Our 1996 Trip Across the USA Page 10
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A note on Photographs - All of us are taking pictures - I'll do my best to give photo credits with an initial, but if I miss one be sure to let me know! J = Jon, D = Don, A = Anne & C = Carol. You can usually tell Anne's - her camera puts the date on the image! Also, most of the images are scans of old & faded prints, so the quality may not be all that hot.

June 19 - Fort Myers Beach, FL (215mi)

Carol & I headed out towards Naples, Florida, without a lot of plans, other than wanting to see Sanibel Island. We stopped for the night at the Tahitian Inn Motel in Fort Myers Beach, got the oil changed in the van & vegged out. Actually watched some TV!

June 20 - Sanibel & Captiva Islands (138mi)

The next day we drove out onto the island, stopping at a couple of beaches to collect shells. Not the best time of year for shelling - you are suppose to go after a storm during the winter, but we are here now. Did find some interesting stuff. We toured the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum and drove across the bridge between Sanibel and Captiva Island. There are many beautiful homes on Captiva, however no where to park. After driving around for awhile, we headed back to the mainland. We camped at the Venice Campground in Venice, FL, along the Myakka River. Beautiful campsites under large trees covered with spanish moss, great bathrooms, but the ground was a bit dirty.

June 21 - Bush Gardens (161mi)

We decided to play "Official Tourist" today & head for Bush Gardens. Camped at the Crystal Isles RV Resort in Crystal Rivers, FL. Tomorrow, we will be heading back to Mike & Linda's to meet Don & Anne.

June 22 - Back to Fort Pierce (221mi)

We drove across the turnpike to get back to the east side of Florida. Not as much fun as driving across US 41, but a bit faster. Hung out at Mike & Linda's, and spent the night in the apartment.

June 23 Mike & Linda's (0mi)

We didn't do much - went for a boat ride, met a couple of friends of Mikes, did a little clamming - no rakes so it was using toes. After Don & Anne arrived, we planned the next leg of our trip. We wanted to see the Circus Museum at Sarasota so we will be heading back to the west side of the state.

June 24 Siesta Key, FL (176mi)

We stopped to hang out at the beach at Siesta Key, an eight-mile-long barrier island off of Sarasota. One of the nicest beaches we have found so far. Very fine, white sand. I still prefer the northern variety we have at Nantucket, but the water is sure warmer! We "camped" at the Motel 8 in Sarasota.

The Beach at Siesta Key (A)
Shark Bite! Siesta Key (A)
Jon & Carol (A)
Don & Anne Siesta Key (C)
Motel 8 Sarasota (J)
Motel 8 Sarasota (A)
 
 
 
Siesta Key Sunset (A)
 

The next morning it was a visit to the The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art & the Circus Museum. The art museum surprised us - we didn't realize that it existed - so wonderful paintings! As to the circus museum, lots of information & exhibits from the Ringling Brothers days. The grounds of the museum were torn up - they were rebuilding many areas as well as filming the movie "Great Expectations."

The Museum Grounds (A)
Jon & Carol (A)
Jon, Don & Anne and Banyan Trees (C)

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Last Update: March 21, 2012