still no sign of rain, and with temperatures reaching a record (for us) 88degF we needed an antidote to shopping and so called in at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary just north east of Naples.  This features a 2.25 mile wooden boardwalk over native swamp and open grassland and famous for its Wood Storks and the Florida Panther.  We didn't get to see the Panther, but did catch a glimpse of a Wood Stork together with a Black Faced Fox Squirrel, Turkey Eagles and a 4 inch long cricket.

Most entertaining though was 10 minutes spent watching a small Blue Heron fishing only a few feet away and catching a Crayfish almost half its size - it took some swallowing!

Eunice and I went out in the evening and met Lucy and Iain for tea at the Joint.  Seems it is the in place with the biker crowd with about 20 bikes lined up on display.  Live music outdoors and great food = great evening.


Wednesday:

The rain finally arrived, but not the thunderstorms so we were able to venture out with a return visit to Sanibel Island - not into the wilderness, but back to the Periwinkle Shopping Centre.  Iain had bought Lucy a Pandora's Box bracelet as a wedding gift.  It's a bit like a charm bracelet, and Sally, Paula and Jessica were so taken with it that they'd bought one each on our last visit and returned to buy some charms.

With the rain still falling and temperatures only in the mid 70s further shelter was needed and we called in at the Tanger Outlet Centre again on the way back.  I'd been very good in Naples with only a minor indiscretion in Sears (coming out with a new fancy screwdriver and and pair of mechanics gloves), but succumbed again in Tanger, leaving with another 4 tee shirts.  Tone, you're quite correct, resistance is futile.

As we seem to have by far the warmest swimming pool, the whole wedding party was invited over in the evening with Iain, John, Steven and Jessica taking the plunge.

Thursday:

Thanksgiving Day and most of the shops are shut.  But not all ... Eunice and I walked the 3/4 mile up the road to Walgreens for essential supplies and as the weather was brightening up the Skellern party set off to meet Lucy and Iain for a look around Pine Island.  you'll find the oldest parts of Cape Coral on the island - small somewhat ramshackle buildings but all brightly painted and quite pretty in their own way.  A trip up to the northernmost tip of the island produced views of pelicans diving for fish (short movie on the web album) and that to the south a real local bar crowded with people celebrating Thanksgiving.

The whole party celebrated Thanksgiving in the Gulf Shore Restaurant (I think that's what its called) which is right on the shore on Ft Myers Beach.

Tomorrow is Black Friday, the day on which the sales start.  Shops open anytime after midnight with some ridiculous bargains (large flat screen TVs for $3.99) but you've got to have stamina and determination to survive.  Consequently Me Paula Sally and Jessica are off to Busch Gardens - but Lou and Eunice might give it a go......

to be continued ...