A Day Spent at Lovers Key!

Ken and I were up by 6:30 and got ready to go to Lovers Key.  We packed our lunches, made eggs for breakfast, and picked up Melissa and Chuck at 8:00 and were on our way for a day trip.  The drive was brutal!  So much traffic over the bridge ad Cape Coral and through Ft. Myers Beach.  We love the scenic drive from Ft. Myers Beach to Lovers Key and the picturesque area, but we realize we will probably not make that drive again when staying on Pine Island.  It is too "painful".  It took us a little over 2 hours and it should have been about a 1 1/4 hour drive.  We went into Lovers Key State Park and Ernie and Noela joined us there.  

We began our day together by hiking the 2.6 Black Island Trail within the Park.  We saw birds, turtles, and about 6 fairly young alligators.  Ken always says he would like to wrestle an alligator but it has to be about 4 feet.  He definitely had his chance today, but for some reason, all of his criteria just didn't seem to be met!  The excuses are on going!!!!!  It was hot on the trail and as soon as we completed the hike, we took the 1/4 mile boardwalk "hike" to the beach.  What a large flat beach with hard packed sand and lots of shells.  Of course, Ernie and Noela had to test the waters and they were in and out of the water.  Ken went for a long walk and wanted to see if he could see Big Hickory Beach where we used to go when we stayed in Mellingers home in Bonita Springs before we started RVing.  Sure enough, he spotted the beach across the lagoon! Brought back lots of special memories.

All ready for the hike on Black Island Trail!

Our 1st look-out point!

A very nice trail!

Strange how the roots of this trees are growing around the rock!

Another Ibis!  Ken loves his bird photos!

It looks like we are holding hands!  I don't think so!!!!

These alligators were the perfect ones for Ken to wrestle, but
no, the stars must not have been aligned properly!

Hard to see them in the green, mucky water!

Nice sized gopher turtle!

We spotted this huge turtle on the beach!

It was a"'shelly" beach!

These birds were standing at "attention"!

More of Ken's famous bird pictures -
another osprey!

This is Big Hickory Beach where Ken and I used to go
when staying at Mellinger's house in Bonita Springs!

I just like this picture!

Ernie and Noela heading to the water again!

Leaving the beach and heading back the boardwalk to our
vehicles!

Time to say good-bye to Ernie and Noela!  We will miss them!

We all left the park for the long drive back to our CG's at 4:30.  It was hard to say good-bye to Ernie and Noela knowing that we won't see them again until the fall.  We have made so many wonderful memories with them this winter and it was even more special when so many of our RVing friends got to know each other.  Many of us are hoping to take a trip to  see their home area and then tour around parts of Canada!  Just look what you got yourselves in for, Ernie and Noela!!!!

We only got back to the CG at 6:30 after another long, fun-filled day.  After a light supper in Waldo, we went to Chuck and Melissa's to play games.  To bed by 11:30.  These 2 weeks at Pine Island are flying by!!!!