94 Naples

     It was the third of February and we were on the way to Naples, everyone had told us we were going to love it here. The ride was pleasant, sunny and getting warmer as we traveled South.  Sunday not seeing a place to eat when we were ready we stopped in a bar in Arcadia they were having a chili cook off.  Nothing special here but for a donation we got to taste some chili.  Someone had told us if you drew a line from Fort Myers across the state the area south of there is more tropical and will be 10-15 degrees warmer than 100 miles North.  We were counting on it.  We had our GPS set on Val's address for our horse training rendezvous.   City traffic was slowing our travels, we had no idea Florida was this populated.  Highway 41 took us thru Naples and suburbs and turned South East toward the Everglades.  A few more miles and we exited left onto a blacktop road, in less than a mile we turned on a gravel-shell pot filled road.  Ruthie is having some misgivings about the area we are in.  There are three nice houses along this road must be one of these, nope!   I'm starting to pick up on a faint sound, I turn off the radio to listen more closely as we ride on.  A left turn on to Val's road, there was a garbage can ahead however it looked like the road ended after that.  The GPS was telling us our destination was beyond that sign of civilization. I'm trying to stay positive to reassure my passenger, however I now can hear faint sounds of banjo tuning.   Passing the garbage can we could see two tracks beneath the overhanging growth.   Pushing the branch out of our way we headed down the trail, it would be difficult to turn back now.  Now I could definitely hear the sounds of dueling banjos and my thoughts went to the "panther warning" signs we passed on the way here.   Soon we arrived, a clearing on the right with 3 beautiful horses a round pen and campers, had to be Val's.   Unfortunately Val had been cheated by a crook that supposedly had laid her electrical cable in a trench.  What a thief, he stuck to short pieces of wire out the end of both ends of the trench collected his money and left.  She found out later the trench was empty.  He is in jail now.  With no electricity Val agreed to let us train for cash (if satisfied with results) and we would lodge in nearby Naples. Got to admire Val keeping the place running with a generator and doing the maintenance herself. (and sleeping with the sound of those annoying banjos, Just teasing.)

Sweet Girl, Kandi and Phoenix

     Due to the numerous questions I have had on horse training I will devote one complete post to describe it in detail.  It will be titled Gentle Horse training.

   We headed back toward Naples  found a nice room at a motel Trails End East right on Hwy 41.  An older motel it had been updated.  We met our neighbors almost immediately Bob and Faith, vendors traveling on the road from Minnesota selling spices at local festivals.  So the pattern was set, in between horse training sessions we would ride and explore the area as long as the weather cooperated.  And it did, on most days warming up to the mid eighties I became an irritation to our relatives up north questioning them often if it was still winter up there. 

A fun spot on Sanibel Island, the interior walls are
covered with dollar bills.

     After a week of this routine Val's friend Star asked if we could work with two of her horses.  With the expected revenue and the reassurance that they approved my gentle horse training method, we moved into the motels efficiency apartment on a weekly basis.  

     Some of the evenings I trained until darkness forced us to stop not wanting to travel to far in the dark we stopped at Perkins one night,  Ruthie was driving one night and she spent nearly 45 minutes visiting with Marsha from Vermont.  She was 76 and had rode Harley until just a few years ago.  Her and her friends were intrigued with the trike and I wasn't sure we were going to be able to eat that night.  Of course Ruthie soon had the accent lights on and gathered a small crowd. 

Our motel neighbor Faith at a festival on
Marco Island.

     Evenings when we returned to the motel we often sat and visited with motel guests or managers Cheryl and Butch.   We have decided they are this years trip Motel managers of the year.   Since the weather was mild morning's we found a table outside the front office with fresh coffee, oatmeal packets and some sort of a sweet treat.  Often it was biscotti made by Cheryl, what a treat.  One of the guests mentioned Rube Goldberg and his simple machines, actually complex machines to do simple tasks.  I was fascinated, worth checking out if you aren't familiar with them.  They have a competition each year for the best machine. 

Stan's, have one, you will come back for more.

Digital point and shoot, sorry John!

    We visited Marco Island and heard about a Cycle destination called Stan's idle hour.  The visitor center didn't seem anxious to provide any information about it.   My impression was they were pretty high class and very rich on this end of the island and Goodland (where Stan's was more working class). Of course we liked Stan's and that end of the island better.  The first time we split one of the delicious burgers, the next visit we had our own and the third trip they introduced us to Grouper, now our favorite fish now.  Goodland itself has a unique history.  A small fishing village it was literally changed into a town overnight.  The Barron Collier Company agreed to move the homes of the inhabitants of Caxambas to Goodland at no cost on land that would be paid back over three years.  The homes were moved with everything in them to the new location,  And presto in 1949 overnight Goodland was created.   A more impressive result of Barron Collier's fortune was the Highway we traveled on every day.  In return for having a county created and named for him he constructed a route from the East to West coast of Florida it was named the



Tamiami trail due to the fact that it connected Tampa with Miami.   An aggressive project it almost bankrupt him.

     We stopped at Stan's several times over the next few weeks.  On one trip we came for lunch between horse training sessions.  Knowing I had another session I was resting on a bench close to the trike, and Ruthie was, I don't know she may have been visiting.  I have been trying to get her out of her shell more and meet people.  (just teasing, for those that know Ruthie I wouldn't have had to add that.). A nice black SUV drove up and said something to me, I was used to answering questions about our trike so I got up and walked to the passenger window.  The lady showed me a ten dollar bill and asked if I had room for one more. Pardon I said.  "Do you have room for one more car pointing to the Parking sign $10 not to far from where I was sitting.  I explained the mistake and then later kicked myself for being so slow.  I could have had a ten dollar bill and a very nice vehicle to greet Ruthie with.  So far this trip a Walmart greeter and parking attendant, the jobs are out there!

     We checked out another of the more traditional attractions.  Everglades Wonder garden in Bonita Springs, opened in 1936 by two bootlegging brothers during Florida tourist heyday it lost its battle with Mickey and his cronies. 

Everglade Wonder Gardens,
the traditional flamingo picture.

  Fortunately a local photographer and his family are dedicated to keeping it open.  John Brady, loves the Everglades area and displays beautiful photographs at the attraction.   His photographs are created with large format film camera's.  That's right "film" he uses a 8 x 10 inch wooden view camera with lenses as old as 30 years.  Check out some of his photography on line or at the Gardens, they are awesome.  John was feeding a 9 year old cockatoo named Casey when we met him.   He told us sometimes people don't anticipate the life span of a pet when they take on the responsibility.  Cockatoos live from 50-70 years, when Casey owners died he was left to the family,   Casey put three people in the hospital biting the end of a nose of his last caregiver.  I think he is well suited for John and his sanctuary. 

      We keep our ears open and ask tourists what to see.  Saturday, seafood festival at Everglades city.  Sounds like a plan.  Wow did we pick a good one, the highway was jammed with cars.  It was like a fair back home with tents of vendors with cooking fresh seafood and sides.  We tried everything, delicious.   We sat with a nice couple from D.C. they raved about the stone crab, tried it decided we like snow crab better.  Glad we tried it rather than at an expensive restaurant.  Note to self "if I ever become a vendor make it ice cream.  D&J tasty treats form Wisconsin couldn't keep up with the demand. 

      We rode up to Cape Coral one night for their bike rally.       

    To smooth things over back home I will share what's going on up North.    It is the worst winter since 1980, It is hard to imagine winter when you are riding in 85 degree weather.  Everyone seems to be affected.  The Mayor of Atlanta is trying to blame the weather man, I'm surprised he didn't say "you know a gold wing trike went thru here a few weeks ago , last year when they rode in Hot springs Arkansas they got 8 inches of snow and it seems everywhere they go it turns cold and icy.  The drivers in Atlanta have found a way to cope that people in Minnesota had not thought of.  If the roads get bad they just abandoned their car and walk away.  I heard a policeman on the news saying that our job today is to match up all these cars with their owners.   It was the first  time in 20 years the entire great lakes have been ice covered. 

     Everyday another chance to explore, back down the Tamiami trail and Joanie's Blue crab cafe by Ochopee Florida, a favorite cycle destination with a guitar playing bluesman, fun place right in the Everglades.

     For Valentines day we took a trip to Labelle and Immokalee, our friend Wes messaged Ruthie that he hoped I took her somewhere nice with the money he sent me.  Still haven't seen the funds, nice guy.  One of my standard comebacks when I'm asked how its going is "Haven't been dog bit or horse stomped today, must be going Okay."  Can't say that today, I was an inch to close to a mustang and got kicked in the leg and hand.  Lesson learned!

The old problem, now where did I park my
Red Ferrari?

     We knew this was a wealthy area by the mansions and gated communities we drove by everyday and I had some hope that maybe some would rub off on us.  Today's event was a clincher to the money here.  Ferrari's on Fifth sponsored by the Ferrari club of Naples along with the Porsche, Corvette, West Coast muscle car and Cool Cruisers club closed off fifth Avenue in Naples and displayed their exotic cars. Lamborghinis, Maserati's and other high dollar cars kept us in awe for hours.  We found there is also a way you can own one on a time share bases like a condo. 

Lamborghinis V-12 who knew?

   We seen a 2014 Ferrari for sale $499,995, Ruthie said that's just stupid.  I was relieved I don't think I could calculate how many horses I would have to train to buy one for her.   

     A Morgan car caught our eye, not familiar with the name it made us curious, sometimes its funny how things come together.  While at Goodland and Stan's to view the boat parade, Ruthie met a fun group from the UK.  They have been coming to Marco Island for years extending their stay more every time they came.  They knew all about the Morgan,  the company in Britain customers may have to wait a year or two for their hand built car.  The amazing part is the shell is out of metal while much of the vehicle is made of wood.  Our traveling knowledge base claimed that they were guaranteed for life however I haven't found any thing backing their claim up. Remember they were at Stan's Idle hour and they may have had a beverage or two.  I'm just saying.  Still a unique sport car.

     Since our friend Wes didn't come thru with the money for a date night Ruthie and I went to see the movie Monument Men, nice evening. 



Along the roadside channel on the way to Val's.

     On one of the motorcycle forums I check on occasionally I noticed Harveyletsride posted that he was riding to Flatheads Roadhouse in Bokeelia Florida.  One of my goals on the trip was to meet some of the forum members if there was a chance.  I noticed this was a small village on Pine Island just off the coast of Cape Coral.  We rode up from the South and met Harvey and his riding buddies, nice lunch a little story telling, some pictures to prove it happen and away they rode.  Good times

Matlacha on Pine Island, lots of Pastel.



Cheryl, Ruthie and Butch!

  As we left we rode to the other end of the island to check out the Ragged Ass Saloon.  Fun little biker bar on a canal.  Their signature is men's underwear hanging on the walls, boxers not briefs.  They have a drawing of a donkey's rear to make their name PG rating.  Slogan; Come by boat - Come by Bike- Come buy beer.

Huge sandwich, not ours. @ The Ragged
Ass bar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice touch to one of the muscle cars, brought
back memories!

 

     Our friend Tom from back home had suggested we look up a friend of his, form Wisconsin.  He said they lived on a Golf Course so they shouldn't be hard to find. ( Their are 124 golf courses listed in the Naples area).  A place to ride and people to meet.  We were excited, not having the phone number we put the address  in the GPS and took off.  It led us to Glen Eagle Golf and Country club, looked like a nice place.  A Vendor

Scary fun group from the UK except for Ruthie
on the right, gave us the low down on the Morgan!

seen me go up to the empty gate building and gave me the gate code.  Beautiful area carts, walkers and cars seemed interested in our mode of transportation.  We found Ralph, he was in his garage holding court with some neighbors, we were welcomed and joined in on the conversation. While we were there Ralph called back home to Tom letting him know that we had found him Okay, he handed the phone to me and I mentioned how nice Ralph was, Tom said yes he was a good

Check the motor out thru the rear window!

neighbor and "We " would have to do something pretty bad for him to kick us out. ( a negative premonition? ). We continued to visit as neighbors dropped into the garage to ask why Ralph had started cocktail hour early? ( evidently it is at 5 o'clock in Ralph garage).  Then a fella rode up on a bike and asked if

Fun couple from Virginia making the best of  life
while going thru some ups and downs at Stan's.

anyone there owned that motorcycle parked in the guest spot.  First I was worried that someone had hit our trike. But then he said "Motorcycles are not allowed on the grounds, you will have to leave immediately!".  Ralph said we will put it in the garage, evidently that wasn't acceptable to the code police.  He didn't give me a chance to say that motorcycles only have two wheels, he went a safe distance away to see if we complied.  I didn't want to get Ralph in trouble but he didn't seem to worried. He showed us his home and visited for a while, All the while Barney Fife
on the bicycle was stationed near by.  When we left The Covenant policeman waved and seemed that he had done his duty.  Probably will brag about it at the Covenant station tonight.  We got a few miles down the road and Ralph called and said Ruthie had left something there, We suggested we meet him at the gate but Ralph said come on in your machine is faster than his bicycle.  (I thing Ralph is a rebel.). 
I found out later just how restrictive some of the covenants are, Example: No pickups Van's are Okay as long as they have no more than one side windows.  You can't have lettering of any kind on your vehicle.   Some even restrict the number of tropical fish you can own.   A couple of tidbits from Ralph before we exited. 
    Do to the abundance of revenue in this area thrift shops are stocked with some very nice things.  It is the first time I have seen clothing racks with clothing manufacturers listed.   Names lie Cache'  J. Jill Chico and Armani.

Harvey lets ride (left) Ruthie and buddies!

  Many times at our little residence we met new travelers and sat relaxed and visited with Butch and Cheryl.  Did I mention they were our favorites

    On one occasion we met a man from Montana, he was ready to get out of Florida, he didn't like the traffic, buildings or crowds.  His closest neighbor is 8 miles away back home.  This little bid of information we gleaned from Ralph before we kicked out may shed some light on the problem.  He said the population normally is around 30,000 swelling to over 300,000 during the tourist season.  One bumper sticker expressed the dislike.  "When I get old I'm going to move up North and drive slow!"     

Before I take a picture that I might post,
I always ask if anyone has any
Outstanding warrants?

     Beach access is limited due to the large private homes lining the gulf.  It had been suggested to us that we travel to Naples and go out on the pier I believe on 12th Ave. they said we would have a spectacular view of the sunset.  A clear day, sunset scheduled at 6:28 we parked and walked to the beach.  On the pier we purchased some hot chocolate to ward of the strong cool wind and with cameras at the ready we settled in to wait.  At the concession stand we noticed someone had brought a "flat Stanley" along  to get travel pictures for a Childs classroom project and we  remembered taking our grandsons flat Spencer on similar outings.  The fisherman at the end of the pier were used to this ritual and had left their fishing poles and were waiting for 

"knock-knock" Motel manager's of the year!

the tourists to get there picture and depart.  The sun was slowly descending and we noticed a boat of some kind off to the South some distance.  With patience we had been able to work our way up to the rail, we were going to have no obstructions.  The sun was very close to the horizon and now we seen the ship was closer our target and it seemed larger, at one time it was just a speck.  The Sun touched the water, cameras clicked away. Some took videos, the ship got bigger and closer to the Sun, This isn't going to happen is it? 

It did! That glow behind the ship is our hour wait, about to set!