Goodbye sweet life in Florida

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A last trip to Sanibel Causeway and our "shark cove" 

Philip fishing from one of the kayaks

Mai and Michael watching TV before we have to leave the house and go to the airport

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Boating and seafood

The best time: Going out in the morning with the boat, the water is completely flat, the sky is clear, and you are almost alone on the water.

Our way out on calm water

Hiroko takes a nap while Philip and I are fishing

Scallops on the grill - Mai and I are crazy about the big scallops they have here.

Oysters and Okra on the grill

Grilled oysters with garlic butter

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Boat trip to Fort Myers beach

We made another boat trip to the Gulf, this time going east to Fort Myers Beach, where we had been (going by car) the last time we were in Florida. Going out in the morning, the water lay flat like a mirror and it felt like we were flying over the water when we went out. We saw dolphins on the way.

We had a great day, swimming and fishing.

Swimming from the boat (picture manipulated)

By Ft. Myers Beach

On our way to the Gulf we pass by a floating house where we could buy live bait (shrimp and Pinfish)

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The Edison and Ford Estate

After the long and hot boat trip the previous day, we felt saturated with sun, and wanted to do something else. So, we decided to let the boat rest and went to the Edison and Ford estate on the Fort Myers side of the river. We had seen it from outside the last time we were in Florida, passing by on the long palm-lined McGregor Boulevard. Again, it was an extremely hot day and the heat felt like a slap in the face, when we got out of the car.

In the ticketing office, the guy behind the counter figured it would be cheaper for us to get a one year membership of the Edison estate than buying tickets for the whole family. So, we ended up getting a membership card and welcoming bag with lots of other discounts for entering museums around the US ;-). 

First, we checked out the museum, showing a lot of different things, the great inventor Edison had been tinkering with, such as electric generators, phonographs, etc. There was also a couple of mounted Tarpons. Edison loved fishing and gardening - my kind of guy.

Being sickly already in his thirties, Edison was prescribed by his doctor, to spend the winters in the mild climate of Florida. He had the estate next to the river built, when there was basically nothing else around. The road next to the estate was a mere cattle road. He started by building a very long pier by which all the materials for building the houses could be brought in. He had two lovely houses built, one for himself and his family and one as a guest house (although also used by themselves). He also had the very long McGregor Boulevard lined with royal palms, now a signature of Fort Myers. 

While in Florida, he started an experimental garden with the biggest project being the search for a plant source of rubber. He identified the weed Goldenrod as the most promising plant, having a high content of latex and being easy to cultivate. 

Later, Ford, who was a close friend of the Edisons, bought the neighboring land and had a house built there.

Edison lived to be 84 years old, so being the first "snowbird" was apparently good for his health!

In front of the giant Banyan tree (a rubber tree) brought there by Firestone (the car tire magnate), next to a statue of Edison.

Edison's swimming pool, lined with banana trees

Living room

Bedroom

Botanical laboratory

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Boat trip to Sanibel Island

We went on a boat trip to Sanibel island. Having set the alarm clock to 7 am, we got an early start. We packed food and drinks in the cooler, and packed up swimming and fishing gear. At 8.30 am, we drove the boat out of our canal. The water slowly changed color as we went down the Caloosahatchee river, from black to blue/green. We saw dolphins on the way. Going under the Sanibel Island Causeway Bridge a good hour later, we arrived at the gulf. We cruised along the sandy beach on the south side of the island, carefully checking the water depth on the sonar and picked out a good spot for anchoring. Then we jumped in the water. It was fantastic, the water felt like warm, smooth velvet, and the sky was blue.   

Swimming and fishing at Sanibel Island beach

The sandy bottom was full of "sand dollars" which are flat, circular versions of starfish

On the way to Sanibel

We caught some silvery fish using shrimp as bait

Jumping in the water was very refreshing after fishing in the hot sun

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Boat trip to the yacht club

We went on a boat trip to the nearby yacht club. It is a very nice public area with a sandy beach on the river, playground, fishing pier and the very good restaurant The Boathouse. The boat trip was very hot on the stretches with reduced speed (manatee area). When we could speed up, it was more fun and comfortable.

With the cooler filled up with cool drinks and snacks, we settled down on a picnic table in the shade by the sandy beach, then went in the water. I have never tried anything like it. The water is black and it actually feels hot, when you enter! When you get further out, you can find cooler water, which is actually what you want. After playing around in the water, Philip and I decided to get some live shrimp and go fishing on the pier. 

Captain Mai driving the boat

The yacht club with the nice restaurant The Boathouse to the left

Philip caught a lot of small catfish on the pier and I caught the first Stingray of my life. We took great care not to get stung.

Having lunch at The Boathouse. Hiroko and I had "Thai Shrimp" which was fresh shrimp in wonton dough, rolled with a bit of ginger and wasabi, deep fried. As a dipping sauce they served a Thai chili sauce with orange marmelade and lime, exquisite. We loved it and want to try to make it at home. The rest of the food was also excellent.

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