Since I snapped a few photos on the way home, here's one last Florida Postcard before I take the weekend off.

Our drive out of Waldo, Florida was cloudy and cold...a shocking 44 degrees cold!  We made a stop for Valencia oranges at King's Kountry Produce.  The Honeybells looked delicious too.

Just outside of Stark, I spied the remnants of an old tourist souvenir shop with classic, but faded billboards.  I made Becky do a u-turn so I could get some photos!

I glanced to the left side of the road in time to snag a snapshot of a vintage trailer pulling double duty as a peach stand.

We rolled into the driveway at 5:30, the pups went wild, and our Swamp Cabbage Adventure came to an end.

I'm looking forward to sleeping with warm puppies, having a cup of good coffee in the morning, getting caught up on some TV shows, and reading a daily newspaper again.  Have a grand weekend and I will talk to you on Monday!!

We were up and out of our Bradenton Motel 6 in time to walk through the doors at Mixon Fruit Farm when they opened at 8:30. It was our plan all along to stop here in hopes of getting some juicing oranges to take home.  

Ann, a NC native who works there in the winter months, told us we needed Valencia or Pineapple oranges, but they had neither this morning.  Instead, we bought a special grapefruit called Pomelo that doesn't interact with medicines like most do.  We tasted it first and it was yummy!  We also got to walk back in the warehouse to take a look at the behind-the-scenes operation.

I'm going to wait and send you a De Soto Postcard one day next week, so I can tell you all about this small, but wonderful National Park unit. 

To avoid another traffic nightmare like yesterday, we plugged our next destination in the GPS and let it guide us to Weeki Wachee State Park.  We just drove where we were told, but had no idea that we would be going over the humongous Sunshine Skyway Bridge. 

Becky did a bit of research on the bridge and we learned that it collapsed in May of 1980, killing 40 people!  A freighter ran into the bridge in a blinding thunderstorm.  I'm glad I learned this AFTER crossing the bridge!

The skies got darker and darker as we got closer and closer to Weeki Wachee, but a visit was still in our plans.  When we were little, our parents took us there to see the mermaids and we've talked about going back for a couple years now.

To be perfectly honest with you, I found those mermaids kinda creepy today.

Just about the time I struck my mermaid pose, the skies opened up. We were able to make it to the gift shop just in time to keep from getting soaked.  We waited and waited, but finally gave up and made a mad dash for the car.  Becky looked like a drowned rat and I was laughing so hard I almost couldn't breathe!

Despite the rain, we still made a stop in Crystal River where we did a little shopping in the village before driving out to Kings Bay Park to get a look at the river.  Secretly, we were hoping to see a manatee, but we did see a "bird house" and cool sign.

Tonight we are staying at the Waldo Inn & Suites (don't ask!) between Gainesville and Jacksonville.  It's actually quite nice and we enjoyed a late gourmet dinner of Palmetto pimiento cheese, ham salad, and crackers from Publix.

Tomorrow will be a total travel day and we should be home by late  afternoon.

If you don't mind, I'll take a few days off from sending out Postcards and I'll see ya next Monday.  Thanks for traveling along with us on our Florida trip!!

Hugs and goodbye kisses were the first order of business this morning.  We stopped by the camp sites before hitting the road this morning and made everyone promise not to have a lick of fun from this day forward!

Our plan for the day was to head up to Sarasota to visit the Ringling Circus Museum, then on to Bradenton for stops at Mixon Farm and De Soto National Monument.  Well that didn't quite pan out for a couple of good reasons . . . a detour to Sanibel Island and TRAFFIC!!

Arriving in Fort Myers, we saw the signs for Sanibel Island and made a split-second decision to go there.  It was a cloudy, cool morning and we thought we could zip over there easily.  NOT!!

We paid our $6.00 toll and drove across the San Carlos Bay over to the Sanibel-Captiva Islands Visitor Center.  From there we rode out to the Sanibel Lighthouse.  I wasn't expecting the metal tower that we saw though.  

Since Sanibel is famous for shelling and we had an hour on our parking pass, we decided to stroll the beach to see what we could see.  Becky found some pretty shells, albeit small.  What we did see a lot of was dead fish and just as many seagulls enjoying breakfast.  On the walk back to the car, I spied some pretty morning glories.

From the eastern end of the island, we made our way down Periwinkle Road and stopped at Trading Post Antiques.  It didn't look like much from the outside, but it was absolutely one of the best shops we've ever been in.  I scored a tiny plastic cream pitcher, a vintage coffee creamer tin, and I even found a couple of happies for Sue and Susan.

Both of us wished that Terry and Gid could have been with us to answer some of the questions we had and help us identify the birds that we saw on the four-mile drive through the refuge.

On the way back from the refuge towards the Causeway, we stopped in Sanibel Bean Island Coffees for some espresso chip ice cream and a hella-cool t-shirt, two things I simply cannot resist!

Between our several stops and that traffic that I mentioned, we didn't leave the island until a couple ticks after two.

We made a stop at BB&T for cash and at Publix for picnic supplies before getting on I-75 north.

After consulting the map and plugging destinations in the GPS, we realized that our day simply was not going to pan out the way we thought.  So we decided to go straight to Bradenton to see Mixon Farm.  It looked like we would get there about 3:45.  Oh no, no, no . . . bumper-to-bumper traffic had something else in store! 

Here's the short version of our long afternoon . . . we didn't make it to the citrus farm before it closed at 5:00 and we didn't find a place to lay our heads for the night for another hour!!!

I want you to know that we are safe and sound, comfy and well-fed for the night and looking forward to a big day tomorrow.  Take care and nite nite!!

Around 8:30 this morning, we were off on another Florida adventure. Three carloads headed south on Highway 29 for Big Cypress National Preserve near Everglades City.  Our destination was Wooten's Airboat Tours! 

As soon as we arrived, we all purchased tickets and waited for our tour, number 4, to be called. Lounging beside the dock in the shallow water was an alligator sunning his/herself, oblivious to twelve of us hanging over the railing snapping photos. 

After checking out the gator, we had to check out the airboats!

Captain Tommy has spent his whole life in this area and stopped often to show us wildlife and give us ecology information.  I'll admit to being a bit nervous about the ride, but within minutes I knew it was going to be GREAT!  We blasted through some narrow canals and did wheelies in the larger ponds.

We saw lots and lots of alligators, birds, and mangrove trees.  One bird in particular was pretty cool and pretty rare too . . . the Roseate Spoonbill.  Dana recognized it immediately and we were all able to get some close-up photos before it flew away.  This wading bird's pink coloring has to do with its diet and can range from light pink to magenta.

Our ride lasted about 35 minutes and we all wished it could have been longer.  I took four videos and will have to figure out how to post them here when I get home.

Before everyone disembarked, I got the required group photo.

Next on our Monday agenda was lunch at The Oyster House, then a visit to Smallwood's Trading Post, and finally a quick stop at Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades National Park.  I will send you a Postcard from each one of those places after I get back home.

Thanks so much for swinging by to pick up your Florida Postcards! Becky and I will be heading out tomorrow and leaving our swamp peeps behind as we start making our way back to North Carolina where I believe it is still winter.  Talk to you tomorrow evening!

Nine of us pulled out of Whisper Creek this morning for a trip to the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers.  We knew we were in for a treat . . . three hours later it was confirmed!

Thomas Edison purchased his new property in 1885, made a pencil sketch of how he envisioned the estate, and gave it to an architect. One year later, he returned with a new bride and the Edison family enjoyed leisurely stays here until 1947, when Mina Miller Edison deeded the property to the City of Fort Myers for $1.

Henry Ford purchased his home, adjacent to Edison's, in 1916.  It provided him the opportunity to vacation with Thomas Edison as well as work together in 1927 to form the Edison Botanic Research Corporation.

A laboratory  was completed in 1928 to support their collaboration of producing and manufacturing of natural rubber.

On the property are the original summer estates of both families, their caretaker's cottages, swimming pool and bath house, Edison Pier, lily pond, mango trees, orchids, laboratory, and museum.

Thanks so much for stopping by on this gorgeous Florida evening to pick up your Postcard.  Tomorrow we off on yet another adventure to the Everglades and an airboat ride!!  I'll see you back here Monday night.

The day finally arrived that we all had been looking forward to . . . the 48th Annual Swamp Cabbage Festival in downtown LaBelle,   Florida!!

Hang on to your swamp buggies, swamp cabbage fritters, and swamp peeps.  Here we go . . .  

What a fun day!!!

When Bob and Deb announced that they wanted to have a little gathering in Florida to coincide with the local Swamp Cabbage Festival, I knew I wanted to come, but wasn't too keen on pulling SplashT@B 702 miles.

For several months, I waffled back and forth with Becky about whether to come or not.  I was suffering from FMS Disease . . . you know, fear of missing something.  When Bob and Deb offered their house to us, calling it a win/win situation, there was no way I could refuse!

So we are here in LaBelle, at Whisper Creek RV Resort with the gang.  Becky and I are enjoying the comforts of home and the campers are just a few roads away from us.  Definitely win/win!

When I think of Florida trailer parks, this place is exactly how I picture it and it's not hard to understand why people move here or at the very least, spend their winters here.  This is a permanent home for The Speckins and it is the subject of tonight's Postcard!

Bob and Deb moved here from South Carolina three years ago and set about putting in new floors, changing the paint color, buying new furniture, rebuilding the sunroom, and adding all the personal touches that make 89 Hickory Court so special. 

They have done a wonderful job of landscaping all around their home too.  Unlike the majority of places here, they actually have a backyard with no neighbors.  A back patio and front bistro area complete the look.

Greetings from LaBelle, Florida, where we arrived this afternoon to join our T@Bbin' buddies for a long weekend of fun.  Before all that gets shared with you, let me go back twenty four hours and tell you about Canaveral National Seashore and our overnight at the historic Lakeside Inn in Mt. Dora.

Canaveral National Seashore is one of those places for nature lovers, bird watchers, and beach combers.  It's a 58,000-acre park located on a barrier island south of New Smyrna Beach and north of Titusville.

It was created by an act of Congress in 1975 and is home to more than 1,000 plant and 310 bird species.  The park has 24 miles of beaches which makes it the longest stretch of undeveloped beach on the east coast of Florida. 

We stopped first at Turtle Mound Archaeological Site.  The Mound is 35 feet high and made up of 1.5 million bushels of oyster shells. The height of the Mound offers a panoramic view of the area and is a favorite spot for bird watching.

As we walked up the boardwalk to the summit of the Mound, we heard a guitar and a fellow singing.  His voice wasn't the strongest, but it was kinda neat to see him sitting there in the sun playing his heart out.

We chatted with a park volunteer at the visitor center and when she told us all there was to see and all the places to explore, we realized that we didn't budget enough time to do it justice.  Reluctantly, we had to head back out of the park and west to Mt. Dora.

Before leaving home, I had printed out a map of downtown Mt. Dora, so we knew it was going to be a unique central Florida stop-over.  With lots of fun shops, its location on Lake Dora, and the former title of "Antiques Capitol of Florida", we were excited about this destination.

We were flying by the seat of our pants without a reservation, so when we saw the beautiful 1883 Lakeside Inn, we decided to check it out and see if it was within our budget.  After seeing the lobby and surrounding buildings, I was having doubts.

Sebastian, the young fellow at the desk, answered all our questions, gave us a bit of history on the inn, and then quoted us a rate that was a little steep. When I told him we were retired teachers, traveling on a tight budget, he offered us a substantial discount that included breakfast!  How could we pass that up?!

We paid for one night, grabbed our brass key for room 7116, and headed over to the 1928 Gables Building to find our room.  We were hoping it would face the lake, but after seeing how sweet it was, we didn't even care.  That's our room on the second floor with the bay window to the right of the porch.  

With leftovers galore in the cooler, we had a gourmet supper just before sunset.  There are almost five acres on the Lakeside property, including buildings, pool, and dock.  We walked down to that dock to watch the sunset and the sight-seeing plane as it took off across the lake.  What a perfect end to our second day in Florida!  

For some reason, I'm having a dickens of a time getting my Postcard published this evening.  It looks like the only way I can finish what I started is to actually do a "continued" post.

After our brief stop at Flagler Beach, we puttered our way south of Daytona Beach to Ponce de Leon Inlet Light.  We were kinda expecting heavy traffic in Daytona due to all the race activity, but it just didn't materialize.  What we did see was not one, but two Goodyear blimps!  Becky caught several good photos of them, but I just couldn't seem to pull off the shot.

The Ponce de Leon Inlet Light is the tallest one in the state, with construction starting in 1835.  It was abandoned in 1970, but in 1982, the light was returned to active service.   We toured the grounds and buildings before heading up to the 203 steps to the top. Whew that was a lung-burner!  

Next on the agenda . . . lunch!  The lady in the gift shop gave me a sheet of paper with all the local restaurants and we chose the nearest one right on the inlet called Hidden Treasure Rum Bar & Grill.  We sat outside in the shade of the live oaks and had an incredible meal.  

After splitting an order of fried pickles, I chowed down on Key West pink shrimp, while Becky enjoyed her fish and chips.  Lynard Skynard was blasting from the speakers, the pelicans were on the dock waiting to be fed, it was a warm 83 degrees, and we enjoyed every single minute of it!

I'm going to stop at this point because I am tired of fighting with the internet and it's time to hit the sack.  I still have an afternoon of fun to share with you . . . Canaveral National Seashore and Mt. Dora, but it will have to wait until another time. 

Thanks for dropping by this evening and picking up your dual A1A Postcards!! 

Up before 7:00 and out the door before 8:00...we got an early start to our Florida day!

Our day was off to a fine start and soon we were cruising down the A1A with the windows down and the sunroof open.  With the temperature climbing up into the 70's, we decided to make a quick stop at Flagler Beach and compare it with our Carolina beaches.  The first thing we noticed was the color and texture of the sand!