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A frequent catch along this beach\u00a0 is\u00a0 small sharks…<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Next stop, Anna Maria island on the gulf, where the sand is white and the water is crystal clear. This, to me, is as close to paradise as it comes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This year there were none of my beloved pelicans. I suspect this is related to the work they were doing “resanding” the beach….<\/p>\n But we did see manatees, which is very rare in those waters and we also saw a lot of rays. One of them got caught in a fishing line…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The one novelty this year is that I rented a red convertible and went on a\u00a0 road trip to\u00a0 Fort Myers…not quite Thelma and Louise…but close!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Down\u00a0 there we visited the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. What a fascinating visit! It includes a historical museum containing hundreds of inventions, artifacts and special exhibits and a 17 acre botanical garden on the adjacent sites of the winter homes of Thomas Alva Edison and Henry Ford beside the Caloosahatchee River. Among the buildings on site there are\u00a0 the Edison Main House, Guest House, and Caretaker\u2019s House and the Ford House.\u00a0\u00a0 It is interesting to learn how the two men met and how their friendship developed along with their research and inventions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The grounds are spectacular.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Of course there is a garage displaying some iconic vehicles such as the “Tin Lizzie” or 1919 Model T Ford<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And this wood model…<\/p>\n This reflecting pool on the moonlight garden is especially pretty…<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n