Today I didn’t want to drive anywhere….duh! Kelley was installing the new GPS and I became his “beck and call girl” while working on Sudokus. Finally in the afternoon Kelley was finished and we went for a walk. Walking on the Riverwalk is great. There is a park, fishing pier, and even electric plugs in the covered picnic areas (charge up that iPod?) Here is the pond sculpture:

These three men lived in here in the winter and formed a compound of sorts. There is a museum, lab, their houses and gardens that are open to the public. I plan to go next week and spend lots of time roaming. These 3 men were giants and began the industrial age.

Here is a taste:

I do not know whose house this is yet. It sits right on the river. Here is the site if you can’t wait for me: http://www.efwefla.org/.

The homes along the water are beautiful. The foliage gets out of control quickly, although I thought this tree was beautiful with its cape.

This area of Florida is flat and so the trees do not need to be trimmed to protect people’s views. If you are on the water you see it; if not, go for a walk. Cheers!

I have become very comfortable driving around Fort Myers; sometimes I even feel comfortable enough to go someplace without Garmin! So, when I went off to locate a part Kelley needed for the boat, I knew where Boat World was (without Garmin). But, alas, this is not the Men’s Nordstoms (aka West Marine); they did not have the part and did not ofer any suggestions.

Garmin and I went to West Marine on Colonial. Not far from where the boat lives. The store didn’t have the part, but the manager made a call and I am off to another WM that confirmed that they had lots of the correct switches. Now, I am going south (west?) and farther from the boat. But, they have 2 of the switches that Kelley needs and I am here to help. Finally I arrive. While they search for the parts that were to have been set aside, I shop.

I had been eying a darling pair of flats at the real Nordstroms before we left. Leopard! A must have or so I have been told. Guess what. Sperry provided me with the perfect “Thank you, Honey, for driving all over Florida for me,” gift.

Perfect?

Believe me, they became well-deserved. It turns out that the manager had not looked in the correct spot and they had only one. But, hey, they call another WM and that store has several. My eyes narrow; my voice quivers: Are you sure???

As an apology, not only did we get our new boat discount, but the manager threw in another $20 off the cost of my shoes. Cool!

Off I go to Fort Myers Beach. Lots of driving, but success! Once back at the boat (three hours later), Kelley agreed that I had great taste in shoes!

Being a person who tries to embrace technology, I was thrilled when Kelley came home with a Garmin for us….originally it was a present for me, but then, that is another story. Being here in Fort Myers we are challenged to locate places (especially since I am convinced that Floridians like to have a lot of road construction going on all over their state; closing much needed roads – once again, another story).

This morning I wanted to go to the grocery store. In the old days, “pre-Garmin,” I would have gone to Google and on their maps located where I wanted to go, write it down and drive away. But this morning, all I had to do was turn Garmin on and select a store close by and start driving. Yes, Publix is close; I hadn’t been to this one and I like that chain.

Now, this is a new Garmin and suppose to have the latest information. Well, Publix Supermarket is no longer in business at the address to which I was taken. Okay…not a big deal. Select another store close by: Albertson’s. I like Albertson’s; it will work for me. Off I go…remember the construction info above….well, after driving and having Garmin, in her irritating English voice, tell me she would re-calculate the directions over and over again, I finally arrived at the Albertson’s, which is now call Harley-Davison…… Yes, I finally went to a supermarket I had been to before…in North Fort Meyers; I had to come back to the boat to get there.

So this early evening, Kelley says we should go to Radio Shack and buy rabbit ears for the TV until we get DirectTV installed. He checks Garmin. “Oh no,” says I. “Call and make sure they are really there.” One store isn’t, but the second one is. Off we go…construction woes here meaning bad directions and finally after many “re-calculations” we arrive at the address. It is a dark and empty structure. (Never once when the phone was answered did I think to ask if the address was correct!) Cell phone to the rescue:

“Where are you?”

“Where?”

“Thanks.”

Once we arrive at said Radio Shack, we ask, “How long have you been at this location instead of the old one?”

“Three years or more…”

So, we are getting a brand new GPS with all the “new” charts loaded for Florida and on up to Maine. I ask you, have they checked to see if any of the states are closed for construction?